For starters, Rays-A's on turn back the clock night
Update 4:22 p.m. Manager Joe Maddon has set his rotation to set the second half, with RHP James Shields startg it off Friday in Kansas City, followed by LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Matt Garza, LHP David Price and RHP Jeff Niemann.
That gives them a right-left-right-left split, which they like.
Also, Maddon said backup C Shawn Riggans will start a minor league rehab assigment Monday in Port Charlotte, where he'll DH, and work his way back. It may be a longer rehab, considering how long he's been out (nearly three months) with shoulder tendonitis.
Maddon said he looked "great" throwing, so that's a good sign.
***
The Rays are looking to make it five straight as they face the A's tonight, though they'll have to overcome their past as well as they wear 1998 model original Devil Rays uniforms.
The lineup:
Upton, cf
Crawford, lf
Longoria, 3b
Pena, 1b
Zobrist, 2b
Burrell, dh
Bartlett, ss
Kapler, rf
Navarro, c
Garza, p
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.
Hard to win when you don't hit. Hard to win when you leave that many men on base. Hard to win when you strike out 13 times. Hard to win when your "Ace" can't shut it down when it counts. These strikeouts are getting ridiculous; I know, an out is an out but there are productive outs and striking out is not productive by any sense of the imagination. Garza pitched great until he hit the proverbial wall and perhaps he is what he has been lately, a dominant 6 inning pitcher and then you best have someone ready in the pen.
Posted by: tbird | July 12, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Well, at least we won't have to see those horrible 'Devil Ray' uniforms on TV tonight.
Posted by: MarkFidrych | July 11, 2009 at 06:07 PM
this is a load of crap i have mlb.tv and this is the third saturday game i cant get due to these blackouts. start the game at 7 and all is good. im in new york and still subjected to this. i pay money to watch these games and still cant get them pisses me off
Posted by: errrrr | July 11, 2009 at 05:47 PM
I understand the reason for the local television blackout and the start time conflict with FOX.
However, except for one Concert game on 8/1 that starts around 4:00 and is carried on FOX, all of the rest of the Concert games remaining this year start after 7:00 and will be televised. So what's the deal with Smashmouth? Did they force the early start time?
Posted by: WTF | July 11, 2009 at 03:58 PM