Rays of Light

OPEN THREAD — Game 98 — RAYS @ Blue Jays

For Starters: David Price (3-4, 4.86 ERA) vs Brian Tallet (5-6, 4.95 ERA)

MLB.com has the scoop:

Price, making his first start in 11 days because of the All-Star break, looked a bit out of sync in a 4-3 loss against the White Sox on Monday. He struck out six batters, matching his third-highest total this season, but he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings and walked two. His biggest mistake came in the bottom of the third inning when he surrendered a three-run home run in a tie game to White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. Price has faced the Blue Jays only once, on July 9 in his last start before the All-Star break. He went six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out seven in a 3-2 win to earn his third victory of the season.

Tallet was moved to the bullpen following the All-Star Break but was not used. His last start came on July 8 in Tampa Bay in a 10-9 loss to the Rays. Tallet lasted only three-plus innings, giving up eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits — which tied a season high — en route to a no-decision. Three of those runs came on a fourth-inning home run to the Rays’ Ben Zobrist. Tallet had two walks and four strikeouts in his only appearance against the Rays so far this season.

Standings watch:

What to watch for: Anytime David Price is on the mound, it’s to see how he does. If he can avoid the big inning, this could be a good one.

Tags: Blue Jays, open thread
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[Game 14] RAYS @ Mariners: Reboot

The Rays look to right the ship out West against the surprising Seattle Mariners. They’ve been playing over their heads; the Rays have been underperforming. Should be a nice three-game set, right?

What to watch for: The offense needs to be more dynamic, and not simply rely on the longball to win games.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine - Sonnanstine looked sharp in his last outing, his second of the season, when he held the Yankees to two runs in five innings to earn a no-decision on Wednesday. The right-hander is a master of deception, employing an array of pitches that he can throw from all different angles. But he has learned to primarily use his fastball to setup the other pitches. Among those other pitches, Sonnanstine has added a changeup to his repertoire this spring, which he is fast gaining confidence in the more he masters it. The right-hander’s mantra is to dispatch hitters one way or the other in three pitches, which allows him to get deeper into the games and save the bullpen. Sonnanstine is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners and is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts at Safeco Field.

Jarrod Washburn - The veteran left-hander retired the first 12 batters he faced in his previous outing on Wednesday, extending his scoreless streak to 12 consecutive innings to start the season. Both streaks ended during a two-batter sequence in the fifth inning, when a single and home run put a dent in his first home outing of the season. Even so, he took the game through six innings on 87 pitches.

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Tags: Mariners
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[Game 13] White Sox @ RAYS: Salvaging a messy homestand

What has been a pretty nasty homestand so far can at least be partially salvaged if the Rays win today. It will mean a 3-4 record on the ’stand, but at least that’s better than going 2-5. Plus, the rest of the division hasn’t exactly been playing like gangbusters, so the Rays will have plenty of opportunities to right the ship going forward.

What to watch for: Ben Zobrist gets the start at short for the Rays today. Though his defense at the position reminds me of this video I once saw of a kid having a seizure while playing the Super Nintendo, he always seems to make the most of his opportunities with the bat. Look for him to have some kind of big hit today.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Matt Garza - Garza gave the Rays another quality start in his second start of the season Tuesday night against the Yankees, when he allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. Garza has the best stuff on the staff and at age 25, the right-hander seems to be maturing on the mound, where he has experienced problems controlling his emotions in the past. The one thing he has lacked is consistency — he has been either lights-out or didn’t have it. He needs to better learn how to win when he doesn’t have his best stuff. Garza is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox.

Gavin Floyd - Floyd gave up two runs and struck out nine over seven innings in his first start this season, but suffered the loss at home to Kansas City. On Monday in Detroit, Floyd walked seven and gave up five hits over five laborious innings, but still picked up the victory. Floyd struck out two and gave up six runs, throwing just 49 of his 98 pitches for strikes in improving to 5-0 lifetime against the Tigers and 3-0 at Comerica Park. Floyd has never faced Tampa Bay during the regular season but lost to the Rays in Game 4 of the 2008 American League Division Series.

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Tags: White Sox
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[Game 7] Yankees @ RAYS: Home Opener

Raising the AL Championship banner with the Yankees visiting the house. Could it be any sweeter?

What to watch for: It’s the return of B.J. Upton. The lineup should feel a whole lot more dynamic with him up top.

 Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Scott Kazmir - The left-hander enjoyed a nice spring that saw him find his slider and lock in his mechanics. He built on those results in his first start of the season Wednesday night at Fenway Park when he threw 111 pitches in six innings against the Red Sox, allowing just one run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season. Kazmir is 21-14 with a 3.11 ERA in 60 career starts at Tropicana Field. He is 4-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 12 career appearances against the Yankees; last season he went 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in three starts against New York.

Chien-Ming Wang - Making his first start since a season-ending injury last June, Wang was rapped for seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings by the Orioles in his 2009 debut. He struggled with command of his sinker, leaving after a Nick Markakis home run. Wang said that his body was moving ahead of his right arm, which has been lagging behind on pitches — an issue he also battled during the spring. Though it has carried into the regular season, Wang remains confident it will be addressed. He is 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 13 career starts against Tampa Bay, including a 1-0 record with a 0.69 ERA in two starts last season.

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Tags: Yankees
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[Game 6] RAYS @ Orioles: Oh, crap, Shields is pitching on the road again

2 straight losses to the Orioles. A shutout last night. Meh, I’ve got nothing else to say, just play ball boys.

What to watch for: James Shields turns into Dewon Brazelton on the road (okay, not THAT bad, but the hyperbole gets my point across, doesn’t it?), so he’ll need to show a little sumpin’ sumpin’ this afternoon and prove that his carrer struggles away from The Trop have been nothing more than a fluke.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields - Shields had a rough Opening Day outing when he allowed five runs to take a loss against the Red Sox. Clearly Shields did not have his best stuff, but he battled through 5 1/3 innings. Shields has built a reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the seventh or eighth innings, which is evidenced by two consecutive seasons with 215 innings pitched. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 career starts against the Orioles; 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in six career starts at Camden Yards.

Adam Eaton - Eaton was released by the Phillies early in Spring Training despite still being in the final season of a lucrative three-year contract. Eaton, a former first-round draft pick, hasn’t had an ERA under 5.00 in any of the last three seasons. The right-hander still has a winning record for his career and the Orioles are hoping he can hold down a spot for the first half of the season. Most of Eaton’s experience has come in the National League, but he briefly pitched for the Rangers.

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Tags: Orioles
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[Game 4] RAYS @ Orioles: Ghost of Devil Rays past

Mark Hendrickson, eh? I think the Orioles are trying to give me nightmares about Devil Rays past. Not that he was awful on his own, mind you. But it is a reminder of a much different time; a time when we’re be thrilled to take two out of three from the Orioles. Not anymore, my friends. It would be a disappointment if the Rays came away with anything less than 2 of these next three, even with Sonny and Jeff Niemann going in two of them. The Rays should chew Hendrickson up and spit him out. Period.

In many ways, this is a matchup of the AL East present and the AL East future, as the Orioles have laid the groundwork for what could be a very competitive team in a few years. If they could only get some pitching…

Kind of disappointed that Matt Weiters isn’t up with the big club yet. I would love to see him play.

What to watch for: The approach at the plate has looked much better in games 2 and 3 than it did in game 1. If the Rays do the same, they should be able to explode for a few more runs tonight.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine – Sonnanstine is a master of deception, employing an array of pitches that he can throw from all different angles. But he has learned to primarily use his fastball to setup the other pitches. Among those other pitches, Sonnanstine has added a changeup to his repertoire this spring, which he is fast gaining confidence in the more he masters it. The right-hander’s mantra is to dispatch of hitters one way or the other in three pitches, which allows him to get deeper into the games and save the bullpen. He is 2-2 with a 6.67 ERA in five career starts against the Orioles; he is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts at Camden Yards.

Mark Hendrickson - Hendrickson was signed by the Orioles in the offseason to slot in as a long reliever and spot starter, but several of Baltimore’s projected starters stumbled during Spring Training. That ceded a spot to Hendrickson, one of the more experienced pitchers on Baltimore’s staff. The southpaw began his career with the Blue Jays but has since bounced to Tampa Bay, the Dodgers and the Marlins before resurfacing in the American League East with Baltimore.

Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!

Tags: Orioles
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[Game 3] RAYS @ Red Sox: Rubber match

Here we go: a chance to win the opening series of the season against one of the league’s best teams. Can’t ask for much more than that.

What to watch for: If the Dice-K who walks everyone and is at 100 pitches in the 4th inning is on the the hill, the Rays’ offense could do some good things.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Matt Garza - Garza has the best stuff on the Rays staff, which he put on display while claiming MVP honors during last season’s American League Championship Series — particularly in Game 7 when he shut down the Red Sox to claim the win. At age 25, the right-hander seems to be maturing on the mound, where he has experienced problems controlling his emotions in the past. The one thing he has lacked is consistency, as he has been either lights-out or didn’t have it. He needs to better learn how to win when he doesn’t have his best stuff. Garza is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox; he is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts at Fenway Park.

