After a brief rain delay, thanks to a passing cold front, the Tampa Bay Rays got to work on the fourth day of Spring Training. Eugenio Velez reported to camp, so only Boog Powell and Alex Colome (visa delay) have yet to arrive with the first full workout looming Saturday.
Tag Archives: Toronto Blue Jays
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 …
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.