Apr 08
Durham 11, Columbus 5. Mike Prochaska pitched a strong 5 innings in his 2008 debut. The lone run came on a solo shot in the 5th as he struck out 2 and walked none…Fernando Perez hit two 2-run triples and Reid Brignac was 2-6 with his first home run of the year.
Chattanooga 9, Montgomery 4. Mike Wlodarczyk walked 5 and gave up 6 hits in only 3 innings…Rhyne Hughes committed 2 errors and now has 4 on the year.
Daytona 4, Vero Beach 3. Brandon Mann gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 5 innings.
Rome 8, Columbus 6. Jeremy Hall gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk in 4 innings.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Reid Brignac talks about his newest assignment to triple-A Durham. [Weekly Citizen]
- The Tampa Bay Rays announced a new position, “Catching Coordinator”. Jamie Nelson will work full-time with all the catchers in the Rays system in the hopes that the catchers will be more like quarterbacks. [Montgomery Advertiser]
- The Columbus Catfish have a new owner that will move the team to Bowling Green, Kentcuky. [Ledger-Enquirer]
- The Durham Bulls Athletic Park installed a new version of the iconic “Snorting Bull”. [Durham Bulls]
Apr 08
Last week’s Rays Confidence Graph results.
Below you will see two polls that ask about your confidence in the Tampa Bay Rays. Please take a moment to answer each question. We will present these same polls every Monday. The results will be presented in graphical form on Wednesday, and will be displayed permanently in the sidebar. The goal of the Confidence Graph is to get a feeling of how Rays fans feel about the team and the franchise and track how that level of confidence changes through time. Thanks!
Raysiverse events of the past week that could impact confidence levels…
- The Tampa Bay Rays are 3-3 after splitting a 2-game set in Baltimore and splitting a 4-game set in Yankee Stadium.
- The Rays are second in the AL with 5.3 runs per game despite only hitting .233 (11th in the AL), and an OBP of .306 (10th in the AL). The Rays do have the 6th best slugging (.393).
- The pitching is indeed better in ’08 but the Rays’ 4.59 ERA is still only better than 2 twos teams. The biggest improvement is in the number of walks. The staff has only given up 13 free passes so far. Only one team in the AL has allowed fewer.
- The Rays already have six players on the DL and Juan Salas on the restricted list.
- Scott Kazmir could make an extended spring training start within a week.
- The Rays gave Dan Wheeler a 3-year deal and he has rewarded the team by not allowing a single base runner in his first 4 appearances.
- March 31, 2008 was Officially declared “Tampa Bay Rays Independence Day“.
Apr 08
THE GOOD:
Jonny Gomes didn’t get his first start until Saturday and now has started two of the past three and has home runs in both contests…
Jason Hammel did give up 4 runs on 8 hits, but his only walk was the intentional variety. He also managed to work 6 innings. If he can continue to limit the unintentional walks and give the Rays 6 innings every time out, he may prove to be a suitable place-holder while
Scott Kazmir is on the DL.
THE BAD: The Rays managed only 2 hits outside of Jonny Gomes’ home run and drew only 2 walks.
THE TELLING: Sometimes “The Hangover” really is a hangover.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- SI.com has a very flattering and long piece on the new-look Rays. [SI.com]
- We completely understand why reporters always ask Stuart Sternberg about the payroll. The Rays are a small-market club and the fans should know if the team will be willing to spend money. What we don’t understand is why it is worth it’s own column every time Sternberg answers the question considering his answer is always the same. Sternberg has said since day 1 that the team will have a flexible payroll and will be opportunistic and spend money if the price is right and if it makes sense for the team. He has never wavered one iota from that stance. [Tampa Tribune]
- JP Howell is taking so well to his new role in the bullpen that Joe Maddon noted that he start using Howell in late inning roles against both righties and lefties in the future. As of now, Howell is strictly being used as the Rays long-reliever as he was on Sunday when he pitched 3 shutout innings against the Yankees. [MLB]
- Ben Zobrist is no closer to returning from the DL. In fact, Zobrist had pins inserted into his thumb to speed up the recovery and will now be sidelined for at least two more weeks. [Tampa Tribune]
- Scott Kazmir threw another bullpen session that included sliders. He will throw batting practice today. If all goes well today, Kid K could make a start in an extended spring training game this weekend. [International Herald-Tribune]
- On Monday, Cliff Floyd missed the first of what will be about 30-40 games this season due to sore knees. [SI.com]
- Elliot Johnson has caught a game since high school, but volunteered to be the Rays emergency backup catcher when Dioner Navarro was injured. [SI.com]
- Tonight’s home opener will be sold out. [Tampa Tribune]
- On Saturday, Troy Percival finally completed his comeback from semi-retirement by recording his first save since 2005. [Tampa Tribune]
