This gameday open thread will have two parts and it is all user-generated…
Up until first pitch, use the comments section to predict who you think will be the Sunburst Player of the Game. (be sure to use a valid email address while leaving the comment). The commenter that correctly predicts who we will name the Sunburst Player of the Game the most times prior to the all-star game, will win two tickets to a second-half game. Runners-up get their choice of a t-shirt. [Click HERE for rules]
Once the game starts, the GBT open thread will be your thoughts during the game of what you think are The Good, The Bad and/or The Telling moments of the game.
Just a quick reminder that Rays Index is now on Twitter.
We use Twitter in several different ways including a real time “Webotopia,” in which some of the minor news items that are featured in “The Hangover” in the morning are first reported on Twitter. In addition, the Rays Index Twitter feed often becomes a Mini Live Blog-A-Baloo during games in which we offer our thoughts on the game and interact with other Rays fans during the game.
If you are on Twitter or going to be on Twitter, be sure to also follow Jenn Sterger (@jennifersterger), and be sure to tell her that we sent you. Sometimes she gets lonely and looks for more Twitter friends. You won’t be disappointed.
Below you will see two polls that ask about your confidence in the Tampa Bay Rays. We will present these same polls every Tuesday. The results will be presented in graphical form on Thursday, 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.
Raysiverse events of the past week that could impact confidence levels…
Time to bring back the GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: The Offense. 26 runs in last 2 games. Where was that in the first 2 games against the O’s? 17 hits and 8 walks. 6 different starters had at least 2 hits…BJ As Willie. Even more impressive than BJ Upton’s over the shoulder catch at the wall was how easy he made it look. It was as if he was playing catch in the backyard. We are still in awe…BJ As Ricky.7 stolen base attempts in 3 rehab games. 2 steals in the first inning of his first game of the season. What is his over/under now? 60?…Bartlett’s Big Blast. Wait. Did Jason Bartlett just hit a home run in his second straight game? After only 1 last year? Those 2 home runs raised his career total by 16.7% to 14…Carlos Pena. The grand slam was great, but we loved his double even more as it was to right center indicating that he wasn’t trying to pull it down the line…Scott Kazmir. He kept his pitch count in check (only 71 through 5) and worked into the 7th inning for the first time since last July 21, a span of 20 starts (including playoffs).
THE BAD: No Bads last night. We won’t even mention Gabe Gross getting thrown out between first and second on his single in the first with a runner on third and only 1 out, which likely cost the Rays a run. Nope. Won’t mention it….But we will mention that Gabe Kapler struck out against Nick Swisher. Yes, that Nick Swisher. The fielder. Gabe Kapler, you are dead to us.
THE TELLING: Just when you thought the evening couldn’t get any better, the Red Sox got smoked by the A’s 8-2 and fell to 2-5…The Yankees were forced to get 6 innings from their bullpen (Nick Swisher worked the 8th) without a true long reliever on the roster. With AJ Burnett going tonight, the Yankees need at least 7 innings, so look for the Rays to take a few more pitches than normal…After contemplating a start for Ben Zobrist in right field, Joe Maddon went with Gabe Gross.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carlos Pena. BJ Upton was on base 4 times and stole 2 bases and made one of the most amazing catches you will ever see. Pat Burrell hit his first home run as a Ray and Scott Kazmir is back as he worked into the 7th inning. But 6 ribbies are 6 ribbies. And it was Pena’s grand slam in the 2nd that got the Fat Lady singing.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
One of the all-time greats passed away yesterday. Harry Kalas, father of the Rays’ Todd Kalas died after collapsing in the broadcast booth. Our thoughts go out to the Kalas family. We will absolutely miss him. [MLB]
We have updated the Cork-Board in the sidebar with the most common lineups used so far as well as a number of additions to the minor league DL.
Shawn Riggans has been placed on the DL with shoulder tendinitis. Michel Hernandez has been recalled from Durham. [Rays Report]
Tony Fabrizio was with Stuart Sternberg when BJ Upton made his catch and Joe Maddon says it is going to take Upton a while to grow into his new role and compares him to Ricky Henderson. [Tampa Tribune]
Evan Longoria was named the AL Player of the Week. [MLB]
Last night the Rays raised their championship banners. Boy those look nice hanging from the rafters. [MLB]
One of Stuart Sternberg’s main goals for the season is to be league average in attendance. That was 2.6 million last season. [Tampa Tribune]
Does this mean that Vince Naimoli has written a book called “Let the Truth Be Known”? [YouTube]
Jason Isringhausen is scheduled to throw two innings today in an extended spring game, but says he is “not getting anything out of facing high school kids.” [St. Pete Times]
Durham 3, Gwinnett 0.Carlos Hernandez got off to a strong start with 4.2 shutout innings. He struck out 4, walked 3 and allowed only 2 hits…Three relievers completed the shutout with Dale Thayer picking up his second save…Justin Ruggiano and Reid Brignac each had 2 hits. Brignac had a double and a triple and drove in a run.
West Tenn 6 Montgomery 5 (13). West Tennessee scored the go ahead run in the top of the 13th on a bases loaded single with 1 out. The Biscuits last 11 batters failed to reach base…Rayner Oliveros gave up 5 runs in just 3 innings on 5 hits and 2 walks…Eddie Morlan, Chris Mason and Calvin Medlock combined for 6 shutout innings of relief…Desmond Jennings went 0-7.
Charlotte 5, Fort Myers 3. Jeremy Hall pitched 5 innings and allowed only 1 unearned run, striking out 2 and walking none…Matt Fields provided the big blow with a 3-run home run in the first…Greg Sexton was 3-5 and has 5 hits in the last 2 games.
Bowling Green 7, West Virginia 4. Joseph Cruz gave up 4 runs (1 earned) on 9 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. He struck out 4…Josh Satow struck out 5 in 2 shutout innings…Tim Beckham and Jake Jefferies were each 2-5 with a double and 2 driven in.
