A Chemical Bombination In Nine Innings; Rays vs. Sox 5/17/12 (Starting Lineup Included)

The first pitch in tonight’s highly anticipated game is less than two hours away. Following the eighth inning events last night, a certain level of nervous anticipation is in the air. Will the Rays reciprocate in tonight’s series closer against the Sox? Could the events of last night, along with Gonzo’s errant comments regarding a poorly called game at the plate, be a catalyst for Matt Moore who’s struggled so far in 2012? Hell, last night found Fernando Rodney on the mound with a resolve to tear the heads off of the four batters he faced, throwing only 13 pitches (11 for strikes) to close out the game.It would be beautiful to see young Matt do the same!

I don’t think Matt Moore will seek to lay one into any batters tonight. And at 1-3, with a 5.31 ERA, I’d imagine that Moore would rather go out there, avoid any distractions, and try to do what he is capable of doing: dominate. Moore is coming off two consecutive sub-five inning appearances that resulted in a loss. In those two starts he’s given up a combined nine earned runs on 11 hits. This isn’t the Moore we saw at the end of last season when he was called up, nor is it indicative of how he’ll pitch for the rest of the season. He needs to go out there and have a good outing, and start to rebuild his confidence. Let’s hope that Moore can do, consistently, what he did in the first two innings of his last start: locate his pitches.

To be honest, I’d foresee any retribution coming on the base-paths, if at all. Perhaps a few hard slides into second base could be in order? Let’s not forget the “unintentional” plunking of That Giant Injured Ogre following his Incredible Hulk like stomping of the ankle of then first-baseman Casey Kotchman, the previous night. Then again, Price was on the mound in that game, not Matt Moore. No, we’ve all seen Sean Rodriguez slide very hard into second as a means to break up a double play. I’d think it would be reasonable to expect the Rays take out any pent-up frustration on the shins of the Sox infielders by going into the bags hard.

On the mound for the Red Sox is Felix Doubront (3-1, 4.46 ERA). The Rays are hitting .359 in 39 career at bats against Doubront, including two home runs by Luke Scott. Tampa Bay roughed Doubront up in their last meeting, scoring four runs on nine hits, knocking him out of the game in the fifth.

Primarily a fastball pitcher, Doubront also leans on his off-speed stuff quite a bit. Yet, he has had a problem with locating his fastball against the Rays over the course of his career, with only 34% of his fastball’s finding the zone. More so, he’s had a much harder time finding the zone with his off-speed stuff. If there’s any pitcher in the Sox starting rotation that the Rays can fully take advantage of, it’s Doubront. And there’s no better time to do so, than tonight.

Doubront has literally thrown the Rays junk over his career. Courtesy of Baseball IQ

Though 0-12 last night with runners in scoring position, the Rays beat up the Sox by reaching base 12 times on nine hits, three walks, and one hit batter, eventually knocking Buckholz out of the game after only 87 pitches. It will be imperative that the Rays can get that many men on the bags (cough, if not more) tonight with a struggling Matt Moore on the mound. What’s more, they’ll need to get ’em on, get ’em over, and get ’em home. Say what you will about the Red Sox, but even with 12 men on the DL, they can still pose a sizeable threat offensively if given the opportunity. The trick for the Rays will be to squash any offensive threat while grinding away at a taxed, and sub-par, Red Sox pitching staff.

Maddon made an interesting move by giving Matt Joyce the night off, and starting the newly acquired Rich Thompson in left-field. I’d imagine that Joyce would be available off of the bench at some point.

Tampa Bay Rays (24-14):

Zobrist RF

Upton CF

Scott DH

Keppinger 2B

Pena 1B

Rodriguez 3B

Johnson SS

Gimenez C

Thompson LF

Moore LHP

Of note: There was a nice piece on 33 year-old rookie Rich Thompson on the Fangraphs site today. You can view it here. Also, could Longoria’s return be even sooner than we’re led to believe? We heard yesterday that Longo took batting practice, and it was noted in a series of tweets (below) by Marc Topkin, that Longoria was on the field today getting a little fielding practice in under his belt.

 

Mayor Foster Interview with WUSF 89.7

Photo courtesy of 89.7 WUSF

Mayor Foster recently took part in an interview for 89.7 WUSF’s Florida centric news show, Florida Matters. Part of that interview aired this morning on WUSF 89.7. In the interview, Mayor Foster spoke frankly about many issues concerning St. Petersburg.

Most importantly, for the Rays minded individual that is, he spoke about Bob Buckhorn’s attempt at weaseling in on stadium discussions, the potential for a new stadium on this side of the bay, and the inane notion of trading the Rays to Hillsborough for the cruise ship industry, among other things.

I personally feel that it’s a fairly enlightening interview, though I’ll hold on to my opinions otherwise for, as the kids say, a hot minute. The interview, in its, entirety can be streamed here. The part of the interview most pertinent to Rays fans starts at the 8:45 minute mark, and lasts a little more than five minutes.

Another Game, Another Sweep

Luke Scott and Fernando Rodney celebrate the team’s win over the Toronto Blue Jays May 15, 2012 a nearly empty Rogers Centre. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images)

Here’s a little verbal fat to chew on while you celebrate another sweep by your 23-14 Tampa Bay Rays.

-The Rays scored a total of 16 runs in their first five games of this (now past) eight game road trip, and were outscored 20-16. In the last three games of this road trip, the Rays scored a total of 20 runs, and outscored their opponents 20-12. Proof in the pudding that getting men on the bags, as well as capitalizing on opponents weaknesses, win games.

