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Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Moore Pulled Early, Rays Fall 4-2

Matt Moore walks off the field with a trainer following an injury during the sixth inning of the Monday night's game. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) — Matt Moore walks off the field with a trainer following an injury during the sixth inning of the Monday night’s game. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

The Tampa Bay Rays fell to 4-4 on the year, after dropping the first game of a three-game set against Jason Vargas and the Royals, by a score of 4-2. The Rays have now lost seven consecutive games at Kauffman Stadium — extending back to 2012. What’s more, the starting rotation could be down a pitcher (for an unknown amount of time) on the heels of Matt Moore’s early departure from Monday night’s game.

Moore allowed only one run, following a lead off triple by Norichika Aoki (aided by Sean Rodriguez’s poor placement in left field; more on that below), though he was constantly down in the count during the his brief 78 pitch stint on the mound. In short, he was unable to put hitters away with two strikes. Moore started the fifth inning on the verge of turning it around, following a 1-2-3 fourth. He quickly got Alcides Escobar to ground out to first, bringing Aoki to the plate. But with a 2-2 count, Moore grimaced while throwing a changeup subsequently removed from the game. Cesar Ramos came on in relief and finished the fifth.

The southpaw left the game because of elbow soreness — a similar diagnosis that of sixth months prior, when he was placed on the DL for the month of August. Rays trainer Ron Porterfield said this bout with elbow soreness appears less severe than last year’s. Furthermore, the Rays made mention that though the tests were inconsistent, there’s no reason to believe it’s serious at this time. Joe Maddon, as he’s want to do, attempted to lessen the blow, saying Moore felt soreness but did not hear a pop. Whether this is an extenuating issue from quirks in his mechanics is unknown. Eric Hahmann of DRaysBay put things into perspective, “The changeup is an important pitch for him, but if it’s going to give him elbow soreness something will have to change.” Moore will have an MRI, Tuesday.

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As for the rest of the game, Heath Bell hit Omar Infante with a pitch, to the left side of his jaw, in the sixth inning. Bloodied, Infante walked off field, with help from trainers, with a towel on his face. Bell also allowed a bases clearing double in the same inning, putting the Rays in a four run hole. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why he filled the role of long reliever, throwing 2-2/3 innings, while Cesar Ramos worked just one.

On the other side of the coin, the Rays offense failed to come up with the big hit they so desperately needed. Going 1-5 wRISP, Tampa Bay stranded eight men on the bags. Blanked until the ninth inning, Ben Zobrist broke up the shutout with a towering homer to left (his first of the year). I will give them credit for not rolling over and playing dead. The Rays put together a ninth inning rally following BenZo’s shot, ultimately bringing the tying run to the plate. Matt Joyce singled home Logan Forsythe to bring the Rays within two, but David DeJesus whiffed at the final pitch of the game, handing the Rays their second straight loss.

The New What Next

Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday! A battle between a pair of power righties: Chris Archer, and the Pedro Martinez-like Yordano Ventura. You can read more about Ventura, in our series preview.

Rays 4/8/14 Starting Lineup

DeJesus LF
Myers RF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Joyce DH
Molina C
Escobar SS
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

The only two starters to record hits were Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria, combining to go 5-10 on the night.
The Rays could have won the game 2-0, hadn’t it been for a pair of unfortunate events. First, Sean Rodriguez misjudged Aoki’s lead off triple (he came around to score) playing him entirely too shallow. Then there was Bell’s three run inning. Sigh…

Ray 4/7/14 Starting Lineup, Etc

The scene at Kauffman Stadium, in Kansas City. Juxtapose that with the photo from May 1, 2013 below. — The scene, this afternoon, from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Juxtapose that with the photo (below) from May 1, 2013.

Never forget May 1, 2013. Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey takes a picture of snow falling in Kansas City after Tampa Bay's game was postponed. — Never forget May 1, 2013. Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey took a photo of the falling snow in Kansas City, after the Rays/Royals game was postponed.

