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 in the second-half, will win some serious bragging rights (and a t-shirt from the Rays Index store).
Check Marc Topkin’s blog for the starting lineups.
We will use this post to keep you updated throughout the day on any moves the Rays makes or rumors of moves the Rays might make. So just check back here from time to time.
And what is our take home lesson today kids? The next time Andrew Friedman acquires a big name during the season, will also be the first time.
[4:00pm] Marc Topkin calls it. Time of death, 4:00pm. (no trades)
[2:35pm] Haven’t heard anything on the Rays in quite a while. Marc Lancaster says nothing is likely except maybe an “oh by the way” deal…Keep in mind, if the Rays are just looking for a relief pitcher, that is the type of trade that can still get done in August when players must first clear waivers.
[12:57pm] Bob Nightengale of USA Today says (via Twitter) the Red Sox “are about to acquire Victor Martinez.”
[12:29pm] Jayson Stark says the Rays are still talking to the Indians about Victor Martinez but that they are “more focused on “under-the-radar” bullpen arms.” He adds that the Rays balked at the price for Heath Bell.
[12:13pm] Jonathon Mayo of MLB.com says there is a 50% chance of Victor Martinez being traded, but he does not indicate where he might go. Red Sox seem to be focusing on Adrian Gonzalez.
[11:20am] Posturing or real? All indications are that Roy Halladay isn’t going anywhere.
[11:00am] What we know…
We keep hearing that the Rays continue to talk to the Indians about Victor Martinez and the Jays about Roy Halladay. However, we aren’t hearing any specific details and nothing seems close.
The Rays may no longer feel the need to add a starting pitcher as Joe Maddon called Scott Kazmir the Rays “acquisition” for the stretch after his strong effort on Tuesday. Still, the Rays are open to making a deal, but they probably don’t feel pressured to add any players. We still think the most likely move will be to trade away a left-handed reliever.
One rumor that hit the interwebs late last night had the Rays involved in a three-way deal with the Mets and the Indians, with the Rays receiving Martinez. Three-way deals in baseball are oft-rumored but rarely happen, so we are highly skeptical.
Interestingly, the chatter so far today is very light unlike last year when the rumors about a Jason Bay deal were coming fast and furious.
Usually on the final strike of a loss to the Yankees, our face is buried in our hands. But thankfully one reader had his eye still fixed on their TV set. Otherwise, we might have never noticed this craptastic moment…
The gentleman in the blue polo is part of the Tampa Bay Rays security staff. He is responsible for the gate that opens immediately behind homeplate.
It is difficult to tell from this still-frame, but immediately after Michel Hernandez swung and missed at strike three to end the game, this member of security threw up both of his fists in an obvious bout of celebration (for those of you that have the MLB.tv package, we encourage you to go back and watch for yourselves to get the full effect).
To repeat: That is a Rays employee, openly rooting for the Yankees, at Tropicana Field.
Luckily we are never at a loss for words, or we would be at a loss for words.
Are you &#@%ing kidding us?
It is bad enough Raysheads have to put up with 15,000 obnoxious Yankees fans at the Trop. At least they are putting money in the Rays pockets and helping to improve the product on the field. But now we have to deal with Rays employees openly rooting for the Rays’ hated rival?
Listen, we are not saying that all employees have to be fans of the Rays. But if you are indeed a Yankees fan and the Rays are putting money in your pocket, SHUT. THE BLEEP. UP.
click above image for boxscore
In honor of Raysheads love of the Rays all-star third baseman, we have a new T-shirt in the Rays Index Store. And in honor of the new T-shirt, we have a bonus video after the Webtopia.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Durham 6, Scranton/WB 2 (gm 1). Jeremy Hellickson improved to 2-0 in 2 triple-A starts with 6 shutout innings. He allowed 3 hits and 2 walks and struck out 4…Reid Brignac went 2-4 with a 2-run double…Matt Joyce was 0-3.
Scranton/WB 8, Durham 2 (gm 2). Matt DeSalvo dropped to 0-4 after giving up 5 runs in 3 innings…James Houser pitched 1 inning of relief…Reid Brignac was 1-3 with an RBI and Matt Joyce went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.
