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Rays 3/15/19 pre-game notes; Duffy and Pham progress

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  • Mike Zunino hit a home run in Thursday’s game against the Phillies. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Another day, another split-squad game. This time the Tampa Bay Rays will host the Detroit Tigers this afternoon, and visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton this evening. Kevin Cash is planning to manage both. Tampa Bay is coming off a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies which snapped their three-game win streak.

Emilio Pagan opened Thursday’s ballgame and was pleased with the results after he threw two scoreless frames. Pagan gave up one hit, walked none, and struck out a batter. He spoke about being used an opener following his outing.

I figured now’s the time to play with it, see what works for me. I didn’t feel like it was too much of a difference, maybe just playing catch a little bit longer before I got on the mound than I would in a relief role. I felt like it probably worked a little bit better than just jumping straight to the mound like I did in Sarasota (on February 26, when he walked one and gave up four hits). There’s going to be some playing around with it, but I like the way today went as far as the preparation getting ready for the open.

— Emilio Pagan

Diego Castillo followed Pagan and gave up one run on two hits. Yet, Castillo also stuck out four of the eight batters he faced. Right-hander Cole Sulser — acquired from Cleveland in the Jake Bauers trade — followed Castillo and struck out four of the six batters he faced across 1-1/3 innings of work.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek will open against the Tigers, pitching opposite of Spencer Turnbull. Jalen Beeks, Austin Pruitt, Chaz Roe, and Mike Franco also are expected to pitch as well. Wilmer Font will start for the Rays in Bradenton, pitching opposite of Joe Musgrove. Andrew Kittredge, Olive Drake, Adam Kolarek, Luis Santos, and Ricardo Pinto all are expected to pitch as well.

Rays 3/15/19 Starting Lineup vs. Detroit

  1. Robertson SS
  2. Pham DH
  3. Wendle 3B
  4. Diaz 1B
  5. Garcia RF
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Zunino C
  8. Bonifacio 2B
  9. Smolinski LF
  10. Stanek RHP

Rays 3/15/19 Starting Lineup vs. Pittsburgh

  1. Meadows RF
  2. Adames SS
  3. Choi DH
  4. B. Lowe 1B
  5. Heredia CF
  6. Perez C
  7. Coats LF
  8. Wong 2B
  9. Brosseau 3B

Noteworthiness

— Matt Duffy (hamstring), who has been sidelined since February 28, will hit in live batting practice against Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon. Duffy still plans to take ground balls Sunday and remains optimistic he will be ready for the March 28 opener. Meanwhile, Honeywell and De Leon will throw live BP for the second time since undergoing Tommy John surgery.

— Blake Snell will pitch in a minor league game on Saturday.

— Tommy Pham has progressed in a strengthening program (he has been limited to DH because of shoulder concerns) and is slated to return to left-field by the middle of next week.

Rays hammer Sox, 8-1; cut 10 from Spring roster

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  • Looking forward to seeing Blake Snell strikeout Bryce Harper in Clearwater this afternoon.

The Tampa Bay Rays optioned or reassigned eight more players on Sunday, reducing the team’s Spring Training roster to 49.

Catcher Nick Ciuffo, pitchers Jake Faria and Andrew Moore, and INF/OF Andrew Velazquez were optioned to Minor League camp. Faria, who has put together a strong showing this Spring after performing to a 5.40 ERA across 65 injury marred innings last season, was the most surprising move.

Rays Manager Kevin Cash was encouraged by what he saw out of the right-hander, however, he explained to Faria that optioning him to AAA would give him the opportunity to be stretched out further.

It’s time for him to get on a routine; it’s not the easiest thing to do the routine here. And get him stretched out. The message was very similar to the message when he came in (to camp): how highly we think of him, what he’s capable of. We want to do everything we can to assist him (in) getting back to that 2017 form.

It’s going to take some time, but he did he did show really well for us in spring training, which was encouraging.

