For starters, Rays vs A's minus Crawford

The Rays will finish off their first half of the season today with a series finale against the A's, with LF Carl Crawford getting the day off.

C Dioner Navarro was back, saying he's sore but will be fine after being hospitalized last night due to getting hit in the head with a foul ball. C John Jaso was called up from Triple-A Durham (replacing RHP Grant Balfour, who went on the bereavement list to go to Australia for the death of his grandfather) and will back up Michel Hernandez today.

Manager Joe Maddon said LHP David Price will be available out of the bullpen today if need be.

Navarro said he expects to be OK to start the second half Friday in Kansas City.

The lineup:
Upton, cf
Aybar, 2b
Longoria, 3b
Pena, 1b
Zobrist, rf
Burrell, dh
Bartlett, ss
Kapler, lf
Hernandez, c
Shields, p

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[tbird]

This team is demoralized after that 7th inning and they look as bad as those other disasters; the post season loss last year; blowing the 10 run lead earlier this year and this today. Then, after using JP promarily in the 9th inning most of this season, he puts him in there to start the 8th?? Just don't understand any of it and regardless the spin that Maddon or others may throw around, this type stuff has a lingering effect on the pitching staff as Maddon has once again showed no trust in his starters. Kennedy remarks about having to use so many from the pen so early--today it wasn't the starters fault. Another tidbit, we got outhit by a ton once more. This vaunted "we score more runs than anyone" is just what it is, a stupid stat that means nothing and if it did, we wouldn't be 6 games behind in the loss column, probably 7 after today.

[mike in tampa]

If we lose this game- it's on Maddon. Why the hell did he take Shields out after only 88 pitches to put in Wheeler? Did he not realize that they had a right handed power bat on the bench? What a stupid decision. I would also like to know why the hell he is so in love with Bradford. I would rather see Choate pitch to a rightie than Bradford.

Starting pitcher- 6.1 IP and 3 ER (2 of which should be charged to the bullpen- he let them on base but you cant tell me that he wouldnt have done better.) and bullpen gets .2 innings and lets everyone and thier brother on base.

Boneheaded move by MAddon. Why the hell woudl you take someone out of the game who is pitching lights-out to put in some B.S. pitcher from the bullpen (WHEELER)

Stupid, stupid, STUPID moves my Maddon. Over managing at its worst.

[tbird]

JMS -- where are you? This game today is right there for your blog and even the most devout Maddon fans couldn't justify this 7th inning debacle. Shields pitching great all game, pitch count not very high, he's finally ahead 3-0. Granted, he HAS to hold onto the lead that his team got for him but for Maddon to yank him after allowing the walk to Powell is just plain stupid. He brings in Wheeler and Guerin outmanages him by putting in Cust to pinch hit and then the comedy show began. I sure hope they pull this one out as this loss going into the break will resonate for some time to come. Also, wonder how Shields feels? I pitched in HS, College and a little in semi-pro and I couldn't put into words (in this column) how I would feel but it wouldn't be good...

[delt11]

I def have to agree watching this team growing up to see it without Crawford would be disheartening. Its easy to remember when he was the only guy worth watching on the team. I do believe you cant pick up Aki's option just to much money when you have other options and trading Kaz would be a good idea because Davis is ready to come up in AAA. Also Burrell is the best option to trade i would give up him up for nothing just to take his contract and let Aybar become the everyday DH and have next year Brignac become the utility man.

[WTF]

Good take tbird, and I agree. Gotta keep the core of this team together. Too much talent and chemistry to risk losing if they want to stay competitive in the toughest division is baseball.

[WTF]

This has nothing to do with match-ups, Joe just wants to give him a well deserved rest. Carl is the best guy to have in the lineup regardless. Carl against lefties - AVG .281, OBP .328...Aybar against lefties - AVG .200, OBP .235. Not even mentioning what Carl does defensively or on the base paths. Again, although we need wins, it's not a problem for me with so much of the season left.

[tbird]

Agree with BB take -- Upton, Pena are getting more than ridiculous with their strikeout ratio. I recently heard a stat (think on the rays radio) that Upton was hitting around .180 against LEFT HANDERS !! If that is true, that's simply amazing. Many say strikeouts don't matter as it's just another out-- an out is just an out but there are productive outs by hitting the ball and possibly moving the runners. A strikeout is nothing but bad, no positives whatsoever. Burrell is another, he pulls off the ball and cannot hit a breaking ball. Today's paper ran down the finances and the upcoming 2010 situation--to me, it's a no-brainer and you have to keep CC, regardless. Dealing the contracts of Burrell, Kazmir should also be a no-brainer. If the likes of Nelson, Percy, Bradford, etc have contract options for next year--cut em loose; granted, trade value for Kazmir and Burrell won't be high but they gotta go if it comes down to losing Crawford.

[delt11]

if you didnt realize a lefty is on the mound maddon is just trying to get as many righties in the line up as possible he is changing what hasn't been working do you ever look at the whole picture people

[BB]

The everpresent leadoff batter is the one who needs a day off after not getting the ball out of the infield last night. In the last five games he is 0-for-5 with 3 K's, 1-for-4 with 2 K's, 1-for-4 with 2 K's, 3-for-5 with 0 K's, and 0-for-5 with 2 K's.

[WTF]

I'm sure Carl could use a day off because he gives 110% all the time, and I'm confident Joe will be more frugal with days off as the season goes forward. However, I would feel better about this kind of thing if we weren't still 5.5 games back. Good thing we're only half way though the season.