X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays end trip to Cuba with 4-1 victory

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In the spirit of friendly competition, the ‪Tampa Bay ‎Rays‬ and Cuban National Team swapped jerseys after the game. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay ‎Rays)

In the spirit of friendly competition, the ‪Tampa Bay ‎Rays‬ and Cuban National Team swapped jerseys after the game. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay ‎Rays)

The successful trip to Cuba by the Tampa Bay Rays culminated in a 4-1 victory against the Cuban National Team, at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana.

With gifts in hand, the team made a group visit to President Obama, who was sitting behind home plate next to Cuban President Raul Castro prior to the game. They also passed flowers through the netting to first lady Michelle Obama and first daughter Sasha.

Following the goodwill gesture by the team, the ever gregarious Chris Archer stayed behind for a few moments for an extended conversation with the president and first lady.

(President Obama) told me he appreciated how thoughtful I was in speaking about our opportunity to be here, and just in general, Archer said. It’s probably the highest compliment I’ve had in my life. He wasn’t just appreciative of my ability, but of the way I spoke and carried myself. I’ve never had a higher compliment.

Archer also joked with the Obama’s for not responding to his tweet about “hanging out in Cuba.”

I shook the first lady’s hand as well, and (the president) was educating her on who I was. So hopefully there’s some potential there, even if they’re not in office, to get together and do some things. They’re great in the community, they’re really about impacting the youth of this world, and that’s one of my missions in life as well.

Neither of them responded to my tweets, which I was pretty upset about, and I told them, but they’re obviously pretty busy.

The first lady said they can’t get back to everybody. A lot of times, it’s other people actually checking (the Twitter account) and informing her, because they don’t have time to scroll through Twitter. They have, first of all, a family, plus running the country, but it was all playful. Hopefully I can get a response, but if not, I’m totally content with the interaction we had.

Rays players and coaches drew rave reviews for their work in the community throughout the trip, especially from the announcers working the contest. Friend of the blog Danny Russell (DRaysBay) made mention of one such example; a superlative by Sports Center host Hannah Storm, who spoke highly of the team, saying,

I can’t imagine a better representative of Major League Baseball than the Tampa Bay Rays.

For some, like Archer, the emotional trip was about “changing lives.”

At first, some people were kind of skeptical, to be honest. But once we sat down as a group and thought about the magnitude of the experience, it was a no-brainer. Once we landed here, the excitement and the team-bonding experience has just been unbelievable. …We already have a great energy about our club, and it’s elevated to even higher heights now. I’m looking forward to carrying this energy into the season, because we definitely appreciate the opportunities that we’re afforded to play this game on the highest level, from being here and understanding how passionate people around the world are.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred also lavished the team with praises for their effort in being ambassadors for the game, saying,

Spring training is a routine time for players and I know this breaks up their routine. I told them I appreciated them making the effort to come here and I thanked them for being great ambassadors for the game. The entire Rays organization could not have been better, from Stu Sternberg right down through the players. Could not have been better. And I told them how important I think things like this were for the game.

Amongst the pomp and circumstance of the day, a ball-game was to be played.

Matt Moore took the hill for Tampa Bay and became the first Ray to throw six innings in a Spring Training game. He also became the first MLB lefty to start a game at Estadio Latinoamericano since Sandy Koufax in 1959.

Moore looked shaky in the first inning after giving up back-to-back one out singles to Yordan Manduley and Yosvani Alarcon. Yet the lefty coaxed a slow roller to Evan Longoria at third for the second out, and another ground-ball from the next batter ― this time to Brad Miller, who made a strong throw across the diamond for the final out of the frame. Moore got out of the jam unscathed.

He also allowed a single and a walk in the second inning, but nothing more. With Yurisbel Gracial on first, Moore was able to collect an important pick off as the runner took an aggressive lead toward second. Gracial stepped far off the bag and froze up when he realized that he was dead in the water, making for an easy pick-off.

After a clean third inning, Moore allowed a lead-off single to Garcia in the fourth. After a punch out of Gracial, Junior Paumier slashed liner right back to Moore, who was able put up his glove in the knick of time. Thankfully the ball glanced off the heel of his glove, and Moore was able to field the play before throwing over to James Loney at first for the out.

