Tired and unhappy Rays preparing for clincher

After a 3 a.m. arrival at their Dearborn, Mich., hotel and a short night, the Rays are preparing for their unusual early game at Comerica Park with a chance to clinch the American League East division championship with a win.

And they aren't particularly happy about the situation, having to play at 1:05 today after a night game in Baltimore on Wednesday.

"Just pretty poor planning,'' manager Joe Maddon said. "You can't slice it any other way. I'm not going to sit here and agree with what was done. I'm sure it was planned in advance, or based on the previous reputation of the (Tampa Bay) organization. That's what I got.

"Because there's no way the Yankees would be sitting here right now. ... Or anybody. It's just inappropriate.''

The game is being played during the day as part of a Seniors Day promotion.

Maddon, who estimated most players got 3-5 hours of sleep, gave 2B Akinori Iwamura and DH Cliff Floyd the day off. Ben Zobrist is at second and Willy Aybar at DH. C Dioner Navarro would have gotten the day off if the Rays weren't in position to clinch.

The Rays lineup:
Upton, cf
Zobrist, 2b
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Aybar, dh
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Hinske, lf
Bartlett, ss
Kazmir, p

TIGERS
Santiago, ss
Thames, dh
Ordonez, rf
Cabrera, 1b
Hessman, 3b
Raburn, 2b
Inge, cf
Joyce, lf
Ryan, c
Galarraga, p

Comments

[Helene]

Ideally, I want them to win it, and not get it by virtue of a Boston loss. But I'll take anything to get this clincher over with as soon as possible. I just want the title. Is that bad? :)

[MC in Omaha]

Wasn't everyone complaining that Kazmir was falling behind hitters and burning too many pitches? Maybe he's trying to get ahead of hitters by throwing early strikes. Regardless, Major League hitters are too good if you throw down the middle. I truly believe that Kaz will be okay. He has to find the right combo of "good" strikes, working the corners of the plate. Go Rays. Go Kaz. Not everyone is throwing you under the bus. Some are not forgetting what you've meant to the rotation and the organization.

[Go Rays!]

Woke up at 4 to get to Comerica. Got there just in time to see the first pitch. Yeah Zorilla hit a homer. Then the "hit show" began. OH well. We'll be back tomorrow night, visiting family here, so will watch the game tonight on Detroit TV. The crowd almost laughed when they announced "36,285" as the paid attendance. It was sparse. Talked to a few fans there, what did they ask me about? Attendance! Shocker.

I want the Rays to WIN it, not for Boston to lose it. I could stomach cheering for Cleveland, but no way for the Yanks.

Scott needs to do two things to be his best:

Throw 1st pitch strike.

Use the Slider on Strike 2 for the put out pitch.

When he does that; he looks "brilliant"

[Insidethemonster]

It's interesting/kinda nice to see Rays fans so passionate about every game this time of year. As a Sox fan i'm very excited for the playoffs and happy to see the Rays right in the middle of things (especially at the expense of the Yankees).

Always open to hearing Rays point of view on my blog:

http://insidethesox.blogspot.com

[Mike S.]

What is up with Kazmir? Thankfully, the bullpen gave the gang a chance and they almost pulled it off (again). Good-luck tomorrow you awesome Rays!

[Richard]

Well they wanted Kaz to pitch to contact and today he did just that. Wish he'd go back to the strikeout mentality. You got to hand it to the offense they tried. How about Zorba. Heck of a shot to deep center. Still may get to drink my Dom tonite. Gonna watch Boston on MLB.com.

[kaz]

hi i'm scott kazmir,

I dont chew
I dont dip,
I dont smoke,
And i dont keep balls in the ballpark.

[Harold]

uhhh Brit
the city isn't called Tampa BAY
Just Tampa
The Tampa Bay is a body of water and a region.

[john]

Kaz just earned himself a spot on the bench for the playoffs.

If they need a forth pitcher I'd go with Price

[Kaz]

4dogspete: I willing to bet that Kaz doesn't read this blog but thanks for the advice

[Johnny]

Devil Ray Maddon, quit your complaining.....You get paid to win....

[4dogspete]

Kaz:
Don't give up on yourself.
You have great talent. Use your head!
Be a thinker, not a thrower.
Work on your problems off season and come back next year with some Pizazz!

[Flounder]

3:29 Let him go he's on a roll

[Miss Thang]

It's "HEAR" the game on the radio, not 'here'. No wonder no one answered you. Now get your butt back in school!

[Helene]

NOOOOOOOOOOO! When I kvetched about this being a day game and possibly missing the celebration, I didn't mean "Rays, wait 'til I can see it to clinch"!

*bangs head against work desk*

Nice attempt at a comeback, though.

