The Rays are about to embark on the most important series of the year against the Twins. The Twins who are the only team that can knock the Rays out of the playoffs have a 4 game series at the Trop. The Rays need to win 2 of the next 4 games in order to book tickets for the playoffs. Status report: The Rays are really tired right now because in this last series against Boston we played like it was a playoff game. Grant Balfour played amazing but played a lot especially against the top of bostons lineup. Matt Garza only lasted 4 2/3 innings, while he would have gotten the win with one more out with after giving 2 HRs to ortiz and him up he was pulled. Garza was going on one day less rest because of a double header earlier in the week. I think that the Rays will go to a 7 man rotation especially in the games versus the Orioles. I think David Price and Jeff Niemann (who started one game early in the season) will get a few starts to rest some of the players. Reports on Players: Scott Kazmir had his worst start in the first game of the boston series, he mechanics are a little off which means his control is crappy right now, so hopefully they give him an extra few days to work on his throwing if they expand the rotation. CF Fernado Perez- This speedster that was called up with the rosters expanded has played gold glove defense, and he has 2 HRs in the last 4 games. He has been playing for the injured BJ Upton and will likely take over in left once BJ comes back near the start of the playoffs. LF- Carl Crawford- His recovery is coming along fast, he should be ready for the playoffs. I think he will DH for a while and be a Pinch runner because Perez is playing such great defense. 3B Evan Longoria- He has been great expect for the game vs beckett, his defense is coming back and he is doing great with RISP, and Willie Aybar was hot when he was playing for Longoria and he is still swinging a hot bat. 1B Carlos Pena- He is playing great right now, when Crawford and Longoria went out he took the team on his back like last year when he hit 46 HRs, if he continues his dominance teams are gonna have a hard time stopping the rays lineup with Crawford and BJ upton back in the lineup. CP Troy Percival- I have a heart attack every time he comes into the game, he has a lot of bad games which teams cannot have in the playoffs. Grant Balfour cannot be hit and has gotten some HUGE outs, so I think Balfour will be the closer and Percival will be more like a coach.
As soon as its clinched, which should be this weekend, you will see David Price getting a start or two, especially in the last week before the playoffs....
Personally, I don't think this Twins series is NEARLY as important as the one they just took from the Red Sox. Not only did they create distance from them in the standings, they also took the season series 10-8, which means if they have the same record as the Bo Sox, they get the division.
Just an update, Rays are up by two heading into the 9th inning, Evan Longoria has had 3 HRs in the Game and David Price came in with Gomez and Span on 2nd and 3rd, Joe Mauer singled to bring in two but David Price struck out the next two batters both of which were looking, he was hitting his spots with his 95+ mph fastball.
Rays ended up losing that game because Dan Wheeler gave up a HR to Alexi Casilla. Tonights game which is on ESPN is going to be Blackburn vs Edwin Jackson. Edwin Jackson throws some great games and then throws some games where you wonder if a different pitcher is out there. If he starts to walk players its going to be a long day because anytime players are on base he presses himself to hard and overthrows his pitches.
I saw Price pitch on Sunday, in relief. Dude's a monster. Just saw that was his major league debut. He did a fine job.
Troy Percival is on a extremly short leash right now, Dan Wheeler has been good but Balfour has been great only allowing 2 HRs all season and has been called on to shut down players like A-Rod and Ortiz.
