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Scouting Report on todays starters from MLB.com
J.P. Howell - Howell walked three and fanned seven in five innings last time out, but stumbled at a few key points before he exited with the game tied. The young lefty scattered two singles to start the third, and then secured two outs. He walked the next hitter to load the bases, and then worked Josh Fields to a six-pitch walk that forced in the White Sox first run. The outing tied his shortest this season, and continued his inconsistency of being dead-on or way off.
C.C. Sabathia - Sabathia’s All-Star-worthy first half continued Monday against Oakland, when he held the A’s to a pair of runs on nine hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in his second complete game of the season. He gave up two runs in the second inning but was dominant for the remainder. In his last start against the Rays, on April 20, Sabathia gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits over seven innings in a no-decision.
View the Rays career numbers vs. C.C. Sabathia - ESPN Splits
View the game preview from Baseball Reference
Notable Performances From Down on the Farm
Hitters
Pitchers
Don’t see someone listed? Leave us a comment and we’ll be sure to add that name to the regular rotation.
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
June 30th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Lineups for today, courtesy of Carter Gaddis of the Tampa Tribune:
Indians:
Grady Sizemore, CF
Casey Blake, 3B
Victor Martinez, C
Travis Hafner, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Jason Michaels, LF
Ryan Garko, 1B
Franklin Gutierrez, RF
Josh Barfield, 2B
C.C. Sabathia, P
Rays:
Akinori Iwamura, 3B
Brendan Harris, SS
Delmon Young, CF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Jonny Gomes, RF
Jorge Cantu, DH
Josh Wilson, 2B
Raul Casanova, C
Dustan Mohr, LF
J.P. Howell, P
I was pretty close with my idea for the lineup today from the post a few lines down.
June 30th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Thought Mohr was brought up as a CF-der. Now we have Gomes still in RF and Young in CF. Huh?
June 30th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Bill,
In his big league career, Mohr has only played 41 out of 474 games in center field (just over 8%). His range factor in that time is .4 below the league average. Delmon’s range factor in his short time at the position is just about league average. So, if you believe in these statistics, Delmon is the better choice to play center field.
June 30th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
This is not based on anything but sheer gut instinct (which goes against everything about baseball that I believe, since I’m a pretty big stat guy), but I think we’re gonna see a slug-fest tonight. Like an 8-7, 11-10 kind of game.
June 30th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I think Sabathia’s got to be licking his chops to get to that line up. I hope setting Crawford down for a couple days does him some good. I really think it’s jus a mental thing with him. I really think it’s getting harder and harder for him to get up day after day knowing odd’s are he’ll be looking at another loss. I do believe as soon as an escape route becomes available to him he’s gone.
June 30th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
could you add henry wrigley from hudson valley to your farm report. thanks
June 30th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I think playing Delmon in center has weakened two positions. I would put him back in right and use Gomes or Mohr in center they both would be protected with speed on each side of them and wouldn’t have to worry about covering so much ground. Scott I know you love your stats but we have a manager that manages by stats and look where were at. But then again in your defense he may be misinterpeting the stats.
June 30th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Will do, Max
June 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Can you add Fernando Perez of AA (true CF-der!!!!!)???
June 30th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I do not forsee a two sided slug fest with Sabbathia on the mound. If the Rays knick out more than 2-3 runs I will be suprised. CC looks like he may have the Cy Young year that’s been predicted for him since his rookie year.
But Howell is holding his own through some early jams…
June 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Got Him, Bill
June 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
The bloop singles are killing them.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
the bloop singles, the balls crushed in the gap, the bombs…not a good night for the drays. when is our next day off?
June 30th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Scott- you were right about the score.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Not a bad game. We are playing a pretty good team in the Indians, and to rally a few times shows our promise for the future.
Unfortunately, promise for the future doesn’t mean wins for the present. And the recent sweep by the horrible White Sox almost mute the point.
But I think if our starting pitching holds strong, and our bats flare up, we can tie this series.