Ray 4/7/14 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Myers RF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Forsythe DH
Loney 1B
Rodriguez LF
Hanigan C
Escobar SS
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness

Matt Moore will get the start on the mound Monday night, opposite of Jason Vargas. The Royals lefty (former Angel) has gone 3-2 while putting together a healthy 2.59 ERA against the Rays over the last three seasons. Don’t forget you can read about tonight’s pitching match-up, and more, here.
A mere 11 months ago, we were talking about a May snow-out in Kansas City, when the Rays attempted to face the Royals in the mid-western barbeque capital of America. At least the temperature will be in the 60’s tonight. Let’s hope the bats are even hotter.
The Royals announced neither relievers Tim Collins or Francisley Bueno will be available — both went on DL today. In turn, they’ve called up Donnie Joseph and Michael Mariot.
Tampa Bay is the majors’ best team on the road over the last four years, but are 3-13 all-time in road openers. They’ll be looking to reverse the curse tonight.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Royals — A Series Preview of Sorts

Runners on first and second in the fifth inning Sunday, at Tropicana Field. (Photo courtesy of staff contributor Jacob Del Campo/X-Rays Spex)

The Tampa Bay Rays bid adieu to the Trop Sunday afternoon following their 3-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. All is not lost however, the Rays went 4-3 in their first home stand of the year, leaving the confines of the big top as the only team in the AL East with a +.500 record. I know… It’s still really early, but it feels really good to mention that Tampa Bay is in first place. They’ll begin a long nine game road trip in Kansas City, Monday. The Royals are coming off of a tough 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, one in which James Shields tossed seven innings of one run ball. The ChiSox blew the game open after Juego G was pulled.

For Jake Odorizzi and Wil Myers, the trip to Kansas City will be a homecoming of sorts. Mind you, both Odorizzi and Myers came over from the Royals organization in the much heralded James Shields trade. “It’s pretty special,” Odorizzi said in a Tampa Bay Times piece. “Between Wil and I going back there together at the same time, I think it’s going to be pretty cool just because we’re not that far removed from being traded. It’ll be cool to go back and play on the other side of the dugout.”

Kansas City’s offense is off to a slow start. The Royals are batting a combined .244 and is the only team in the majors without a home run. Salvador Perez is batting .438 and Alex Gordon has knocked in five runs for the Royals, however Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar are a combined 1-for-32.

Rays and Royals offensive production thus far.

Jason Vargas: Vargas will make his second start of the year following a five hit/seven inning no-decision against the Tigers Wednesday. He struck out six, walked one, and gave up one run. Over the last three seasons against the Rays, Vargas has gone 3-2 while putting together a healthy 2.59 ERA. In kind, the Rays have combined to slash .260 BA/.326 OBP/.382 SLG/.708 OPS against the left handed fastball/curve ball/changeup pitcher. Key match-ups: James Loney (4-8, RBI), Evan Longoria (4-17, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Jose Molina (3-5, 2B, BB), Ben Zobrist (4 2B, 5 RBI, 3 BB).

Yordano Ventura: Nicknamed Lil Pedro’ his comparison to Pedro Martinez, Ventura is a power pitcher that has touched 100 mph on several occasions, hitting 98 almost every time out and sits at 94-97. Per his scouting report, his stuff, size and arm slots have prompted comparisons to Neftali Feliz and the aforementioned Pedro Martinez. Many have opined Ventura’s fastball/curve ball combination is downright deadly, however there are a couple of gripes surrounding Ventura: the overall quality of his changeup, and a lack of consistency with his command. On the subject of his 2013 cameo with the Royals, Bleacher Report‘s Zachary Rymer writes, “Ventura was solid in his 2013 cameo, but really only solid. His 3.52 ERA was nice, but his 1.83 K/BB ratio was less than nice and FanGraphs put his WAR at an even 0.0. Basically, he was what the “R” in WAR is all about: a replacement-level player.”