All told, the southpaw got better as the game progressed, with Moore scattering six base hits and walking one while fanning three on 79 pitches (52 for strikes). He has now allowed just two earned runs in 16-1/3 Spring innings of work.

Following Moore, Ryan Webb and Xavier Cedeno threw scoreless innings. The only blemish of the day came against Alex Colome in the ninth inning when the flame thrower gave up a solo shot to Reyes to left-field.

Offensively speaking, Tampa Bay got all of its production from its first basemen.

In the second inning Kevin Kiermaier legged out a two-out double, before Desmond Jennings walked in an extended at-bat. James Loney stepped into to box and drove Kiermaier home on a ground ball that squirted into right-field. In spite of a strong and accurate throw by Cuban right-fielder Jose Adolis Garcia, Kiermaier slid into home with President Obama unofficially making the safe call at the plate.

In the fourth inning, after Jennings worked his second free pass of the day, Loney hammered a homer to right for a 3-0 advantage.

Steve Pearce put the Rays up by a slam in the seventh when he singled home Mikie Mahtook, who had walked and stole second.

The team left Florida shortly after the final out, but not before exchanging jerseys with the Cuban team in the spirit of friendly competition.

We won’t experience anything like this again, so it was a very special day for Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays and all of our players, myself included, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Most of the guys here have played winter ball in some capacity, but this is winter ball times 10 over here, with the passion the fans showed.

However, because of a series of delays with one of their chartered planes, the team did not arrive in Tampa until about 5:00 AM. When all is said and done, the 55-minute flight extended to seven hours.

The New What Next

After traveling home, the Rays will take on the Twins in Ft. Myers with Erasmo Ramirez on the mound.

Rays 3/23/16 Starting Lineup

As a result of the extended stay in Cuba, the Rays will send a mostly minor league squad and coaching staff to face the Twins Wednesday afternoon. Erasmo Ramirez, who did not go on the trip to Cuba, will make his previously scheduled start.

Noteworthiness

― Archer won’t face the Yankees on Thursday in Tampa. Instead he will pitch in intrasquad game.

― The Tampa bay Rays want you to know that they’ll be all over the TV and radio the next few days:

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Rays Spring Training Update, Day 39: Rays Blank Yanks 3-0, Game and Roster Notes

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The Tampa Bay Rays borne photo box score says it all.

The Tampa Bay Rays borne photo box score says it all.

With three games left in the Grapefruit League season, the Tampa Bay Rays were able to walk away from Tampa with their 13th tally in the spring win column. The pitching staff stifled the Yankees, blanking them throughout course of the game and allowing only four hits and four walks. Meanwhile James Loney and Desmond Jennings combined to go 5-6 with three runs, an RBI, and two doubles.

— Starting pitcher Jordan Norberto kicked things off strongly, quickly coaxing two poppers out of Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner — both to left field. Yet he didn’t fare well against Carlos Beltrán and Mark Texiera, relinquishing two consecutive base hits with Brian McCann stepping to into the batter’s box. McCann was able to work a full count before Norberto threw a filthy 81 mph sweeping slider on the outer portion of the plate to shut down the Yankees opening threat.

The righty came back out for the second inning and allowed free passes to Chase Headly and Alex Rodriguez. After falling behind Stephen Drew, Norberto was able to force the Yankees second baseman into a 3-6-3 double play. Yet the three wasn’t over. Norberto walked another batter to put runners on the corners, however, he was able to pop Ellsbury out for the second time in as many at-bats.

On the whole Norberto’s breaking pitches looked sharp, as did his fastball when he was able to locate the pitch. If he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster, he could make an impact on the Rays at some point in the season, assuming he continues to progress with Triple-A Durham.

— Grant Balfour followed Norberto and put together an incredibly efficient eight pitch inning (six strikes) with one strikeout. The veteran RHP is slated to make one more appearance on Friday, telling reporters he should be ready to go after that,

My stuff’s good. I’m happy where I’m at right there. Feel good. I’m out there throwing strikes, and that’s what I want to do. I feel like I’m working a little faster and throwing strikes. And that’s a good thing.

For what it’s worth, Balfour’s put away pitch this afternoon was a filthy, biting, slider to Brett Gardner. If you recall, his slider was largely ineffective last season, because he was unable to set it up properly since he lacked fastball command. If he can regain that command with fidelity, Balfour could be effective once more.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has been impressed by Balfour’s work this spring, telling Rays Radio,

For a limited spring, he has looked very sharp, and he keeps getting better.

