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Rays Summer Camp: Day Six — simulated game/scrimmage number one

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Take it from hand sanitizer magnate Ji-Man Choi, mask up. You, yes YOU! (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough pitched effectively in the Tampa Bay Rays’ first game action of Summer Camp, on Wednesday. Southpaw Blake Snell, as well as right-hander Trevor Richards also showed well during the simulated game/scrimmage.

Morton and Yarbrough each got four “ups” as scheduled, and made the most of the opportunity.

Morton faced Yandy Díaz, Michael Perez, Daniel Robertson, and Joey Wendle, and gave up two runs on four hits while striking out three across four innings. He threw 37 of 47 pitches for strikes (79% strike rate).

The right-hander allowed a double to center to Wendle in the third inning, followed by an RBI single to right-center to Díaz. Then in the fourth, after retiring three straight batters, Morton asked for a fourth batter to add to his pitch count. He quickly got ahead of battery-mate, Perez, before the backstop homered to right on a 1-2 pitch.

Still, Morton felt good after his four-inning outing.

Overall I felt pretty good. I think my stuff is kind of getting to where it needs to be. Today I went out there for a fourth up and felt like I was working on my endurance and still had pretty decent stuff in the fourth.

— Charlie Morton

Meanwhile, Yarbrough faced Brandon Lowe, Willy Adames, Mike Zunino, and Ji-Man Choi, tossing 3-1/3 scoreless frames. He allowed a hit to Willy Adames while striking out three. The left-hander threw 23 of 38 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate) and called the outing a step in the right direction.

Yarbrough embraced his success after such a long layoff…even though it came if that success came at the expense of his own teammates.

It was great. It was nice because we had faced hitters, but it was either in a bullpen session or on the field. But it was nice to throw to a catcher instead of one of the bullpen guys. Plus having guys behind you just so you can get an idea of how everything is moving, how guys are making contact. It was definitely a step in the right direction and kind of just building up that way. …I feel like I’m right where I need to be to hit the ground when the season starts. At this point just continue that process and as the season gets closer, be ready to go.

— Ryan Yarbrough

Once Morton was done with his session, Snell took the mound and put together a nice little 1-2/3 inning while fanning threw. He faced Díaz, Wendle, Perez, and Robertson, and tossed 14 of 23 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate). Snell collected punchouts of Wendle and Díaz and got Robertson to pop out to short.

Snell received a cortisone shot in his left elbow during Spring Training 1.0, although it would appear that his elbow issue now is a thing of the past.

After this last week and a half of throwing, I’m pretty past it. My arm feels really good. I’m not worried about it. I don’t think about it. I don’t think you guys should think about it either. I feel really good and I’m going to continue to feel better with the amount of work that I’m going to put in to make sure that I’m consistently ready to go. Definitely looking forward to it.

— Blake Snell

Richards Yarbrough and was, arguably, the most impressive of the group. Lowe, Adames, Zunino, and Choi all got two at-bats against the right-hander, yet none of them had any success.

In 2-2/3 innings of work, Richards fanned seven on 34 pitches. Adames, Choi, and Zunino each struck out twice, while the only ball put in play was a popup to the catcher off the bat of Lowe.

I don’t know if we saw the best of Trevor at any point last year, but his stuff is pretty unique. He has a lot of carry, hides the ball well and I think Willy swung at a changeup. That changeup from behind almost looks like a breaking ball the way it drops. The changeup is going to be the big equalizer. When we see that pitch on, he’s generally on track for a pretty good outing.

— Kevin Cash

While many of the hitters showcased good timing on Wednesday, Rays skipper Kevin Cash highlighted Díaz, the muscle-bound line-drive machine, who lined a single to left and an RBI base hit to right-center.

He’s pretty incredible, just get out of bed and hit. He looked like there had been no time off at all. He’s got that natural timing.

— Kevin Cash

Also of note, the outfielders worked outside on Wednesday, while infielders playing behind the pitchers.

They got really good work. It was really hot (outside).

— Kevin Cash

Don’t get too comfortable indoors Lowe, Choi, and company…a role reversal on Thursday. More on Thursday’s plans are in Noteworthiness.

The New What Next

Another day, another simulated game/scrimmage is scheduled for Thursday. The Rays manager would not disclose who would throw, although the team does plan to bring in additional pitchers from Port Charlotte for future simulated events.

I think we came into this thinking we weren’t bringing pitchers over. We’re probably going to need to do that, not just for them but for our hitters to get reps. Generally at this time in a normal spring hitters are getting at-bats every day. I know the hitters today got a bunch, but we’ve got to find a way where it’s close to everyday at-bats or two out of three days.