Jeremy Guthrie: In his last three seasons against the Rays, Jeremy Guthrie has posted a 3-4 record, with a 4.06 ERA, and just a 37/19 K/BB over 51 innings of work. In his last outing, Guthrie allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings against the White Sox on Friday. Key match-ups: Brandon Guyer (1-3), Desmond Jennings (2-7), Matt Joyce (13-32, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB), Evan Longoria (12-42, 5 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB), Sean Rodriguez (2-7, HR, 2 RBI), Ben Zobrist (13-38, 3 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB).

Noteworthiness

Myers went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in an 11-1 loss in his initial return to Kansas City, last season. Since then, he’s won the Rookie of the Year, and drove in four runs in the Rays opening week of baseball.
The Rays have limited opponents to three runs or fewer in five of seven games this season, ranking in the majors’ top 10 with a 2.57 ERA. They, however, surrendered seven or more runs five times while dropping six of the seven meetings with the Royals in 2013. Tampa Bay ended up with a 7.95 ERA in the series, its highest mark versus any opponent.
Tampa Bay is the majors’ best team on the road over the last four years, but are 3-13 all-time in road openers. They’ll be looking to reverse the curse Monday night.
Entering Sunday, the Rays were the only team in the majors yet to commit an error. The streak of six errorless games tied their longest run in club history to start a season, repeating last year’s feat.
“While there’s a strong likelihood of a David Price trade next offseason,” writes Cork Gaines of Rays Index, regarding the state of the Rays moving forward, “much of the team is controlled through at least the 2016 season. Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce are exceptions to that rule, but each is controllable through 2015. It’s unlikely, Gaines writes, that the Rays will feel pressured to make any big additions next winter, with the possible exception of the bullpen.” I’d argue that Ben Zobrist may be the next Ray to receive a contract extension.

A Non-Series Preview Related Aside

“I can’t give enough praise to the surrounding neighborhood to Tropicana Field,” writes Jim Dietrich of Stadium Reviews. “While the argument that the stadium is located “too far from the base of population in Tampa” seems to be gaining steam (no matter how untrue that statement actually is; see “Access”), anyone who prejudges the Trop based on where it is located on a map is sorely missing out on one of the most vibrant Major League neighborhoods in the country. Located in downtown St. Petersburg, the Trop is walking distance to numerous bars, clubs, shops, restaurants, dives, concert venues, and Tampa Bay itself, the body of water to which the team is named after and what makes this area famous.”

Dietrich goes on to write,

If it’s not the playoffs or an important game, attendance can be below 50% capacity. If it is one of those games, though, sellouts are not uncommon. Because the attendance is so up and down, despite the loyalty and passion the fans do have, they show it on Twitter from their sofas instead of their voices in the stands, and I have to low-ball this category. There really is no good excuse anymore why no one is attending, and where I once gave benefit of the doubt from personal experience, I have to face reality and call it for what it is. Don’t get me wrong: the 2013 ALDS Game 3, the first one at home for the Rays since the 2011 Playoffs, sold out two days before the scheduled match (better than can be said for the Red Sox in Game 1 of that series), and all but one home playoff game the Rays have ever hosted have sold out, but this is where I have to evaluate the two versions of the Trop, and in this case, the regular season outweighs the otherwise-fantastic postseason presentation.

You’ve been called out, Rays fans. I’m not denying the Rays deserve more — they do. I, like a good number of you, would love to see a new, sparkling facility for our guys. However, the Trop is home for the foreseeable future, and every fan that can make the jaunt to the Trop, should make the jaunt.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Come From Behind to Win, 5-4

Grant Balfour celebrates the final out of a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning Saturday. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

“Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you,” a good friend once wrote. To that end, sometimes you go to a fine local establishment to share a few drinks in a joyous environment with friends, and sometimes you feel a bit slow in the morning — this being one of those times. Forgive me. The Rays came from behind late in the game Saturday, walking away with 5-4 against Ron Washington’s crew. This being their third consecutive win, I believe that’s what the sabermetricians call a winning streak. Since I’m under, urm…precarious conditions at the moment, I’ll stick with the game peripherals, as opposed to a full on game recap.

