And the Rays have yet another chance for a sweep! Go get ‘em, boys!
What to watch for: Cabrera has been pitching out of his mind lately, particularly in his ability to limit the number of walks. Can that really continue? Let’s hope the answer is a resounding no.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields – Shields gave up five runs on eight hits in a no-decision against the Athletics on Monday night. Both totals are the second most he’s allowed this season. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts. He followed his worst outing of the season in Boston with a one-hit shutout against the Angels. He’s beaten the Orioles once already, and has allowed four runs in 13 innings against them.
Daniel Cabrera – Cabrera doesn’t even resemble his former self at this point. The right-hander — who led the American League in walks in each of the last two years — has managed to have three walkless starts this year and has thrown eight straight quality starts.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Daniel Cabrera.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES |
| 2B – Akinori Iwamura | 2B – Brian Roberts |
| LF – Carl Crawford | 3B – Melvin Mora |
| CF – B.J. Upton | RF – Nick Markakis |
| 1B – Carlos Pena | DH – Aubrey Huff |
| 3B – Evan Longoria | 1B – Kevin Millar |
| DH – Eric Hinske | LF – Jay Payton |
| C – Dioner Navarro | C – Ramon Hernandez |
| RF – Gabe Gross | CF – Adam Jones |
| SS – Jason Bartlett | SS – Freddie Bynum |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: Orioles
May 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
It was great seeing Jackson get the win, even though he didn’t have his best stuff. He’s pitched much better this year and walked away with a ND, so he was due. BTW, best SI cover ever
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/2008/0526.html.
May 25th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Unbelievable!!! Not that sweeping the Orioles is that surprising, but to see this team sustain this success has really been amazing. I was optimistic about our season before it started, but I was cautiously optimistic. Now, I am full throttle!!! I’m going to the game tomorrow night, and while I’ll have a spot in my heart for Josh Hamilton, I will be hoping for us to begin another attempt of a sweep against the Rangers. If the A’s, who are currently leading the Red Sox, end up beating the Sox, we take over 1st place…again!!! Who would have thought that we’d have the opportunity to say that about our Rays at this point in the season. This team looks to be for real, and we have barely scratched the surface on offense. This really seems to be a season in which could be very special.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I know Longoria has struck out a lot and his numbers look so-so. But I have great confidence in him. I think he may be a real difference maker on this team. Upton is probably the best hitter on the team, and the offense may really revolve around him, but Longoria is also very special. Not a bad duo around which to build a team.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
The Sweep is complete!!! This team is unstoppable at home.
May 25th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
OH MY! What a game. Full of emotion every moment and I got to show my sign. Let me know if you saw it “SWEEP THE BIRDS & DUMP THE TEA (Sox)” both came true and we are in 1st again. Can’t wait to go back for more tomorrow.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Boy there are a lot of us season ticket holders that are really enjoying this year. This team is really exciting to watch. It’s really great to see the defenseive coverage of this team, no cheap hits given. Looks like the big guns are over shooting blanks. Longo even hit a left hander today for a game winning double. The way Pena ran from fist to score the winning run I don’t think his hammy is bothering him any longer. Boy doesn’t it look like Maddon has finally got it right. I think I am actuallly forgeting the 1st 10 years. 3 down and 7 to go for a homestand sweep. See you all at the Trop tommorrow.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I think Maddon has had it right from the beginning. He was hired and then renewed because he and the management mesh perfectly in their approach to building a contender, and since 2006, everything they have done-Sternberg, Silverman, Friedman, Maddon and the rest of the organization-was part of the plan to get this team to this point. It is not as if Maddon or anyone else has changed course this year.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Just to add to Bob’s post, another person worth noting is Gerry Hunsicker. I think he really might be the puppet master in the organization. The argument could be made that this team looks an awful lot like the team that Hunsicker built in Houston. I don’t think he will be with us after this season because I think some team is going to want him to be their GM. As long as it’s not in the division, I will root for the guy. I think we are very lucky to have him, and Friedman probably needs to thank Gerry for showing him the ropes. This team might not be where it is without him. Not to take anything away from Friedman, but I really think Hunsicker might be the man behind the man in this situation.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I am glad they stuck with the course and I am also glad he didn’t mess with the batting order and let Pena and Longo work it out. It’s really nice to her the acalades this team is getting from the national press. After 10 years it’s nice to hear the Rays called the best team in baseball. Hope Kaz is Kaz tonite.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Absolutely, AJ. In fact, I think what distinguishes this team is that it is impossible to separate one person’s contribution from another. Hunsicker is part of the organization, a terrific hire early on, so kudos to those who hired him and listen to him and kudos to the entire organization for being so close knit that the skills of each complement the skills of each other.
In a way it mirrors the team on the field. Maddon commented today in answer to a question about who the all-stars are that it is hard to disentangle one player’s contributions from another’s. Nobody is really having an all-star year (except Navarro perhaps) by himself, but each is contributing. It is tremendously exciting. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and once some individual parts begin playing to career norms, might be better still.