Rays of Light

Game #89: Start spreadin’ the news

6 road games to close out the first half of the season. 2 in the Bronx. The Rays can essentially bury the Yankees in this two-game set, as there’s no way in h-e-double hockey sticks that this Yankees team is coming back from 10 1/2 down to make the playoffs. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Scotty Kazmir looks to get this road trip off on the right foot against Andy Pettitte. Is there anyone you’d rather have on the mound?

Moreover, isn’t it amazing how we’re in mid-July and the Rays are playing in a series that’s must win… FOR THE YANKEES? It’s a thing of beauty and something I’m still not totally used to yet.

What to watch for: Jonny Gomes is 8-for-19 lifetime with 7 RsBI against Andy Pettitte. If ever he was going to break out, tonight would be the night.

Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Scott Kazmir – The Rays ace had a career May, but has struggled in his last few appearances. Kazmir admitted his slider and changeup weren’t up to par in a five-inning appearance June 27 at Pittsburgh, and he didn’t fare much better vs. the Red Sox on Wednesday night. Kazmir threw 107 pitches in five innings and gave up a season-high seven hits. The reigning American League strikeout king matched his season-low by fanning three Sox batters and will look to reestablish his dominance vs. the Yankees. Kazmir won a May 15 contest in New York, delivering six shutout innings en route to a 5-1 Rays win, and will face the Yankees for the second time this season.

Andy Pettitte - The Yankees’ sharpest pitcher since early June, Pettitte was off his game in the opener of a four-game set with the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings to take his first loss since May 17. The loss prompted a closed-door meeting led by manager Joe Girardi.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Andy Pettitte.

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: Yankees
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Game #4: Avoiding a Hangover

After last night’s rout, the Rays look to make it two in a row against the New York Yankees in today’s afternoon title. Andy Pettitte goes for the Yankees after being pushed back due to some back troubles, while Edwin Jackson looks to get his 2008 season off on the right foot against an awfully tough Yankee lineup.

Shawn Riggans will get the start at catcher with Dioner Navarro now on the disabled list. We’ve also heard throughout the week that both Jonny Gomes and Elliot Johnson will get starts today, so the lineup could have a bit of a different look today.

What to watch for: It will be much more difficult for the Rays to make Andy Pettitte work than it was to do so against Ian Kennedy, but they have to try. Pettitte will likely be on a pitch-count thanks to his injuries, so if the Rays can make him throw a lot of pitches early, they could get back into that exposed Yankee bullpen.

On the other side, it will be IMPERATIVE for Edwin Jackson to throw strikes today. The Yankees do not go out of the strike zone until they are down in the count, so Edwin needs to keep pumping strike one all day long. Now, he can’t just lay it over the middle of the plate since there are 9 players who can hit the ball out of the yard, but he needs to work from ahead in the count and force the Yankees into defensive counts. If he doesn’t do that, it could be a long day and J.P. Howell might be called on to try and clean up the mess.

Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford have very good career numbers against Pettitte. The Rays could be able to jump in front early if the two of them can get something started in the first inning. On the other side, Gomes is just 2-for-12 lifetime and B.J. Upton is 1-for-6.

Scouting Report on todays starters from MLB.com:
Edwin Jackson – Jackson got off to a terrible start in 2007, when he went 1-9 with a 7.23 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) in the first half of the season. His results were much improved in the second half, when he went 4-6 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 starts, including a four-hit shutout of the Rangers on Aug. 11. Yet he continues to be an enigma, the pitcher with the big fastball who gets mixed results. Jackson has pitched well at Yankee Stadium, posting a 1-1 mark with a 4.38 ERA in four appearances (two starts).

Andy Pettitte – OHaving been pushed back from the No. 2 spot by back spasms, Pettitte is expected to open his campaign against the Rays. The lefty is looking to reprise the role of stopper that helped the Yankees record 21 wins in his 34 starts.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Pettitte.

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: Yankees
Posted in Game Thread | 2 Comments »

Game #3: First real test

The Rays – and, more specifically, Al Reyes – had an extra day to simmer on the disappointing loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night. Now, the team heads into the Bronx for an early test against perhaps the top team in the division. This should be a good litmus test for where we really are at this early point in the season. It’s a four game series, so of course taking 3-out-of-4 would be the ideal situation. On the road against such a talented team, though, you’ll take a split.

I absolutely love these Rays-Yankees matchups. They are so much fun. The fans come out en masse, the chat room blows up, and all of the Raysverse bleeds Tampa blue. This year promises to be no different, as the Yankees throw a number of young arms at us while we counter with our “Big Three” and the most exciting young lineup in the game. The first battle in the 19-game war is underway.

Rumor is that the weather may not cooperate so we’ll have to keep an eye on that as the afternoon progresses.

Can Andy Sonnanstine stay ahead of the Yankee hitters and force them off-balance? The Yankees are so ultra-talented when hitting from behind in the count that the only way to beat them is to make sure to stay ahead and keep them guessing. If Sonny can do that, the Rays will have a chance.

What to watch for: Ian Kennedy is making just the 4th start of his career for the Yankees. He’s considered one of their pitching stars of the future, so there’s likely to be a little bit of extra pressure on him. Let’s see if the Rays can’t be patient and try to force him into making mistakes. Don’t extend the strike zone and don’t let him get comfortable on the mound.

Sonnanstine, meanwhile, had a bit of success against the Yankees last year. Let’s see if he can’t build on that and put together a quality start. If he can go 6 innings and allow just 2 or 3 runs, I’ll be happy.

Scouting Report on todays starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine - The right-hander got off to a rocky start in 2007 after getting the call from Triple-A Durham. He picked up the win in his first Major League decision June 10 at Florida then he lost his next eight decisions. However, Sonnanstine learned quickly and adjusted accordingly by going more with his fastball to set up the vast array of pitches he throws from all different angles. He is 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA against the Yankees in 2007.

Ian Kennedy – The 23-year-old Kennedy makes just his fourth big league start as the Yankees play the second game of a four-game series with the Rays. A late callup last season, Kennedy made his big league debut on Sept. 1 against Tampa Bay and recorded the win in a 9-6 New York victory, pitching seven innings of three-run, five-hit ball. He recorded 13 of his final 14 batters faced, allowing just a solo home run to B.J. Upton in the sixth inning.

Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Kennedy.

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: Yankees
Posted in Game Thread | 5 Comments »