Rays of Light

[Game 3: RAYS 4, Red Sox 3] Now THAT’S how you open the season

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Tampa Bay	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0		4	10	2
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1		3	7	0

Winning The Series: If a baseball team wins every single series it plays during the season, it will finish with something like a .700 winning percentage. Though the Rays are going to lose a series here or there, the ultimate goal should be to take 2-out-of-3 every time out there. After dropping the season opener (and looking quite sluggish in the process), the Rays took care of business and left Beantown with a 2-1 record and in great shape heading into a weekend tilt in Baltimore.

Masterful Matt Garza: Dead arm? What dead arm? Garza’s arm was about as dead as a group of 12-year-olds at a David Archuleta concert, as he weaved his way through the Red Sox lineup with 7 innings of 1-run ball. He just picked up where he left off last season; is there any doubt that the Rays could quite possibly have the best starting rotation in the division once David Price shows up?

It’s That Man Again: Evan Longoria is already mashing. The rest of the American League should be scared. Very, very scared. All he’s done so far is go 6-for-14 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 5 RBI, and a 1.000 slugging percentage. I wouldn’t want to be a mediocre-to-bad pitcher right now, or else he’s going to murder me.

Re-Joyce: It’s clear that the Rays’ management – in general – loves Matt Joyce. On the other hand, the team is paying $1 million each for Gabe Gross and Gabe Kapler. I think it highly unlikely that the Rays move one of those two before B.J. Upton comes back next week, meaning that Joyce is likely ticketed to go to Durham no matter what. That’s too bad; he’s done a lot of real nice things so far.

Troy Percival… still gives me ulcers. And there was a whole lot of old going on when he and Jason Varitek squared off in the first inning.

All Shawn Riggans does… is it home runs in close games. Too bad he can’t do much of anything else.

Thievery! Akinori Iwamura has already stolen two bases this year. Could this be a more free-running Aki we’re going to see in 2009?

Tags: Red Sox, win
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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 1: Boston 5, RAYS 3] I’m not o-”K”

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Tampa Bay	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0		3	3	0
Boston	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	X		5	9	0

There was one very important lesson learned during the 2008 season: strikeouts with runners on 3rd and less than 2 outs are never fun. Well, the more things change the more they stay the same, as the Rays placed a whopping 14 Ks into the Boston hurlers’ column in dropping the season opener 5-3.

El Golden Sombrero: Carlos Pena was the big winner tonight, as his bat never connecting with anything. 4 strikeouts in 4 at-bats. Hey, it could’ve been worse. It could’ve been 5 in 5 at-bats.

It Wasn’t Just Carlos, Though: Gabe Gross went down 3 times, Dioner Navarro twice, and another two for Matt Joyce. Toss in another for Evan Longoria in a key 2-on, no-out spot, and you had the makings of a disaster.

Not a fan of Opening Day: On back-to-back Opening Days, James Shields didn’t have his best stuff. Last year, he was lucky enough to be facing a clearly out-matched Orioles lineup. Today, not so much. The Red Sox made him pay, including a 1st inning homerun by reigning AL MVP Scrappy Doo and a 6th-inning bomb by the American League’s worst catcher. On the plus side… well, there wasn’t really anything positive about it except that he made it into the 6th inning.

Lance Cormier and Joe Nelson… both looked pretty good. Cormier worked 1 2/3 innings, allowing just a walk and inducing a few groundballs. Nelson, meanwhile, tore through the three hitters he faced in the 8th inning. The bullpen is and will remain a major strength for this club, and you can bet that Joe Maddon will expertly manage it again in 2009.

What, no HD? Maybe it’s just Brighthouse in Orlando, but today’s game wasn’t broadcast in HD. Really? Opening Day and I have to watch in standard definition? Shame on you FSN Florida.

Taking one for the team: Did anyone else see the way that Jason Bartlett leaned into a curveball to get on base in the 8th inning? That was a thing of beauty, my friends. Plus, it helped the Rays give Hideki Okajima a 54.00 ERA to start the season. That’s a number I like to see.

Note to self: The new MLB strike zone is the size of a barn when the Rays are batting.

