Game #107: Can we REALLY still win the road trip?
By Scott Caruso | July 30th, 2008 | Posted in Game Thread
After as poorly as the Rays’ offense has played of late, it is amazing that the team finds itself at 3-3 on its current road trip and can actually end it with a winning record by beating Scott Richmond in his big league debut today. Should we send the Jays a thank-you card for bumping the southpaw John Parrish from the rotation in favor of the righty Richmond?
What to watch for: Today’s the day the offense breaks out. I can feel it.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Edwin Jackson – For a while, Jackson was dominant in his last outing. Against the Royals last Friday, he threw a no-hitter for the first four innings and two outs into the fifth. Then, he gave up a homer. The first batter in the sixth also hit a home run, and then the next walked. Just like that, Jackson was done. He went five innings, giving up two runs, two hits and two walks. Although he would’ve liked to have lasted longer, it was a big improvement over his last outing before that one. Then, Jackson gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Scott Richmond – Richmond was summoned from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, when the Jays placed reliever Brian Tallet on the 15-day DL with a broken toe. The 28-year-old Richmond will be making his Major League debut on Wednesday. The Jays have indicated that the right-hander will be a part of the rotation for at least the time-being. Richmond replaces John Parrish, who was moved to the bullpen. In Double-A New Hampshire, Richmond was 5-8 with a 4.95 ERA. After being promoted to Syracuse, he went 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA, holding opponents to a .210 (25-for-119) average. He walked six and struck out 31 across 35 innings.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
TORONTO BLUE JAYS |
| 2B – Akinori Iwamura | 2B – Joe Inglett |
| CF – B.J. Upton | 3B – Marco Scutaro |
| LF – Carl Crawford | CF – Alex Rios |
| 3B – Evan Longoria | 1B – Lyle Overbay |
| 1B – Carlos Pena | DH – Matt Stairs |
| DH – Eric Hinske | LF – Adam Lind |
| C – Dioner Navarro | RF – Brad Wilkerson |
| RF – Gabe Gross | C – Greg Zaun |
| SS – Jason Bartlett | SS – John McDonald |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: Blue Jays
July 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
If the Rays were to get Jason Bay, where does he play? He’s a terrible outfielder; does this relegate Cliff Floyd to the bench? Eric Hinske to the bench and Bay in right field? I’m not sure what the Rays would do.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
As an aside: I’ll be in the chat room during today’s game.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I said yesterday that I don’t think we NEED to make a deal, but would b fine if we made one. The Rays brass has already labeled Jaso, Brignac, Price, Davis, and Hellickson as ‘untouchable’. So, if we were to get Bay without giving up our top major-league ready prospects, I think it would definitely be worth it. My guess is the package is focused around Niemann and Ruggiano. That would still be a good deal for Pitt, and we’d get a somewhat reliable righty OF. Not to mention that we’d end up with the better OF from Pitt than the Yankees did with Nady. Bay would definitely give us some much needed right-handed presence in the middle of the order. Maybe the lineup would look something like this:
1. Aki 2B
2. Crawford LF
3. Longoria 3B
4. Pena 1B
5. Bay RF
6. Upton CF
7. Floyd/Hinske DH
8. Navarro C
9. Bartlett SS
That’s a pretty solid lineup if you ask me! Grabow would also be a nice little toss-in for the deal. He’d certainly help the bullpen. His numbers are better against lefties, obviously, but he has put up solid numbers against righties as well. Grabow could let Miller face lefties only (LOOGY definition), and could be a boost to the ‘pen. My only question is, ‘who goes?’ I guess Hammel would be part of the deal, too, but not sure if’s even wanted.
Now, for last night’s gem, Garza has what might be the best fastball in baseball. He throws it in the 92-95 MPH range all night, and it has some major movement and life on it. The kid is legit, and I really have to hand it to Friedman for getting such a great young pitcher and superb defensive SS for a malcontent, light-hitting OF in Delmon Young. Friedman gets Exec of the Year on that move alone. And Longoria!!! This kid can marry my wife if he wants to! I’ve never seen such a smart hitter at such a young age. He realized that Halladay stayed away from him all night, and he was smart enough to make the adjustment. Huge hit, again!!! If we make the playoffs, I really think he might win the MVP. I don’t want to put so much pressure on such a young kid, but he is certainly our MVP this year. And in a year that has only one person with ridiculous numbers, you might see Longo win it because he might lead us to the playoffs. I know Josh Hamilton’s numbers are insane, but without Longo, we might be barely sniffing .500 at this point. I’ve never been this excited for a sports team in my life!!! Let’s go Rays!!!!!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
C.C.!!!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Hey, what do you know? Another K with a runner on 3rd and 1 out.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Whew! Percy got three in a row! Who’d a thunk it.
Were you guys in the chat room today? Am I not working it correctly?
Go Rays!!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I was listening and waiting for Percy to give up a home run or triple. I was happy it didn’t happen. The Toronto broadcasters also mentioned that Percy used (doesn’t anymore) drink 12 – 15 cups of coffee to keep the caffine in his system. That’s a lot of java.
Go Rays! Time to tame the Tigers!