Rays 9/14/14 Lineup: Zobrist CF Guyer LF Longoria DH Myers RF Escobar SS Forsythe 2B Loney 1B Rodriguez 3B Casali C Colome RHP Noteworthiness Don’t forget to check out our series preview. If you already have, make it a two’fer. Derek Jeter enters the Trop in the throes of an 0-24 streak at the plate …
Category Archives: Rays Roster Moves
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to Blue Jays 6-3, Expected Roster Moves, Etc
After facing RA Dickey 10 times over the last three seasons, while averaging just 2.4 runs per game in each of those starts, one thing has become certain: if you’re lucky enough to take a lead against the knuckleballer, then you’d better try your damnedest to hold it. The Rays did both Saturday. They were able to take a lead against Dickey, yet they gave it up in one fateful — error filled — inning. Despite a game tying sixth inning solo shot to left off the bat of Evan Longoria (his 21st homer of the year), the typically dependable Brad Boxberger gave up three runs an inning later, giving Toronto a 6-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. We in the blogosphere have deemed this the stereotypical (and clichéd) Rays loss.
Early Returns of the Drew Smyly Project (Reposted from Jeff Sullivan/Fangraphs)
Since we’re nearing the end of the season, I have started to shift my focus toward the future. As bloggers and baseball writers begin to evaluate any major moves (trades, acquisitions, etc) that were made over the course of the season, one thing became obvious when discussing the Rays moving forward: Drew Smyly promises to play a major role in next season’s starting rotation. Smyly’s improvement as a starter became the talk of many a blogger and baseball writer alike, and because of it, I felt the need to repost an article (below) on that very subject. In short, if Smyly’s early returns speak to anything, it’s that he promises to be an exciting piece on the roster. If he’s done this well in only seven starts with Tampa Bay, just think about how well he’ll perform after a little more work with the Rays’ coaching staff.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Spoiler Alert — Loney, Rays Beat Yankees 4-3
I previously alluded to the idea that the Rays had two reasons to go out Tuesday night and play like they still have a chance in September:
1. To play the role of spoilers.
2. To end the season on a strong, high note.
If Tuesday night’s 4-3 win against the Yankees was indicative of anything, it would be the former.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: A “Pictures Are Worth 1,000 Words” Recap
In other words, the game was par for the course for Joel Peralta and the Tampa bay Rays. And in light of the handling of the Rays by the Orioles, urm…Nelson Cruz, something popped in my head:
If you’re looking at the end of this season as a testing ground for the 2015 season — like I am — a picture of who is expendable emerges. I wouldn’t be surprised if a trade involving Matt Joyce and SeanRod comes to pass. Also expendable are Cesar Ramos, Jose Molina (no brainer), and Joel Peralta — which is sad since he’s played an integral role in the bullpen and the clubhouse for the last few years. When Matt Moore comes back, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Hellickson moved into the long reliever role.