What if the Rays had only tied the game in the tenth inning?
They were out of position players after numerous substitutions and Jason Bartlett’s right index finger injury. Shawn Riggans, who finished Bartlett's at-bat and took a cannon ball to the chest from Fernando Rodney, couldn't play a position besides catcher and manager Joe Maddon wasn’t going to humor pitcher Edwin Jackson’s requests to play RF.
The answer: DH Jonny Gomes would have gone to RF, eliminating the DH and forcing the pitcher to bat in the ninth spot.
-- BRANT JAMES
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It wouldn't suprize me if Jackson could rake it, hes such a good athlete... James Shields is the best hitting pitcher we have (though couldn't have played anymore of this game)
Posted by: Jeff | August 04, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Well that's anticlimatic. Here I'm thinking we'd have something crazy like Longo at short, Aybar at 3rd and Riggans in the OF.
Posted by: Kevin | August 04, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Maybe E-Jack is the Right-Handed bat we've been looking for.
Rocco the number 5 starter??? Hmmm
Posted by: Ray F | August 04, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Joe Maddon wasn’t going to humor pitcher Edwin Jackson’s requests to play RF.
Ever hear of Rick Ankiel Joe?
Posted by: MD | August 04, 2008 at 02:08 AM