Note: I updated this piece after initially publishing it Sunday. Those updates can be seen below, in italicized font.
The Rays are now 11-4-2 in the 2014 Grapefruit League season, following an 8-4 win against Boston, in Port Charlotte Sunday. David Price got his third start of the spring Sunday afternoon — and he did not disappoint. Slashing 6.2 IP/3 H/2 R/2 ER/1 BB/1 HBP/7 K on 91 pitches (61 strikes), the Rays ace was quite whiffy, with five of his seven strikeouts coming in the swinging variety. Price did not get into a three-ball count until the sixth inning.
Though Price was, for all intents and purposes, in regular season form, it would be silly not to acknowledge the fielders behind him. Logan Forsythe played the outfield for the first time of the spring, and came through in the fourth inning with an excellent diving back-handed grab off a Mike Napoli line drive, robbing the Red Sox’s first baseman of an extra base hit. James Loney also made an outstanding diving play ranging to his right, tossing the ball to Price as he made his way to the bag.
“I feel good,” Price said. “I told (pitching coach Jim Hickey) I wish today was Opening Day. … (I) feel good. It’s easy to go out there and put up those kinds of stats whenever your defense is making the plays we made today. Loney, Longo, Zobrist on second, and Logan in left, I don’t know if he’s ever even played left.”
[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/0YPeAXEhxRc”]
I won’t bore you with the all the gory details of the contest. I live-blogged the game at our Tumblr page. Mosey over there for a (fairly) in-depth blow-by-blow account of events as they went down.
The New What Next
The Rays will return to action Tuesday after enjoying an off-day on Monday. Matt Moore is scheduled to make his fourth start of the spring, in the third round of the Knutson Classic against the Twins. Moore showed improvement in his last outing when he allowed no runs in a 3-1/3-inning stint against the Pirates on Thursday.
Rays 3/18/14 Starting Lineup
Myers RF
DeJesus LF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Joyce DH
Jennings CF
Escobar SS
Molina C
Moore LHP
Noteworthiness
- A scoring change took away the error by Will Middlebrooks, giving James Loney five RBI on the day.
- Changes of plans… Alex Cobb threw 86 pitches in a minor-league simulated game Monday in Port Charlotte. Per Marc Topkin, Cobb said it was good to get work in and battle the elements and atmosphere. Mark Lowe will start against the Orioles Wednesday, not Chris Archer. The Rays’ RHP is now scheduled to throw in a minor league game, along with Grant Balfour.
- Sean Rodriguez had a tight left hamstring, and is expected to play in a minor league game Tuesday.
- Joe Maddon said if the Rays players or coaches think play should be challenged, they’ll yell “Wichita! Wichita!” in honor of Peyton’s Omaha.
- Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” blared over the PA while David DeJesus made his way to the play. DeJesus followed with an opposite field hit through the hole, moving Hanigan to second. It should be assumed he Rick-Rolled Zach Britton’s pitch.
- Though Juan Carlos Oviedo arrived at camp this weekend past, Joe Maddon and the Rays acknowledged that it’s “probably a longshot” — though not impossible — for he to be on the opening day roster. As Marc Topkin asserts, “The Rays have reason to be cautious, since Oviedo hasn’t pitched in the majors since September 2011, missing most of that time recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. And though he was throwing regularly in the Dominican Republic during his lengthy visa delay, he wasn’t able to follow the Rays’ usual post-workout arm exercise protocol, so they want him to work through batting practices before getting into game situations.” Incidentally, Oviedo threw 10 minutes of live BP Monday to minor-league hitters.
- More on Oviedo… The situation above begs the question; Could there be a roster exemption for Oviedo if he is not on the 25-man opening day roster? If not, would he be placed on the restricted list or the DL? The DL would probably be the easiest option even though, technically speaking, he is no longer injured. Then there’s the question of whether the commissioner’s office could/would challenge his placement on the DL? I’d imagine a simple doctor’s note would put an end to any relevant consternation.
- On the subject of lineup stability in 2014, Marc Topkin all but confirmed that David DeJesus will not get the start against LHP this season, in an interview with WDAE this morning. In a tweet from 620 WDAE,
David DeJesus has been great but Marc Topkin confirmed he will not start against lefties this year.
— WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (@620wdae) March 17, 2014
- This is a call to all my… I’m putting it into the world once again: we are looking for contributors to X-Rays Spex. Have a decent understanding of Rays baseball in a variety of facets — from sarcastic to Rain Man like knowledge of advanced statistics? Then send us a sample of your writing to: belowaverageraysfansite@gmail.com