— Kevin Cash

Noteworthiness

— Four players — Randy Arozarena, Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow, and Jose Martinez — still have not been seen on the main field since the start of Summer Camp, while Austin Meadows has not been on the main field since Friday.

The team has not commented on why players were absent, or even if they were working out of sight. Teams have been told not to comment on COVID-19 related issues due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns unless a player gives explicit permission.

— According to Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), Brendan McKay also was not seen playing catch or throwing a bullpen for a second consecutive day, but he may have been working out at other parts of the ballpark.

Rays Summer Camp: Day Four; schedule officially released

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The Tampa Bay Rays will log the sixth-most miles (10,989 miles) in all of baseball — the most miles of any team in the AL East.

Nick Anderson, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Pete Fairbanks, and Colin Poche threw live batting practice on the main field on Monday, while most of the work at Tropicana Field took place out of the view of media.

Both Kevin Kiermaier and Willy Adames faced Castillo, who Cash said looked “really, really crisp” during his BP session.

Willy came back with his eyes open really, really wide like if it was nasty stuff.

— Kevin Cash

Several players are expected to throw live batting practice on Tuesday, including Oliver Drake and Andrew Kittredge, while Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough will do most of the mound work in a five-or six-inning simulated game/scrimmage on Wednesday. Hitters will not be running the bases.

Yoshi Tsutsugo continued to do some individual work at third base, while Willy Adames got some reps at shortstop, catcher Michael Perez threw to bases, and Hunter Renfroe did some throwing from right field.

Tsutsugo is expected to be slotted in the middle of the lineup and will continue to get reps both at third base and left field, which should be enough at both positions before Opening Day on July 24.

I want to be able to represent myself on the field, perform well, and be able to motivate other people that are suffering through the virus.

— Yoshi Tstusugo

Chaz Roe, one of the five players that members of the media haven’t seen on the field over the first couple of workouts, took the field for the first time on Monday. The right-hander played catch with pitching coach Kyle Snyder and interacted with some teammates and coaches.

Yet the other four players — Randy Arozarena, Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow, and Jose Martinez — still have not been seen on the main field since Summer Camp began. Austin Meadows has not been on the main field since Friday.

The team has not commented on why players were absent, or even if they were working out of sight. Teams have been told not to comment on COVID-19 related issues due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns unless a player gives explicit permission.

With the rash of players across the league electing to opt-out of the shortened 2020 season, both Renfroe and the Rays’ manager said there has been no discussion about opting out of Rays camp in a media Zoom call.

There has been no discussion for anyone to opt-out for the Rays, none. We all want to get out there. We all want to play and we all want to win. It’s not a deal where we want to play 60 games. We want to go out there and we want to win it all.

— Hunter Renfroe

Cash agreed with Renfroe and added that it’s on the Rays’ staff to manage the players’ well-being.

Our role is to talk to these players and check on them individually, then check on their families and their friends and their concerns. That’s the job of everybody in this building to make sure we’re checking on our players’ well-being.

— Kevin Cash

According to Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), right-handed LOOGY Oliver Drake would like to appear in all 60 games.

Last season Oliver Drake appeared in 50 games from May 26th until the end of the season after coming up from Durham. That included eight appearances in an 11-day period in September when the Rays clinched a playoff spot. Drake, known as one of the high-energy guys in the bullpen, was asked about trying to appear in all 60 games.

“I’m willing to try,” he joked.

Drake, who spent the last few months in hard-hit Massachusetts, says he threw nearly every day while baseball was shut down.

— Neil Solondz

Rays Schedule Released

MLB released the schedules of all 30 big-league teams on Monday, including the Rays (seen above). Tampa Bay will start the season at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 24, and end the season at home against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 27. In between those two dates, the Rays will face the Yankees four times at home and six times on the road, the Red Sox six times at home and four times on the road, the Orioles four times at home and six times on the road, and the Blue Jays seven times at home and three times on the road.

As Juan Toribio (MLB.com) writes, a three-city road trip in the middle of August appears to be the biggest challenge for the Rays.

Tampa Bay starts the trip with a four-game set against Boston, then the team flies to Toronto for three games and finishes it off with three games in the Bronx. The only day off during the trip comes on Aug. 17, right before the three-game set against the Yankees.