You can hear Cash’s comment below:

— Kirby Yates was next in the parade of pitchers, and though he posted two innings of no hit ball, he wasn’t as effective as his line suggests — at least in his first inning of work. Yates fell behind the first two batters he faced (3-0 and 3-2) before inducing a fly-ball to right and a grounder to short. He was able to fan Alex Rodriguez on four pitches, however, of the 12 total pitches Yates threw in the inning, only five were strikes.

Yates was markedly better in the following frame, using just 11 pitches (eight strikes) to coax two grounders — both to Asdrubal Cabrera — and a strikeout (looking) of Ellsbury.

— Jhan Marinez then threw three, one-hit innings on 40 pitches (26 strikes), fanning four along the way. If the seeing eye test is worth anything, this was easily Marinez’s best outing of the spring.

— James Loney (3-3) doubled as part of a three-hit performance Tuesday afternoon. Desmond Jennings (2-3) doubled and scored on Loney’s second-inning single, giving the Rays all the runs they would need in the contest. Jennings scored twice and raised his batting average to .463 for the spring.

All indications point to a left-fielder who’s ready for the season,

I feel pretty good, Jennings told Bill Chastain (MLB.com). Feel like I’ve prepared myself for [the season].

The New What Next

Chris Archer will start for Tampa Bay Thursday afternoon when the Rays travel to Clearwater to face the Phillies. Also slated to action are Nathan Karns, C.J. Riefenhauser and Steve Geltz. This will be the final tuneup for Archer and Karns, who are expected to start during the first series. The Rays will work out prior to the game at Tropicana Field for the second straight day.

Rays 4/2/15 Starting Lineup

DeJesus DH
Souza RF
Cabrera SS Jennings LF
Rivera C
Forsythe 1B
Kiermaier CF
Beckham 2B
Elmore 3B
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

  • 3B Evan Longoria is a late scratch from the lineup due to an illness (a cold). He instead will take part in drills at the Trop as a simple precaution against dehydration. Longo would play during the season.
  • Kevin Cash called Nathan Karnes and Jake Odorizzi as the number two and three starters behind Chris Archer to start season for games two and three against Baltimore. Cash told Marc Topkin the decision was based on matchups, although a keen onserver could see this decision in the making — with both Archer and Karns scheduled to pitch this afternoon, the rotation was set for Archer to start Monday on four days rest and Karns on Tuesday on regular rest. The number four starter is TBD.
  • Recent acquisition Erasmo Ramirez “most likely” will be used as a starter, however, the team will wait to talk to him upon arrival Tuesday night. Cash also said Matt Andriese is still “in a good spot,” suggesting he will be used in bullpen. It should noted, the Rays need a fifth starter for the April 14th game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
  • Rays President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman said nothing is official, however Ramirez will likely be used as a starter for the moment. Silverman values his experience and potential for length in games, suggesting he will transition to the long relief role once Drew Smyly and Alex Cobb return from the DL. The team is expected to continue looking for pitching, but according to Silverman, Ramirez was “the biggest move we had considered.”
  • How much Ramierz can you take? Ian Malinowski (DRaysBay) writes, right now, the newest member of Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff is a just a stopgap because of injury, but he has the potential to stick in the rotation. Click the link to learn more about the Rays newest starter.
  • Drew Smyly threw live batting practice at the Trop Tuesday and will do so again on Saturday. All signs point to a good session, “based on his reactions and the high-fives from his teammates,” writes Marc Topkin. Alex Cobb played catch again, while Alex Colome will throw live batting practice on Friday.
  • We here at X-Rays Spex absolutely LOVE this:
  • According to the Tampa Bay Rays Facebook page, there will be some new foodstuffs at the Trop this season, with local favorites Taco Bus, Ricky P’s and more:

We love our peanuts and Cracker Jack, but how about adding some flatbreads and stuffed baked potatoes? Enjoy new flavors at the Trop this season with local favorites Taco Bus, Ricky P’s and more.

