Pennant race update

If you're following the Rays in the pennant race, then you're also following the Red Sox and the Yankees. And there was troubling news for both of those teams coming out of Monday's games.

Boston DH David Ortiz, expected to carry an even larger load following the trade of Manny Ramirez, may be having further problems with the left wrist that kept him sidelined for nearly two months.

And Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain left the game with what at the least is being described as stiffness in his right shoulder and likely to force him to miss one start, and could have a serious impact on their chances.

Then there's this entertaining passage from ESPN.com, with reseacher Mark Simon coming up with  parallels between the '69 Mets and the '08 Rays:

How are the 2008 Rays similar to the 1969 Mets?

On the 1969 Mets, the ace starter was 24-year-old Tom Seaver
On the 2008 Rays, the ace starter is 24-year-old Scott Kazmir
The 1969 Mets had a 61-101 record 2 years prior to winning the World Series (1967)
The 2008 Rays had a 61-101 record 2 years ago (2006)
The 1969 Mets had a closer, Ron Taylor, who had won a World Series (1964)
The 2008 Rays have a closer, Troy Percival, who has won a World Series (2002)
The 1969 Mets were 53-39 at the All-Star break
The 2008 Rays were 55-39 at the All-Star break
The 1969 Mets manager had a 3-letter first name (Gil) and a 6-letter last name (Hodges)
The 2008 Rays manager has a 3-letter first name (Joe) and a 6-letter last name (Maddon)
The 1969 Mets had a rookie as their primary third baseman (Wayne Garrett)
The 2008 Rays have a rookie as their primary third baseman (Evan Longoria)

Also, the Rays made a move with a middle infielder, trading Andy Cannizaro to Cleveland for cash considerations. Cannizaro hit .240 in 51 games for Triple-A Durham, and appeared in one game, May 3, for the Rays.

Comments

[R Rays]

I might be wrong but this will be the first time in History Fox will Broadcast a Tampa Bay Rays Game!!

Up to this point the 2008 Rays are the Best Team in Baseball, even though they have three of the Best Players injured. Carl Crawford, E. Longoria and Troy Percival. Obviously the Season is not over yet, however who would have thought the Rays would be this good??? The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from worst to First! The Tampa Bay Lightning win a Stanley Cup, The Tampa Bay Storm won a National Championship in Arena Football. Tampa Bay Sports Fans always said "The Rays are next"! Now, they are right!

[ken]

Think maddons doing great job,pena in same situation wed. game vs cleveland(to bunt or not to bunt) and hits game winning homer. Only problem had with maddon was him not walking (red hot)perralta with lefty hitter on deck vs lefty pitcher howell . P.S. yankees still suck

[jeff]

'91 Twins - Last to First

[Carl]

Kazmir needs to realize his profession is full time and year-round. I come unglued when I hear he is almost there mentally and physically and we are in August. He is not an ace. We don't have an ace. The Rays have three very talented pitchers in Kazmir, Shields and Garza. The ace role seems to shift between the three of them but Kazmir has been annointed in the press as the ace. My question is: If his stuff is so "electric", why does he nibble at the corners? Also, when he had less than full arm strength earlier in the year, why did he have his greatest success? I think it's because he throws a straighter ball when he throws harder and has more movement when he lets up a hair. He needs to be told he is a pitcher, not a thrower.

On the plus side, they are all very young and should be a part of the rotation for years. The Rays are a year ahead, maybe even two, in terms of development into a contender. If they keep these three and add Price very soon, we have the potential to have four 20 game winners. Go Rays!

[JeffC]

After last night's performance they should send Garza down too. NOT.

[steve]

I say sending Kaz down and bring up Price is a great idea. Kaz needs a check up from the neck up!!!!

[The Intentional Walk]

I am the reason Pena didn't bunt the runners over last night. If he had, I would have introduced myself to your best hitter.

[max]

That's funny, Mike! Yeah, let's send Kazmir to the minors. He's pitiful! (sarcasm intended).

[mike]

Kazmir should be sent down with Gomes. He needs to learn to throw strikes. Mechanics or mental people are sent down to work out their issues. Kazmir doesn't bring alot to the game now. Four walks in the first inning . Boo.

[Chris]

Thanks for the explanation LK. I just thought I remembered this kid's name as someone who was a real prospect (maybe a couple years ago?).

[DIZ]

I have commented in the past how the '08 Rays were like the '69 Mets. The July series with Boston was as exciting in expectation as the July '69 series with the Cubs.
Young, excellent SPs (Seaver-3rd year, Koosman-2nd year, Gentry-rookie, Ryan-about 2nd year, McAndrew-rookie, only Cardwell a veteran), like the Rays.
Only difference: Mets platooned at 1B, 2B, 3B, and RF. The arrival a of power hitter, Donn Clendenon, in June, plus .340 avg. by Cleon Jones, and solid leadoff hitting with power by Tommie Agee was really the extent of the Mets's offense. And Grote was a great (and intimidating) defensive cather.Grote's ability was overshadowed by Johnny Bench.

Go Rays. As oLd Tugger said in '73: YOUGOTTABELEIEVE!!!!

P.S. The Mets went from 9th place in '68 to the WS. The Rays will go from last place to the WS.

[LK]

Cannizaro was not a prospect. He had not played in weeks in Durham due to the plethora of players for short and second (E. Johnson, Zobrist, and Brignac). Those would be prospects still. This was a good move so that Cannizaro who was on the Hudson Valley roster could get on with someone who needed him.

[Sat it Ain't SO Joe]

Came someone please give Madden the Baseball 101 text book and mark the section titled , "The Sacrifice Bunt". Again, yes again, he doesn't even consider moving runners with no outs. Can someone please tell me why he didn't have Pana bunt in the seventh last night..to move the potential TYING runs into scoring position with less than 2 outs and our best hotter comng up? He cost us a chance (not a gurantte) to win last night...and it's not the fisrt time. It would really suck if they lost this thing is a close race, becasue Joe can't bring himself to exercise basic fundamental baseball. Wake up Joe...you can't sit waiting for the 3-run dinger all night!

[Chris]

What's with the Cannizaro move? We are so protective of our prospects that we can't be bothered to make significant moves before the trade deadline to actually stay in the pennant race, but we can shift these prospects to other teams for "cash considerations" after the deadline?

[TB Stuck in NYC]

Hey Jersey Joe, I'd ask the same thing about your "ace" -- Joba the Hurt (NY Post). He couldn't make it out of the fifth inning yesterday either, and Kaz won't be going into the "Carl Pavano Memorial MRI tube today at New York Presbyterian Hospital."

[Jersey Joe]

How can a guy be an "ace" if he can't make it outta the 5th inning?