“Under these circumstances or under any circumstances, four games in Boston, three in Toronto and three in New York, that’s a handful,” Cash said. “Hopefully, we’ll be well-equipped, well-prepared and play good, because we’re going to have to. You certainly understand that with 60 games, a tough 10-day road trip can really throw you sideways if another team is playing really well.”

— Juan Toribio

Of note, the Rays will have the least difficult opponent schedule in the AL East, albeit marginally less difficult. They, however, log the sixth-most miles (10,989 miles) in all of baseball — the most miles of any team in the AL East. The Blue Jays follow Tampa Bay at 9,284 miles; the Red Sox come in at 7,499 miles; the Orioles will travel 5,920; while those pampered Yankees will travel the ninth fewest miles in all of baseball at 5,604.

Rays Summer Camp: Day Three

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During batting practice, Yoshi launched a few loud missiles including a blast that caromed off the Moffitt Cancer Center banner past the right-field bleachers on the back wall. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays)

With the third day of Summer Camp in the books, the Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to look like a real baseball team, not just a group of players participating in drills on the field and beneath the stands.

The Rays combined the four groups and 29 players of the previous two days into a pair of large groups, while still maintaining social distancing protocols on Sunday. The team had several players working in unison on infield drills.

Pretty high energy with the infielders; tried to get their heart rate up a little bit today. Another good day under odd circumstances.

— Kevin Cash

The team tightened things up because the pitchers had a lighter workload which gave the position players the ability to utilize more of the field.

Nate Lowe and Yandy Diaz took grounders at third base during the first session, with Mike Brosseau at shortstop and Ji-Man Choi at first base. In the second session, Daniel Robertson and Willy Adames fielded grounders at shortstop with Brandon Lowe and Joey Wendle at second base.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo also took grounders at third from Cash, with Rodney Linares looking on.

And while there were twice as many players working out at the same time, there was still sufficient spacing in the clubhouse since pitchers were housed in the visitor’s clubhouse.

The clubhouse is the most vacant spot in the building throughout the entire day. That was our original concern. We didn’t want guys just sitting in their lockers and even with the added amount of bodies, two bigger groups today as opposed to four, we did not see the clubhouse filling up.

— Kevin Cash, on the altered format.

Meanwhile, sluggers Hunter Renfroe, Díaz, and Tsutsugo were grouped together in the same batting practice group, and the trio did not disappoint — hitting more than a few tape measure blasts.

Renfroe and Yoshi started the round off with a pair of loud home runs. Renfroe hit two off the catwalks, and — in the words of the Rays manager — played “pepper with the back wall.”

Renfroe was playing pepper with the back wall. That’s not something you see a lot of guys do.

— Kevin Cash

Yet Tsutsugo and Díaz that hit the longest homers of the round.

Tsutsugo launched a blast that caromed off the Moffitt Cancer Center banner past the right-field bleachers on the back wall. And Diaz capped off the round by launching a ball into the Left Field Ledge.

You put Yoshi, Renfroe, and certainly Yandy in a group together, and when they’re feeling it, balls are going to fly out. They put on a pretty good show today.

— Kevin Cash

Right-handed relief pitcher Nick Anderson threw live batting practice and said he feels he could jump into a real game tomorrow. There is a caveat, however: Anderson feels his ability to go back to back is not there yet, conceding the next few weeks will be about recovery and the ability to do that.

I think everybody still has to look toward the future. As nice as it would be to only have 60 games and say hey I could throw every game. But the object of this game is to try and play as long as you can as well. I think the team, the staff, everybody understands that, so I think it will be treated as a normal season really.

— Nick Anderson

Anderson also spoke on the benefits of a rebound season for Jose Alvarado in the bullpen.

His videos of a 100-mph, nasty sinker are everywhere, so I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.

— Nick Anderson

After a disappointing 2019 campaign in which Daniel Robertson slashed .213 BA/.312 OBP/.295 SLG/.607 OPS/.275 wOBA with a 71 wRC+, the infielder spoke about some of the adjustments he made to his swing during the offseason when he worked with Justin Turner’s personal coach. Robertson said the COVID-19 shutdown allowed him to review his Spring Training at-bats and continue to build upon that.

Not many times do you get to put something in the offseason, go put it to use, see what works, see what doesn’t work, and then you get to go back home and keep grinding, keep working on the process. It’s only beneficial from my standpoint. Definitely excited to see how it translates for sure.

— Daniel Robertson

Robertson likewise spoke to Turner about the changes he made and noted the importance of using those adjustments rather than emulating another player.

Like Robertson, Mike Zunino made sufficient changes in his swing in the offseason. According to Juan Toribio (MLB.com) Cash says he has certainly noticed a shorter crisper swing where he’s covering balls on the inside corner and off the plate away that he wasn’t covering last year.