Posted by Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Rays 3/31/15 Starting Lineups; Roster and Stadium Notes

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Rays first baseman James Loney. (Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

Rays first baseman James Loney. (Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

Guyer RF
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Souza DH
Francisco 1B
Butler LF
Beck 2B
Elmore 3B Robertson SS
Miller P

Rays 3/31/15 Starting Lineup vs. Baltimore

DeJesus RF
Jaso LF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Forsythe 2B
Brown DH
Wilson C
Teaford P

— What was initially hinted came to fruition, LHP Scott Diamond signed a Minor League contract with the Rays, reports Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN.

Diamond will serve as depth for the Rays staff and hope to get a big league opportunity at some point this season. The lefty posted a strong 2012 season, working to a 3.54 ERA/4.7 K9/1.6 BB9/53.4% GB%. He, however, regressed in 2013, slashing 5.43 ERA/3.6 K9/2.5 BB9/46.9% GB% percent in 131 innings of work.

— Prospect Daniel Robertson is starting at SS in place of Alexi Casilla against Boston. The reason for the lineup change? Casilla has been released. The Rays had to decide today on Casilla due to the $100,000 payment as an XXB free agent, though he could still end up being re-signed.

— Drew Smyly (shoulder tendinitis) threw a strong bullpen session on Sunday and will throw live batting practice Wednesday and Saturday before advancing to rehab games.

— Alex Cobb played catch for the second time on Monday with no issues.

— Alex Colome, Matt Moore and Jake McGee are slated to throw bullpen sessions today (Tuesday).

— Per Marc Topkin, given the potential of external options, Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team will hold off announcing the order and other pitchers on the rotation until weeks end. Cash also said Alex Colome won’t be ready when the Rays need their fifth starter on April 14. Likewise Drew Smyly and Alex Cobb are slated for later April returns.

— The latest Tampa Bay Rays stadium search proposal appears dead, writes Stephen Nohlgren (Tampa Bay Times). Despite the efforts of council member Charlie Gerdes, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman decided he doesn’t have enough votes to hammer out an agreement on the updated Memorandum of Understanding that would allow the team to explore potential stadium sites in Pinellas and Hillsborough.

Kriseman threw in the towel for the moment, indicating a lack of support on the part of key council members Bill Dudley, Wengay Newton and Jim Kennedy:

Unless the council changes its mind and is willing to move forward with this, the Rays do not have permission to look outside the city limits. And for the purposes of (the Trop acreage), the really big piece of this, the city is really stuck. We either don’t do redevelopment until the Rays leave in 2027 or we have to turn over half the proceeds.

As it stands, the will not vote on a revised Rays deal until after a proposed workshop, tentatively scheduled for late April.

“Without knowing for sure if it’s going to pass I think the right thing to do is have a workshop,” Gerdes said.

Waiting for a workshop could mean the city will have to wait until baseball season is over before getting back to the negotiating table with the Rays. Opening day is less than a week away:

Once they start playing, their plates are going to be full with baseball stuff and so getting them to perhaps look at whatever changes or issues come out of this workshop could be difficult, Gerdes told Janelle Irwin (Saintpetersblog).

Yet Gerdes remains hopeful that a deal can be reached during the season,

It comes down to whether we want to have another under-the-microscope vote or do we want to have a discussion?

Stu Sternberg released a statement Monday afternoon,

We appreciate the time and attention that Mayor Kriseman, Chairman Gerdes and the rest of the City Council have dedicated to this issue. We have spent many months working towards an agreement, so it is disappointing not to be able to move forward cooperatively with St. Petersburg.

The outcome, while disappointing, isn’t surprising. An official vote was never scheduled, leaving many to believe the situation wouldn’t resolve prior to the arbitrary April 6 deadline set by Mayor Kriseman. Noah Pransky (Shadow of the Stadium blog) gave credence to that idea Friday, writing, “The more likely scenario is the issue gets tabled for a while so Kriseman can continue to work behind-the-scenes to cut deals for the votes he needs.”

To be clear, pumping the brakes now may lead to a far better outcome — after all, the deal isn’t dead. Contrast that with the expected outcome by a council who would be rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline. Gerdes and Kriseman needed more time to get the other council members on board — time that could be used use to work through some of the finer points of contention, like an increase of compensation to the city should the Rays leave the confines of Tropicana Field prior to 2027.

