Rays lineup vs. Red Sox 3/27/12, injuries, etc (Updated)

3/2812 Update: The Rays announced who would fill the open spots on both the starting rotation (Jeff Niemann) and the bullpen (Burt Badenhop) yesterday. Today they set the rotation. As we here at Raysbaseball.co thought, Moore and Niemann would fill the fourth and fifth spots behinds Shields, Price, and Hell-boy. The 2012 starting rotation looks like this: Shields, Price, Hellickson, Moore, and Niemann.

10:38 Update (starting rotation announced): It’s official, Jeff Niemann is in the starting rotation, finding Wade Davis in the pen. The pitching order hasn’t been announced yet, though I suspect that Matt Moore and Jeff Niemann will be in the fourth and fifth spots. “I’m good. It will be a good experience… It’s not a demotion. We’re still all going for the same thing, to get to World Series as a team. Individualizing yourself and taking it personally would be stupid, and selfish,” said Davis of the move to the bullpen.

We’re still waiting on the announcement of the Rays starting rotation. We also await the decision of who will fill the final bullpen spot. As of now, it’s between Brandon Gomes and Burt Badenhop. Tampa Bay, reportedly, would like to “take one more look at Gomes, who has yet to regain full velocity in recovering from offseason back surgery,” says Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

On the injury front, BJ Upton is feeling “a lot” better. He took batting practice and did some running, though he isn’t ready to play any games. Reid Brignac went 2 for 5, including a homer in yesterday’s minor league game. His plantar fascia problem has been upgraded to “uncomfortable, but tolerable.” Sam Fuld received an MRI on his sore right wrist yesterday, and will see a doctor today. Surgery is likely. Their availability for the April 6th opener is uncertain at this point.

James Shields was initially scheduled to face the Red Sox today, but opted to pitch in a minor league game instead. Reliever (not closer…duh) Kyle Farnsworth was slated to take Shields place on the bump, but also opted out, noting that he didn’t want to show the Sox all of his pitches. He’ll pitch from the pen instead. Fernando Rodney will take the hill in lieu. Jennings is in the lineup at DH, and hopes to see some action on the field tomorrow. Here’s to hope that the Rays can turn yesterday’s monster game into a rallying cry. Tampa Bay’s starting lineup is below.

Rays 3/27/12 Starting Lineup:

Jennings DH
Joyce RF
Zobrist 2B (c’mon Joe, let him lead off)
Pena 1B
Keppinger 3B
Salazar CF
Rodriguez SS
Lobaton C
Rhymes LF
Rodney P

Rays crush the Twins 10-4, a collective sigh of relief could be heard from miles around

The Rays won, and won BIG today in Ft. Myers against the Twins, 10-4. Rays fans all over let out a collective sigh of relief because of it. There is a lot to be excited about.

For one, you cannot deny to force of nature that is Ben “Zorilla” Zobrist. One of the most unassuming players in all of baseball came up huge today at the plate. Zo went 3-for-3 with one run scored, while driving four on a second inning grand slam. He also hit a first inning double to start the game off. Maddon made an interesting lineup choice by having Zobrist lead off, and well, the risk paid off. Could this be the start of something new? Cody Rogers and Elliot Johnson also came up big, by knocking in a pair of two run homers. Jeff Keppinger and Jose Lobaton both drove in a run a piece to round things out.

I know, the Rays have had a few five-plus-run games this spring. However, this is the first time they’ve really dominated anyone over the course of the prior 23 games. And with only 10 games left in the spring training, this is a good sign that they may finally turn that corner, and walk into the Trop on a high note come April 6th. Joe Maddon has said on multiple occasions that the bats would wake up. To be fair, the Rays have had more than a few multiple hit games. BUT, they’ve been plagued again by not being able to drive in runners. Thankfully they were able to capitalize on run scoring opportunities.

It’s also encouraging that with the exception of Zobrist (okay, I guess I’ll include Luke Scott and Evan Longoria in this too with a hit a piece), the majority of the players that took part in the 14-hit parade were not the players that we Rays fans expect to carry Tampa Bay to their projected 93 wins. Why? Even if BJ Upton, Desmond Jennings (note: I reserve the right to leave Brignac out of this) and Sam Fuld are penciled in for opening day, with ten games left to go, can we really assume that they’ll have had enough playing time this spring to work out all of their kinks? I like the prospect that the Rays could be productive without the heavy hitters. Oh and dear Los, Longo, Scott and Joyce: don’t assume that you’re off the hook!

