Technical difficulties - Rays without DH
UPDATE, 3:55: The lineup mixup led to a double-switch as well, as Evan Longoria went into third base, and Ben Zobrist went to rightfield in place of Gabe Kapler, when Grant Balfour came on in the sixth.
UPDATE, 3:22: Sonnanstine came through with a big hit, doubling over the head of LF Ryan Garko to score a run in the Rays' five-run fourth.
UPDATE, 3:06: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Sonnanstine is the first starting pitcher to hit in an American League game since July 6, 2007, when, of all people, teammate Matt Garza did so for Minnesota.
It was an injury related situation as regular C Joe Mauer was the DH but backup C Mike Redmond was injured in the first inning, struck in the head by Jim Thome's bat, and Mauer had to go behind the plate. Garza went 0-for-2. According to the AP account of that game, Garza was the first to hit in an AL game since Boston's Hipolito Pichardo at Seattle on July 31, 2000.
The last time a pitcher was in the initial batting order in an AL game was Sept. 23, 1976 when the White Sox had Ken Brett hit eighth in a game against the Twins.
UPDATE, 1:58: Because the Rays listed both Zobrist and Longoria at third base on the lineup card, they will have to play without the DH, meaning pitcher Andy Sonnanstine is hitting third. Evan Longoria is not in the game and can be used as a substitute.
The lineup is manager Joe Maddon's responsibility, but he has a quality assurance coach, Todd Greene, and a bench coach Dave Martinez, who are involved in the process as well.
The delay lasted 13 minutes.
The Rays are in the process of trying to find out when the last time an AL team played at home without the DH, and when a pitcher last hit third, which may go back to the days of Babe Ruth.
A quick look through baseball-reference.com, found a 1976 game when Ken Brett batted eighth and pitched for the White Sox.
Actually, it may have happened more recently - the Indians had a July 1999 game when they listed two rightfielders and pitcher Charles Nagy had to hit.
At least Sonnanstine is a career .400 hitter, and has been taking swings as the Rays are preparing for interleague games next weekend in Miami.
UPDATE, 1:55: The umps are back together huddling and the Rays are waiting to see what is happening. It may have to do with Evan Longoria being the DH instead of at third. Now we're hearing unofficially that the Rays lineup card had both Longoria and Zobrist listed at third base.
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The bottom of the first is being held up by some type of problem with the lineup card. The umps have been conferring with Indians manager Eric Wedge, and he has been hot about something.
Since the Indians batted, it would seem to either have something to do with rookie pitcher David Huff, or something to do with the Rays lineup.
Now the umpires have waved the Indians off the field. It appears one umpire went to call league officials, and the other three are now conferring with Rays manager Joe Maddon.
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Razzle gator, you like to state your opinions, let others state theirs... That said, today was a mistake, Maddon admitted it, what more can he do. It sucked, but it wasn't a bad manager decision, it was just a mistake..It happens, he actually showed us today that he has the Rays showing alot more character than the Indians manager an team does. That is a direct credit to Maddon, the Rays don't have thugs and drunk alkies for a manager...It is obvious why the Indians are lousy, they follow their manager's lead..
Posted by: joemaddonsucks.com | May 18, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Now dagummit y'all, take it easy on Joe and his staff. After all, it ain't like they shot the President! How 'bout that boy Werry Kood, throwing at BJ twice? Just hit'n through the whistle I reckon. Atta boy to CC for get'nin Martinez's face! Old Gonny Jomes woulda planted that boy into the turf! Who do we plunk next week when we go up there? I say Francisco for having the audacity (big word I heard that rascal Spurrier use once) to hit home runs agin us.
Posted by: SaintBobbyB | May 17, 2009 at 09:42 PM
How many coaches does it take to screw in a lightbulb? More than the Rays have, because they obviously filled out the lineup card in the dark! Hee hee :) I don't care who you are, that right there is funny!
Posted by: BigBucDaddy | May 17, 2009 at 08:48 PM
That us unbelivable. This is common sense; three idiots can't get it right. They had all hours to prepare the lineup card and this happens. Lucky they got away with it by winning 7-5. WOW!!
Posted by: galloway84 | May 17, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Why is it obligatory to call people names on these blogs? Can't we just discuss the issues in a civil manner and leave the juvenile behavior for kids in middle school?
Posted by: Razzlegator | May 17, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Where'd my post go . . . sheesh, i congratulate Sonny for doubling in a run and it gets deleted?
Posted by: Dave | May 17, 2009 at 03:19 PM
WAY TO GO SONNY!!!! DOUBLE IN THE RUN!!
Posted by: Dave | May 17, 2009 at 03:15 PM
So THREE Rays coaches screwed up.
Posted by: John | May 17, 2009 at 03:11 PM
learn how to spell your manager's name, idiot
Posted by: HG Pennypacker | May 17, 2009 at 03:04 PM
I didn't know that idiots could type.
It is a game and a mistake.
Horsewhip Madden?
Get a life.
Posted by: Paul | May 17, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Friedman should tell Maddon to take the afternon off....his head is somewhere else today.
Posted by: MarkFidrych | May 17, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Who's responsible for this ridiculous mistake? Now we have the PITCHER having to bat instead of our best hitter!!
Posted by: MarkFidrych | May 17, 2009 at 02:08 PM
Maddon should be horse whipped. Bush league.
Posted by: HG Pennypacker | May 17, 2009 at 02:03 PM