Tampa Bay Rays future looks bright
Tampa Bay Rays fans realize that several key pieces of their team will be absent when the Tampa Bay Rays season starts in 2011, Carl Crawford being front and center but the core of the pitching staff is looking good for the future. Already locked in is David Price, Matt Garza, Wade Davis, and Rays fans got to see a taste of the future in the last month when Jeremy Hellickson was recalled twice from AAA Durham.
Jeremy Hellickson lived up to all of his billing. He started 4 games, he went 3-0 in his starts. Pitched 26.1 innings while logging 25 strikeouts and only allowing 4 walks. He finished his stint with the Rays this season with a 2.05 ERA in four starts. That’s a very solid start to what should be a very successful career in the majors.
But the Rays have another pitcher who is knocking on the door and who might make an appearance or two with the major league club next season. Matt Moore. Moore accomplished something which hasn’t been achieved in 5 years, he recorded 208 strikeouts in his minor league season. The last time such a milestone was reached was by Francisco Liriano in 2005.
Moore has played his season with the single -A Rays affiliate in Port Charlotte Florida, the Stone Crabs. Matt Moore has registered double digit strikeouts in 10 of his 26 starts this season in the minors. In his final regular season game for the Stone Crabs, he struck out 11, recorded 6 ground ball outs, and had one flyout in 6 innings of play.
Carl Crawford will be missed by the Rays after this season, even Carlos Pena could be gone, but with the likes of Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore due to join the rotation soon, I don’t expect the Rays to drift back into the dark ages anytime soon.
Rays Rally to defeat Lee, Rangers
The Tampa Bay Rays are now tied for first place in the AL East as they rallied late to beat Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers. A game which featured two of the most dominant left handers in the AL, saw the pair combine for 18 strikeouts.
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Tampa Bay Rays versus Twins, game two
The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Minnesota Twins for the second game of their four game series tonight. The good guys send Jeff Niemann (9-3 3.08) up against the Twins’ pitcher, Brian Duensing (4-1 1.83). Don’t let that record fool you, Duensing is a relief pitcher who is making a start for the Twins rotational pitcher Nick Blackburn.Both pitchers are coming off a win in their last start.
Early interviews with Rays manager Joe Maddon report that we might get to see Ben Zobrist tonight but I don’t expect to see 1B, Carlos Pena with a left hander pitching tonight.
Minnesota will likely be without superstar catcher, Joe Mauer again tonight, along with 1B, Justin Morneau but the Rays will have to once again face former teammate, Delmon Young who is rolling on a 12 game hitting streak. No matter, the Rays will be taking this game tonight, and looking for some more additional help from the Blue Jays and move solely into first place in the AL East.
Injury bug bites Tampa Bay Rays
Somebody get an ambulance over to Tropicana Field, the injury bug has bitten the Tampa Bay Rays. Oh, it started simple enough. CF B.J. Upton rolls this ankle in the outfield and misses a few days. Then, super utility man Ben Zobrist misses some games with back problems. He has missed both games against the Yankees and I don’t expect to see him on Sunday.
Then in what can only be called, the stupidest non sports related injury for the Rays in some time, RP Grant Balfour is now expected to miss 4-6 weeks. He has a strained rib injury. How did this happen you ask? Balfour was wrestling in the outfield with pitching coach Jim Hickey. Say what? This now makes a bit more sense of why the Rays acquired RP Chad Qualls, in what was a curious move at the time. Well, it’s still curious as Qualls brings a nice big fat ERA of 8.29 and an opponent batting average of .370 with him from Arizona. The Rays front office has made some unconventional moves in the past which have panned out, so you get a pass……………for now. But the first time he puts a fastball right down the heart of the plate, serving up a three run home run, the civility towards the move disappears.
So, if that wasn’t enough for you, Rays 1B, Carlos Pena left last nights game in the 7th inning which what is being called a foot injury. He is currently listed day to day. This comes just as Carlos was starting to get his groove back at the plate. Over the past 7 games, Pena hit at a .292 clip, had 3 home runs, 8 RBI’s and scored 4 runs. With the lack of the Rays acquiring another bat for the lineup at the trade deadline, the Rays cannot afford to field a lineup without Pena for an extended period of time.
Speaking of another bat, the attempted comeback by Rays OF Rocco Baldelli continues. Rocco, playing with the Rays A affiliate, the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs went 1-4 last night against Dunedin.
Rays fans, the future is now. And in case you missed pitching phenom Jeremy Hellickson in the Futures All-Star game a few weeks ago, you will get a chance to see him with the Rays this week. Since the Rays are in the middle of a schedule that forces them to play twenty games in twenty days, the club has decided to recall Jeremy to make a start against the Minnesota Twins on Monday squaring off against Carlos Pavano. Hellickson brings with him a 12-3 record and the International leagues best ERA at 2.43. He has recorded 123 K’s in just 117.2 IP giving up just 5 homers and walking 35. It’s not expected that Hellickson will remain with the club, but he should give Rays fans a taste of the future on Monday night.
Since Hellickson is making the trip from Durham, something else he might bring with him, Dan Johnson. If Penas’ foot injury does indeed become an issue, the Rays might want to give him a look. Johnson is batting .303 with a International league leading 30 home runs and 95 RBI’s. Speaking of Durham, the Rays AAA club is simply ripping the International league apart. They are currently riding a 10 game win streak and has the leagues best overall record at 67-40 15 games ahead of second place Charlotte.
Yankees down Rays with the long ball
The New York Yankees stormed back on the strength of two late home runs and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. Rays starting pitcher, Matt Garza was not particularly sharp, allowing 4 earned runs (two home runs) in seven innings in his first start since pitching his no hitter last Monday. The loss snaps the 7 game win streak Tampa had in place heading into tonight’s game.
Tampa held the lead through 6 but New York tied the game in the 7th with a Nick Swisher home run to right. Joaquin Benoit came in to pitch the 8th. Rafael Soriano appeared in the 9th in a non save situation and surrendered a monster blast (438′ to left) to 2B Robinson Cano with 1 out in the 9th. The home run was only the third given up by Soriano this year.
Tampa did manage to collect 9 hits. John Jaso, batting leadoff and DH, went 3-4 and scored twice. Jaso was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Matt Joyce hit his second homer of the week, a 427 foot shot to right. Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena were held hitless. Newly acquired Yankee, Lance Berkman also was held hitless, going 0-4 in his debut.
Sunday game will be the rubber game of the series. James Shields (9-9 4.79) to the hill for the Rays. He squares off against C.C. Sabathia (13-4 3.15) for the Yankees. I was hoping that we might miss Sabathia this go around but such as life. Sabathia is coming in after recording a loss against the Indians earlier this week, a loss which snapped a string of 9 consecutive victories. And as if he needed any more help, the calender has flipped to the month of August and Sabathia’s record in August is 33-9, he is a perfect 10-0 in the last two seasons. Great. Against the Rays in his career, he has a record of 8-3 3.03, that is fantastic.
Rays pitcher, James Shields has had a rough year. James “Big Game” Shields has resembled “No Game” at times this season. Shields had an ERA approaching 8 in his last eight starts prior to the All-Star break, but has bounced back with two wins after the mid summer classic. To say the Yankees aren’t particularly his favorite team to face is an understatement. Lifetime, Shields is 2-7 5.45 against the Pinstripers. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano is probably having a hard time sleeping tonight as he must be filled with anticipation. He is 14-32 lifetime against Shields with three home runs. Beautiful.
