The Hangover: Last Night In The AL East

New York 13, Boston 5. Good evidence that computers can’t always be trusted…The Red Sox will play 10 games in Yankee stadium this season. After this series, they only have three games left, the rest of the season. Of course, after last night’s game, that might not be so bad for them. The Bronx Roiders scored 7 in the 2nd and 5 in the 3rd, and “held on” for the win. The Evil Empire now have a half game lead in the division. Josh Beckett was knocked out in the second after surrendering 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 runs (7 earned). Mike Mussina did not have his usual solid stuff, but it was just enough, as he gave up 5 runs in 6 innings.

Baltimore 4, Toronto 0. The top hitting team in baseball were shut out by Daniel Cabrera and three relievers. Cabrera walked 5 in 5 innings, but was able to get out of trouble by striking out 9. This game marked only the second time this season that the Jays failed to score. We can only hope that Paris Hilton was waiting for them at the team hotel.

Chicks Dig The Long Ball

D-Rays 10, Toronto 5. The Devil Rays matched their season-high of 10 runs and 4 home runs. This marked the third time this year the team has score 10 runs and the second time they have done it against Toronto and only the 8th time in 28 games they have scored at least 5. And in one of the more weird stats we have seen recently, The Rays have played 19 series this year and are 12-7 in the final game of a series and 7-2 in the last 9 series. In those 9 series, the D-Rays are 5-14 in all other games. On Sunday, Doug Waechter tried to show that he deserves to remain in the rotation. After giving up 3 runs in the 1st inning, Waechter settled down and gave up only 1 more run in the next 5 innings. It marked his first win of the season and broke a string of 8 consecutive losses dating back to last August. Waechter, could still be the odd man out when Casey Fossum returns later this week, especially if James Shields pitches well against the Angels. Carl Crawford missed his 3rd straight game, although he was available to pinch hit. He is expected back in the lineup on Monday against the Angels. Also expected back for the Angels series is Jorge Cantu, who has missed 37 games with an injured foot, although the exact date is still undecided.

The Future: This Week On The Farm

Durham Bulls. The Bulls swept a double-header yesterday against Buffalo after dropping the first two games of the series. On Friday, the team picked up 12 hits, including 2 hits apiece from Rocco Baldelli, B. J. Upton, LF Brent Butler, and 2B Fernando Cortez. However, the team only managed 2 runs in the 4-2 loss, surrendering a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 12th. Upton stole his 23rd base of the season. Durham took the opening game on Sunday 7-5, as Kevin Witt hit his league leading 14th home run, a grand slam. Elijah Dukes hit his 7th home run and drove in 2. Baldelli went 1-2 with a run scored and 2 walks as the DH. Chris Seddon surrendered 5 runs in 4 innings, on 6 hits and 2 walks. In the nightcap, the team wasn’t satisfied with only playing 7 innings, so they decided to go 16 before finally taking the game 3-2. Cortez drove in the winning run with a basehit off of Buffalo’s catcher Einar Diaz. Baldelli continues to show no signs of rust as he went 5-7 with a double and played all 16 innings in RF. He is now hitting .405 during his rehab assignment. Upton had a rough game, going 0-6 with a walk and 5 strike outs. Jason Hammel gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings. He struck out 5.

Montgomery Biscuits. The Biscuits lost all 3 games this weekend to Chattanooga. On Friday Montgomery dropped the opener 5-1. The team only managed 4 hits, 3 by Jason Pridie who had a double and a triple and drove in the only run. On Saturday, they dropped the second game 5-4. Tony Peguero, gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and a walk in 6 innings, dropping his record to 5-6. The amazing Juan Salas pitched another 2 scoreless innings. In 28.2 innings this season, he has yet to allow an earned run (4 unearned). He has given up only 7 hits and has 43 strikeouts. The Biscuits dropped Sunday’s game 4-1. Jim Magrane pitched well, but dropped his record to 7-4. He went 5, giving up 5 hits, no walks and 1 run. He struck out 4. Jorge Cantu went 2-12 with an RBI in the 3 games.

Visalia Oaks. The Oaks dropped 2 of 3 to High Desert over the weekend. Reid Brignac went 5-11 in the first 2 games before being given Sunday off. Shawn Cumberland hit his 12th home run of the season on Saturday. On Friday, James Houser went 7 innings giving up 10 hits, 2 walks and 6 runs (3 earned). On Saturday, Christopher Mason won his 3rd straight start to improve to 5-2. He struck out 6 in 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 walks and 4 runs (3 earned).

SW Michigan D-Rays. The Rays dropped 2 of the first 3 games of a 4-game set to Kane County. The lone bright spot from the weekend was Sunday’s starter William Evers. Evers, making his first start after 15 relief appearances, went 4 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 walks and no runs. He struck out 3.