Game Peripherals

A simple fact: David Price didn’t have his best stuff Saturday night — something that, in hindsight, could be attributed to the Rays southpaw being sick. The Rays ace had a hard time with putting the Rangers away with two outs. Three of Texas’ four runs came with two outs, while Price relinquished five two-out hits. Price eventually settled into the game and shut the Rangers down, but that didn’t come till after the fourth inning. In any case, Price was able to keep the Rays in the game throughout the duration of his 6 IP/9 H/4 ER/6 K outing, giving them the opportunity to chink away at the Rangers’ lead.
Yunel Escobar put the Rays on the board in the third inning, hitting a massive 428 foot blast to left field.
Matt Joyce brought the Rays within one run in the fourth, sending a two-run no doubter 374 feet down the right field line, scoring James Loney.
Tampa Bay had a scoring opportunity in the seventh inning, but couldn’t pounce. Joyce led off the inning by hitting a base hit to left, moving over to third on a Logan Forsythe pinch hit single to left center. But Forsythe was thrown out at second in an errant attempt to advance on the play. Yunel Escobar and David DeJesus ended the inning by grounding out to short. The Rays went 2-8 wRISP on the night.
From his lips to God’s ears… Ian Malinowski of DRaysBay succinctly summed up the Rays eighth inning,

Myers lead off and quickly found himself behind in the count, but he fought off several cutters in on his hands before taking a walk. The strategy of the inning got interesting as Zobrist proceeded to lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt down the left field line. Longoria took the first pitch inside, and then was given an intentional walk to put men on first and second with one out for James Loney (who ultimately drove in two on an opposite field double off a Cotts cutter. …Loney said in his victorious postgame interview that Cotts struck him out for his last at bat of game 163 last season to move his average from .300 to .299, and that this game was payback. Lovely job today, Loney.

Jośe Molina attempted to pickoff Choo at second, throwing a phantom bullet to no one at second base. Ben Zobrist, who was setup directly between first and second, high tailed it over to second to cover the bag — subsequently saving Molina from a throwing error. Choo made his way back to first. Jośe, you owe Zobrist a beer.
OPERATION WICHITA! Maddon called for a review of an excellent fielding play by Yunel Escobar in shallow left field, gunning the ball over to James Loney at first. It appeared that the ball beat Chirinos by a half step, yet he was initially called safe by the first base umpire. Upon further review, the safe call was overturned. Maddon is now 2-for-2 in challenges
Balfour didn’t pitch amazingly in his first save opportunity — missing the outside corner to lefties on multiple occasions — but he was certainly more efficient than he had been on Tuesday when he threw 21 pitches.

The New What Next

It’s a good thing the have already Rays won the series, because today is going to be no fun with Yu Darvish on the mound. Let’s hope Alex Cobb can keep the Rays in the game. You can read about the matchup here.

Rays 4/6/14 Starting Lineup

DeJesus DH
Myers RF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Joyce LF
Hanigan C
Escobar SS
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

Marc Topkin writes, “The two-year extension for SS Yunel Escobar isn’t necessarily a sign the Rays have given up on prospect Hak-Ju Lee (though last year’s severe knee injury caused understandable pause), but an opportunity to maximize value in Escobar, who could end up being traded.”

Rays Extend Yunel Escobar’s Contract

The Rays announced they’ve signed shortstop Yunel Escobar to a two-year, $13MM extension for 2015 and 2016, plus a club option for 2017.

Per Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors,

Escobar will make $5MM in 2014 in the first option year of a two-year deal for 2012 and 2013 that included two options. His new contract will replace the $5MM team option for 2015 on his old one, so this new deal essentially locks the Rays in for that $5MM in 2015 and for $8MM more for 2016, while giving them rights to 2017.

Escobar slashed .256 BA/.332 OBP/.366 SLG/.698 OPS for the Rays in 2013, and provided excellent value defensively — he posted a 10.7 UZR in 2013 and has been a consistently above-average defensive shortstop throughout his career. Though he provides little power a good on-base ability (.350 career on-base percentage) go well with his strong defense.