X-Rays Spex – Page 492 – A Below fWAR Rays Fan Site

Rays Tie Yankees 3-3, Jim Hickey’s S***, Etc

George M. Steinbrenner Field, as seen from behind home plate. — George M. Steinbrenner Field, seen from behind home plate.

The Tampa Bay Rays walked out of George M. Steinbrenner Field with a 3-3 tie Sunday afternoon — their second of the Grapefruit League season. Let it be said and known; Sunday’s game was the only game where it was appropriate to say it took place in Tampa. Please make note of that ESPN, Fox or any other national sports outlet. I digress.

Chris Archer was strong in his second outing of the spring, posting a 3.1 IP/2 Hits/0 R/0 BB/2 K/4 GO/3 FO/49 pitches (31 strikes) line, inducing mostly soft contact after striking out the first two batters of the game. The Rays trusty RHP recorded three fly outs and four ground outs, including an excellent play on a third inning comebacker (seen below).

Though they had scoring opportunities a plenty — going 2-for-10 wRISP, and stranding three men in scoring position with two outs — the Rays didn’t score a run until the seventh when James Loney opened the inning with a ground-rule double to left. Loney was pinch-run for by Kevin Kiermaier, who came around to score when Yankees hurler Bruce Billings wildly threw to first base on a Sean Rodriguez sac-bunt. Ryan Hanigan then added an RBI single to drive in Rodriguez. Tampa Bay scored their other run on a Mikie Mahtook RBI single in the eighth.

I won’t indulge you on all the gory details of Sunday’s contest — after all, I already did as much via our Tumblr page. Click the screenshot below for a blow-by-blow account of the game.

Click the screenshot (above) to be redirected to our Tumblr page, where you can read a blow-by-blow account of Sunday's game -- among other things. — Click the screenshot (above) to be redirected to our Tumblr page, where you can read a blow-by-blow account of Sunday’s game — among other things.

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi will start Monday afternoon when the Rays travel to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. Also scheduled to see action are left-handers Erik Bedard. Both Odorizzi and Bedard are competing for the number five spot in the rotation. RHP Heath Bell is also slated to make his third appearance of the spring. Cesar Ramos was slated to pitch in Ft. Myers as well, however he will throw at the Rays Spring Training complex in Port Charlotte instead.

Rays 3/10/14 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 1B
Escobar SS
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Rodriguez CF
Nix 2B
Betemit DH
Hanigan C
Guyer LF
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

As Roger Sherman of SB Nation asserts, “Pitching coaches have an intricate, complex job: they have to know the ins and outs of the mechanics of each of their pitchers, what works, what doesn’t, what should happen against which hitters, stuff like that. It’s more than they can keep in their head. Which is why you see them with little books and clipboards and stuff.” Because of it, Rays pitching coach Jim hickey has a handy method to let you know which clipboard is his. You’ll have to see what that method is below:

Ben Zobrist still has a stiff neck, and will likely be out for a few more days. According to Zo’s saw doctor, his neck issue does not seem to be serious. In other injury news, Joel Peralta told Marc Topkin that his stiff neck feels better, but he is not sure when he’ll be pitching again — could be Tuesday or a few more days.

A quick heads up: I ordered 24 more Raymones shirts, and they should be in by next week. If you didn’t order one the first time around, your chance to do so is right around the corner! Star Booty will also be carrying them.

We currently have five shirts left in stock, in sizes small and medium. Check our merch store for ordering information.

Pittsburgh Bests Tampa Bay, Rays Make First Cuts of the Spring, and More

628x471 — Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Grant Balfour reacts as he walks off the field in the fourth inning, after he gave up a three-run homer during an exhibition baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Port Charlotte, Fla., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Gerald Herbert/AP)

Bill Chastain of MLB.com put it best,

Pittsburgh put its offense into high gear Saturday in taking a 10-5 win over Tampa Bay at Charlotte Sports Park.

Matt Moore had a rough start for the Rays, pitching for 24 minutes before getting lifted with two outs in the first inning. Moore’s outing had an inauspicious beginning when he hit Pirates leadoff batter Starling Marte, then walked Jordy Mercer.

Russell Martin singled home Marte before Brandon Guyer missed Pedro Alvarez’s drive to right field, allowing Mercer to score. Gaby Sanchez added a two-run double while Jose Tabata and Marte added RBI singles to give the Pirates a 6-0 cushion.

Sam Runion took over for Moore after Marte’s single and retired Mercer on a groundout to end the inning. Moore allowed six runs — four earned — on five hits and a walk. He threw 41 pitches, 25 for for strikes.

“We’re in a very unique situation where we’re in Spring Training,” Moore said. “These games don’t go on our record. … If I’m not going to get out of the first inning, I want it to be here.”