Montgomery 2, Huntsville 1. The Biscuits won on a 2-out, walk-off single by Brandon Chaves…Rayner Oliveros allowed just 1 run in 6 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 2…Desmond Jennings went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts…Cody Cipriano had 2 singles in 4 at bats.
Daytona 2, Charlotte 1 (12). Jake McGee had his strongest start yet since coming back from Tommy John surgery. He pitched 3 shutout innings and retired 9 of the 10 batters he faced, striking out 2 and giving up a single…Shawn O’Malley went 2-5 with a walk…Mike McCormick was 1-4 with a walk.
Bowling Green. (no games scheduled)
Bluefield @ Princeton.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
We have heard lots of stories about people wearing Rayshead T-shirts at both home games and road games, and we have even heard stories of these fans being on TV. But none were displayed so prominently as this one in the second row during Tuesday night’s game.
That is Scott and his Rayshead “Dirtbag” T-shirt. By the way, Evan Longoria homered in that game. Coincidence? We think not.
If you want your own Rayshead T-shirt, go here.
Rob Neyer discusses the case of Ben Zobrist as the American League Most Valuable Player.
Just off the top: Zobrist leads the American League in FanGraphs’ Runs Above Replacement (51.5) but he’s just 20th in Baseball Prospectus’ Wins Above Replacement (4.1).
Why the difference? Maybe one of our favorite lines of all time (emphasis ours)…
Why the big difference? Simple: According to FanGraphs, Zorilla has been phenomenally good at second base, and excellent too in the outfield; according to BP, he’s been just an average fielder this season. And just when you thought the pinheads had figured out defense …
Of course, then Neyer goes in the opposite direction and deducts points from Zorilla’s candidacy for not scoring enough or driving in enough.
As a practical matter, Zobrist isn’t in the top 10 in the AL in runs scored or RBI. That’s why he’s not going to draw a great deal of support from the voters.
Of course, those are the two categories that Zobrist has the least control over.
In the end, Neyer says that he is “not convinced that Zobrist is the most valuable player in the American League.” And we have to agree. Heck, he might not even be the Most Valuable Ray. If the Rays were in first in the AL East by a couple of games, we might have a different story.
Zorilla’s MVP chances [ESPN]
Three years ago on Rays Index we heard a crazy story about BJ Upton giving the Durham PA announcer the riot act for refusing to play Upton’s walk-up music. Apparently Upton called the pressbox during the game. One problem. The Bulls manager was in the pressbox at the time after being ejected.
Those Crazy Kids Just Can’t Keep Their Mouths Shut [Rays Index]
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: Playing the Game the Right Way. On Monday, Evan Longoria was hit by a pitch. Last night in the 3rd inning, Joba Chamberlain sailed a ball at Evan’s head. It missed. In the 5th inning Matt Garza plunked Mark Teixeira. No bench-clearing brawl. No yelling from the dugouts. And that was the end of it…Evan Longoria. Dirtbag homered for the 5th time in 16 games. Of course it was in the 9th inning with the score 6-0, but at least somebody did something.
THE BAD: Big Mouth. Sticking up for your players is great, but keep your damn mouth shut. Everybody knows Matt Garza hit Mark Teixeira on purpose. Garza doesn’t need to spout off about it after the game. Because now it is going to cost him his next start because the league will have no choice but to suspend him. JUST. SHUT. UP!…Pat Burrell. Pat the Rally Killer left 2 more runners on base and went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. And yes, we are now officially picking on Burrell. Sue us. He deserves it…Uniting Yankees Fans. For a while now, Yankees fans have been divided into two camps. Those that think Joba Chamberlain is a starting pitcher. And those that think he should be Mo Rivera’s set-up guy and closer-in-waiting. Last night he was both a starter and an 8th inning guy. Way to go Rays. Way to make him work. This was a guy that entered the game giving up about 1.4 baserunners per inning and the Rays could only muster 5 in 8 innings. If that had been a good pitcher, they might have been perfected again.
THE TELLING: PECOTA now says the Rays playoff chances are 11.4% and falling.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Evan Longoria
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
