Darn, I can’t believe that this is the last one of these that I’m putting together this year. What a bummer! Anyway, thanks for reading my childish gibberish over the last 161 games.
Rays October 3, 2012 Starting Lineup
Upton CF
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Joyce RF
Roberts 2B
Pena 1B
Fuld LF
Vogt DH
Gimenez C
Hellickson RHP
Noteworthiness: Joe Maddon has finally released his last starting lineup of the 2012 season, following a bit of a kerfuffle on the part of Buck Showalter. Maddon initially put two starting lineups together; one if Britton was on the mound, and another if Tillman was going to get the start instead. After a bit of wavering, Showalter finally decided to give Tillman the start, and Maddon reciprocated by putting an “A” lineup together, complete with Vogt at DH…you know Vogt who’s 0-22. Ouch.
Rays beat writer, Marc Topkin, noted a couple of interesting pieces of ephemera. Of interest, first Upton admitted to feeling a little different today thinking about potential last day with the Rays. Also of interest, Maddon hasn’t decided whether he’d use closer Fernando Rodney at some point tonight. As you may be aware, Rodney is sitting on the MLB reliever ERA record.