As it stands, Kriseman can’t afford another “no” vote; pumping the brakes now defends against that. And while the Rays prefer to avoid stadium discussions during the season, if Kriseman happened to forge a deal in May, the Rays would undoubtedly be happy to sit down to the negotiating table.

With 13 seasons left on the current contract, the St. Petersburg City Council isn’t under grave pressure to cut a deal it doesn’t like. As Pransky opines, If you believe that 81 baseball games a year are good for a community, St Pete in no rush to lose them.

Whatever the case, while the Rays made recent concessions to the city, it’s still up to Sternberg and company to make the deal happen.

Looking forward to the fall, “no” votes Wengay Newton and Bill Dudley will be replaced because of term limits, while “no” vote Steve Kornell must run for re-election. A deal will be made one way or another, with or without the current members of the city council. 

Noteworthiness

— On a Stadium Saga related side note, Noah Pransky ponders the question, What happens if this stalemate continues for another five years? Here’s a hint, it took the Twins well over 10 years to get a new stadium, and this is even after MLB threatened to take the Twins away from Minneapolis in 2002.

 

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 36: Cash Readies Relievers for Consecutive Appearances

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The Tampa Bay Rays took early batting practice at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays took early batting practice at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

South on 75 — the Tampa Bay Rays made their way to Ft, Myers to take on the Boston Red Sox for the second consecutive day. Brad Boxberger, Grant Balfour, Ernesto Frieri, Jordan Norberto, Kirby Yates and Jhan Marinez all took the mound in what was called a bullpen by committee game. Tampa Bay ultimately fell to the dreaded Red Sox by a 3-2 margin in extra innings, thanks to a one-run, two-out walk-off shot off the Faux Monster in left. They will get another shot at Boston Wednesday afternoon in their final meeting of the spring.

More important than the loss, however, Boxberger, Frieri, Jepsen and Yates will get the opportunity to make appearances in back-to-back games. Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke with Bill Chastain (MLB.com) before the contest, about the importance of having his relievers pitch in back-to-back games:

Just kind of a normal thing. If it works out where we can match up a little bit [in Sunday’s game] or [Monday], we’ll do that. Some guys will throw a full inning, some two-thirds of an inning, some guys will get four outs depending on how we line it up going forward.

The top relievers who saw time on the hill — Balfour included — posted solid outings.

Boxberger got the start and threw an easy, 11 pitch, 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout (looking) of a frustrated Dustin Pedroia. Balfour followed with a scoreless second, working around a two-out walk. Frieri kept the Red Sox at bay by working around a couple of walks in the third, while Yates and Norberto each pitched two innings, with only Norberto allowing a run.

Boxberger described the importance of throwing in back-to-back games in the Rays Radio clip below:

Kevin Jepsen also made an appearance Sunday, albeit in a minor league game.

The true test will be how well Boxberger, Frieri, Yates and Jepsen perform Monday against the Baltimore Orioles. Can they bounce back and have the same quality stuff as the previous day?

Boxberger spoke to some of the challenges a reliever may face in back-to-back outings, including how well the body can recover in a short amount of time:

…And being able to get going again [the next day]. Kind of take it and see how I can recover and being able to do it two or three times during the year and being able to go in April.

Cash noted that Balfour is not scheduled to pitch Monday.

Balfour, who missed a significant amount of camp while in Australia, allowed that making back-to-back appearances is nice, though it isn’t entirely necessary:

That year in Oakland, I think I had 27 for 27 saves and I didn’t go back-to-back [during Spring Training] and I had four [spring] games. So I guess I don’t have to do it. … You don’t really have to do it. But I mean it’s nice to do it and rebound from it and stuff like that. It’s something that you would typically do.

The New What Next

Matt Andriese will start for the Rays Monday afternoon against the Orioles. Andriese, has an impressive 1.10 ERA this spring.

Rays 3/30/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso LF
Guyer RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
DeJesus DH
Forsythe 2B
Casali C
Andriese SP

Noteworthiness

— Boxberger asked to start Sunday because he wanted to face Boston’s top hitters he would likely see during the regular season. I’d say he did well:

— The Rays have released OF Andrew Toles, their 2013 minor-league player of the year. Toles missed two-plus months in 2014 due to personal reasons. This move follows the release of SS Brandon Martin and OF James Harris, two supplemental first-round picks from the 2011 draft.

