The New What Next: Looking Backward While Moving Forward, Wil Myers, and Lids to the Left (3/15/13 Starting Lineup Included)

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Jeff Niemann was in the 85-86 mph range during much of his 71-pitch outing. (Photo courtesy of James Borchuck/Tampa Bay Times)

The Rays put the brakes on their three-game losing skid with a 4-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday. Tampa Bay caught a break, scoring the winning run when Baltimore catcher Luis Exposito was called for using his mask to pick up the ball. That ninth-inning call allowed Wil Myers to score after he doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch.

The Rays scored their three initial runs in the third inning following a Luke Scott two-run blast to right-center off of Mike Belfiore and an Evan Longoria RBI double.

Jeff Niemann got the start for the Rays and worked into the fifth. Niemann allowed four hits and was charged with a run when Juan Sandoval gave up a three-run homer to Matt Wieters.

Niemann threw the ball relatively well, though he didn’t throw the ball hard. The tall RHP was clocked mostly at 85-86 mph while topping out an 88, below his normal velocity. Though his velocity was down, Niemann mentioned everything was fine, and that he thought the in house radar gun may have been a little off. Joe Maddon noted that there wasn’t any concern that Niemann was injured, “He was not wincing. There were no issues.”

A bit of trepidation would be par for the course, Niemann said he was throwing that way by design. Niemann focused on movement rather than velocity, throwing cutters and two-seam fastballs during his outing.

We’re definitely going more movement right now; we’re able to execute and get those bad swings and get those weak-hit balls. For me, it’s more important what the hitter’s telling me than what the radar gun says.

The Rays return to Port Charlotte on Friday where they’ll take on the Phillies with Matt Moore on the mound. We’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Moving on, Marc Topkin reported that the Rays are expected to send uber prospect Wil Myers to Triple-A Durhm within the next couple of days.

Sometime in the next couple of days, maybe even this morning, Wil Myers will be summoned from the Rays’ Port Charlotte clubhouse to the conference room across from manager Joe Maddon’s office and told he is headed to Durham, N.C., to open the season.

This move is not surprising. The consensus has always been the Myers will start the season in Durham with a projected July call up. And you’d better believe that once the move is made official, speculation will begin on when he’ll be called up. Until then, Myers will use the opportunity to grow.

I just go out and play my game and try to get better every day. Whenever the front office thinks it’s time, then that’s when it happens.

Finally in WBC news, closer Fernando Rodney came close to sinking team USA’s battleship, striking out teammate Ben Zobrist as part of his 1-2-3 ninth inning. On watching the Rodney face Zobrist in the WBC, Joe Maddon said, “It was kinda weird. I could understand the Harbaughs. Who do you root for?” The Dominican Republic beat the United States 3-1 Thursday, forcing the Americans to drop into tonight’s elimination game against Puerto Rico.

Rays 3/15/13 Starting Lineup:

Jennings CF
Escobar SS
Longoria 3B
Duncan DH
Roberts 1B
Johnson 2B
Rodriguez LF
Myers RF
Lobaton C
Moore LHP

 

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: The Spring Training Stats Leader Board

Below is the Rays Spring Training stats leader board as of March 14, 2013. These numbers will undoubtedly change, however it will be interesting to see what becomes of Leslie Anderson and Chris Gimenez – both of whom are killing it – as Spring Training progresses.

Rays stats leaders (as of 3/14/13)
Rays stats leader board (as of 3/14/13)

 

 

 

 

The New What Next: Rays vs O’s 3/14/13 and Noteworthiness (Starting Lineup Included)

Sean Rodriguez is expected to play the super-utility role this season. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times)
Sean Rodriguez is expected to be used in the super-utility role this season. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times)

The Rays will spring back into action today, attempting to put the brakes on a three-game Grapefruit League skid in Sarasota, where they’ll take on Buck Showalter and the Orioles. RHP Jeff Niemann will get the start against the O’s, with Jeremy Hellickson getting a start against the Orioles Class-A minor league squad. Niemann is still vying for the fifth spot in the starting rotation against Roberto Hernandez who’s pitched well this spring. Niemann has pitched well too, allowing only seven hits and two earned runs in eight and a third innings of work.

David Price got some work under his belt yesterday, pitching in a minor league game against the Orioles. Price went five innings and threw 60 pitches, giving up four singles and striking out six walking none. On his outing,

“It’s definitely a little bit tougher,” Price said. “There’s no national anthems, there’s no walk-up songs, there’s no people in the stands. There’s not a whole lot. You have to be kind of self-motivated.”

