North of the border, the finale

Struggling 3B Evan Longoria is out of the Rays lineup tonight, though also-struggling 1B Carlos Pena is playing. LF Carl Crawford is getting a "mini-day off" by being the DH with Nathan Haynes in left.
Manager Joe Maddon said Longoria, 4-for-29 on the road trip and his average down to .221, looked like he needed a break. "I wanted to give him a day off,'' Maddon said. "He's pressing a bit and I wanted to back him off a little bit.''
Longoria will be available to pinch-hit and as a defensive replacement for Eric Hinske, who is starting at third. He said the day off probably was a good idea.
Pena, whose average is down to .200 after 10 strikeouts in his last 12 at-bats, will stay in the lineup after he and Maddon had a long talk following Wednesday's game. "We had a nice conversation yesterday and I'm looking forward to seeing him play today,'' Maddon said.
The rehab report is about the same, with DH Cliff Floyd (right knee surgery) having another good day in extended spring training and likely to take BP at the Trop on Friday. INF Ben Zobrist (fractured left thumb) is playing again tonight for Class A Vero in Lakeland.

The lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford. dh
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Hinske, 3b
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Haynes, lf
Bartlett, ss
Jackson, p

Comments

[JR]

TRADE GOMES

[FoSho]

I agree. I think they could get equal value in gomes if they asked for a bag of peanuts.........if the bag was salted peanuts then the Rays got a steal in the deal.

[Bodog]

Damn FoSho say what's on your mind. I don't know about this lineup tonite - IT IS WEAK. This is probably the weakest offensive lineup Joe could put on the field. I don't suspect we're get much offensive tonite. Sheeze!

[tj]

Is Magrane start his whining again? Rolen was Safe. But jacka$$ Magrane says " how can he be safe", well Joe just look at the replay.

[FoSho]

Come on TJ. If you listened to him he did say that at first but immediately corrected himself on the replay and said he was safe.

[tj]

thats always his first reaction. thats my point

[ben]

There is Magrane again with his smarta@@ remarks "1's a fastball, 2's a change, 3's a curve" but at least Statts shows he is the true professional of the two. Magrane God's gift to pitching, I must have forgot

[FoSho]

Why is the heck is Johnny Gomes playing LEFT FIELD in extra innings? this is gonna cost them....just you watch.

[FoSho]

No sooner did I get the entry out when Johnny Gomes runs all over the place and misses the fly ball. Granted, it would have been a tough play....but the point is.......would Crawford have been able to get it? Yes. They could have put in him, lost the DH spot, but then just pinch hit if that spot came up again.......extra innings is about DEFENSE

[Bodog]

Yeah! that move kind of surprised me when I saw Gomes in left field _ we got lucky on that one. Thank God for J.P. Howell, kid did some helluva relief. We would have NEVER pulled this game out with last season's squad. Next seven games are gonna be extremely tough - Angels and Yanks in town. Get your tickets early and see ya at the ball park. I'll be in section 148.

[MisterBrad1962]

Rays are something special this year,I am stoked and excited and hopefully you all are as well.I hope the magic continues!GO RAYS!

[Tony]

When it comes to pitching I would take Magrane's comments over anyone else since he WAS a major league pitcher for some time. I will also say this, teams are starting to look for weaknesses with the Rays. Years ago it did't matter what the lineup. They either struck out or walked. Now we have more spray hitters, more contact hitters. Pitchers are having to pitch around them and that's a good thing. It means the Rays are getting more respect at the plate. The only thing that I am worried about is that Maddon will play Mr. Father with these guys instead of Mr. Manager. Don't coddle them. They are professionals who get paid lots of money to hit and throw a ball. Percival, you're going to have an off night buddy. Tonight was it. Thank god the rest of the bullpen showed up. Give Percival credit for that. He's the one gluing the pen together. It's a wonderful thing. Don't be surprised if the Rays are a .500 ballclub by the All Star break. If they are, and if they are in 2nd place vying for the division lead, it will be a VERY interesting second half. Go Rays!!!

[Craig]

Again, if you don't like Joe and Dewayne, turn down the sound on your TV and turn your radio on to 1250 am... DUH

Oh wait, you'd rather p!ss and moan. Carry on then.

GO RAYS GO STAATS GO MAGRANE