(LET'S GO CLEVE-LAND! *bump, bump, bumpbump bump*)

[britt]

Don't hate on Tampa... Why are they called the TAMPA BAY RAY'S yet they play in ST. PETE... Stop trying to use our good name over here to try and bring your city up... (KEN-DOO)

GO RAY'S! EITHER WAY... ST. PETE OR TAMPA... WHO CARES!!! I'm sure most of the fans travel across the bridge to go to the games anyway rather than someone who lives in the st. pete area.

[RALPH]

bOSTON SUCKS

[what?]

3:29 you suck....toga toga toga

[Ken Doo]

Can't wait 'til the public Rays rallies and parties happen. But why is Tampa trying to horn in on the parties. The team is in St. Pete and Tampa should focus on what it's known for: an annual drunken parade, stripper joints and a Super Bowl once a decade.

[Jay]

To 1250 WHNZ: The game is on FSN....

[JB]

Kaz needs a sports psychologist asap. Tiger Woods has had one since he was 12!
Next years rotation, 1. Sheilds, 2. Price, 3. Garza and 4. Sonny or Neiman. I say make Kaz a closer next year.

[Amanda]

3:29- come on, brush up on your classic cinema masterpieces!

[Jay]

Charlie G: I agree, they can pull this game out. But, with that said, Kazmir is a liability this year. Obviously, he has no self confidence and his stats prove he is getting worse, instead of better as the season goes on.
To Joe Maddon: Do the right thing and take Kaz of the starting rotation and don't put Percival in as a closer. Thank you.

Belushi - The Germans never bombed Pearl Harbor

[Charlie G]

ZORILLA goes deep, again! Never never quit.

[Belushi]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

@1250 you can watch the game for free. try it.

[harold]

Get to bed early get some sleep
clinch tomorrow

[Kazmir]

See I cant type either, sorry.

[Kazmir]

I am loser! I just want to say sorry to all my fans.

[1250 WHNZ]

I am listening to the game on 1250 WHNZ in the Tampa Bay area. Cant pick up the game unless you get MLBTV @MLB.com or some other website that you have to pay for. Go to Raysbaseball.com and it tells you where the different radio stations you can listen in FL.

[Craig]

SHUT UP ABOUT THE TARPS ALREADY

you can download and install tvants and watch the game. go to myp2p.eu, click on forum, find mlb + baseball, click the link.

[tunamanz]

www.mlb.com and click the ball field next to the game. You will get play by play for free. Really Cool!

REMOVE THE TARPS!

where can i here the game online?

[ana lyzer]

Re Kazmir. It is time that the media (Migrane) cease referring to Kazmir as "brilliant", with "electrifying stuff" and other such accolades. The facts are quite different. This year, for whatever reason he is not getting it done, plain and simple and his starts cause the bullpen added stress. He seldom gets past the 5th inning, has been very hittable lately, as witnessed by a guy (Santiago) who previously had one (1) homer in 109 AB's getting two of them thus far today. Going into the postseason with this guy has to be scary for Maddon but he has little choice but to start him and "hope" for the best. Kazmir had best find a shrink or perhaps someone like Price to teach him mechanics during the off-season. Right now he is anything but "your ace"..

[Tom]

Two words that will never go together:

Kazmir / Clutch

where can i here the game online?

where can i here the game online?

[harold]

uhhh whats up with all the leadoff homers?
Is this some kinda new record?
You know I like a good come from behind win but I m just sayin....

[Charlie G]

Kaz seems to have lost that bulldog mentality and he is pitching with hope instead of intention. THis ump has the widest strike zone we've seen in some time and Kaz is throwing down the heart of the plate, at least to every leadoff batter he has. We need to turn the bats on now.

where can i here the game online?

[Warren]

Hey - I don't want Kaz pulled - we've got more shots at wrapping this thing up & no point burning out the bullpen. But really - the question is what about the post-season. I think Kaz will be fine next year - and in the future, we'll look at this as just being a down year for him.

why is the game not on the radio

[Charlie G]

Weren't you the same folks who wanted EJ to be pulled in the 1st last night? The boys have 12 more outs, letr's ee how well they use them. Overcoming a 3 run de4ficit is typical for these guys.

[tunamanz]

Kaz is done.....Maddon take him out!

REMOVE THE TARPS!

[john]

Since Kaz hasn't figured out how to pitch by now,I don't think he'll ever make it.

I would have traded him for Nady or Bay.

Hope they trade him in the winter.

[Amanda]

Let's go Rays! I know I'm late, but I'm headed to Ferg's to watch the rest of the game. I'm sure I won't be alone :)

[Warren]

Looks like another game that's going to leave us asking - Kazmir Yes or No on the post-season roster? How can you leave him off? But - maybe he's #4 (after Shields, Sonny, and Garza) and only pitches once?