Tags: loss, Red Sox
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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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Know Thy Enemy Saturday 2/7

Red Sox Hot Stove Report Card – Part 1 Position Players

This is an ongoing column looking at other teams from the AL East. I am heavy focus on Boston and New York but will talk some on Baltimore (since they now have Wiggy!) and Toronto (how will the Burnett hole effect their starting rotation?).  I am focusing the first couple of posts on our arch-nemesis of the AL East, the Boston Red Sox! Today I am looking at two key positions for the BoSox, catcher and center field…

Catchers Quandary:N

Even though Jason Varitek calls an amazing game as the man behind the plate for the Rays number one AL East nemesis, his numbers last year were way below average batting .220/.313 OBP/.359 SLG. Many thought that Varitek’s days were over in Boston. The talks went on long enough but Boston’s front office surprised everyone in signing Varitek to a new deal for one year at 5 Million. Varitek is coming back for a 12^th year behind the plate in Beantown. That being said, there was sill move movement at the position. David Ross was traded to Atlanta & Kevin Cash was invited by the Yankees to Spring Training. Jason Bard (formerly of the Padres) was also signed to a 1 year deal (undisclosed terms). Both Variteck and Bard have club options with their contracts for 2010. So is the quandary really solved in Boston? Will Varitek be able to hold it together for one more year?

Will The Center Hold?

The Red Sox made a bold statement by trading away Coco Crisp to the Royals, all but declaring Jacoby Ellsbury the man in center. Ellsbury is looking to most notably overcome the 0 – 20 performance in game 5 of the ALCS where he had to be replaced by Crisp. Mark Kotsay also inked a 1 year contract with the Red Sox. And in the most surprising Hot Stove move by the BoSox, Rocco Baldelli was signed to the outfield. The Red Sox also sent out invitations to Spring Training to the following players: Joe Thurston, Paul McAnulty & Chip Ambres. Red Sox fans will be wondering if Ellsbury will snap back from game five (we here in Tampa Bay hope he doesn’t!) to take the lead in the outfield…only the 2009 season will tell.

More next time on Red Sox on Know Thy Enemy…

Tags: coco crisp, jacoby ellsbury, jason varitek, mark kotsay, Red Sox
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Game #83: Win tonight and we’re “for real”

It was so funny to listen to the folks in the national media today debate whether or not the win last night proves that the Rays are “for real” and “here to stay” – as if the time we swept the Red Sox a month ago didn’t count for anything. But, that’s the state we’re in right now. People are finally paying attention, and we will be officially “for real” in their eyes if we can win tonight to guarantee a series victory. A win tonight also guarantees that the Red Sox can leave the Trop no better than 1 1/2 games out (with us having played 3 fewer games, this could be considered a “tie” of sorts).

Can Matt Garza do what he did against the Marlins? Probably not. But he has been better his past couple times out, and he’s done well against this Red Sox lineup in the past. This could turn out to be a decent matchup.

What to watch for: The knuckleball. You never know what it’s going to do when it’s indoors and there’s no wind to blow it around; will it dance or will it be flat? If Tim Wakefield can’t keep it under control, it could be a fun night for the bats. Wakefield, though, is historically one of the best visiting pitchers to ever come into the Trop.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Matt Garza - The right-hander is coming off a masterful performance on Thursday afternoon in which Garza gave the Rays a preview of just how good he can be. The 24-year-old held the Marlins to just one-hit — a solo home run by Hanley Ramirez — en route to his first-ever complete game. Garza threw all four of his pitches for strikes and retired the first 10 straight Fish before walking Jeremy Hermida in the fourth inning. Tuesday will mark Garza’s third outing against Boston this season, (he is 0-1) and he will look to continue the momentum found against Florida. The right-hander has arguably the best stuff on the Rays staff and if he can keep his emotions in check, he is a force on the mound.

Tim Wakefield – Wakefield was in top form in his last start against the D-backs, holding Arizona to just two hits in seven shutout innings. He fanned six batters and never allowed more than one runner on base at a time. He allowed three runs on six hits in his lone matchup with Tampa Bay this season, earning a no-decision in a 5-4 loss on April 25. He has allowed three runs or less in each of his last six outings.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Tim Wakefield.

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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Game #82: The biggest series in Rays history begins tonight

And I say that with no hyperbole or sarcasm in my voice. There has never been a bigger series in Rays history. 2-out-of-3 means a 1 1/2 game lead in the division; a sweep means a 3 1/2 game lead (with 3 more games to play than Boston). Talk about breathing room. Things start to get downright cozy at that point.

