Mar 31
Today the Rays announced three more acts for their Saturday night Summer Concert Series.
August 14: Train
September 18: Adam Lambert and Orianthi
September 25: Dierks Bentley
The Rays have received some criticism for only booking AARP acts (e.g. ZZ Top, Go-Go’s, Hall & Oates) for the Summer Concert Series, so it is refreshing to see some that won’t be up past their bedtime.
But the current selection is certain to bring a different audience to The Trop on Saturday nights this summer. Train is innocent enough. They have that catchy pop song out now, “Hey Soul Sister.” And while Dierks Bentley is a Country singer, that stuff is pretty mainstream these days. Know that song “It’s a quarter after 1:00, I’m a little drunk and I need you now“? That was on the Country charts for months before it hit the pop charts.
No, we are talking about Adam Lambert. Here is how the Rays described Lambert in the press release…
The flashy and flamboyant Indianapolis native is known for his time on the eighth season of the hit television show American Idol.
Translation: Gay and nowhere near the closet, and only 14-year old girls listen to his music. That will be an entertining night at The Trop.
The Republican National Convention will not approve.
Mar 31
With 6 days to go before opening day, the roster is starting to take shape, but there are still some questions to be answered. Let’s update the projected roster…
A few notes on the 25-man roster projection…
- LINEUP: It looks like Ben Zobrist will now get the bulk of the starts in RF against right-handed pitchers until Matt Joyce is healthy and ready for the big leagues. He will platoon with Gabe Kapler, who the Rays are obsesses with against lefties. Zobrist will play 2B when Kapler is in the lineup. The other half of the 2B platoon is likely to go to Sean Rodriguez even though Reid Brignac is better defensively. At catcher it sounds like each pitcher will be assigned one of the catchers to work with on a regular basis. That could change if either Dioner Navarro or Kelly Shoppach gets hot.
- BENCH: Dioner Navarro, who appears healthy enough for opening day, and Gabe Kapler will be part-time starters. One bench spot will go to Willy Aybar if he is healthy enough to play everyday. That leaves one spot for Reid Brignac or Hank Blalock. This decision could depend on whether the Rays are confident enough in Sean Rodriguez’ glove to play 2B on a regular basis.
- ROTATION: Wade Davis was given the 5th spot after it was determined that JP Howell would miss the first month or two. Andy Sonnanstine was deemed the better bullpen replacement.
- BULLPEN: With Andy Sonnanstine now in the bullpen, there is one spot still up for grabs and 2 guys on the roster with a shot. Joaquin Benoit is still the favorite, but he is yet to show that he can work back-to-back days. Mike Ekstrom appears to be plan B, unless the Rays can use somebody like Elliot Johnson (out of options) to pry a cheap reliever off a another team’s hands.
Mar 31
March 31, 2008 is one of the most important dates in Tampa Bay Rays history.
That was opening day for the 2008 season. That was the day that the Rays took their first steps towards being a true major league baseball team. It was the first day of a season in which the Rays would go from one of the laughing stocks of professional sports to American League champions. The franchise may have been playing games since 1998, but a great franchise was born on March 31, 2008.
And on that day, we declared that the Tampa Bay Rays and their loyal Rayshead Army would no longer go quietly in the night. We would no longer vanish without a fight. We declared that day Tampa Bay Rays Independence Day.
So to my fellow Raysheads, Happy Tampa Bay Rays Indpendence Day!
Mar 31
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: Joaquin Benoit. The odds-on favorite for the final bullpen spot showed that his arm is healthy by working 2 innings. But unfortunately we still don’t know if he can work back-to-back games. And with a 2-inning stint yesterday, he won’t work today. There are only 3 spring games remaining after today…Reid Brignac. Brignac had 2 more hits and is now 19-52 (.365) this spring.
THE BAD: Rafael Soriano. Sure he gave up 4 runs in 1 inning. And sure he gave up a 2-run double and a 2-run HR to minor leaguers. None of that is good. But what in all likelihood really pissed off Joe Maddon was the failure to cover 3rd base on a bloop base hit in which Willy Aybar had to cover second base. That allowed both runners to move up a base and started the 4-run rally.
THE TELLING: Dioner Navarro started and caught 6 innings and should be ready for opening day…David Price threw 106 pitches and worked 6.2 scoreless innings in a minor league game giving up 1 hit and 1 walk, striking out 8…Dan Johnson accepted his outright assignment to Durham…Carl Crawford will make his 8th straight opening day start for the Rays. Only 12 other players have an active streak that long with their current team…James Shields will become the first Rays pitcher to make 3 opening day starts…The Rays will be introducing a new official hot dog in the next couple of days.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- With a week before opening day there are “a couple of thousand” tickets remaining for Opening Day according to the Rays.
- From Rays Renegade we learn that Train and Dierks Bentley have been added to the Saturday Night Concert Series this season. Dierks Bentley is a Country artist for you Gentiles. [Twitter]
- Dale Thayer and Heath Rollins were reassigned to minor league camp leaving Joaquin Benoit and Mike Ekstrom for the final spot in the bullpen. Of course the Rays could also look outside the organization if they are worried Benoit is not ready for the regular season. [St. Pete Times]
- Sport Illustrated picks the Rays to win the AL Wild Card and the AL pennant, but to lose in the World Series to the Phillies…So who gets the “SI Curse,” both teams, or just the Phillies? [Rays Report]
- Dennis Maffezzoli spoke with Carl Crawford about his future and how he will approach this season, which in all liklihoodwill be his last with the Rays. [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
- Jeff Fletcher of Fanhouse went through the Rays clubhouse asking what various members of the Rays know about Evan Longoria. [Fanhouse]
- Yesterday we mentioned that BJ Upton helped recruit the GOP to the Trop. Now Rays Rev has a picture of Raymond sucking up to the GOP by wearing a suit. [Rays Rev]
- Jonah Keri was interviewed by Fack Youk about the 2010 Rays. [Fack Youk]
- Marc Topkin looks at the challenge Jason Bartlett faces working with a platoon at second base. [St. Pete Times]
- Seth McClung has been released by the Marlins. [MLB Trade Rumors]