— Being an ardent Rays fan, I don’t often see parallels in the way Thomas Ricketts (by way of Theo Epstein) runs the Cubs with that of Stu Sternberg. Who knows, maybe there are an indefinite number similarities that I’ve turned a blind eye to. Whatever the case, Craig Goldstein (Vice Sports) wrote an excellent piece on the Chicago Cubs’ pending decision to carry Kris Bryant on their 25-man roster to open the Major League Baseball season. The point of contention is one we Rays’ fans know all to well: the teams desire to secure an entire extra year of contractual control over Bryant, thanks to service time. There is a glaring difference, however — the Cubs have the ability to open the coffers and pay a player at his market value, whereas smaller market teams like the Rays or Royals seemingly do not.

Or maybe every MLB owner has the ability to pay a player what he is worth, and I’m again turning a blind eye.

— Only one week and counting until our co-Opening Day party with Green Bench Brewing Company!

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Rays Spring Training Update, Day 28; Rays Walk-It-Off, Odorizzi Solid

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Rays starter Jake Odorizzi pitched into the sixth inning Saturday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi pitched into the sixth inning Saturday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays won in walk-off fashion Saturday, as Allan Dykstra capped a three-run ninth with a two-run homer to right in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. Jake Odorizzi was impressive Saturday, becoming the first Ray to work into the sixth inning of a Grapefruit League game. It should be noted, Tampa Bay took the Knutson Cup from the Twins, Thursday.

Juan Francisco put the Rays on the board with a massive opposite field blast in the fifth inning, however, the Twins pulled ahead with the lead in the sixth. Down by one in the ninth, Kevin Kiermaier doubled to start the inning, and David DeJesus walked. The Twins were unable to complete a double play on a Corey Brown grounder, and Kiermaier scored to tie the game at two on a throwing error on the play. After a fly out, Dykstra followed with his first homer of the spring for the victory.

The real story of the game was Odorizzi’s impressive 5-2/3 inning outing.* The presumed number two starter** allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four in an efficient 69 pitch (53 strikes, 77% K/BB) outing. Odorizzi was perfect against the front 10 batters before he gave up a bloop single in the fourth. However, he came back to retire the next six batters, including a stretch that featured back-to-back-to-back strikeouts.

Jake ultimately gave up both runs on four hits in the sixth, when it seemed apparent that he was fatigued — something that’s to be expected when you factor in the heat and humidity, compounded with the fact that he isn’t fully stretched out. Odorizzi’s fastball velocity dropped from 93 mph to 90 by game’s end.

Following his outing, Odorizzi was particularly proud of the work he put into throwing first pitch curve balls, telling reporters,

I think it was a strike overtime I threw it, so the work the other (during an intrasquad game) day paid off.

You can hear his post-game interview (courtesy of Rays Radio) below:

Brandon Gomes also had a good day on the mound, finishing off the seventh inning, and working one out into the ninth; striking out three in a pair of one-hit innings.

Manager Kevin Cash was pleased with the overall effort:

The New What Next

Everett Teaford will start Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays. The LHP is in the hunt to earn one of the three remaining slots in the starting rotation. Also in the competition and scheduled to pitch is fellow lefty Mike Montgomery.

Rays 3/22/15 Starting Lineup
Jaso DH
Casilla 2B
Jennings LF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Butler RF
Brown CF
Beckham SS
Wilson C
Teaford LHP
Noteworthiness

  • Drew Smyly threw 20 pitches off a mound on Saturday, reporting that all went well.

Felt greatRight direction for sure. Just keep going day by day. Smyly continued, ‘my catch game has been going great. So I was ready to get on the mound.’

Focusing on fastballs, Smyly noted that he did not feel restricted,

No, today was a good day. Threw 20 good pitches off the mound. Probably not 100 percent, but I don’t think anybody’s bullpen is 100 percent.

He is expected to throw another bullpen session Monday.

  • “The Rays starting pitching depth has taken yet another hit as LHP Enny Romero, slated for Triple A, is sidelined with a mid-back muscle strain and likely won’t be ready to start the season, writes Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times).” “Romero would have been among the first options if the Rays had additional injury issues.”

*That’s a rather awkward turn of phrase, innit?
**While Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly mends, that is.