— Kevin Cash

Faria, who had been optimistic about breaking camp with the team, told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) Sunday morning that he would be disappointed by such a move, however, he acknowledged that he knows he will eventually return as long as he respects the process.

Obviously I’d be disappointed just because you spend almost two years in the big leagues and then you go back to Triple A, but guys have done it. I’d still have a job, so that’s one thing. We’ll have to see. I’d be kind of bummed out. … But I know if I keep doing what I’m doing I’ll be back eventually.

— Jake Faria

Four non-rostered players were also reassigned to the Minor Leagues, pitchers Ian Gardeck and Tyler Cloyd, infielder Jake Cronenworth, and IF/OF Nick Solak. Cloyd is the lone player of the bunch with big league experience.

In Grapefruit League action, Tampa Bay homered six times, including a tape-measure blast from Avisail Garcia, and two from Guillermo Heredia, in the 8-1 win over the reigning World Series champions. Tampa Bay has won both meetings against Boston this Spring.

Garcia’s homer off Hector Velazquez had a distance at 464 feet according to Trackman data. The homer was also measured at 111 mph off the bat, and at a 35-degree launch angle.

Garcia, who is coming off knee surgery, said he feels good thus far.

I’ve been feeling great, working really hard, My knee is healthy, that’s the most important thing. I’ve just got to keep working, and do my thing. It was a hard off-season, trying to rehab and get better every day. Coming in like this, how I feel right now, it’s amazing.

— Avisail Garcia

Casey Sadler opened the game and was followed by seven other pitchers — including Colin Poche, Diego Castillo, Jose Alvarado, and Ryne Stanek — that allowed just five hits.

In spite of a difficult Spring for Poche, the southpaw showed well after he allowed a leadoff walk, coaxing a double-play grounder and a fly-ball out.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay will open a two-day north Pinellas County trek today in Clearwater, where they will face the $330-million man Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies. Rays Cy Young award winner Blake Snell will get the start for the Rays. Yonny Chirinos, Jalen Beeks, and Wilmer Font — three candidates for long relief/bulk inning jobs — are also scheduled to pitch.

Rays 3/11/19 Starting Lineup

  1. B. Lowe 2B
  2. Adames SS
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Garcia RF
  5. N. Lowe 1B
  6. Zunino C
  7. Coats LF
  8. Wong 3B
  9. Smolinski DH
  10. Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Cash told the media Sunday there was no update on third baseman Matt Duffy (hamstring), except that he will be out at least a few more days.

— Per Topkin, Tommy Pham, who was planning for a week of DH-only duty to work on strengthening his shoulder, was scratched from Sunday’s lineup but said he plans to be back Tuesday. Cash said the shoulder “is not bouncing back maybe like he wanted it to” and will take “two days off of nothing.” Pham said he expects to be back in the outfield by the end of the week.

Rays wallop Orioles, 11-5; Spring Training notes

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Kevin Kiermaier was in the lineup for the first time since Friday when he suffered a blister. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays notched their first Grapefruit League win of the 2019 Spring season, walloping the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, 11-5. Kevin Kiermaier returned to the field for the first time in three games and had himself a day — hitting an opposite-field double and collecting an outfield assist — while Diego Castillo bounced back with an impressive outing in the rain-shortened contest.

Unlike his gaffe-filled first Spring appearance, Kiermaier made his mark in the first inning — gunning down Yusniel Diaz as he tried to go from first to third on a Rio Ruiz’s single.

In the second inning, Kiermaier ripped a double to left-center, and ultimately ended the day 1-for-3, having hit the ball to the opposite field twice.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told the media that he was pleased to see Kiermaier get back to his typically stellar defense after falling short in Friday’s spring opener.

Nice to have him back. He looked good, looked good on defense. He was frustrated the first time he played, so it was nice to see a big play he made, but we see that a lot.

— Kevin Cash

Kiermaier said his focus going into Spring Training was taking pitches to all fields, which he did well on Tuesday.