As I mentioned yesterday, since the start of Summer Camp Ji-Man Choi has worn protective goggles and a mask on the field, saying he’s been wearing them mostly to get acclimated to the feel since he plans to wear PPE during ball games.

Given the record-breaking number of positive cases in the state of Florida, Choi has reason to be cautious.

I’m trying them on right now, because I want to be cautious. …Before I left Korea, I saw that the confirmed cases are up. I’m worried that if we’re able to start a season — right now we’re doing a lot of social distancing and everything — but when the games go on, I don’t know how that’s going to play out. … I’m just very worried.

— Ji-Man Choi

Yet, that is not Choi’s only means of protection. The 1B/DH also has his own brand of hand sanitizer.

Someone that I knew made hand sanitizer, and she thought it would be a great idea to make a personal one and give it out to my teammates.

— Ji-Man Choi

When asked if he would provide sanitizer to others, the newly minted hand sanitizer magnate made his Billy Mays like pitch through his interpreter. “If you guys want some, he’ll definitely sell it to you for $10 a bottle,” Nam laughed while interpreting.

No tax.

— Ji-Man Choi added in English

All told, 29 players were spotted on the field for the second consecutive day. Tyler Glasnow, Randy Arozarena, Chaz Roe, José Martínez, and Yonny Chirinos were not seen for the third straight day, while Austin Meadows has not been on the field since the first workout on Friday.

The team has not commented on why players were absent, or even if they were working out of sight. It again should be noted that teams have been told not to comment on COVID-19 related issues due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns unless a player gives explicit permission.

Noteworthiness

— Major League Baseball is expected to release the 2020 schedule this evening. An early draft has the Rays opening up at home on July 24 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rays Summer Camp: Day Two

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With 11,000+ reported cases of COVID-19 in Florida on Saturday, even Ji-Man Choi knows to mask up.

Left-hander Jose Alvarado threw live batting practice session on Saturday, throwing 15 pitches (13 or 14 strikes) with no swings taken by Brandon Lowe or Willy Adames.

After a disastrous 2019 campaign, Alvarado said he’s ready to pick up where he left off in Spring Training 1.0.

I’ve been working every day, and right now I’m ready to go. I’m very happy, because everything is good. My mom (who had health issues) is here, my father is here, my girlfriend is here.

I’m very excited, because I’m feeling like 100 percent ready to go, ready to compete in the games.

— Jose Alvarado

Alvarado’s loved ones (parents and girlfriend) remained with him in Tampa Bay during the COVID-19 lockdown, which he is appreciative of and thankful for.

Rays manager Kevin Cash praised the work of the southpaw, saying that if Alvarado can regain his 2018 form, he will be a “dominating” weapon.

Saw Alvarado throw his first live (batting practice), and for good reason nobody decided to swing. It was about 15 pitches, and I think 13 or 14 were all strikes. Just filthy. Willy and Lowe were the contestants. I’m sure they won’t volunteer to do it again for a while. That was really good to see. …When he’s right, he can be as dominating as anybody in the game.

— Kevin Cash

Meanwhile, 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi — who has been wearing protective goggles and a mask during workouts, and may continue to wear them during games too (per a Zoom call with the media) — hit right-handed during batting practice on Saturday. Reports out of Tropicana Field say that he looked good, lashing a handful of hard-hit liners from the right-handed side of the box.

Choi experimented with switch-hitting in 2015 with the Mariner’s Triple-A affiliate, going 6-14 with three walks, a double, and just two punchouts. Cash said he has seen Choi (who does it to loosen up) take batting practice right-handed before, saying, “It’s pretty impressive,” although it wouldn’t appear that Ji-Man will be a switch-hitting weapon during regular play this season.

It’s pretty impressive. I know he used to be a switch-hitter so in a way he’s got more reps than other guys that do that but it looked pretty smooth pretty clean. But we like what he can do left-handed we’ll keep him hitting left-handed.

— Kevin Cash

Speaking of the now-iconic 1B/DH, Choi can add hand sanitizer magnate to his resumé.

https://twitter.com/XRaysSpex/status/1279797486606041092?s=20

Ji-Man said he’s worried about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the United States. A native Korean, Choi saw how effectively his home country handled the Coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, which effectively flattened the curve in a matter of weeks.

