By staff contributor, Michael Nazarro
Let me preface this saying, I never understood the hype behind Ubaldo Jimenez. Since his 19-8, 2.88 ERA 2010 season, his ERA has hovered around five for all but one season. But he sure made the Rays look foolish tonight, throwing 5-1/3 innings, surrendering only one run and walking only 2, before being chased from the game by a Wil Myers single and David DeJesus single that pushed Myers to third. However, as been the case with the Rays for the most part this season, the big hit was elusive and the inning ended quickly after Jimenez was removed.
It had been hard to watch these games lately and I savor the few great offensive moments that I get to see. Though Price didn’t pitch awfully, he surrendered the big hit and missed his spot a few too many times. Again, officially, a Rays’ starter couldn’t log more than 5 innings and the Rays again had to employ the use of their overworked bullpen, who pitched well.
Some Key Notes
- Hickey earned himself his second ejection, the last one being in 2009, in the middle of the first for what seemed to be arguing an Adam Jones check swing. I, however missed this as I decided to prepare some dinner without realizing what time it was.
- Price’s pitch count by inning: 15, 25, 16, 27, 6, 13. Off those, can you guess which innings he surrendered runs? It has seemed that when he’s gotten in trouble this season he gets flustered.
- Longoria, after the first inning, had a less than memorable game. He game up twice in clutch situations and twice failed to provide the clutch hit. He also had a rough fielding inning in the fourth, though no errors were charged to him, he bobbled the ball to allow an infield hit and then allowed a ball to bounce under his glove and into himself, allowing another infield hit.
- The Rays bullpen were nearly lights out. Boxberger looked fantastic coming in relief of Price, striking out the side with 3 inherited runners. Peralta came in next and struck out 1. Then Oviedo, who seems to be gathering himself and we’re beginning to see what the Rays loved about him so much, pitched a hitless 8th and a hitless 9th.
- Steve Pearce, in the absence of Chris Davis, has tried to emanate his power, putting a baseball in the stands and giving the O’s the lead they would hold for the rest of the game.
- The RISP situation and the fact that starters aren’t eating innings are the most dire issues. I haven’t felt comfortable with anyone by Ramos and McGee on the mound this season and that’s sad. All we ever hear about is the depth of the pitching staff. There has to be some reevaluating done somewhere. 1-12 RISP is obscene and pathetic.
The New What Next
Odorizzi will bring his 6.83 to the Trop tomorrow against Corey Kluber and the Indians. The Tribe have faced similar issues as the Rays and getting away from the AL East may be just was the doctor ordered. I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.
Rays 5/9/14 Starting Lineup (Courtesy of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce)
DeJesus DH
Zobrist 2B
Loney 1B
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Joyce LF
Guyer CF
Escobar SS
Hanigan C
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
- Per Marc Topkin “Cobb will throw to hitters on Friday, Hellickson will throw another bullpen Saturday.” Given Cobb’s fantastic progress is rehabbing, we could possibly see him back sooner rather than later, which gives everyone the most optimism that once this rotation is back to some sort of normalcy the Rays could be a real boy again.
- Per Elias, there’s no record of anyone else coming in with the bases loaded, and striking out the next three batters on nine pitches. A caveat: the data incomplete.
- Don’t forget to read about tonight’s match-up, and so much more, in our Rays/Indians series preview.