Rodriguez at third
TBO.com is reporting this morning that infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez will be playing 3B today against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rodriguez is tied for the Grapefruit League home run lead this year with 6. Rodriguez provides great depth and unlimited possibilities for the Rays this year. And that help might be in the nick of time heading into the regular season. Ben Zobrist is likely to play much more in RF early on this season with OF Matt Joyce sidelined with an elbow injury.
Rodriguez has played 2B, SS and all three outfield positions this Spring Training.
TBO also reports that C Dioneer Navaro was seen walking without crutches this morning.
Jeff Neimann take
Another beating of Boston………..
On Monday, the Rays traveled to Ft. Myers and beat the Red Sox 11-9. While the Rays did surrender 7 earned runs, James Shields was impressive in his outing he pitched 5.2 innings and surrendered 1 earned runs and 2 BB’s. Shields is 2-0 in Spring Training with a 1.26 ERA.
Evan Longoria notched a couple in home run column, knocking 2 while leading off the 3rd and 5th inning.
2B Sean Rodriguez stayed red hot, hitting the Grapefruit league leading 6th home run.
C Kelly Shoppach was 2 of 3, scored 2 runs, hit two home runs and drove in 4. A nice fill in for Navarro as he recovers from his shin injury.
News of the week
March 20th opens with your Tampa Bay Rays sitting atop the standings in the Grapefruit League for Spring Training in 2010.
Carlos Pena finally put one in the hit column this week after a 0-21 hitless streak. Pena went yard for his first hit of Spring Training against the Yankees mid week, and currently is 2-27 for his at bats this young season.
Joe Maddon confirmed this week that “There’s no question he (J.P Howell) won’t start the season.
3 players optioned to the minors, OF Fernando Perez, C John Jaso and C Jose Lobaton. No surprises here.
One player who the Rays might have to make room for on the opening day roster, Sean Rodriguez. Rodriguez is tearing it up this spring, 5HR-11RBI 32 total bases and a .382BA in 34 plate appearances. Sean has played both 2B and SS this Spring, and if he continues on this torrid pace, could force a platoon at 2B with Ben Zobrist with Zobrist also platooning in RF.
32 feet of pitching staff
As we continue to move towards opening day, I’ll take a look at the Rays starting pitching lineup today. It’s a young rotation but one that comes with a lot of talent and potential, not to mention high expectations heading in the 2010 season. Manager Joe Maddon said before the start of spring training that he believes the potential exists for all 5 starters to pitch 200 innings this year. That would take an extraordinary line of events to occur, but it’s not out of the question.
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James Shields (6′ 4″ 220- right hander)
Shields was 11-12 4.14 last year, but logged nearly 220 innings. He is a workhorse and rest assured that when he starts, you will get the innings from him. He was 2nd last year in innings pitched in the AL, in fact has been second 2 of the last three years. Shields has already been named the opening day starter.
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Matt Garza (6′ 4″ 215 right hander)
Garza joined the Rays organization via trade from the Minnesota Twins on November 27, 2007. In his first season with Tampa, he posted a 11-9 3.70 record and went on to win the MVP trophy in the ALCS. At the start of last season, great things were expected from Garza but his game regressed, as he recorded a sub .500 season. (8-12 3.95) Though, much like Shields, Garza had little run support last season. For the Rays to return to the post season in 2010, a strong year from Garza is a requirement.
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Jeff Niemann (6′ 9″ 260 right hander)
Niemann’s physical presence on the mound draw comparisons to Randy Johnson, but the comparisons stop when the pitching starts. Jeff lead the 2009 Rays in wins, recording a 13-6 3.94 season. A repeat of his 2009 season will be a great addition from the #3 spot in the rotation this year.
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David Price (6′ 6″ 225 left hander)
Price was the 1st overall selection in the 2007 MLB draft. While he did struggle with command of his pitches when he finally joined the roster, he does possess a fastball which has been recorded at 97 mph at times, a slider and a changeup. Price was 10-7 4.42 last year, but I believe he’s on the cusp on a 15+ win season.
The fifth starter in the rotation is up for grabs this spring. The Rays actually face a problem many teams in MLB don’t have, too much depth at the starting pitching position. Heading into Spring Training, it was widely believe that Wade Davis (6′ 5″ 220) who joined the squad late in the year from AAA Durham, would be the odds on favorite. He made an impressive debut with the Rays tossing a shutout and striking out 10 in his first career win against Baltimore. The first MLB pitcher to achieve such a feat since 1992.
Also in the mix is Andy Sonnanstine (6′ 3″ 190) and Jeremy Hellickson who was 9-2 with a sub 2.50ERA in combined minor league games last season. Hellickson appears ready for the big show, but will most likely start the season back at AAA Durham.
So, if the starting rotation is Shields, Garza, Niemann, Price and Davis, the combined height of the pitching staff will be 32 feet 4 inches. Perhaps the largest starting rotation in MLB today.
News and Notes…
With all the nasty weather on the West Florida coast this afternoon, we’ll get caught up on a few things.
James “Big Game” Shields has officially been named the opening day starter for your Tampa Bay Rays this season.
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Shields was 11-12 last season with a 4.14 ERA but suffered greatly from a lack of run support. He’s a horse of a pitcher logging in nearly 220 innings in 2009. James and his wife, Ryane are expecting their second child on April 10th, opening day, so Shields might just work a very fast game.Shields is also the first ever 3rd consecutive starter for the Rays on opening day.
Matt Joyce has been reported to have an elbow strain. What’s new? I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that the trade made to bring Joyce to Tampa will result in a loss for the Rays. Joyce is always mentioned with two words I hate, “upside potential”.
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Dioner Navarro. Was injured in a split squad game yesterday against the Pirates. Tampa Bay hung on to beat Pittsburgh late in the game by blocking an extra point and won 16-15. Wait, that’s a different blog, but still 16-15 is quite the outing. Dioner was on first and an errant throw struck him in the hand, causing a contusion and reports from the team today showed to be inconclusive, and reports from the official team site this afternoon state his prognosis is good for recovery. Navarro is expected to split duty behind the plate this year with C Kelly Shoppach.