If Chastain’s summary wasn’t enough, perhaps the box-score screen shots will better put things in perspective.

I’d have to say Saturday’s game was pretty ouch worthy. Moving forward.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will make his second start of the spring on Sunday, when the Rays travel to Tampa to play the Yankees. Right-hander Josh Lueke is also scheduled to see action.

Rays 3/9/14 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Joyce LF
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Rod 3B
Figueroa 2B
Hanigan C
Molina DH
Nix SS
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

Moore, on his rough outing:

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/ELFTHeMPYKw”]

The Rays made their first cuts of the spring following Saturday’s game, sending down six pitchers and two others so they can prepare for the minor league season. Optioned to Triple-A were RHP Alex Colome and LHPs Mike Montgomery and Enny Romero; reassigned were RHPs Matt Andriese, Merrill Kelly and Victor Mateo, plus OF James Darnell and C Luke Maile. On that note, Marc Topkin gave us a glimpse of the potential 25-man opening day roster:

Pitchers (12): Chris Archer, Grant Balfour, Heath Bell, Alex Cobb, Brandon Gomes, Josh Lueke, Jake McGee, Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi, Joel Peralta, David Price, Cesar Ramos

Catchers (2): Ryan Hanigan, Jose Molina

Infielders (6): Yunel Escobar, Logan Forsythe, James Loney, Evan Longoria, Sean Rodriguez, Ben Zobrist

Outfielders (5): David DeJesus, Brandon Guyer, Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce, Wil Myers

DL: RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo

Of stiff necks, sore sides and back pains… RHP Joel Peralta is reportedly fine after the pitcher experienced “kind of a whiplash” from reacting to a comebacker. Peralta said he felt “real uncomfortable” on the back of his neck and upper shoulder at first and still was a bit stiff afterward. “I don’t think it’s anything serious,” he said. “I hope not.” He went on to say his neck still a little sore, and he will know more after playing catch — though Peralta doesn’t think it’s anything long-term.

Ben Zobrist, who played in two games after recovering from back tightness, was scratched from the lineup due to a stiff neck. David DeJesus hasn’t played since Tuesday, and might not play until this Tuesday, due to soreness on his right side. “Nothing worth noting,” he said. Maddon expects Zobrist, Peralta and DeJesus to be playing early this week.

Rays Beat Jays 6-3, Game Includes First Instant Replay For Tampa Bay

Joe Maddon: Doin' it for the kids. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays) — Joe Maddon: Doin’ it for the kids in Dunedin. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

After going 0-1-1 to start the Grapefruit League season, the Tampa Bay Rays have won five consecutive games — including a 6-3 victory against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Friday. Kevin Kiermaier and Cameron Seitzer muscled the Rays past the Jays, each going yard and combining for four RBI. Of interest, Seitzer’s dad is the hitting coach for the Blue Jays, and his line drive shot came in front of him.

Alex Cobb put together another strong outing, slashing 3 IP/2 H/0 R/1 BB/1 K on 47 pitches (31 strikes). Cobb impressively kept the ball on the ground, inducing seven groundouts and one flyout. The Rays’ right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista in the first, but then retired eight straight batters. Marc Topkin reported, “Cobb was pleased with his outing — as much about executing pitches as the results he got.”

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the third inning on an RBI single by Desmond Jennings. Kiermaier added to the Rays’ lead in the following inning with a two-run shot to right-center field — his first home run of the spring. The Rays picked up where they left off with another rally in the fifth. Matt Joyce kept the inning alive with a two-out double to center. Joyce around to score on a single by Wil Myers.

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/R0yahrkHh_M” title=”Rays%20minor-league%201B%20Cameron%20Seitzer%20was%20obviously%20excited%20Friday%20to%20hit%20a%20home%20run%20in%20front%20of%20his%20dad%20Kevin,%20who%20is%20the%20Blue%20Jays%20hitting%20coach.”]

The New What Next

The Rays are back in Port Charlotte on Saturday to face the Pirates. Matt Moore will make his second start of the spring. Right-hander Joel Peralta is also expected to pitch, along with left-hander Jake McGee.

Rays 3/7/14 Starting Lineup

Zobrist 2B
Loney 1B
Longoria 3B
Escobar SS
Molina C
Guyer RF
Mahtook CF
Christian LF
Casali DH
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness

Marc Topkin writes, “This was the Rays first game with instant replay, and there was one challenge — by Toronto manager John Gibbons — on a play in the ninth at first base, and it was upheld, with the review taking about one minute.” You can see a still-shot of the play below.

