31 runs.   A 16 to 15 score seems more like a field goal festival in a football game, then a score of a baseball game, but that is what the Rays and Pirates put up yesterday.  30 hits, and 31 runs.

The Rays scored 5 runs in the 2nd, 3 in the 5th, 7 in the 7th and one in the 9th.  The Bucs scored 5 in the first, 1 in the third, 1 in the 5th, 1 in the 6th, two in the 7th, one in the 8th, and 4 in the ninth.   That is a wild ass game!

Wade Davis was awful pitching two innings, giving up 3 hits and 5 ER to go along with 3 BB.  The other 4 pitchers that pitched for the Rays won’t make the Active Roster, but all were awful.

Most of the pitchers that pitched for the Pirates probably won’t be Active Roster players either, but Jeff Karstens who has a chance at the roster gave up 5 ER in .2 IP.

There is always a rule of thumb for Spring Training, don’t read too much into it.  I generally abide by that rule, especially when assessing players that are going to have a hard time making the roster.

SORRY! Jeremy Hellickson was nasty yesterday in his 2nd outing for the Rays.  He faced 4 batters, 4 batters walked back to the dugout after being struck out.  He’s faced 8 batters in 2 games, and struck out 6 of them, giving up only one hit, and allowing 0 ER and walking a grand total of zero batters.

We hypothesized a bit on this very site in the offseason, that it would be tough to leave Hellickson off the Major League Roster.  He has command of 4 pitches, the requisite velocity to be an upper level starting pitcher, and the command to go along with it.  Compare that to David Price, who still appears to only have two pitches in his arsenal, and it would seem like one would make a better fit in what could be the best bullpen in the league.

Let’s not forget that on the Rays run to the World Series, Price was dominant out of the bullpen, and was closing games for the Rays.  His two dominating pitches, his slider and his heater, are fitting for a pitcher out of the pen.  While the Rays picked up a bonafide closer in Rafael Soriano, he has plenty of injuries throughout his career to warrant concern.  If Price were moved to the pen, in a setup role, and a closers role if Soriano were to get hurt, it would alllow JP Howell, to stay in a setup role, where I personally feel he dominates/relishes and ultimately belongs.

For the Rays to give up on Price as a starter this early in his career after giving him 10 million dollars is probably unlikely, but with an ultimate goal of going for it all this year, because of the impending Free Agent status of both Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, this could be a move to give us the best possible chance to win now.

Game Recaps – 3/5/2010 vs NY Yanks

This was a much anticipated game for fans of the Rays young pitchers.  Both David Price and Jeremy Hellickson took the mound for the Rays, and neither disappointed.  Price struck out 2 in 1.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, and 0 runs.  Hellickson gave up 1 hit in 1.1 innings, while striking out two and walking none.

Sean Rodriguez continued his torrid streak, going one single short of the cycle, in 3 ABs.  It was Rodriguez’s 3rd home run in as many games, and Sean is vying hard for the starting 2b job.

Game Recaps – 3/6/2010 vs Boston Red Sox

Justin Ruggiano hit  walk off HR in the 9th to win the game for the Rays, it was Ruggiano’s only AB for the game.  Young speedster Fernando Perez had 1 hit in 1 ab.

Andy Sonnanstine started the game, and struggled just as he did in 2009.  He pitched 1 inning, and gave up 1 H, 2 ER, and 3 BB.  Wade Davis came into the game and pitched 1.2 innings, and had 3 BB as well.

Game Recaps – 3/7/2010 vs Philadelphia Phillies

Jake McGee pitched for the first time this spring, pitching 1.1 innings, and striking out 2 batters while giving up 1 H. James Shields started the game for the Rays, and struggled a little with  his command, but pitched 2.2 innings, 3 H, and 2 BB.

Young stud Desmond Jennings had 2 Hits and 1 R in 2 AB.  Justin Ruggiano continued to hit the ball well going 1 for 2.  Tim Beckham had an RBI and a hit in his 2 AB’s.  Another young potential started for the Rays, Reid Brignac continued to hit well (.600 AVG), going 2 for 3.

The main piece in the trade that sent Scott Kazmir to the Anaheim Angels, Sean Rodriguez, started off the Spring season with a HR in the Rays first game.  He then proceeded to follow up that first HR with another in the Rays 2nd game, a 6-5 win against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays put some more bats on the ball yesterday, with Matt Joyce driving in the winning run in the 9th inning.  Joyce, Ruggiano, Longoria, Patt Burell, Rodriguez, Elliot Johnson and Reid Brignac all had one in the game.

Jeff Niemann looked great in his first spring start.  He worked 2 IP, and gave up one hit for a HR.  The bullpen was awful as Balfour, Lance Cormier, and Alexander Torres all allowed at least 1 ER.

If Sean Rodriguez can show the Rays that he can handle the 2b duties (he had an error yesterday) and can rake like the Rays imagined he would, there is a possibility that he could be the opening day starter at 2B and Ben Zobrist would move to RF.  This would further complicate the OF glut that we currently have, but might give us our best lineup.  Joyce and Rodriguez are essentially battling for one starting position more than likely, even though they play different spots on the field.

The Rays lost their first Spring game yesterday against the Baltimore Orioles, 12-2.  As we all know, Spring stats and scores have to be taken with a grain of salt and a more careful examination of the box scores.

James Shields and Matt Garza combined for 3 IP, and 2k, 2bb and 1 ER.  Garza gave up a HR to Josh Bell that accounted for that ER.

As far as the hitters are concerned, we didn’t really put the bat on the ball too much. Sean Rodriguez did drop a bomb in the 7th inning.  Reid Brignac, Navi, and Kelly Shoppach all had one hit.

With players trickling into camp Sunday and this morning I figured it was time to do my Annual Roster Predictions that I do for every one of our Tampa teams before the season begins.  There will be some real competition this year at multiple positions, namely backup IF, DH, SP and OF.

Without further ado…

Starting Rotation:
James Shields
Matt Garza
Jeff Niemann
David Price
Wade Davis

Middle Relief:
Grant Balfour
Lance Cormier
Randy Choate
JP Howell
Dan Wheeler

Closer:
Rafael Soriano

C:
Kelly Shoppach
Dioner Navarro

Infielders:
Carlos Pena
Ben Zobrist
Jason Bartlett
Evan Longoria
Sean Rodriguez
Reid Brignac

Outfielders:
Carl Crawford
Matt Joyce
BJ Upton
Gabe Kapler

DH:
Pat Burell
Willy Aybar

Most notably, that leaves, Andy Sonnastine, Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings off of the Rays Opening Day Roster.  I would almost gaurantee you see Hellickson and Jennings up at some point before the All Star Break, especially Hellickson at the first sign of an injury to one of our starting arms.  The situation with Jennings will be a little more tenuous as based on this roster, we have 4 OF’s already, with Zobrist being able to move to the OF with having both Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez available to backup all the IF spots.  Sonnastine could also find his way onto the roster in place of a Randy Choate if Choate were to struggle.

With pitchers and catchers reporting in just a few days, I thought it was time to take take a peek at the Rays potential Starting Rotation, by the numbers.

I would hypothesize that this rotation is pretty much set in stone barring one potential change.  If David Price does not show some development on a third pitch, and Jeremy Hellickson continues to progress at his current rate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Price move into the pen ala our World Series Run, and have Hellickson get a crack at the rotation.  He has 4 pitches, and shows much better command of those pitches, than Price has shown thusfar.

Without further ado…

James Shields

Matt Garza

Jeff Niemann

David Price

Wade Davis