While there’s not much to look forward to at this point in the season, I view these remaining 14 games as an audition of sorts. Players like Grant Balfour and today’s starter Jeremy Hellickson are pitching to prove their worth on the 2015 roster, and players like Curt Casali and last night’s starter Nate Karns are trying to make a statement. In the case of Nate Karns, he made quite a statement with his first major league win.
Tag Archives: AL east
Rays 9/12/14 Starting Lineup, Etc
Rays 9/12/14 Starting Lineup Zobrist CF Guyer LF Longoria 3B Myers RF Loney 1B Escobar SS Forsythe 2B Hanigan C Rodriguez DH Karns P Noteworthiness The Rays have signed RHP Neil Wagner to a two-year minor league deal. Wagner is recovering from Tommy John surgery. More on him later. Tampa Bay announced a two-year contract extension with …
The New What Next: Rays vs. Blue Jays — Part Six
While the Rays are officially out of AL East postseason contention, they’re raison d’être over the next three days is two-fold; play strongly and play the role of spoilers — ahem…despite what the outcome of the previous series might suggest. Toronto is coming off four consecutive wins, including a three-game sweep against the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays outscored the Cubs 28-3, for a run differential of 25 runs. Yeesh.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Set Milestones Amidst 8-5 Loss
There isn’t much to say about the Rays — as a whole — in their 8 – 5 loss to the Yankees. The swarm was in full effect in the first inning when Tampa Bay started the game in fevered fashion by scoring four runs and going 3-3 wRISP – quickly knocking the Yankees’ starter Chris Capuano out of the game after 1/3 of an inning, and 36 pitches. Capuano was charged with all four runs.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Spoiler Alert — Loney, Rays Beat Yankees 4-3
I previously alluded to the idea that the Rays had two reasons to go out Tuesday night and play like they still have a chance in September:
1. To play the role of spoilers.
2. To end the season on a strong, high note.
If Tuesday night’s 4-3 win against the Yankees was indicative of anything, it would be the former.