What to watch for: The Trop. Can the fans do their part, step up, and match the level of intensity that we’re likely to see on the field? Or will the stadium be half-full with Red Sox fans?

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields – Shields is coming off a resounding victory over the Marlins on Wednesday night in which the right-hander broke a seven-game dry spell to notch the win. He tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing only a solo home run to Mike Jacobs in the sixth inning. Shields will face a new rival in the Red Sox, as the right-hander was one of five Rays suspended in June 5′s on-field melee at Fenway Park. Monday’s game will be the 27-year-old’s fourth appearance against the Red Sox this year. Shields has beaten Boston once this season, in April 27′s game at Tropicana Field, but sports an impressive 1.99 ERA in home starts.

Justin Masterson – Masterson earned his second career win against Tampa Bay on June 3, a 7-4 decision at Fenway Park. It wasn’t his most dominant performance, allowing four runs on six hits during six innings of work. But it did set the tone for the three-game set as the Red Sox swept the Rays to regain first place in the AL East. Masterson’s last start was very similar to that game against the Rays; he allowed four runs on seven hits against Arizona on Tuesday.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Justin Masterson.

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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Game #59: On the national stage

If the Rays keep winning, nights like tonight in which they find themselves on ESPN will be more commonplace. A big win to go back out in front by a game-and-a-half on national television would do wonders for this team and its confidence.

What to watch for: Which Edwin Jackson shows up? (Sounds like a broken record, doesn’t it?) Josh Beckett has been hittable this year, so the Rays should be able to plate a few against him. If Edwin can lock down the Sox, Fenway could turn into a very quiet place.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Edwin Jackson - The right-hander was roughed up against the White Sox on May 29, touched for a season-high 10 hits and four runs in his fourth loss this season. Jackson is at his best when he is in control of his fastball, as he is more apt to use an array of filthy pitches to support his speed. Wednesday’s start will be Jackson’s third against Boston this season, and the 24-year-old will be looking for his first win. After lasting only four innings in his start at Fenway on May 2, Jackson will look to regain his stuff in the second game of the series.

Josh Beckett - The ace right-hander is starting to round into form. Beckett got a no-decision in his last start, but gave up just two runs over six innings to the Orioles while striking out 10. In the outing before that, he gave up two runs over seven innings to Oakland and took a tough-luck, 2-0 loss. This will be Beckett’s second start of the season against the Rays. He lost the first matchup, but pitched perhaps his best game of the year in that one, striking out 13 and allowing two runs over seven innings. Opponents are hitting .231 against Beckett this season.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Josh Beckett.

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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Game #58: No way to overstate it, this series is HUGE

Is the Rays’ season over if they lose 2-out-of-3 or even get swept at the hands of the Red Sox? Certainly not. But are either of those things that you would want to hang on your resume after putting up an impressive string of winning baseball?

What we do know going in is that the Rays hold a 1 1/2 game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East (and with 3 more games to play than Boston, that lead could swell to as large as 3 games), and a sweep in this series gives the Rays some much-needed breathing room in the division.

One thing is for certain: it’s not “early” anymore in the season, and the Rays are still the class of the AL East.

What to watch for: Justin Masterson has been up-and-down – literally – riding the shuttle between Triple A and the big leagues three times this season. His first two starts have been one-offs, so its hard to judge any kind of consistency in his work.

David Ortiz is on his way to the disabled list, giving the Red Sox’ lineup a less-formidable look down the middle.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Matt Garza – Garza will be making his 10th start of the season and his third career start against the Red Sox. On Wednesday afternoon against the Rangers, the 24-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out 10 to earn his fourth win of the season. Garza has a mid-90s fastball that sinks, a curve, a slider and a changeup. He is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in one start against the Red Sox this season, but he is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two career starts at Fenway Park.

Justin Masterson – Masterson will be promoted to Boston for the third time this season to start in place of the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka. The last two times Masterson has been called up, it was for just one start. Both times he excelled. Most recently, Masterson allowed three hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings on May 20, earning his first Major League win against the Kansas City Royals. Masterson has made nine starts at the Minor League level this season, going 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA. Most recently, he made his debut at Triple-A Pawtucket, giving up four hits and one earned run over six innings.

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
Posted in Game Thread | 3 Comments »