-The Rays pitching gave up a paltry four runs on 10 hits over the course of the last 18 innings. To say that, with the exception of Monday’s (almost disastrous) 9-8 victory, the pitching is finally coming around is an understatement.

-In the month of April, Burke Badenhop gave up eight earned runs on 13 hits and four walks, including three home runs, while striking out seven. All of this took place over the course of 10 innings of work. So far in the month of May, he’s given up only one earned run on five hits and no walks, while striking out seven. All of this over the course of eight innings of work.

-The Rays hitters struck out 27 times, while their pitchers struck out 15 opposing batters in the two games prior to today’s game. Today, the Rays hitters struck out only three times, while their pitchers struck out eight. I’d have to say, that’s much better.

-In 2011, David Price had a ground-ball to fly-ball ratio of 1/1.77. So far in 2012, Price has a ground-ball to fly-ball ratio of 1.2/1. That is to say, he’s keeping his pitches down, and inducing more weakly hit ground-balls that the Rays defenders, typically, gobble up.

-Last season, in the months of April and May, David Price gave up 30 earned runs on 68 hits, including seven home runs. So far in 2012, Price has given up 21 earned runs on 53 hits, including five home runs. What’s more, the home runs Price has given up this season have been, for the most part, one run shots.

-Finally, the Rays come home to the Trop where they’re 13-3 thus far. 14 of their next 17 games are at home. At 13-3, Tampa Bay is second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are 16-3 at home, for the best home record in baseball.

See y’all at the Trop for a couple of BIG upcoming series against the Sox, Braves, and Blue Jays in the following week or so!

Price vs Alvarez, Josh Leuke, etc; Rays vs Jays, 5/15/12

Tampa Bay looks to sweep the Jays tonight in the final game of their current eight game road trip. The Rays are battered with eight players on the DL; a list that includes both left fielder Desmond Jennings and RHP Jeff Niemann who were just added yesterday. Yet somehow, the Rays are still 22-14, tied with the Orioles for first place in the AL East.

A very dominant David Price (5-2, 2.98 ERA) will take the bump for the 14th time in his career against a very good Henderson Alvarez (3-2, 2.61 ERA) who, like Brandon Morrow, was knocked around by the Rays in his April 19th start.

Price is coming off of a frustrating loss to the Yankees, where he went seven innings, giving up 11-hits and five earned runs, while walking three and striking out four. Price, who is 10-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 13 previous outings against the Jays, looks to continue his success against Joey Bats and Co, who are hitting a measly .221 BAA against the lefty. Bautista has been the biggest thorn in the side of David Price, going 10-for-28 (.357 BA) with four home runs. Expect Price to attack Bautista in the same way that he did in his last start against the Jays on April 18th; jam him up high and inside, and eventually induce a ground or pop out. Or he could always just pitch around him. Even though Bautista is hitting a paltry .194 with eight home runs, all he needs is a lemon left over the plate to turn into lemonade. How’s that for an analogy??? I digress. Besides, I prefer his role in yesterday’s game…you know, where all he could do was watch Ben Zobrist’s late inning one run blast to right as it sailed over his head.

Henderson Alvarez, like Brandon Morrow, has really turned things around since his April 19th 6.1 inning, six earned run loss to the Rays. In four starts since, Alvarez has gone 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA, giving up only four earned runs in 29 innings of work. Alvarez is facing a somewhat different Rays team, missing both Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, who represent two of the big bats that accrued six RBI against Alvarez (and Crawford and Frasor to follow). On the other hand, he will have to face a very hot Elliot Johnson (yup, I said it) who is hitting .333 in the month of May with six runs and five RBI on 11 hits including two home runs. Tampa Bay will also be leaning on the hot bat of one Sean “Sean-Rod” Rodriguez who, though battered and sore, is hitting .310 in the month of May with five runs and six RBI on 13 hits, including three doubles and one homer. The bats of Ben Zobrist (who’s starting to get hot), Luke Scott, and Matt Joyce will also need to be depended upon if the Rays are going to score the five-plus runs necessary to beat the Jays; a team who is averaging four plus runs a game. It wouldn’t hurt if Alvarez left some pitches up in the zone (see the pitch f/x below) like he did in his last start against the Rays.

The Rays will be hoping that they can at least seven solid innings out of David Price tonight. Following the Ramos/Davis/Badenhop/Howell/McGee (combined) 8 IP/1 ER/4 H/9 K gem of a game last night, both Cesar Ramos and Wade Davis, who went a combined five innings, will not be available. Josh Leuke was called up earlier today to add a fresh arm to the pen. Leuke though, hasn’t done much since being sent down to Durham following his stint on the Rays, going 0-2, over the course of 11 appearances, while allowing 19 hits and seven walks in 13 1/3 innings, with hitters averaging .339 BAA. Oof. Why Brandon Gomes wasn’t recalled instead, is beyond me. Here’s to hope this is only a temporary fix. Forget not, that Badenhop, Howell, and McGee only worked an inning a piece last night. Also, neither Joel Peralta or Fernando Rodney saw any work last night. Those five arms should be fresh tonight. I wouldn’t expect to see Leuke unless the Rays are blowing the Jays out of the water, and they could afford to give up a run or two. The starting lineup is below. As always, Let’s Go Rays!

Tampa Bay Rays (22-14):

Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Pena 1B
Scott DH
Rodriguez 3B
Rhymes 2B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Price LHP

PS: Hey guys, 25 strikeouts in two games is, well…not very good. How’s about not striking out as much tonight.

PPS: Hey Joe, if there’s any wiggle room, how’s about taking Sean-Rod out of the game early to give him a little time to heal.