Rays 3/14/13 Starting Lineup:

Jennings CF
Johnson LF
Longoria 3B
Scott DH
Escobar SS
Joyce RF
Loney 1B
Roberts 2B
Lobaton C
Niemann RHP

Noteworthiness:

  • Joe Maddon gave a few clues of what the potential lineupfor the year may be, though the lineup will assuredly change throughout the course of the season. He did indicate that Desmond Jennings will leadoff, Ben Zobrist will hit second and Evan Longoria will hit in the three-hole.
  • Marc Topkin reported that Sean Rodriguez will be used in a super-utility role this season,” slated for some platoon starts at first and second base and reserve duty at short, third and all three outfield spots, even emergency catcher designation.” Unfortunately for him, Ben Zobrist will be used as the primary super-utility player. We’ll write more on this shortly.

Rays Option Three Players, Noteworthiness

 

Chris Archer signing autographs during Spring Training. (Photo courtesy of TBO)
Chris Archer signing autographs during Spring Training. (Photo courtesy of TBO)

Note: I already wrote about the optioning of three more pitchers on our Tumblr page, but felt it might be worthwhile to re-post it here.

The Rays have optioned three more pitchers to Triple-A Durham — Chris Archer, Alex Torres, and Jake Odorizzi.

Rays beat writer Marc Topkin noted, “Archer initially was surprised to be sent down this soon, but after a “Great conversation” with team officials (he) understood, and expects to be back.”

“Mixed with my conviction that I can compete at this level and with that conversation that we just had, there are no malicious feelings, there’s no like negative feelings going to Triple-A, going to the minor leagues for who knows how long,” Archer said. “I know I have to continue to develop, and something’s going to happen – every year someone goes down or they need an extra arm. So I’m going to make the most of my opportunity when I come up but continue to maximize my potential in the minor leagues.”

I’m frankly a bit surprised by this move. Archer posted an excellent 7 IP/1 H/0 R/3 BB/5 K/0.00 ERA/0.045 OBA/0.57 WHIP line in three Grapefruit League appearances, and seemed poised to appear on the opening day roster. This leaves Roberto Hernandez and Jeff Niemann to battle it out for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

A few questions lay in the wake of this move.

Will Archer’s imminent return occur sooner or later? What’s more, what roster moves could accompany his return? Also, is this an acknowledgment that Niemann will more than likely get the fifth starting spot, leaving Hernandez to work in the long reliever role? With Niemann’s history of injuries, I’d imagine that the Rays may be assuming that the tall RHP will go down, and it’s just a matter of time when. Finally, Could the Rays be priming the pump for a mid-season Niemann trade?

Rumors of the willingness for the Rays to trade Jeff Niemann have circulated the last few years, however his trade value has plummeted because of chronic injuries. It would make sense for Tampa Bay to rebuild Niemann’s trade equity, inevitably using him as leverage for some sort of deal in July. As the late Joe Strummer once said, “The future is unwritten.” We’ll just have to wait and see how all of this pans out.

Noteworthiness:

The Rays lost their third straight Grapefruit League game yesterday in a low scoring, 3-1 game against the Yankees. Offensively speaking, the Rays were quiet. However, Alex Cobb absolutely dominated in his five inning stint on the bump. Cobb posted an impressive 5 IP/2 H/0 R/0 BB/6 K line Tuesday, now boasting a 14 IP/8 H/2 R/2 ER/1 HR/1 BB/18 K/.167 OBA/0.64 WHIP slash line, with a 1.29 ERA on the spring. Cesar Ramos, Brandon Gomes, and Will Inman weren’t half bad either, combining for three innings of one hit baseball, allowing no walks while striking out three. The Rays have another off-day today.

The New What Next: Rays vs. the Evil Empire (3/12/13 Starting Lineups Included)

 

The tarp is on the field in Pt. Charlotte, though the game is still expected to go on. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)
The tarp is on the field in Pt. Charlotte, though the game is still expected to go on. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)

The Rays lost for the first time this spring to the Twins , in a 6-4, 10-inning battle. The injury stricken Desmond Jennings and Luke Scott, were both back in the lineup. Jennings doubled in the first inning and seemed to have no issue with the mild left ankle sprain incurred in Saturday’s game. Scott also didn’t seem too hampered by a tight left hamstring, going yard with a solo homer in the second.

Roberto Hernandez allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out three in four innings of work. Hernandez seemed pleased with his outing, saying,

I felt great today, I kept the ball down. … I’m very, very happy about [the way I’m progressing]. Every day I continue to work.

The Yankees will make the trek to Port Charlotte today for a 1:05 PM matchup. Alex Cobb is slated to make his fourth start of the spring, going up against Ivan Nova. Cobb has done well thus far, allowing just two earned runs in nine innings of, while striking out 12.

Rays and Yankees 3/12/13 Starting Lineup:

Rays/Yankees 3/12/13 Starting Lineup (Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
Rays/Yankees 3/12/13 Starting Lineup (Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

 

Noteworthiness:

  • The Rays announced that David Price will be the opening day starter on April 2nd against the Orioles.
  • Luke Scott is not in the Rays lineup as he initially thought he’d be. That’s not too surprising, with this being a day game after night game, not to mention that the field is wet and he’s coming off the above mentioned hamstring injury.