The Sun Will Come Out… In Dunedin

Rain wiped out Thursday's scheduled Grapefruit League action at Ed Smith Stadium. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays) — Rain wiped out Thursday’s scheduled Grapefruit League action at Ed Smith Stadium. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

The Rays will head north to Dunedin Friday following Thursday’s rainout. And though Tampa Bay had to forego their seventh game of the season, all is not lost — Joe Maddon thanked the Orioles for making the decision early to call the game, allowing the Rays to get work done and avoid wasted travel time. David Price, Heath Bell, Josh Lueke and Alex Colome got their work in at the Rays Port Charlotte training complex. Price threw 61 pitches between the practice field and cages, and said things went well.

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/auLCi5npkrk”]

Moving forward. Alex Cobb will make his second start of the spring Friday. The RHP last pitched Sunday, allowing two hits and striking out three in 1-2/3 innings against the Twins. Also scheduled to see action are right-handers Brandon Gomes and Matt Andriese.

Rays 3/6/14 Starting Lineup

Noteworthiness

Rays Spring Training record going back to 2008, and the end of the season results. — Rays Spring Training record going back to 2008, and the season end results.

Food for thought… Surely you’ve heard many opine, Spring Training is too long, and the results are ultimately meaningless. To an extent that’s true. However, like an earwig, I wanted to lay an egg in your brain. With the exception of the 2013 season, when the Rays head back to the Trop with a plus .500 winning percentage in Spring Training, they find themselves in the postseason. Furthermore, Tampa Bay won the AL East in 2008 and 2010 — the two seasons they posted a plus .692 winning percentage in Spring Training. Sure, a six season snapshot isn’t a huge sample size. It is evidence enough though, that when the Rays end Spring Training with a .500 winning percentage (give or take a game either way), they end the season with life past game 162.

Rays Come From Behind to Beat the Yanks, 5-4 (Updated)

Ben Zobrist after a homer in the first inning against the Yankees. (Photo courtesy of Will Vragovic)

Update: Thursday’s game against the Orioles has been called off. Joe Maddon thanked the Orioles for making the decision early to call the game, allowing them to get work done and avoid wasted travel time. Price, Bell, Lueke, Colome got their work in, which was most important part of today for Maddon.

A day after Joe Maddon announced Cesar Ramos as a candidate for the number five spot in the starting rotation, the Rays southpaw got the start against the Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park. Tampa Bay eked out a come-from-behind victory, thanks to a trifecta of home runs by Ben Zobrist, Desmond Jennings, and Matt Joyce.

Ramos was shaky in the first inning, surrendering one-out singles to Eduardo Nunez and Ichiro Suzuki before former Ray Russ Canzler singled home Nunez. Another former Ray, Kelly Johnson, followed by grounding into an RBI force-out, putting the Yankees up 2-0. But Ramos settled down in the following 1-2/3 innings, allowing only two other hits while striking out two and walking none over all. Of the 42 pitches he threw, 27 were strikes.

“Felt pretty natural to be back out there [starting],” Ramos said. “The ups and down, I was more curious to see how I would react to it. I felt fine the whole way.”

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/7qw2m0D0-rg”]

Grant Balfour pitched the fourth inning, and followed a HBP by relenting a two-run single to Brett Gardner and putting the Yankees up, 4-1. Joel Peralta and Jake Odorizzi closed out the game, combining for two excellent innings of 2 H/0 BB/4 K ball.

On the other side of the coin, Adam Warren surrendered an opposite-field home run to Ben Zobrist in the first inning — his first hit of the spring. Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Desmond Jennings homered off New York righty Robert Coello with two aboard, knotting up the game at four apiece. Two batters later, Matt Joyce hit a proper bomb to right-field, giving the Rays a 5-4 lead they’d never relinquish.

Watch the action below via DRaysBay‘s game highlight reel.

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/JtNbZdPLlVA”]

The New What Next

David Price will make his second start of the spring when the Rays travel to Sarasota, for a contest against the Orioles on Thursday. Price allowed one run against the Pirates 1-2/3 innings on Saturday. Also expected to see action are right-handers Heath Bell and Josh Lueke.

Rays 3/6/14 Starting Lineup

DeJesus LF
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Longoria 3B
Escobar SS
J. Moore DH
Forsythe 2B
Molina C
Rodriguez CF
Lara

Noteworthiness

Wilson Betemit is finally in Port Charlotte, following visa issues that kept him out of the country. Per Marc Topkin, Betemit said the visa delay was unexpected and frustrating, but he was working out at the Rays academy and can be ready for games in couple days.

With the uncertain weather, the Rays will take BP in Port Charlotte and delay their departure to Sarasota until 10:30. David Price, who was slated to throw his second outing of the spring, will pitch in a simulated game in Port Charlotte instead. Heath Bell, Alex Colome, Nate Karns and Josh Lueke will also throw in Port Charlotte. Braulio Lara will start if they play in Sarasota today.

safe_image — So, uhh… Get in touch with me for a promo code that would give both of us $10 in Burst Bucks.

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