Rays vs Yankees, 5/10/12 (Updated with Starting Lineup, Injuries, Etc)

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David Price (5-1, 2.35 ERA) and the Rays will take on Grimmace (4-0, 4.15 ERA) and Yankees tonight in the rubber match of this three game set. This is the fifth time that the two have toed the rubber against one another. The fortune has fallen on the Rays side of things, with Price going 3-0 against the Yankees when opposing Sabathia. The Rays are 5-0 in those games. Sabathia is a tough opponent on any team.

Earlier in his career, he thoroughly tormented the Rays, going 7-1 in his time with the Indians. Overall, Sabathia’s  posted a career 3.25 ERA/.240 BAA against the Rays, while Tampa Bay has a team .317 OBP and .458 SLG against Sabathia. He’s given up only 14 home runs to the Rays, while walking 31 and striking out 83. Yet, most of the hits, runs, and walks Sabathia has given up, have come following his 2009 acquisition by the Yankees.

And to be fair, Sabathia has a 9-7 record against Tampa Bay; a respectable record to say the least. Yet, since Sabathia joined the Yankees, he’s posted a 2-6 record with a 3.92 ERA. Career numbers that include the opening day 6 IP/8 H/5 ER/3 BB 8-6 debacle against the swarthy left-hander and the Yankees. Cough…lest we forget the Carlos Pena grand slam on opening day, cough. All this is to say, Tampa Bay has dealt Sabathia some pretty big blows since 2009, and can deal Sabathia another tonight.

Of injuries and Keppinger…

The Rays placed 1B/OF Brandon Allen on the DL with a right quad strain. Tampa Bay also reinstated INF Jeff Keppinger following his one day personal leave/time on the restricted list. The reinstatement of Keppinger gives the Rays another bat in the lineup that can hit left-handed pitching really well. Because of Allen’s injury, OF Brandon Guyer will stay on the roster for the time being. The starting lineup is below. As always, Let’s Go Rays!

Rays Starting Lineup 5/10/12:

Zobrist RF

Rodriguez 3B

Upton CF

Keppinger DH

Guyer LF

Pena 1B

Johnson SS

Gimenez C

Rhymes 2B

Price LHP

Rays Take Game Two From the Yanks, 4-1; AKA What’s Wrong with Yankees Fans? Can’t They Even Fill Their Half-Full Stadium?

Hey, do you all remember when Matt Joyce hit the three-run home run at a half full stadium last night? You know, the home run that came on the heels of a David Robertson blown save…just after the BJ Upton sac-fly to score the tying run. You know, off of the Robertson fastball that caught too much of the plate?

Errant Robertson fastball that found its home in the right-field seats, thanks to Matt Joyce.

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(Click the image above for video of the Joyce Homer)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann winds up in the second inning against the New York Yankees during their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Allow me to give credit where it’s due, Jeff Niemann threw an absolute gem of a game, posting a 7.0 IP/6 H/1 ER/1 BB/5 K line. Throwing 102 pitches (69 for strikes, a 68% to 32% strike  to ball ratio) in seven innings of work, Niemann not only had his longest and strongest outing of the year, he also kept an anemic Rays in the game throughout the duration of his start. Tampa Bay would go two-for-seven with RISP. What’s more, Fernando Rodney got his second win of the year, shutting down any potential for a Yankees comeback in the eighth and ninth innings.

On a related side note, and as the title states, what’s wrong with Yankees fans? Can’t they even fill their half-full stadium? These are the same fans that complain about the Trop…The same ones that boast (and apparently to a fault) about all of their fans support, sell-outs, blahblahblah.

Rays vs Yanks, 5/9/12 (Starting Lineup)

The Rays will take on the Yankees for the second game of their current three game set. The Big Nyquil (2-3, 4.05 ERA, 3-0 vs. NYY) will take to the mound against David Phelps (0-1, 3.74 ERA) as he continues his quest at pitching into the seventh inning, if not longer. This may shock you, and you might want to brace yourself for this: the weather is expected to be rainy…again. Gasp!

Brandon Guyer will not be in the lineup tonight following the announcement that he’d be joining the team on the current road trip. SeanRod will get the start at third base with Jeff Keppinger on the restricted list, finding Elliot Johnson at short. Matt Joyce will get the start in left while Desmond Jennings tends to his knee strain. Jennings did mention that he’s very close to playing again.

Here’s a hypothetical scenario, but after Ben Zobrists two hit multiple base-hit/two walk night, how’s about Zo/ Jennings/Upton at the top of the lineup? Something to ponder, eh? The starting lineup is below. Look at the bright side: Jim Joyce won’t be calling the game tonight. Lord knows he’s better down the RF line…right? As always, Let’s Go Rays!

5/9/12 Starting Lineup:

Zobrist RF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Scott DH
Rhymes 2B
Johnson SS
Rodriguez 3B
Gimenez C
Niemann RHP

Kep Added to the Restricted List

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that middle infielder, Jeff Keppinger, has been placed on the restricted list due to a personal matter that popped up after last nights 5-3 loss to the Yankees.

According to MLB Trade Rumors:

The Rays placed infielder Jeff Keppinger on the restricted list due to a personal matter following last night’s game, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports. The Rays called up outfielderBrandon Guyer in a corresponding move and indicated that Keppinger’s absence will be a short one.

The Rays signed Keppinger to a one-year, $1.25MM contract in January. The 32-year-old has a .313/.338/.453 batting line in 68 plate appearances as a second and third baseman in Tampa Bay. Players on the restricted list do not count toward a team’s 25-man or 40-man roster. They do not accrue service time and they don’t always get paid.

Dear James A. “Jim” Joyce III

Dear Jim,

I respect you. You’re one of the more honest umpires in the game, and you’re willing to admit when you may be wrong. Hell, the admission alone, that you had the call wrong in the Tigers (almost) no-hit kerfuffle showed that you’re certainly aren’t like “Cowboy” Jim West, or “Balking” Bob Davidson.

All of that said, I certainly hope you go back and look at the tape of six ball, bases loaded, called strike-out of Carlos Pena. You…uh, um, well…I’ll let the pitch f/x of that last at-bat do the talking for me.