I made a point this offseason, where I said, ‘I need to change some things. (Last season) was a great learning lesson for me. I’m not changing mechanically a whole lot. It’s a less-is-more type of approach now. …

It’s a point just to hit line drives and see the ball first and let your hands do the work from there. I’ve learned from my experiences so I think you’re going to see me using all fields more consistently, hopefully throughout the spring and the entire season, than I’ve ever made it a point my entire career. It’s all a mind-set first.

— Kevin Kiermaier

The centerfielder expects to play the second of back-to-back games on Wednesday.

Emilio Pagan was stretched out to a second inning (and 30 pitches), having given up a pair of runs — one on a wild pitch and the second on a sacrifice fly.

Still, Pagan pitched better than his line may have indicated. He has been working on a curveball in camp and he had it working on Tuesday afternoon, picking up both of his called third strikeouts on breaking balls against southpaw hitters, which were an issue for him last season.

That was a good sign. Curveball was better today than it was the first outing, I was happy to see I got some bad takes on it.

I felt good. I probably could have kept going if I had to. For this early to feel that good physically, I’m happy about it.

— Emilio Pagan

Diego Castillo put together a 1-2-3 sixth inning, coaxing three ground ball outs in his second outing of the Spring.

A lot of soft contact. The three balls put in play were not hit very hard. That’s a good sign.

— Kevin Cash

Down 4-1, Tampa Bay exploded for 10 runs against three Baltimore hurlers in the eighth inning.

Jesus Sanchez crushed a three-run home run to right-field (his first of the Spring), giving the Rays the go-ahead lead. Christian Arroyo followed with a solo shot to left-center.

Lucius Fox also collected a pair of hits in the frame while Nate Lowe added a two-run double. Outfielder Andrew Velazquez capped the inning with a run-scoring single, his second hit of the eighth.

The New What Next

The Rays will play host to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday In Port Charlotte. Ricardo Pinto will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Josh Smith. Tyler Cloyd, Jake Faria, Ryne Stanek, Ian Gardeck, Hoby Milner, Matt Krook and Curtis Taylor are also scheduled to pitch.

Rays 2/27/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Diaz 3B
  2. Pham LF
  3. Lowe 1B
  4. Garcia RF
  5. Wendle 2B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Robertson SS
  8. Zunino C
  9. Perez C
  10. Pinto RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tommy Pham, Ji-Man Choi, Joey Wendle, Kevin Kiermaier, Robertson, Mike Zunino and Michael Perez are also scheduled to be in the starting lineup Wednesday.

— Blake Snell is scheduled to pitch every fifth day until the end of the Spring, starting Thursday. Meanwhile, new acquisition Charlie Morton has also been eased into his Spring workload and will pitch on Friday against Baltimore.

The plan will be for them to pitch probably one inning during their first starts and then get built up as the Spring progresses.

I think the plan right now is five starts and get them built up, so that come Opening Day they’re basically right around that six (inning), 95-pitch or whatever pitch count. Sometimes we have to make adjustments to get them extra pitches or back down the workload, so it’ll be dependent on whether they pitch in games or simulated games that we provided for them in camp.

— Kevin Cash

— Matt Duffy, who has been dealing with a slight left hamstring tweak, is nearing a return.

We’ve put a soft, soft date around Thursday for him. He’s champing at the bit to play, but so far everything has been good. He was smart at catching it at the right time, not trying to push it. It’s a minor thing, but knowing his history, we don’t want it to continue to flare up every time he runs hard.

— Kevin Cash

Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training, days eight and nine

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Tyler Glasnow (right) threw a requisite spring bullpen session on Tuesday, which included a noticeable pause in his delivery. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

On Wednesday, Yandy Diaz stepped into the batter’s box, while Jalen Beeks, Hoby Milner, and Emilio Pagan threw live batting practice. And with just one more full-squad workout before the start of the Grapefruit League season, on Friday, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash believes his group is ready to begin playing games.

Cash clarified the workout schedule leading into the weekend, saying the team will have a light workout on Thursday, then open exhibition play on Friday against the Phillies.

