Ladies and gentlemen, our favorite victim of the post Manny fallout has been added, yet again, to the Rays 40 man roster. Friends, fans that love to yell and scream obscenities at television screens are psyched today because….wait for it, Dan Johnson is back on the Rays active roster. I know, I know, if only you could feel the excited pitter-patter of my heart as it abnormally skips beats similar to that of someone with arrhythmic palpitations.
To Johnson’s credit, he did play better in AAA Durham hitting .273 in 395 plate appearances with 13 home runs, and 52 RBI’s on 91 total hits. Still, I can’t help but feel, I mean really REALLY notice, that nervous pit in my stomach as I recall how his paltry offense did nothing to help the Rays in 84 plate appearances at the beginning of this season…you know, when he hit .115. The Rays released RHP reliever Jay Buente to make room for Johnson on the 40 man roster. It may seem as though I’m a hater when it comes to all things Dan Johnson. However, I just can’t help but feel ambivalence toward Johnson when I think about how much better the Rays have played without him on the roster, after replacing good ol DanJo with Casey Kotchman. A part of me feels as though that this could be a decent move if the Rays use Johnson in a limited role as a pinch hitter or pinch runner, or as a late inning defensive change. I mean, look how successful they were last night when they put a sub .120 hitting Jose Lobaton in to pinch hit late last night. Maybe a .273 hitter might have a bit more success?
The Rays also recalled LHP Alex Torres offering the Rays another arm (yeah, you hear those footsteps Howell) in the pen. He’s also a potential starting candidate in the Rays double-header against the Yankees on the 21st. Torres went 9-7 in 146.1 innings pitched, with a 3.08 ERA and a LOB% (left on base) of 76% this year in AAA Durham. Interestingly enough, the above mentioned Howell has a LOB% of 56.4% this year. Sounds as though Torres is able to get out of jams a bit better than JP. Hmm…
The Red Sox did the Rays a favor earlier today by blowing a late inning lead, and losing to the Blue Jays 5-4. The Rays are again 3.5 games out in the wildcard race, and could gain another half game in the race if they win tonight’s game against the Orioles. Taking the mound for the Rays is Wade Davis. Wade pitched very well in last Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox and looks to win his second game in a row.
There were oh so many gripes that I could make about last nights game, but history is history and the most that any of us (my self included) could or should do is look forward to tonight’s game. The starting lineups are below. As Always, Go Rays!
Tampa Bay Rays (82-65)
Fuld LF
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Damon DH
Joyce RF
Kotchman 1B
Jaso C
Brignac SS
Davis P (10-8, 4.38 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles (59-88)
Angle CF
Hardy SS
Markakis RF
Guerrero DH
Wieters C
Davis 3B
Reynolds 1B
Reimold LF
Andino 2B
Guthrie P (7-17, 4.29 ERA)
Good thing he was back…..;)