Rays-Yanks, the finale

Update, 5:20 p.m. Iwamura is not in the lineup for no other reason than simply gettting a day off, manager Joe Maddon said. The news of the afternoon is that RHP Matt Garza threw a bullpen session and said his right arm felt great. Garza has been sidelined since leaving the April 8 home opener with radial nerve irritation, but diagnosis by Dr. Koco Eaton, treatment from the Rays athletic trainers and a shot of cortisone have him feeling much better. So much so, he doesn't think he'd need to make a minor-league rehab start and could be ready to rejoin the rotation on or shortly after April 24, when he is eligible to return.

C Dioner Navarro (cuts on fingers on right hand) continues to progress as well and will accompany LHP Scott Kazmir to Class A Vero Beach and catch his Friday start, then stay with the Devil Rays - yes, they are still called that - for a few days to DH. Navarro is eligible to be activated Sunday but may need a few more days. He does have some discomfort when swinging from the left side of the plate.

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These two-game series always feel weird, though certainly more weird for the visiting team. The Yankees got to their St. Petersburg hotel around 6 a.m. Monday, played Monday night, then got up Tuesday and checked out before heading over to the Trop for Tuesday night's game then are flying home.
The Rays don't have Akinori Iwamura in the lineup, giving him his first day off against Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte. Elliot Johnson is at second.
Here's the lineups
RAYS
Bartlett, ss
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Longoria, 3b
Gomes, dh
DeFelice, c
Ruggiano, rf
Johnson, 2b
Jackson, p

YANKEES
Damon, lf
Jeter, ss
Abreu, rf
A-Rod, 3b
Matsui, dh
Giambi, 1b
Cano, 2b
Cabrera, cf
Moeller, c
Pettitte, p

Comments

[jeff gilbert]

There is a reason Joe is the manager and you guys are not. Aki is not great vs. lefties. Just everybody shutup, and stick to being a fan. It makes no difference if some guy sits fora day. Its just something for you guys to complain about.

[RF]

I agree about Gomes in right. Time to get him in there. Also, they still need to split the 3 lefties at the top........and how about Pena hitting .200. HOPE HE WASN'T A 1 YEAR WONDER!

[Flash Games]

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

[Warren]

The only thing I hate to see more than a happy Yankees fan is a happy Red Sox fan. I'm getting so tired of these musical lineups. This early in the season - pick one & stick with it for a while. In particular - put Gomes in RF for 20 or 30 games & see if he can stick. We need his energy in this lineup.

[raysfan]

how about sending elliott johnson down so we can keep an extra arm in the 'pen. all this guy is known for is the play at the plate with that unknown yankee scrub during spring training. he's done absolutely nothing else. good lord. i don't want to see somebody like sonnanstine or garza sent down instead because we're going to have too many guys on the active roster once some of these players get off the DL.

[Tony]

Ya know, screw with lineup and this is what happens. Aki needs a day off? He's a major league baseball player for god sakes. I think Maddon needs to realize that this stretch of games is a make or break time of the season. Most of them are division games. It's not a rebuilding year. It's run for the playoffs. They have team that can do it. Do they have the manager that can let them play and BE ONE TEAM. Let's see. GO RAYS

[Joe DiMaio]

Pena hits Pettite, 7/18 with 2 homers
and 5 rbi. Would prefer to see him hit
clean up.

Joe
http://fantasyplayersedge.blogspot.com