For starters, Rays-A's, with no Navi

Update: 5:05 p.m.:  Manager Joe Maddon said C Dioner Navarro is out of the lineup tonight - and could miss tomorrow's game as well - because he has pinkeye, so they're just going to take it easy with him.

RHP Jason Isringhausen is here, and available to pitch tonight, which Maddon would like to have happen. Isringhausen said that, in hindsight, he was glad he spent some time on a minor league rehab assignment, and was able to improve the sharpness of his breaking pitches, and building up his arm strength enough to bounce back between outings.

Maddon said that reports were good on Isringhausen's assignment, pointing to how he his 94 miles per hour with his fastball at one point a couple outings ago, and 90 mph on his cutter.

On the other side, Adam Kennedy is in the lineup for the A's, saying he's glad to be back in the big leagues. Kennedy, who was with the Rays in spring training, has gotten a chance to play quite often with the A's since he got picked up around 10 days ago.

The Rays look to make it four in a row for the first time this season, and get back to .500 tonight.

They'll try with backup C Michel Hernandez behind the plate for the second straight game.

Here is the Rays lineup:

Upton cf
Crawford lf
Longoria 3b
Pena 1b
Zobrist rf
Aybar dh
Bartlett ss
Iwamura 2b
Hernandez c
Niemann, p.

A's

Cabrera ss
Suzuki c
Cust dh
Holliday lf
Giambi 1b
Kennedy 2b
Sweeney cf
Crosby 3b
Buck rf
Gallagher, p.

Comments

[Sportsroadhouse.com]

Niemann doesn't suck, he is a rookie, he is much bette than Shields, Garza and Sonnanstine were in their rookie years..give him time, the regular starting pitchers besides Garza are the ones that have really not pitched as well, Niemann continues to get better, long term he very well may be the Rays closer when Davis and Price come up. Rays are starting to get it going..great fun to watch when they throw strikes and don't walk anybody. Nice outing by Izzy too...

[tbird]

For "Big Coop Dog"....not trying to make Upton out to be a problem child, even though he has already proven to the bay area that he previously was, with lack of hustle, etc..However, that was not the intent here. I am interested in the MLB ruling on visual jewelry or piercings and whether it is allowed and legal and was seeking info from someone who may know the rulings..
That's all, nothing more, nothing less and glad we won the game, glad Bartlett continues showing why he is the 2nd best player on the team, etc.

[mike in tampa]

Great game. Niemann was outstanding. No walk, gave up two meaningless dingers, but he was in and around the strike zone all game. Exaclty what we needed to see from him.

And for anyone who hasn't gone to mlb.com and voted for Bartlett the maximum allowed times, get on it right now. He is the best player on this team, not as flashy, but consistent and hardly ever has a bad game.

Go Rays, great game by everyone.

[Big Coop Dogg]

Come on people, dont try to make Upton out to be a problem child. If he has a piercing, so what.

[tbird]

Just saw Upton bat in the thrid inning and that "Rod" that was sticking out of his lower lip is now gone. Just have to wonder if it is a violation, does anyone out there happen to know?

[tbird]

Did anyone else notice the new jewelry adorned by none other than Upton? He manages to have 2 or 3 decent games and now he displays a rod sticking out of his lower lip? Somewhere I thought I had read that visible body piercings were a violation of MLB..Dunno and even if they aren't, why the hell would someone who has earned such scorn and anger the past two years, do something that wouldn't be a problem if it were off the field and in civilian clothes? Just don't get it and I can't imagine Maddon condoning it. As for our starting pitchers--her is the breakdown: ERA and inn per start
Sonnanstine 7.43 ERA and 5 inning avg
Kazmir 6.97 ERA and 5 inning avg
Niemann 5.35 ERA and 4 1/2 avg
Shields 3.98 ERA and 6 1/2 avg
Garza 3.50 ERA and 7 inn avg

So, it is evident to those of us who watch the game, that our starting pitching is beyond suspect, it is bad and has gotten worse LATELY, especially with Kazmir/Sonnanstine and Shields. We cannot go far if these guys continue to give up 6 or 7 runs and we have to rely on our offense to score that many runs on a regular basis. What is "inside" the Price issue is something more than meets the eye; with contracts, etc., but this guy has already proven himself in the bigs, has excelled in the line of fire and needs to be up. I honestly think he was pissed or disappointed or whatever by not making the team and either he has lost confidence or interest in the game by being relegated to the minors. He woulde be the 2nd or 3rd best pitcher on this team and we all know it, regardless what the stats in Durham show. Just think, if we had "average" starting pitching, we would be well over .500 by now, our bullpen would be less stressed, etc. Can't understand the public explanation why he is still in the minors.

[rayon]

Can we agree that Niemann sucks?

[mike in tampa]

Pinkeye? I'll buy that for a dollar. Whatever gets him a rest, I think he is over-doing it out there, and just needs to step back. Navi is a good hitter, and should be a career .280 or better hitter, he is just in a funk right now.

Good thing BJ is starting to hit the ball, we need it. Get NAvi and Burrell right, and we will score an extra run or two per game.

I like Hernandez, very solid defensively, and good approach at the plate. Never gonna hit a lot of homers, but he is a nice piece to the puzzle....which I think is really starting to come together.

Hopefully Niemann can give us 5 innings and keep it to less than 5 runs, if he can do that, we got a good chance.

If Niemann struggles, we really need to start thinking about bringing someone else up here. Probably not Price yet, but possibly Wade Davis?

WE need someone who can give us 5+ EVERY time he pitches, and keep his ERA under 5. That is not too much to ask, that's for sure.

Sonny did a good job yesterday, besides pitching to that Fransico guy. Joe need to issue the walk there, no excuse for pitching to a guy hitting .900 against you with a 1.000 slugging pct. Take your chances against someone else.

If Sonny walks him, he gets into the 7th inning with one or two runs in, maybe. More than likely keeps it scoreless. Either way, sometimes you gotta just chalk it up to having someones number, and Fransisco has Sonny's number.

Let's go get 'em tonight boys....Niemann, show us why you are in the Major Leagues, no more of this A ball junk pitching. Ok? Good. Now go get it.

[9equals8.com]

Michel is playing well, so Navi should take some time to rest and refocus on his hitting. Until Navi comes around, this is probably a net positive. But, Navi hitting .300+ for most of last year was a big part of the Rays' success. I hope he gets back into shape soon. GO RAYS!