Results tagged ‘ Tamps Bay Rays ’
Shields, Hinske, shoot down Jays
Hinske just misses cycle.
James Shields was much better against the Jays going 7 innings while giving up 6 hits, 4 runs and striking out 5. He hit a few bumps but gutted it out and turned in an over all nice performance. The star of the game was Eric Hinske who was a single shy of batting for the cycle. No Rays player has ever done so, and Hinske had his chance in the 8th but struck out. Hinske continues to be a shot of adrenaline for the Rays, well concealed down in their 6 spot of the line up. The Ray’s take on the Blue Jay’s again in Orlando tonight featuring Roy Halladay against Jason Hammel. The Ray’s are 4-0 thus far in Orlando.
The Daily Turn:
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The 5, 6, and 7 spots in the Rays lineup provided the power tonight, with Evan Longoria blasting a solo HR, breaking his 1-10 slump since signing his big money deal. Eric Hinske had a big night going 3-4 and Navarro came off the DL with a bang also going 3-4. BJ Upton and Carlos Pena were a combined 0-8, and when your producers don’t produce, this is exactly what you need, the bottom of the order to step up and carry the load.
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The Ray’s acquired OF Gabe Gross from the Brewers for minor league pitcher Josh Butler. Gross is a left handed bat with pop and can play all three outfield positions. This creates an overload in the outfield, and someone will have to go. Currently the Ray’s have Gross,
Haynes, Gomes, Hinske and Ruggiano as outfielder’s, and the most likely option is Ruggiano being sent back to the minors. Even with that move, the Rays will have one too many platooning the farm in right, especially with Dan Johnson now on the team to back up Pena, freeing Hinske from 1B duties. You can’t bench Hinske, his bat is on fire, so it is likely another move is forthcoming. It concerns me that Jonny Gomes has been given limited at bats and virtually no playing time in right field. He is a fan favorite and if they Ray’s brass has any hopes of building a solid fan base they need to hang on to Gomes and get him at bats. The fans love this guy, and they are eager to cheer for him. The smart move would be to send Haynes down and let Gross Gomes and Hinske rotate between right field and DH.
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Roster moves don’t stop with right field, either. Matt Garza is set to make his come back this weekend, meaning that someone else has to go, and not a pitcher. Garza will resume Neimann’s spot in the rotation, so a position player will have to go…Haynes, maybe? Scott Kazmir is projected to come back the first weekend in May which will force a hard rotation decision to be made as well. There are too many roosters in the hen house so to speak, and while Hammel was the favorite to be the odd man out to start the year, he has come on so strong that Jackson or Sonnanstine may be headed to the bullpen or the trade block.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you don’t have your stuff, you have to pitch with your guts and your instincts.”
– Ray’s pitcher James Shields on gutting out his 7 innings
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