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]
Last year we asked you guys what you thought of various members of the Rays media. For the most part you guys approved. Based on yesterday’s discussion in “The Hangover” we thought we would dust off this feature for the Rays new color commentator, Kevin Kennedy. For comparison, the man Kennedy replaced, Joe Magrane, scored a 91.4% approval rating.
Last week the Washington Nationals made Stephen Strasburg the top pick in the draft. Many believe that he will command a contract worth $20-30 million.
This leaves us wondering if the Rays would have drafted Strasburg had they possessed the top pick.
The Rays are no stranger to the top pick, but they have never been faced with a player that would demand so much. It was rumored that last year the Rays passed on Buster Posey when he demanded a $12 million contract. Then again, Posey is no Strasburg.
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: Jason Bartlett. Good to see Bartlett back in the lineup and picking up right where he left off with 2 hits and 2 runs scored…Coors Field. The highest scoring team in baseball plus Coors Field equals a fun game to watch…Bottom of the Order. The Rays 5-8 hitters were a combined 10-18 with 7 RBI and 8 runs scored…Jeff Niemann. Coors Field can be intimidating for any pitcher, especially a youngin’. But Niemann kept his cool and threw strikes, 64 out of 96 pitches. We would have liked just a little more pitch efficiency, but all-in-all he did his job.
THE BAD: Oh BJ. We would be remiss if we did not point out that BJ Upton was picked off first base. Again…Pat the No Glove, No Wheels. There are indications that Joe Maddon will start Pat Burrell in right field tonight. Coors Field has the largest outfield in baseball, so there is no way this ends well. Look for BJ Upton to be playing right-center most of the game.
THE TELLING: The Rays set a team record with 11 extra-base hits…With no DH, Ben Zobrist was still in the 5th spot and Jason Bartlett batted 6th…According to CoolStandings.com the Rays are up to a 46.7% chance of making the playoffs, only slightly behind the Yankees (49.7%). Baseball Prospectus is not as bullish, with the Rays at 27.0% and the Yankees at 77.8%…
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Gabe Kapler. We can’t believe it either, but his triple in the second started the onslaught and his home run in the 3rd effectively ended the game.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Head on over and welcome a new Rays blog, The Rays Tank. [The Rays Tank]
The Rays wives and their families will be hosting a Family Fun Day for military families on June 27. Click the link for information (thanks Jordi). [Quantum Leap Farm]
The Rays dressed in cowboy gear on their off-day travel to Colorado yesterday. Marc Topkin has the team photo. It is trashtastic. [The Heater] FSFlorida/Sun Sports has some of the individual pics on their Facebook page. [Facebook]
Scott Kazmir visited Dr. James Andrews recently for a biomechanical analysis of his delivery. Kazmir also had former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson analyze the delivery…From the same piece we learn that Chad Bradford is about a week from returning, and the Rays new emergency catcher may be Joe Dillon. [St. Pete Times]
Well, we can scratch the idea of adding a retractable roof to The Trop. The task would cost $471 million and according to the design firm hired by the Rays, the Trop would still only be a “B-, B+ type of baseball facility.” This link does include images of what the Trop would have looked like with a retractable roof. [St. Pete Times]
Reader Amanda thinks she has discovered the source of Gabe Kapler’s power. He has a Star of David tattoo on his leg. [SI.com]
The Rays are up to 3rd on Baseball Prospectus’ Power Rankings, behind only the Dodgers and the Red Sox and this was 4 wins ago. [Baseball Prospectus]
One Red Sox blogger has written an open letter to Joe Maddon, hoping for Tim Wakefield to be selected to the All-Star game. [Boston Red Sox Blog Spot]
Lehigh Valley 16, Durham 8. James Houser was pounded for 8 runs in 4 innings, including 3 home runs. He is now 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA…The bullpen wasn’t much better giving up 7 runs in the final 2 innings, the final 2 coming off of catcher Alex Jamieson who had to make his second appearance in a week…Matt Joyce was 1-3 with 2 Ks and 2 walks…Justin Ruggiano drove in 2 with a single and a double in 5 at bats…Rhyne Hughes hit his first home run since being promoted to triple-A.
Montgomery (no game scheduled).
Charlotte 1, Lakeland 0. Darin Downs improved to 7-2 with 7 shutout innings. He struck out 10 and allowed 5 hits and 3 walks…Cody Cipriano was 0-3…Emeel Salem was 2-4 with a pair of triples. He is hitting .216.
Lexington 5, Bowling Green 3. Nick Barnese allowed 2 runs in 4 innings, striking out 1 and walking 3…Tim Beckham was 2-4 with a double. He is hitting .294.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
The Rays signed 14 more draft picks, the highest of which was the 8th rounder. [The Heater]
Rays Prospects has the complete list of signees. [Rays Prospects]
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]
