Archive for June 14th, 2008

Jun 14

[THE ARCHIVES] One Year Ago On Rays Index

The Archives Cork Gaines No Comments »

One year ago on Rays Index we reached our low point with Edwin Jackson, after he appeared to give up when his job was on the line.

Edwin Jackson Quits When It Matters Most [Rays Index]

Jun 14

[THE HANGOVER] Sonnanstine Survives Shaky First To Pick Up 7th Win

Al Reyes, Ken Griffey Jr, Matt Garza, Troy Percival Cork Gaines 1 Comment »


THE GOOD: Andy Sonnanstine was lucky he only gave up 2 runs in the first inning. A strike-’em-out-throw-’em-out, got the Rays out of the top of the first only down 2-0. And the Rays offense did exactly what they needed, scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning on a 2-run double from Eric Hinske, to get back all-square and not have to play most of the game from behind. Sonny seemed to settle down past that point, retiring 12 straight before a 1-out double in the 5th…You know the Rays were having their way on the basepaths when Cliff Floyd steals a base…The top of the order had been struggling of late, but with Dioner Navarro in the 2-hole for just the second time this season and Eric Hinske batting cleanup, the top 4 combined for 7 hits and 5 RBI.

THE BAD: It is never good when the pitching coach goes to the mound after the first 3 batters of the game. Andy Sonnanstine gave up a triple, a double and a single to start the game…The unwritten rules says a runner should never make the 1st or 3rd out at third base. But there are bad times to make the 2nd out at third base also. Like last night when Eric Hinske was caught trying to steal third base with 1 out in the bottom of the first inning with Evan Longoria at the plate. With an RBI-guy at the plate, give him a chance to drive in the run.

THE TELLING: Andy Sonnanstine was taken out with 1 out in the 6th inning, having just struck out Jorge Cantu. Sonny had thrown only 86 pitches. In his last start, Sonnanstine threw only 76 pitches and was also pulled in the 6th inning. This is strange as The Duke seems to get stronger as the game goes along. This season opponents have an .855 OPS in innings 1-3, a .799 OPS in innings 4-6 and a .472 OPS beyond the 6th inning…One of the Marlins TV announcers is an idiot, at one point saying: “there is a differnet feel…you are used to coming in here and seeing young talent in terms of speed and power, a Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes”. Elijah Dukes played a grand total of 52 games for the Devil Rays…The Rays still lead the wild card by 3 games over Oakland.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

  • Don’t forget to VOTE for Carl Crawford to start the all-star game. If you haven’t voted yet today, go NOW! [MLB All-Star Voting]
  • Troy Percival returned from the DL and nobody was DFA’d, as Al Reyes went back on the DL…At this point, we fully expect Percival to go back on the DL in 2 weeks with Reyes and Percy just trading places for the rest of the season. [The Heater]
  • Marc Lancaster says that the Rays 1,000th loss “passed without much notice”…Dude. That shit was on Deadspin. 64 kazillion million people read that website. Mr. Lancaster should check it out sometime. All the cool kids are doing it. [Rays Report]
  • Will Carrol weighs in on the Ken Griffey Jr-to-the-Rays speculation. [Baseball Prospectus]
  • Baseball Prospectus breaks down some of Matt Garza’s numbers and suggest that he is pitching even worse than he appears. [Baseball Prospectus]
Jun 14

[DOWN ON THE FARM] Wade Davis Has Strongest Outing Of ’08

Burt Reynolds, Heath Rollins, JT Hall, Wade Davis Cork Gaines No Comments »

Rochester 1, Durham 0. After his first bad start with the Bulls in his last outing, Jeremy Cummings rebounded nicely, throwing 4 shutout innings, allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4…Juan Salas gave up only his 2nd run in his last 18 innings. He worked 2 innings, striking out 2…The Bulls had only 2 hits, one from Chris Richard and one from Mike DiFelice, both singles…Fernando Perez stole his 18th base.

Montgomery 1, Mobile 0 (13). Wade Davis threw 7 shutout innings, striking out 4, giving up only 4 singles and a walk…In the 13 inning, the Biscuits took advantage of a throwing error on a sac bunt to move a runner to third. After an intentional walk, Montgomery scored the winning run when Chris Nowak grounded to the third baseman who tried to force Rashad Eldridge at home. The catcher dropped the throw to end the game…John Jaso was 2-4 with a walk.

Vero Beach (All-Star break)

Columbus 7, Rome 6. Jeremy Hall was roughed up for 5 runs in 3 innings…Glenn Gibson pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief…Reid Fronkhad 2 doubles and a 3-run home run in 4 at bats.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

  • Biscuits manager Billy Gardner said that last night’s performance by Wade Davis was his best with Montgomery. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  • We now know where Burt Reynolds will make his Rays debut. The Princeton Rays announced their roster. [Bluefield Daily Telegraph]
  • No Rays are on this weeks Baseball America “Prospect Hot Sheet”. However, Heath Rollins is on the list of guys that just missed. [Baseball America]
  • Vero Beach’s JT Hall will participate in today’s FSL All-Star game home run derby. [MiLB]