2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

It's almost here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


With Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and Nick Franklin possibly not being available, Chris Archer is slated to be the Opening Day starter and Logan Forsythe the starting second baseman. It is looking like Tim Beckham will finally make the roster.

The team has announced they will honor Don Zimmer on Opening Day retiring the No. 66, the last one he wore.


New MLB commissioner Rob Manfred showed up at the Rays camp along with addressing the stadium issue he stated that the MLB investigation into possible tampering by the Cubs is still "active" but should be resolved by opening day. I won't hold my breath.


The Rays 2015 season slogan will remain "Rays Up". How original.

[Tobywan]

The Rays traded LHP Mike Montgomery to Seattle for RHP Erasmo Ramirez.

Mike came over in the James Shield trade with the Royals, he was in the running for the fifth starter spot due to the injuries.

Erasmo has 35 starts (47 appearances) in limited time over 3 seasons, he appears to be out of options.

[Porter]

Ramirez has decent potential, maybe a 3-4 at best. His inconsistency is maddening to watch. He lost out on the 5th spot here and can't pitch him out of the pen

[Tobywan]

It appears he may be the 4th starter to begin the season, due to scheduling the Rays don't need a fifth until April 14th.



In other news ....The Rays released INF Alex Casilla, he had signed a minor league deal in February. He was batting .267 in 17 exhibition games.

[Tobywan]

So, barring anyone choking on peeps, pulling their groin hiding Easter eggs or injuring their rotator cuff pulling a ham out of the oven here's the Rays final Opening Day roster.

Starters:

John Jaso DH
Steven Souza, JR RF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Evan Longoria 3B
James Loney 1B
Desmond Jennings LF
Logan Forsythe 2B
Rene Rivera C
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Chris Archer P

Rounding out the 25 man-Bobby Wilson C, Tim Beckham INF, Brandon Guyer OF, David DeJesus OF, starting pitchers....Nathan Karns, Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez, Matt Andriese, relievers... Kevin Jepsen, Grant Balfour, Brad Boxberger, Ernesto Frieri, Ernesto Frieri, Kirby Yates and Steve Geltz.


Matt was sent to the 60-day DL to make room for Bobby Wilson. Last few cuts were Curt Casali and C.J. Riefenhauser optioned to Durham.

Jake Elmore and Jaun Francisco were DFA'd.

The fourth and fifth starter is still to be determined between Ramirez and Andriese.

[Tobywan]

It would have been better if we had won, but always a good time with a full Trop. John Jaso slid hard trying to steal in the first, but x-rays were negative, hopefully just miss a couple games. You could tell Archie was a bundle of nerves especially in the beginning, that one pitch for the homer though. The pen looks good, though Frieri was shaky.

[Tobywan]

[Tobywan]

[Tobywan]

Some tidbits from last night..


Right before game time the batting order of Forsythe and Rivera was switched, Rene batted 7th and Logan 8th.

Archer became the first Rays pitcher not named James Shields or David Price to start on Opening Day for the Rays since 2008.
He threw strikes consistently but got bit by the long ball and the errant throw in the first that led to a run. He went just 5.2 Innings.

Steve Geltz struck out the four hitters he faced, making him the first pitcher since records are available (1914) to pitch more than an inning and strike out everybody he faced on Opening Day.

Longoria kept us from getting shut out with a solo shot to left in the seventh.

Jaso got off first a bit slow when he made the steal attempt that injured his wrist he is day to day. The base running mistake by Souza on the error and Loney going in too soft at the plate. If I understand the new "home plate play" rule, IF the catcher has the ball and is blocking the plate both players are fair game similar to the way it has always been Loney tried to go around.

On the other side Rivera had the ball and standing up tried to tag Steve Pearce high on the shoulder and he slid his foot through and was ruled safe on the replay challenge. With ball in hand blocking the plate has not been outlawed as far as I know.




Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes....
on the other side Chris Tillman was baffling for the hitters. Web Gem catch by Travis Snider in the 6th. Matt Weiters and JJ are injured...





Tonight's game:

Loney tweaked his side at BP so he has been scratched from tonight's game


Line up for the Rays


Brandon Guyer DH
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Forsythe 1B
Rivera C
Tim Beckham 2B
Kiermaier CF
Nathan Karns P


So, I guess we will see if Beckham can stay healthy and be productive.

[Tobywan]

Last night's recap...

Nathan Karns got hammered early giving up 6 runs in 2 innings, he settled down a bit staying in through 5.2 innings.

Rays scored 3 including a 2 run homer by Forsythe in the fourth to cut the lead in half. KK hit a two run homer in the 6th to close the gap to one run. They had the bases loaded with no outs at one point and got zip. This has been a problem for quite awhile.

It was impressive to come back from the deficit but getting an early hole having to scratch back is too reminiscent of early Devil Rays. Hopefully, this gets turned around quick or it's gonna be a long damn season.


O's 6
Rays 5

The Rays have started 0-2 as recently as 2011 and ended up 91-71 good enough for the second WC spot.

The new Rays killer is Steve Pearce, he now has five homers over his last 11 games at Tropicana Field.


Jaso is still day-to-day, James Loney went to the DL for an oblique strain, Allan Dykstra has been called-up will make his ML debut tonight. To make room on the roster RHP Burch Smith was recalled then transferred to the 60-day disabled list.


Tonight's line-up

David Dejesus DH
Steven Souza Jr RF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Evan Longoria 3B
Desmond Jennings LF
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Logan Forsythe 2B
Allan Dykstra 1B
Rene Rivera C
Jake Odorizzi P



LHP Drew Smyly has been sent on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Stone Crabs.

[Tobywan]

Finally a win!

Kevin Cash logs his first win as a ML manager.

Odorizzi gave up 2 hits, no walks, no runs and struck out 7 in 6.2 innings.

Longoria's eighth-inning double tied Carl Crawford's club record of 424 extra-base hits.

Orioles pitcher Jason Garcia made his ML debut throwing a scoreless inning in the seventh





On deck... Marlins April 10-12.

[Tobywan]

More roster moves for the Rays..

TB signed free agent 2B Alexi Casilla to a minor league contract.

John Jaso has gone to the disabled list with his injured left wrist.

OF Mikie Mahtook has been called up to meet the team in Miami.

[Tobywan]

oooooooookay, Cash is pulling a Joe Maddon, reliever Steve Geltz will start tonight, says he hasn't started a game since high school...and me without any pepto in the house.


Tonight's line-up

Kiermaier CF
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Dykstra 1B
Forsythe 2B
Rivera C
Geltz P

[Tobywan]

There have been some weird games in the Citrus Series, but I this one was pretty strange. If there is such a thing as starting pitching by bullpen committee, hat's what happened last night. Cash didn't want any pitchers hitting. That was why a reliever was starting, but it was an epic fail, they were down 8-1 by the fourth inning. Rays came back in the 7th to tie the game after Marlins' Dan Haren was lifted, 3 scored on bases loaded walks. The Rays used 8 pitchers in the first game of a 7 game road trip.

Kiermaier went 2-for-4, DeJesus had a 3 run double. Dee Gordon had three hits, four runs scored and drew his first walk. He didn't even walk in spring training. Gio Stanton and Christian Yelich had three RBI. Mikie Mahtook made his debut as a pinch hitter and lined out to second.

Rays led off with Kevin Kiermaier ending a streak of three different DH's leading off, last team to use 3 different DH's leading off in three consecutive games were the Cleveland Indians, Aug.14-16, 1991.

The Marlins went ahead in the 8th, Rays tied again in the 9th for extra innings, but the Marlins scored in the their half to win 10-9 for their first win.

[Tobywan]

Today's line-up

Kiermaier CF
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Dykstra 1B
Forsythe 2B
Wilson C
Archer P