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]
Check Marc Topkin’s blog for the starting lineups.
You know that group that has been researching a new stadium for the Rays for what seems like a decade? That same group, A Baseball Coalition, that has absolutely no authoritative power whatsoever? Well, their long-awaited findings were released yesterday, most of which is garners a gigantic “Duh.”
Let’s sum up the findings…
The original plan by the Rays was cheaper, it was “iconic” and had a roof. Sounds like the City of St. Pete screwed up when they cowered to the delicate sensibilities of a dozen rich people that were worried about their precious condo views in Downtown St. Pete.
Group: New Rays’ stadium should go outside downtown St. Pete [Tampa Tribune]
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: Top O’ The Order To Ya. The bats are heating up. the top 5 batters in the lineup combine for 10 hits…Ben Zobrist. Zorilla is getting back into the swing of things with his second home run in as many nights.
THE BAD: It’s Not The Heat. We always say it. It is not the home run that kills you, it is the walk(s) before the home run. Last night the O’s hit a 3-run HR and a grand slam. Of the 5 players on base, 4 reached via walk…Fox Sports/Sun Sports. Stop with Batting Stance Guy. It was fun for about 3 seconds on YouTube. Now it is just some 35-year old dude doing poor imitations of Orioles hitters in his parents’ backyard. Just stop it. We imitated big leaguers also, when we were 8. For the love of everything Tampa Bay Rays, just STOP.
THE TELLING: Carlos Pena got the night off.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ben Zobrist
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Durham 10, Charlotte 2. Jeremy Hellickson only worked 5 innings, but he struck out 10 and improved to 4-1 at triple-A. He gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks…Winston Abreu struck out 4 of the 5 batters he faced…John Jaso drove in 4 including a 3-run double…Fernando Perez went 0-5 with 3 strikeouts and Reid Brignac was 1-4 with 2 RBI…Aki Iwamura was back in the lineup as a DH and had a single and 3 walks in 4 plate appearances…Jon Weber hit his 13th home run.
Montgomery @ Birmingham. ppd. rain
Charlotte 5, Ft. Myers 3. Alex Cobb improved to 8-5 after allowing 2 runs in 5 innings…Matt Hall and Omar Luna had 2 RBI apiece.
Greensboro 6, Bowling Green 2. Joe Cruz gave up 6 runs in 4 innings…Tim Beckham went 1-4 with a strikeout. He was also picked off first base, BJ Upton-style.
Mahoning Valley 6, Hudson Valley 3.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
