For starters, Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays, without Evan Longoria
Update 5:23 p.m. Manager Joe Maddon said he just wanted to give Evan Longoria a day off, and that he was fine.
You may see Longoria get a day off more often until his sore left hamstring gets back to 100 percent.
-------------------------
The Tampa Bay Rays will go for their seventh straight win tonight, and will do so without third baseman Evan Longoria in the lineup.
Willy Aybar gets the start at third, his second straight start (he was at second on Monday).
Manager Joe Maddon said Monday he wanted to get Aybar in the lineup more, to get him at bats. But this is probably also an opportunity to rest Longoria, who has battled left hamstring soreness this month
Rays lineup
Upton cf
Crawford lf
Aybar 3b
Pena 1b
Zobrist 2b
Burrell dh
Gross rf
Bartlett ss
Navarro c
-- JOE SMITH, Times Staff Writer
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
BTW...Another good win tonight!
Go Rays!
Posted by: WTF | June 30, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I'm having a tough time believing that Navi is really as bad as he looks so far this year. His numbers from last year tell a completely different story. Maybe being an All-Star was an anomalous aberration or maybe he's in a BJ/Burrell funk and will eventually come out of it. Either way, he needs to turn it around quickly and do more to help this team win.
Posted by: WTF | June 30, 2009 at 10:40 PM
I'd like for us to somehow work a trade with the A's for Suzuki. He doesn't make a ton of money and has pretty good offensive numbers. Just a thought...
Posted by: KT | June 30, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Upton is turning into a great leadoff hitter. I think the reason why he doesn't want BArtlett in the leadoff spot is partially because of BJ's speed and Bartlett's ability to drive in runs.
Posted by: mike in tampa | June 30, 2009 at 09:08 PM
I think Joe should have Navarro bat 8th, Upton 9th, and Bartlett 1st. It appears that Upton is swinging the stick a little better lately so it's a tough call.
Posted by: mat33t | June 30, 2009 at 08:36 PM
turn= turd
Not good at typing apparantly.
Posted by: mike in tampa | June 30, 2009 at 08:28 PM
KT- you are 110% correct. Doh-ner is terrible.
Mat33- Maddon likes the line-up to "turn over" from bottom to top....in an ideal situation, the #9 hitter is almost as important as the #1 hitter, because there are alot of times the #9 hitter leads off the inning.
Our problem is that our #9 hitter is a complete turn. A fat, stupid, undisciplined turn at the plate.
His at bat yesterday vs. Halladay speaks volumes to how stupid he is....we had two men on base, with 0 or 1 out (don't remember) and he was up to bat. The previous 2 or 3 hitters had donr a GREAT job at working the count, which is the only way to beat Halladay normally. Halladay already had something in the neighborhood of 15 pitches in the inning, and Doh-ner had a great opportunity to really do some damage....not necessarily with a base hit, but by running the count up and at least moving the runner over and in (I think we had someone one 3rd at the time).....so, here comes Doh-ner.....what does he do? FIRST PITCH SWINGING!!!! YOU FRIGGIN IDIOT!!!! Popped out harmlessly to 3rd, and went to sit his fat butt down on the bench.
His approach is all wrong, he is not patient, he makes bad contact, and he is an absolute turd at the plate....
Maddon must be waiting for him to "turn it around" like he did with BJ....and Kapler.....and now Burrell and NAvarro. I just hope both of them actually get it together, because if they do, we have a very potent line-up.
Posted by: mike in tampa | June 30, 2009 at 08:27 PM
Why is Bartlett batting 8th in the lineup? Can someone please help me understand Maddon's reasoning on this.
Posted by: mat33t | June 30, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Doiner looks less and less like a MLB payer as each day goes by. No reason at all for him to be in the lineup (and don't say because he can switch hit...BFD). He is a hole in out lineup. He is constantly coming to bat with guys on base (Gross and Bartlett) and rarely delivering. He looks awful at the plate and not much better behind it. He is the one last move I would like the team to make...do we have any real catching talent in the org? Is Riggans the guy? Jaso? It's a pretty important position, I would like to know what the future is...Navi sucks, end of story. Good luck getting to arbitration this year fatso...GO Rays!!!
Posted by: KT | June 30, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Nice start, BJ!! Quite a leadoff hitter, huh?!
Posted by: Fordy | June 30, 2009 at 07:26 PM
Another reason a day off for Longo makes sense: Toronto's starter today, Scott Richmond, is murder on right-handed batters - they hit below .200 against him. You have to pick your spots for sitting your stars - Maddon is great at doing that.
Posted by: Joel | June 30, 2009 at 06:52 PM
Absolutely the right move and we have all seen what Evan can do and lately, he hasn't been that guy. Get healthy, don't get hurt more than you are, Aybar filled in very well last year and can do it again this year--after Evan gets back, put Aybar at first once in awhile to give Pena some needed time off. Season just half over and the important stuff is yet to come and we need healthy players!
Posted by: tbird | June 30, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Kurt - You're absolutely right. We're real lucky to have the depth we do. Says volumes about the talent evaluation staff with this club.
Go Rays!
Posted by: WTF | June 30, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Good move Joe. Evan has just not been the same, give him a week or so off and let Willy get some hacks.
Go RAys!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mike in tampa | June 30, 2009 at 05:00 PM
Is there a team in MLB that has a better bench right now? I mean, how many teams out there could lose their veteran 2B to injury and sit their marquee 3B and justifibly expect little drop-off in production from those spots in the lineup. Willy's no Longo, but what an excellent utility man.
Posted by: Kurt | June 30, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Good. Give him some healing time. I'd rather have Evan healthy down the stretch, and besides, Aybar's been good at the plate and he's pretty solid on the field...not to mention, Willy can run when he gets on base.
Posted by: WTF | June 30, 2009 at 04:12 PM