Wednesday matinee
The Rays are set for a loud afternoon finale against the A's, with a Parks & Rec day crowd of kids filing in to the Trop. The Rays hope to make some noise of their own with their bats, seeking to break out of their offensive malaise against yet another lefthanded pitcher.
Manager Joe Maddon said it is now "more than likely" that SS Jason Bartlett will be activated for Thursday's game at Kansas City, with the possibility the move will be announced after today's game.
Here are the lineups:
A's
R. Sweeney, rf
Suzuki, c
Cust, dh
Brown, lf
Gonzalez, cf
Crosby, ss
Hannahan, 3b
Bankston, 1b
Conrad, 2b
Smith, p
RAYS
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Crawford, lf
Longoria, 3b
Pena, 1b
Aybar, dh
Riggans, c
Gomes, rf
Zobrist, ss
Shields, p
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Ryan what are you smoking?? Ichiro is 35 and on his way down...Yeah, Upton might not be swingin the bat like he was last season and is capable of, but he is our ROCK out there in CF and will be for many years to come..We need Gomes for his intangibles, obviously he's not an all-star but he has his role...Enough speculation on trades, just wait 8 more days and find out what happens without sounding dumb and posting inane posts
Posted by: Jesse | July 23, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Trade package:
To Rays: Ichiro Suzuki
To Seattle: Gomes, Upton, and all Seattle/Tampa games played at the Trop will be home games for Seattle while Suzuki plays here -- oh, and Jesus Colome as well.
Posted by: Ryan | July 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Trade Al Reyes? With his ERA where it is, what exactly would the Rays be able to get in return?
Posted by: JeffC | July 23, 2008 at 08:30 PM
The asking price for the Pirates OF's (Nady or Bay) has been termed by several MLB GM's to be "very high." It doesn't make sense for a low revenue team like the Rays to trade for a rental type player.
The asking price for relievers is also very high.
I think the Rays will make a "2nd Tier" type trade and get a dependable bullpen guy (or two) for whom we vcan trade a mid level prospect or two.
If teams are asking for: Price, Hellickson, McGee, Davis in trades Rays must say no. Period.
Posted by: JeffC | July 23, 2008 at 08:29 PM
You forgot to mention the $200 million payroll, 5x the pay and still third place??? Go home yankees, you and your boston brethren are not welcome here.
Posted by: Mike | July 23, 2008 at 03:34 PM
The only way the Yankmees win is with juiced players. How does third place feel?
Posted by: Yankees Suck | July 23, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Rays win!!!
Another nail-biter, but a win is a win.
...and a home run doesn't make up for how bad Gomes has been this season. Zobrist is the guy to keep when Bartlett comes back. He's a switch-hitter, he can play any position (he worked in the outfield in spring remember), he hasn't played as many games as Gomes so his AB/HR ratio is higher than Gomes.
I like Gomes, but, he has hit a brick wall.
Posted by: Ray F | July 23, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Speaking of goober, yeah those guys are just that, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut here & there. Maddon should have let Shields finish the game
Posted by: BOYD | July 23, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Isn't it about time to let Balfour start to takeover the role of closer? Percy's back and it's as nerve-wracking as ever. If we blow this game.....
Posted by: Rob | July 23, 2008 at 03:18 PM
gotta love when some goober calls out players who end up hitting the game tying and go ahead home runs... goober.
Posted by: haha | July 23, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Now that we have found our power hitter and he is a switch hitter to boot, we should be set!
Ben Z
Posted by: jason | July 23, 2008 at 02:44 PM
"We don't win games with Aybar, Gomes, Zobrist (i know because of Bartlett but still) etc... they are backup scrubs!!"
Someone should tell them that. Back to back HR's anyone?
Posted by: melissa | July 23, 2008 at 02:42 PM
MEMO
TO: Yankees Emplyees
FROM: Hank Steinbrenner
CC: Dad
SUBJECT: Children
To all emplyees,
If any of you see children walking around our beloved stadium, kick them in the teeth. That way, they keep their non-spending keesters out!!!
Many of you may be opposed to the idea of kicking children in the teeth; those of you who are caught being nice to children will be immediately fired for insubordinance.
Children will not be tolerated!!!
...and those who dare give free tickets to children of family members or charity event organizers will risk being stoned in the middle of Times' Square.
Thank you for your dedication to the Empire (we apologize for the rats by the way),
The Mini-Boss
Posted by: Hank Steinbrenner | July 23, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Go back up north Yankee Fan. We don't need you down here.
Posted by: Ray's Fan | July 23, 2008 at 02:04 PM
The only way the Rays get fans is to let a bunch of kids in for free.
Posted by: Yankee Fan | July 23, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Lets Go Oakland. Win the series.
Posted by: Yankee Fan | July 23, 2008 at 01:59 PM
TRADE ME!
TRADE ME!
Posted by: Al Reyes | July 23, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Still wouldn't make any difference as we need to pull the plug and do something with our outfield. Do you realize that Nady and Bay have as many home runs between the two of them than Crawford,Upton,Hinske and Gomes combined? They are supposedly available, Pittsburgh needs pitching, we supposedly have pitching available both here and on the farm--DO IT !!!
Posted by: stats | July 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
When will we quit worrying about this stupid lefty on lefty bat problem and let Hinske & Floyd get more at bats? We don't win games with Aybar, Gomes, Zobrist (i know because of Bartlett but still) etc... they are backup scrubs!!
Posted by: BOYD | July 23, 2008 at 12:57 PM