Overall, 29 players were seen on the field for day two of Summer Camp, with the same three not appearing — Yonny Chirinos, Chaz Roe, and Jose Martinez. Additionally, outfielders Randy Arozarena and Austin Meadows, as well as right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow weren’t seen on the main field yesterday. Each participated in one of the eight groups on Friday. Before COVID-19 speculation creeps in, all three could very well have been working in other areas of the ballpark.

At any rate, it bears reminding that teams have been told not to comment on COVID-19 related issues due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns unless a player gives explicit permission.

According to Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), the team worked in shifts for a second straight day, with some players doing drills, not in view from the press box.

Finally, the team has tentatively scheduled a live five-to-six inning batting practice/simulated game on Wednesday. Rays skipper Kevin Cash noted that while there isn’t an exhibition game scheduled, it’s important for the position players to get used to standing in the field for extended periods of time.

Summer Camp continues from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Trop on Sunday.

Rays Summer Camp: Day One

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32 of 37 players attended the first day of Summer Camp — AKA Spring Training 2.0 — at Tropicana Field on Friday.

32 of 37 players participated in eight-player groups during the first day of Summer Camp — AKA Spring Training 2.0 — at the Trop on Friday. Two others — non-roster catchers Chris Herrmann and Kevan Smith — were moved to the Rays Spring Training complex in Port Charlotte, where the remaining 23 players in Tampa Bay’s pool are based, to better distribute the workload.

Those who did not participate were Yonny Chirinos, Chaz Roe, and Jose Martinez, all of whom are expected to be on the Rays’ Opening Day roster.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Chirinos, Roe, and Martinez missed the first day of Summer Camp for a variety of reasons, although he couldn’t get into specifics per Major League Baseball’s health protocols — MLB has told ball-clubs not to comment on COVID-19 related issues due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns unless a player gives explicit permission.

There were a variety of reasons as to why we were not at 100 percent attendance. …Given all of the protocols, guidelines that we’re trying to follow, we’re not going to get into specifics.

— Kevin Cash

That left writers, like Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), to speculate on the absence of Chirinos, Roe, and Martinez.

A travel delay wasn’t the issue, as Chirinos and Martinez were among the dozen-plus players working out at the Trop over the past six weeks. All others, such as Roe, arrived by Wednesday’s report day to undergo the intake testing — saliva for COVID-19 and blood for antibodies — required before they can join the group.

Among possibilities for their absence — besides a positive COVID-19 test that requires isolation — are a delay in getting the results from their tests, showing coronavirus symptoms, or being in known contact with someone who has tested positive for symptoms. (MLB said Friday that 31 players and seven staffers spread across 19 teams tested positive.)

Or they could be otherwise sick, injured or dealing with a personal or family matter. (Martinez, for what it’s worth, is a regular on social media but hasn’t posted in several days.)

— Marc Topkin

Meanwhile, on the field, Cash said he was pleased with the overall look of the group.

It was great to see the guy. You could tell most of the guys came in and had been doing something to keep their bodies in shape.

— Kevin Cash

Some players were relegated to conditioning work, which may have taken place outdoors, while others utilized the new batting cage with pitching mounds beneath the stands for live batting practice sessions. Hour-long workgroups took place on the field; ground balls and fly balls were taken on the turf as well as during standard batting practice.

Jalen Beeks, Pete Fairbanks, Charlie Morton, Colin Poche, Trevor Richards, and Ryan Yarbrough all threw off the mound.

Following a three-inning simulated game, Morton conceded the circumstances were odd, all though the team did a great job preparing for it. He also said that he’s not completely comfortable playing in the midst of a pandemic.

I don’t feel entirely comfortable with the idea of doing this. But I don’t know how long we’re supposed to sit in our homes and wait to make a decision about our careers. …My intention was to play if we had the opportunity. It’s my job I feel like I have a responsibility to the organization. I feel like I have a responsibility to try.

— Charlie Morton

Morton, the presumed Opening Day starter, believes he could be extended to go four innings by the scheduled start of the season.

Noteworthiness

— Cincinnati Reds southpaw Amir Garrett made an outstanding point on Friday, encouraging everyone to remember that just because baseball is back, we have a lot of work to do on other fronts.

Or, in the words of Malcolm X,

You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you’re making progress … No matter how much respect, no matter how much recognition, whites show towards me, as far as I am concerned, as long as it is not shown to every one of our people in this country, it doesn’t exist for me.

— Malcolm X

— MLB released the first set of results for COVID-19 testing: 38 positive tests – 31 players, 7 staff members. 1.2% of the 3,185 total samples collected and tested.

— The Rays will resume their Summer Camp activities on Saturday.