Box score courtesy of ESPN

Niemann pitched okay. Posting a line of 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R/E, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 93 pitches (57 Ks) and combining that with his previous performances thus far, as well as his overall starts in the last few years, I think we’ll be seeing him in the starting rotation this season. Speaking of which, the Rays will be announcing their starting rotation tomorrow. Marc Topkin predicts that Shields, Price, Hellickson, Niemann and Moore will be the starters, finding Davis in the pen. Only time will tell.

Box score courtesy of ESPN

Of injuries, Rays vs. Twins, etc

Rays skipper, Joe Maddon, mentioned that though he is optimistic about the quick recovery of BJ Upton, who still remains sore after a March 14th collision with LF Desmond Jennings, he (Upton) may not get enough playing time to be ready for opening day. Upton remains day to day with lingering back soreness.

Desmond Jennings, too, has a sore shoulder, though he did appear in a minor league game yesterday. With Fuld still injured and somewhat in the same boat as Upton, we could see Jennings filling the CF spot to start the season. Would Jesus Feliciano, who’s had a fairly decent spring, get a spot on the opening day roster in LF? Would Elliot Johnson get the spot since he’s spent time in the outfield this spring? In an encouraging step in his recovery, Reid Brignac, saw some action in a minor league game yesterday.

The Rays will take on the Twins today for the seventh time this spring. Tampa Bay hasn’t fared too well against the Twinkies so far, having lost five out of their first six meetings. Then again at 6-14-3, they haven’t fared too well against anyone in the Grapefruit league this year!

Jeff Niemann will get his final start before Maddon sets the starting rotation. The Rays are expected to release their 2012 starting rotation in the next day or so. Niemann, who’s had a better spring than Wade Davis, at least when you compare their ERA (4.32 Vs. 4.91), appears likely to get the final spot.

4/26/12 Starting Lineup:

Zobrist RF
Scott DH
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Keppinger 2B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Rhymes LF
Feliciano CF
Niemann P

More roster cuts

Over the course of the last week, the Rays have cut 10 more players from the roster, shaving it down to 34. They announced Monday that Tim Beckham, Stephen Vogt were sent to minor league camp. Matt Bush (it’s doubtful that Bush will make any roster in the Rays organization at this point), Dane De La Rosa and Brandon Guyer were optioned to the minors.

Today they announced that five more players would be reassigned to minor league camp: Craig Albernaz, Brad Coon, Matt Mangini, Jhonny Nunez (I wonder if Fridays blown-save had anything to do with this?) and Romulo Sanchez.

You can see the active roster below:

Rays active roster as of March 25, 2012

 

3/24/12 Rays vs. Twins…again

OF Sam Fuld winces in pain after injuring his right hand in an at bat last night.

Following last nights ninth inning, rally induced, win by the Jays (nice blown save Jhonny Nunez), the Rays head down to Ft. Myers to take on the Twins for the 9,999,999th time this spring. To think that the Rays could have made their way into Ft. Myers on a three game win streak. Sigh…

The injury bug againbit the Rays last night. This time, OF Sam Fuld freakishly injured his right hand in an at bat. Thankfully he doesn’t think it’s as bad as his late season injury last year to the same hand. He’ll be getting an MRI on his hand Monday.

3/23/12 line score, courtesy of Yahoo Sports
3/23/12 box score, courtesy of Yahoo Sports
3/23/12 box score, courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Desmond Jennings is back in the lineup today following an abysmal day at the plate, going 0-4, in a minor league . game yesterday. Chris Gimenez continues to battle for a spot on the roster, getting the start behind the plate. Matt Moore pitched in a minor league game earlier today. Today’s starting lineup is below.

Rays 3/24/12 Starting Lineup:

Jennings DH
Johnson 2B
Longoria 3B
Joyce RF
Rodriguez SS
Mangini 1B
Gimenez C
Rhymmes LF
Feliciano CF
Hellickson P