D-Rays vs. Toronto Tidbits

• The Rays are 4-5 against Toronto this season, including 1-2 in their only series at the Trop.
• Tampa is still last in the majors in hitting, but actually raised their average on their most recent road trip from .234 to .242. The team hit .272 over the 10 games. Toronto leads the majors in hitting (.301).
• The Rays had only 8 stolen bases in their first 20 games. 37 in the 34 games since.
• The Devil Rays’ bullpen is giving up hits to the tune of a .308 average. The AL average is .261.
• Tonight’s starter, Seth McClung, is 1-1 in 2 starts this season against the Blue Jays with a 4.50 ERA. Went 7 innings in both starts.
• Tomorrow’s starter, Mark Hendrickson, 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 2 starts against the Jays this season.
• The Blue Jays just came off a series win versus the Red Sox, taking 2 of 3.
• They have scored 5+ runs in 6 of last 7 games.
• Troy Glaus hit 11 home runs in May, the most in the AL.
• Tonight’s starter, Casey Janssen, is 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA versus Tampa.

Probable Pitchers
Friday, 7:15 et
Toronto Casey Janssen, RHP (3-3, 3.25)
Devil Rays Seth McClung, RHP (2-6, 6.13)

Saturday, 7:15 et
Toronto Roy Halladay, RHP (6-1, 2.88)
Devil Rays Mark Hendrickson, LHP (3-5, 3.98)

Sunday, 1:15 et
Toronto Gustavo Chacin, LHP (6-1, 5.11)
Devil Rays Doug Waechter, RHP (0-4, 6.70)

Devil Ray Blogtopia

• One Mets fan is in denial. Mets Guy in Michigan wrote an epic blog trying to explain why the Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano trade is the reason WHY the Mets are in first place. Did we read that correctly? Yes. A Mets fan actually believes that the Mets are in first place because they don’t have Kid K and they do have Zambrano on the DL. *we are giggling like a school girl* [Mets Guy in Michigan]
• Story has it that B. J. Upton ripped into Delmon Young after he was suspended for throwing a bat at an umpire. Upton let Young know that not only was he hurting the team and the organization, but was hurting his own chances to get to the big leagues. Good for Upton, who suddenly looks like he could be the clubhouse leader the Rays desperately need. Hopefully Young, takes the advice and gets his act together. [MLB Rumors Clearinghouse]
• Does somebody actually think that Young hitting an umpire with a bat was a good idea? [SportsPhDs.com]
• Julio Lugo who is a free agent at the end of the season is still a potential trade target for the Boston Red Sox. [MLB-Rookies.com]
• A Red Sox gal likes to make fun of the names of Devil Rays players. Our personal fave is “I coughed up a McCLung” [Witch City Sox Girl]
• We wish people would finally drop the idea of contraction in baseball or the idea of moving the Rays. The Devil Rays aren’t going anywhere in the next 20 years. Get over it. [From the News and Sports Desk]
• A former Devil Rays draft pick took his lottery ticket (4 million dollar offer from the Rockies) and wiped his ass with it, along with the other 4 times he was drafted and didn’t sign. Now he is playing in the independent American Association. Good work. [Sports. Music. Blog]
• apparently the Blue Jays did not exist in 2004 and the Rays actually did finish last. [The Fabulous Sports Blog]
• Jorge Cantu is the 100th player to wear a Montgomery Biscuits uniform. He won an order of Biscuits and Gravy and a week or two riding a bus from one game to the next. [Talk Alabama]
• The name “Devil Rays” will cause demonic possession of all children in Florida [Celsius 1414]
• Is Casey Fossum sporting a Bro? [Image]
• Why is Rocco Baldelli on the All-Star ballot? [The Fantasy Sports Doctors]

Devil Ray News And Notes

• The Devil Rays are still losing money and according to Forbes magazine, you could trade 5 Devil Rays franchises for one Yankees franchise. [St. Pete Times]
• The organization will continue to be known as the Devil Rays and will sport the same uniforms for at least one more season. [Tampa Tribune]
• With the emergence of Elijah Dukes at Durham and the general depth of outfielders in the organization, could Carl Crawford be the player to be traded? Personally, we find this highly unlikely, as Crawford is proven commodity and is locked into a very payroll-friendly contract through 2010. On the other hand, no other outfielder could draw as big of an asking price in terms of major league caliber pitching. [Fox Sports]
• Elijah Dukes is trying to put his past behind him and show that he is a top prospect for the Rays. [Baseball America]
• Casey Fossum and the Fossum Flop will be ready to return to the rotation on June 9, and manager Joe Maddon does not want to see Crawford traded (thanks Joe, for stating the obvious). [Tampa Tribune]

The Hangover: Last Night In The AL East

D-Rays 8, Baltimore 6. Scott “Kid K” Kazmir did not have his best stuff for the second straight start. He walked the first batter he faced. He then gave up a run in the first followed by 2 more in the 2nd. With the Rays trailing 3-2 at the end of two innings, a rain shower caused a delay of over an hour. Manager Joe Maddon made the correct decision and decided to not bring Kazmir back after the delay. The decision we have to question is starting Kazmir in the first place. Every forecast seemed to indicate that a rain delay for this game was inevitable and most likely they knew that it would be early in the game. With that in mind, why start your young ace if you know you probably won’t bring him back after a lengthy delay? You want and need your staff ace to work late into ballgames. So why not hold him back a day and start him on Friday? You give his arm an extra day of rest and the team is more likely to get 7+ innings. On the other hand, Maddon is a big believer of staying on exactly 4 days of rest for his top starters. On more than one occasion this season, Maddon has skipped a starter so that Kazmir can stay on his regular 4 days rest. In addition, the team came in to the game riding a 6 game losing streak. The job of ace is the “stopper”. It is Kid K’s duty to stop losing streaks, so maybe Maddon felt a little pressure to get Kazmir in the game last night.

