Now this is Joe’s kind of a game. Hellboy and the bullpen, capped by the crooked cap-wearing, Kung Fu Fernando Rodney, who held the BoSux to one run while wrapping up a 2-1 win.
This is the type of game the Rays are going to need from their pitching staff, and are capable of getting night in and night out, short of whoever is now the No. 5 pitcher.
And, man, was Rodney mowing down the BoSux. Fantastic.
During tonight’s game Will Rhymes was hit in the forearm with a 95 mph fastball. You could immediately see the welt forming and marks from the stitches. He tried to stay in the game, going to first base. But then he collapsed. He eventually regained consciousness and was taken off the field on a cart…
UPDATE: The rays have announced that x-rays are negative and that Rhymes is day-to-day. Here’s the full statement…
Will Rhymes is day-to-day with a right forearm contusion, which he sustained in the 8th inning when he was hit by a pitch from Franklin Morales. He fainted shortly thereafter due to an adrenaline rush. X-rays were negative. He was treated at Tropicana Field and did not go to the hospital.
This post, which will appear before every game, will include starting lineups (when we learn them) and during the game will include a Game Graph that will constantly update the percent chance the Rays have of winning this particular game.
Earlier today, the Rays added Rich Thompson, and word on the street is that he is being added to the Rays roster. So, who is on the way out?
The obvious answer is that Stephen Vogt will be sent packing. But the added problem is that the Rays need to open a spot on the 40-man roster. The Rays could just move Jeff Niemann to the 60-day DL (does the new CBA have a limit on number of players that can go on 60-day DL?). The Rays could also place Vogt on waivers. Either way, Vogt is likely back to Durham…STEPHEN VOGT
Apparently at some point during his 11 seasons in triple-A, somebody made a short (13 minutes) movie about his life in the minors called “A Major Life in the Minor Leagues.”
Whoever made the clip uploaded a trailer to YouTube back in 2010. But the best we can tell, the actual movie was never uploaded.
Here’s the trailer which gives us a glimpse of just how speedy the Rays’ newest addition is…
The Rays have traded triple-A outfielder Kyle Hudson to the Phillies for triple-A outfielder Rich Thompson (via MLBTradeRumors).
Hudson was acquired from the Rangers for “future considerations” just prior to the start of the season.
Thompson, 33, has spent parts of 11 different seasons in triple-A, with four different organizations. This was his fifth season at triple-A for the Phillies.
He was hitting .307 with no home runs, 7 stolen bases, and a .398 OBP prior to being traded. Last year he hit .276 with 5 home runs, a .354 OBP, and he was successful on 48 of 52 stolen base attempts.
Thompson’s lone plate appearance in the big leagues came with the Royals in 2004. He grounded into a double-play. He also was used as a pinch-runner on five other occasions that seasons, stealing one base.
If somebody ever asks us why the Rays are successful, we will tell them about Stuart Sternberg and Andrew Friedman, and then we will show them this interview with Joe Maddon.
Our favorite line? “You’ve gotta go under the hood to find the edge man”
The Rays won their third in a row last night, by sweeping the two-game set with the Blue Jays. Just a small set of images today, but as usual, here are the highlights you won’t see on SportsCenter…
This was going on outside the (we're still calling it) Skydome. People are nuts.
THE GOOD: David Price. The Rays needed 7 innings from Price and he delivered, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. More importantly, he had the plus-slider and didn’t walk a batter, striking out 6…The Bullpen. There weren’t a lot of arms out there last night, but two that were, Joel Peralta and Fernando Rodney, came in and retired all 6 of the batters they face (with a little help from the umpire, see below)…Sean Rodriguez. Dude is just dialed in right now, both offensively and defensively, and we can’t ever remember him playing this well. His home run in the 7th started the rally. And he just missed another long home run, pulling it foul.
THE BAD: Not Trading Big Dub. Hey, if Alex Cobb or Chris Archer are the better choice to be a starting pitcher right now that’s cool. But you don’t pick a starting pitcher based on who will be better at pitching 2 innings out of the bullpen. And if Davis really is just the eighth best starting pitcher in the organization right now (maybe he is), then what was the point of keeping him for starting pitching depth? Is he a good reliever? Yes. But you could have traded him this winter for a heck of a lot more than one good reliever. And right now, that’s all the Rays got for a guy that has already proved he can be an affective 4th or 5th starter in the big leagues.
THE TELLING: Hideki Matsui went 0-4 in his debut with triple-A Durham…Jeff Niemann did officially go on the DL and was replaced by Josh Lueke to help the bullpen…Rays trainer Ron Porterfieldcalled the Toronto Raptors to find a pair of crutches big enough for Jeff Niemann…The Rays have now won 3 in a row and are still tied for first place at 23-14, 2.5 games ahead of the Yankees.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Here’s video of Brett Lawrie losing his god damned mind in the 9th inning and hitting the umpire with his helmet. [BI Sports]
And if you want to see what happened to the umpire after the game, click the <Read More…> below.
The Yankees have put another closer on the DL. Now it is Rafael Soriano’s turn. [NEWSDAY]
Joe watched Ben Zobrist’s seeing-eye, bloop double, all those Jays errors, and Brett Lawrie’s almost justifyable temper tantrum, and Joe couldn’t help but sit back and contemplate after the Rays’ 4-3 win that destiny really is on Tampa Bay’s side this season.
And for this latest victory we got to soak in another big night for Will Rhymes, Elliot Johnson and old man Crooked Cap.
It has to make you laugh.
Every fan knows the long list of injuries and surprises associated with the 2012 roster. The Rays being on pace to win 101 games is nothing short of stunning considering its schedule.
Joe was glad to see David Price bounce back with a strong outing and another W. He needed the confidence jolt.
The hot and hated Red Sux come to the Trop tonight. Joe gets the feeling they don’t realize what they’re running into.
