Tampa Bay Rays [0-0] @ Boston Red Sox [0-0]

[Lets Go Rays]

Who:


Where:


Projected Rays Lineup

Iwamura
Crawford
Longoria
Pena
Burrell
Joyce
Navarro
Gross
Bartlett

Rays: Shields built a reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the seventh or eighth innings, which is evidenced by two consecutive seasons with 215 innings pitched. He has not pitched at Boston since he plunked Coco Crisp in the second inning of the June 5 game at Fenway Park, touching off a bench-clearing fracas. Five Rays players were suspended a total of 23 games for their part in the memorable incident that many feel helped push the Rays to their incredible pennant run. He went 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox in 2008. Included in this body of work was a masterful complete game, two-hit, shutout of the Red Sox on April 27 that saw him strike out seven while walking just one. Shields won on Opening Day in 2008, besting the Orioles in Baltimore by allowing just two runs on five hits in seven innings to pick up his first win of the season. Shields has a 2-4 career mark against the Red Sox with a 5.23 ERA in eight starts; he is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts at Fenway.

Red Sox: Beckett is in a far different place than he was last Opening Day, when he was on the disabled list with back woes. Beckett turned in a strong Spring Training, looking a lot like the guy who dominated opponents throughout 2007. This will be the fourth Opening Day start of Beckett's career, but first since 2005. However, he is no stranger to Fenway openers. Beckett pitched the home opener for the Red Sox in 2006 and 2007, winning on both occasions. Beckett has generally pitched well against the Rays in his career, going 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 10 starts. In his career at Fenway, Beckett is 21-16 with a 4.79 ERA. He has been a strong starter during his career, going 18-10 with a 3.35 ERA in April.
LETS GO RAYS

[BronxBomberz]

I think the Sox win the 1st game, because Shields gets shredded at Fenway, but they can take the last 2 games.

[cjkalt]

Sox at home were very good last year and the Sox own Shields. I think the Sox will get at least 2 of these games, maybe all 3... wild card being Dice-K vs Kaz

[Lets Go Rays]

Garza will own you

[Providence A's]

game is canceled for today (big surprise!). they should have early season games in warm weather places or domes because these cancellations can pile up early on. they should be able to get it in tomorrow though.

Game between Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays rained out - ESPN

[DravenX]

I'm pulling for the Rays when they do get the series started.

[Lets Go Rays]

Finally somebody votes for the Rays

[Lets Go Rays]

The Rays lineup for today's delayed opener is as expected: Iwamura, 2b Crawford, lf Longoria, 3b Pena, 1b Burrell, dh Joyce, cf Navarro, c Gross, rf Bartlett, ss Shields, p

[Lets Go Rays]

UPDATE, 1:55 ET: The rain is letting up and the Rays are preparing for batting practice.

[Lets Go Rays]

SOX
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. Jed Lowrie, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C

RAYS
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, DH
6. Matt Joyce, CF
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Gabe Gross, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

[Lets Go Rays]

UPDATE, 2:30: It's rained again, and stopped again, and that's supposed to be the end of it. So, soon, it should finally be time to play ball.

[Lets Go Rays]

UPDATE, 2:35: As you'd expect, the Rays are eager to get the season started, with manager Joe Maddon saying it feels like about three-four months (rather than the actual two) since they started spring training until today's opener.

Today will be especially exciting for the five Rays participating in their first major-league opening day: Grant Balfour, Matt Joyce, Evan Longoria, Joe Nelson Jeff Niemann,

A couple of interesting points form Maddon's pre-game media session:

* Most likely, he said he will use the returning middle- and late-inning relievers first, figuring he knows more about them in key situations, than Nelson and Brian Shouse.

* Pat Burrell said he wasn't sure if he would still go to Philadelphia for the Wednesday afternoon pre-game ring ceremony (since with the Rays playing Tuesday he's have to go down and back in one day), but Maddon said Burrell still has permission to go and just had to be back by gametime in Boston.

* Though Joyce doesn't have much experience in centerfield, he has had plenty of instruction and tutoring in the last couple weeks, and an extensive workout on Monday, and Maddon said they are comfortable enough that they have no plans to take him out for defensive purposes late in games.

[cjkalt]

Dustin Pedroia makes it 1-0 Sox, and now Ortiz has a history... some things don't change

[cjkalt]

Who on earth puts the shift on for JD Drew... I've never seen that before... and I hope it happens more often cause he can hit anywhere like he just showed

[Lets Go Rays]

Damn you Dustin

Can't spell Dustin Pedroia without Roids.