There was a scary moment in the top of the 4th. With the Rays up 5-3, and two runners on, Carl Crawford hit a ball over left fielder Jeff Conine’s head. Conine then had trouble picking the ball up. Julio Lugo and Joey Gathright scored. Crawford tried for an inside-the-park home run, only to be thrown out at the plate. Oriole catcher Ramon Hernandez blocked the plate with his foot. Still, on replays it appeared that Crawford still skipped over the foot after being initially blocked, and touched the plate before Hernandez applied the tag. When he was called out, Crawford slammed his helmet and then jumped up in disgust. When he landed, his foot slid out from under him awkwardly, and he appeared to hyperextend his knee. Luckily, after a few tense commercial break moments, Crawford stayed in the game for one inning, but was pulled in the 5th. He is listed as day-to-day with a strained knee. Crawford finished the game 2-3 raising his average to .300.

Jonny Gomes hit his first home run since May 17th against the White Sox at the Trop, his 15th.

Detroit 7, New York 6. Detroit ended the Spankees 5 game winning streak and avoided getting swept in the process. Down 6-5 entering the 9th, Les Tigres scored two runs off their former closer, Kyle Farnsworth. Mariano Rivera was not available due to back spasms. Joe Torre has made a lot of smart decisions in his day, but pitching Rivera 3 innings on Tuesday night was not one of them. He only threw 25 pitches in those 3 innings, so maybe it is just a coincidence.

The Future: Yesterday On The Farm

Buffalo 15, Durham 0. The wheels have come completely off for Edwin Jackson. For a pitcher that almost made the starting rotation out of spring training, Jackson now looks overmatched in AAA. In his last 6 starts, Jackson is 1-4 with a 9.25 ERA and 2.05 WHIP. In his latest installment last night, Jackson was knocked out in the 4th after giving up 5 hits, 4 walks and 7 runs (6 earned). In the 8th game of his rehab assignment, Rocco Baldelli went 1-4 with 2 strikeouts.

Jacksonville 5, Montgomery 1. 2B Eliot Johnson went 3-4 with a double and is now hitting .311. Jorge Cantu went 0-4 with a strikeout. After 4 games, he is 2-14 (.143).

Inland Empire 7, Visalia 5. C Josh Arhart went 2-3 with his 5th home run and he drove in 3. Shaun Cumberland went 2-4 with an RBI and SS Reid Brignac 1-4 with a double.

SW Michigan 4, Lansing 2. Wade Davis continues to impress. The organization is beginning to let Davis go deeper in games as last night he pitched 7 strong innings, his longest outing of the season. He gave up 4 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs. He struck out 9 to improve his record to 4-1, and his ERA was raised to 1.18.

Josh Hamilton Back In The Picture

Josh Hamilton, the former first round pick of the Devil Rays is to be reinstated and participate in extended spring training. Hamilton, who has more tattoos and drug suspensions than career home runs hasn’t played professional baseball since 2002 when he played 56 games for single-A Bakersfield. In the land of second, third and fourth chances, we hope that Hamilton, who is 25 now, has finally straightened his life out. We honestly thought his last suspension marked the end of Hamilton’s career with Tampa. However, this is probably just a blip on the radar, as the chances of him ever making to the majors now seems unlikely. Still, we will keep an eye on his progress and hope for a miracle.

Hamilton temporarily reinstated [St. Pete Times]

Will Mets Fans Ever Recover?

We were going to just enter this as a bullet in our regular “Blogtopia” feature, but this is just too good and needs its own post. A couple of weeks ago we wrote a post thanking the Mets for Scott “Kid K” Kazmir and offering our condolences to the Mets fan that haven’t taken the trade very well. Well, the Mets have a 4.5 game lead in the NL East over their hated rivals, the Atlanta Braves. The team has a new manager and a new general manager and made a series of off-season moves that have them heading to the playoffs. They even took two of three from their cross-town rivals, the Yankees…Still, Mets fans just can’t let go of Kid K. The self-loathing has gotten so bad that a couple of Mets fans have actually started a blog completely devoted to Kid K and the trade that brought him to the Rays.

A couple of our favorite posts include, “I want the season to end now” and “Feel his wrath!“.

So we strongly encourage you to go to the blog Why Duquette Why? and give the Mets fans a big hug.

Why Duquette Why?
The Virtual Ghost Of Scott Kazmir [Deadspin]
Hey Mets Fans…Thanks For Taking Us To Pleasure Town! [Rays Index]