The skipper also specified his plans regarding Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, and Jose Alvarado — all of whom threw bullpen sessions on Wednesday. Cash will limit the workload of the number one and two hurlers in exhibition games, as well as the presumed closer.

Alvarado’s (2018 workload) was real high, we have to really manage him. In my opinion if Alvarado threw five times off the mound this spring that would be more than enough because he’s such a big part and we want to keep him as fresh as possible.

— Kevin Cash

Snell and Morton will throw live batting practice on Saturday, with both slated to into games next week.

Right-hander Austin Pruitt will start Friday’s Grapefruit League opener, while Ryan Yarbrough, Jalen Beeks, and Jake Faria are set to pitch against the Twins on Saturday.

Pagan’s live batting practice was his first of the Spring. The right-hander continues to work a curveball and a changeup to complement his fastball/slider combination.

The team also worked on pop-up and fly ball drills, not to mention grounders that the infielders took.

On Tuesday, Glasnow unveiled a slight pause in his delivery that he plans to take into the season as a means to make his delivery more consistent. The righty noted an improvement in both his spin rate and velocity.

Glasnow told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the pause allows him to control his hips better, to “get into a better patterning.’’

He also said the hesitation will disrupt the hitters’ timing and will pair well Glasnow’s standard delivery as well as his new quick step move he has been working on.

I’ve been able to mix them really well. Talking to hitters today … I know it was kind of throwing some guys off a little bit. So messing with my timing a little bit this year was a good idea.

— Tyler Glasnow

The Rays are reportedly on board with the change.


Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training, day seven

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In spite of foggy conditions in Port Charlotte, the Rays took the field on the first day of full-squad workouts. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Amid high expectations following a wildly successful 2018 campaign, the Tampa Bay Rays took the field in Port Charlotte Monday morning for the first full-squad workout.

Things started off with a team meeting led by manager Kevin Cash, whose message was straight forward.

We’ve got work to do, we’ve got to get better. We are a good team, but there is work to be done.

— Kevin Cash

Veteran centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier iterated a similar missive to the other 65 players in attendance.

I’m not trying to hype us up or anything but given the talent and depth and versatility, we’re in a very dangerous position, and that’s a compliment towards us. At the end of the day though we need to go out there and do what we need to do and back up all this talk and expectations. It’s a fun thing to think about. And that’s why I’m excited to take the field with these guys.

— Kevin Kiermaier

From there, the position players took to the batting cages on the back fields of Charlotte Sports Park, while the pitchers threw their requisite bullpen sessions and live batting practice. Among them were Oliver Drake, Austin Pruitt, and Ryne Stanek.

Stanek hit 99 mph in his first live bullpen session to hitters, some of which had not seen velocity like that since last season.

No judgement passed whatsoever; probably more laughing than anything else.

— Kevin Cash

Cash was pleased by the work the players, both rostered and non-rostered, put in on Monday.

It was good to see all the guys, it really was. The first day, the energy was good. … Awesome to put some faces and names together.

— Kevin Cash

Noteworthiness

— Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), new catcher Mike Zunino said he’ll give up some live BP at-bats next few days to spend more time catching so he can get familiarized with as many pitchers as possible.

— As I wrote yesterday, reliever Ian Gibaut said an MRI exam on a right lat strain showed “everything was intact.” Gibaut is not expected to throw for the next few days, and there is no timetable for when he will retake the mound. Cash said they will know more after he sees a specialist in New York to look over the results.

— Principal owner Stuart Sternberg, as well as his son Sandy, were on hand to watch the workout.

— In an MLB spring media event in West Palm Beach on Sunday, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Major League Baseball and the Rays ownership group “remain focused” on finding a solution to the stadium stalemate in the Tampa Bay market. Manfred said they “are going to turn over every last stone and possibility” to do so, noting that the focus was back on St. Petersburg. “We feel that the commitment to our fans in those existing markets is a really important one,” he said.