Rays 9/14/14 Lineup, Etc

Rays 9/14/14 Lineup: Zobrist CF Guyer LF Longoria DH Myers RF Escobar SS Forsythe 2B Loney 1B Rodriguez 3B Casali C Colome RHP Noteworthiness Don’t forget to check out our series preview. If you already have, make it a two’fer. Derek Jeter enters the Trop in the throes of an 0-24 streak at the plate …

The New What Next: Rays vs. Yankees — Part Six

The Tampa Bay Rays made their way home on the heels of series win against the Toronto Blue Jays. They are set to welcome the New York Yankees into Tropicana Field, for the final series of the 2014 season. The Rays dropped two of three against the Yankees in the three-game set that directly preceded their excursion north of the border. Tampa Bay held a 4-0 lead into the eighth inning in the finale of that series, when the bullpen collapsed — the relievers allowed five runs in 1-2/3 innings for a 5-4 loss.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to Blue Jays 6-3, Expected Roster Moves, Etc

After facing RA Dickey 10 times over the last three seasons, while averaging just 2.4 runs per game in each of those starts, one thing has become certain: if you’re lucky enough to take a lead against the knuckleballer, then you’d better try your damnedest to hold it. The Rays did both Saturday. They were able to take a lead against Dickey, yet they gave it up in one fateful — error filled — inning. Despite a game tying sixth inning solo shot to left off the bat of Evan Longoria (his 21st homer of the year), the typically dependable Brad Boxberger gave up three runs an inning later, giving Toronto a 6-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. We in the blogosphere have deemed this the stereotypical (and clichéd) Rays loss.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Karns, Rays Shutout Blue Jays 1-0

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.

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 …