Daisuke Matsuzaka - Dice-K didn’t win any contests for pitching artistry last year, but he got the job done, finishing fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The Red Sox hope for more control and efficiency out of Matsuzaka this year, as he walked 94 batters in 167 2/3 innings. However, he led the Majors in opponents batting average, limiting them to .211. He was fifth in the American League with 8.27 strikeouts per nine innings. Matsuzaka is 17-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 30 career starts at Fenway. He is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA in eight starts against the Rays.

Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!

Tags: Red Sox
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[Game #2] RAYS @ Red Sox: Lefty versus Lefty

Alright, so the Rays got that first one out of the system. Kid K takes the hill in game 2 and will be ready to rock and roll and tear through the Red Sox lineup like he’s done so many times before. I can just feel it.

And if he doesn’t, I’ve got plenty of Miller Lite in the fridge with which to drown my sorrows.
What to watch for: The bats. The Rays were notoriously bad against left-handed pitching last season. Let’s see how the combination of Pat Burrell, Gabe Kapler, and Ben Zobrist helps with that.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Scott Kazmir – Kazmir struggled throughout the second half of the 2008 season, primarily due to an inability to locate his slider, which historically has been his best pitch. In the first half he posted a 3.02 ERA and in the second he pitched to a 4.02 ERA. The left-hander enjoyed a nice spring that saw him find his slider and lock in his mechanics, which could be a precursor to a good season. Historically, he has enjoyed pitching at Fenway Park, where he is 4-4 with a 3.02 ERA in 11 career starts. He is 6-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 21 career starts against the Red Sox.

Jon Lester – The left-handed Lester is coming off a breakthrough season. Aside from winning 16 games, he led the staff with 210 1/3 innings. He threw a no-hitter against the Royals at Fenway on May 19. He also had a shutout at Yankee Stadium on July 3. He was the American League’s Pitcher of the Month in July, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA. Lester is 16-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 31 career games at Fenway. He is 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA against Tampa Bay. However, the Rays beat him twice in the American League Championship Series last October.

Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!

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[Game #1] RAYS @ Red Sox: Commence title defense

Can you believe that it’s time to start this thing all over again? The Rays open up defense of their 2009 American League Championship in the heart of enemy territory – Fenway Park, to be exact – with a stellar matchup of two of the league’s best right-handed pitchers. James Shields looks to live up to the billing that gets him the ball on opening day, while the Rays’ offense looks to get something done against the often dominant but sometimes erratic Josh Beckett.
What to watch for: The weather. They say it could be nasty on Monday up in Boston. Let’s hope the rain stays away. Who is laughing about our dome now?

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields – Shields built a reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the seventh or eighth innings, which is evidenced by two consecutive seasons with 215 innings pitched. He has not pitched at Boston since he plunked Coco Crisp in the second inning of the June 5 game at Fenway Park, touching off a bench-clearing fracas. Five Rays players were suspended a total of 23 games for their part in the memorable incident that many feel helped push the Rays to their incredible pennant run. He went 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox in 2008. Included in this body of work was a masterful complete game, two-hit, shutout of the Red Sox on April 27 that saw him strike out seven while walking just one. Shields has a 2-4 career mark against the Red Sox with a 5.23 ERA in eight starts; he is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts at Fenway.

Josh Beckett – Beckett is in a far different place than he was last Opening Day, when he was on the disabled list with back woes. Beckett turned in a strong Spring Training, looking a lot like the guy who dominated opponents throughout 2007. This will be the fourth Opening Day start of Beckett’s career, but first since 2005. However, he is no stranger to Fenway openers. Beckett pitched the home opener for the Red Sox in 2006 and 2007, winning on both occasions. Beckett has generally pitched well against the Rays in his career, going 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 10 starts. In his career at Fenway, Beckett is 21-16 with a 4.79 ERA. He has been a strong starter during his career, going 18-10 with a 3.35 ERA in April.

View the game preview from Baseball Reference.

Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!

Tags: Red Sox
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[SPRING GAME 3] Rays vs Red Sox

1:05 PM. Rays and Red Sox.

Jeff Niemann gets his first chance to impress, and Ben Zobrist gets to play a little bit of left field.

Oh yeah, and it’s the Red Sox. God I hate those guys.

Tags: Red Sox
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