Tampa Bay @ Baltimore GameThread, Apr 2, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

4/2: RAYS (1-0) at Baltimore (0-1)

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 4:02 PM EDT

Tampa Bay @ Baltimore

RAYS at Baltimore

7:05; RAYS TV
RAYS RADIO/1250 AM

News:

The St. Petersburg Times reports today on their Heater blog that LHPs Scott Kazmir and David Price both threw today at the Naimoli complex, and that both came away from their outings feeling good. Kazmir threw 45 pitches in a 13 minute bullpen session, his second in four days, and will throw another on Saturday. His goal is to be back by "mid to late April" from his left elbow strain. Price, meanwhile, seeking to come back from the same left elbow ailment, played catch for the first time since leaving a March 20th minor league start. Price expects to start four times in Extended Spring Training games over the next six weeks before making his eventual return for the A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays.

Pitching Matchup:

ERA

K/9

BB/9

K/BB

H/9

OPS

HR/9

WHIP

G/F

P/IP

RAYS

RH Matt Garza

83.0

3.69

7.27

3.47

2.09

10.41

.784

0.87

1.54

1.27

17.52

BAL

RH D. Cabrera

204.1

5.55

7.31

4.76

1.54

9.12

.777

1.10

1.54

1.43

17.45

Statistics from 2007 Season

RH Matt Garza-Making his regular season debut today for the Rays is Garza, 24. Acquired last year in the Delmon Young trade, Garza was formerly one of the top pitching prospects in baseball when he was part of the Minnesota system. His first sustained period as a starter in the Majors started late last year with the Twins, when he was called up from AAA Rochester in early July. After making his first start on July 6th, Garza would remain in the rotation for the remainder of the season. His first several outings were successful, as he posted a 2.05 ERA in 44 innings of work through August 14th. From there through the end of the season, however, his performance declined. Garza finished with a 5.54 ERA in his final eight starts, and finished with a 3.69 ERA total on the year. As his stats above show, Garza was hit hard and had occasional problems with walks during his stint with the Twins. He especially struggled against LHB, who lit him up to the tune of .314/.402/.462, and in the first inning, where opponents logged a 1.043 OPS against him in 70 PA. Garza does not have much of a track record against Baltimore in his career, having started only two games against the Orioles, but both outings were successful and both came at Camden Yards. He logged a 2.16 ERA in 16.2 innings of work in those two starts.

RH Daniel Cabrera-Garza is opposed on the hill today by the O's No. 2 starter, 26 year old Daniel Cabrera. Cabrera comes into this season with a well-established penchant for having no control whatsoever over his pitches. The high-ceiling Orioles righty can and will strike people out, but a 5.28 career BB/9 says all you need to know about how much he shoots himself in the foot. In fact, one of Cabrera's most "memorable" outings came against the Rays in April of 2006, when he struck out 10 batters and walked nine. On the whole however, Cabrera's inability to get above his control problems has hindered his progression in the major leagues. Even though he cut his BB/9 by 1.56 from the year before, his strikeout rate dropped as well by about two per nine innings. This, combined with his inability to stem opposing batters from hitting the long ball, resulted in his ERA rising from 4.74 to 5.55. Cabrera still has maintained an ability to be very effective against RHB, as he has limited them to a .233/.334/.332 line all-time. And despite a career 4.99 ERA, he still manages to be very effective against Tampa Bay, posting a 3.04 ERA in 11 starts against the Rays. A few Rays have managed to carve out succesful track records against Cabrera though, including Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Carlos Peña.

Starting Lineups:

RAYS
2B	Akinori Iwamura
LF	Carl Crawford
1B	Carlos Peña
CF	B.J. Upton
DH	Cliff Floyd
3B	Willy Aybar
C	Dioner Navarro
RF	Nathan Haynes
SS	Jason Bartlett

Baltimore
2B	Brain Roberts
3B	Melvin Mora
RF	Nick Markakis
1B	Kevin Millar
DH	Aubrey Huff
LF	Luke Scott
C	Ramón Hernández
CF	Adam Jones
SS	Luis Hernández

GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comments

FSN?

Great, now I have to go find cloned IP addresses.

THANKS MLB

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Apr 2, 2008 5:00 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah..

Just show the commercials so you don't have to black the game out. Seems pretty simple.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nope, that's wrong

I was using an earlier Game Thread for today's template and forgot to modify the values. The game is at 7:05 on ION

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Aw snap

I get to watch the game on TV!

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Apr 2, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

mlb.tv

thats a great point, though. I was thinking of buying it and watching on my projector, but how many games will be blacked out? I live in Orlando and work 40+ a week. I tried to get to a game on time last year and almost killed everyone in my car several times. Balogna.

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 5:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

You can plug in your zip and see if your blacked out. If so, you won't be able to watch one Rays game on mlb.tv.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks, but where?

I can't find a box to type it in anywhere, Help, I need somebody, Help.

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 5:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Here

There is a box to the left of the video.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

U.S. postal code "32808" is subject to blackout for the following MLB teams:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Florida Marlins

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

superweak

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 5:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

PS

If I guessed your zip code then I am indeed stalking you. Just an FYI.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Close enough

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plusssss

Up here we do not get FSN. I am going to miss 75 games this year that our on that channel and will be blacked out on MLB.tv. Nonsense.

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

You could

Do MLB Gameday Audio with Gameday Pitch-by-Pitch. Or just go get a Sling Box.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pick to Click

I'm going with Garza tonight.

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:00 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP: Matthew Scott Garza

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

MVP: Dioner Navarro

by Matt Bishoff on Apr 2, 2008 5:04 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP: Carl D. Crawford

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 5:05 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP

Carlos Pena

by SaberToothedPie on Apr 2, 2008 5:06 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP: Hinske

oh, wait...

Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Floyd DH
Aybar 3B
Navarro C
Haynes RF
Bartlett SS
Garza P

by Vin on Apr 2, 2008 5:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Haynes? Really?

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

You betcha

by Vin on Apr 2, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really though

I'll go with Navi again.

by Vin on Apr 2, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

I may change my pick to Tom Goodwin Jr.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Cheers to Navi taking it down

by Matt Bishoff on Apr 2, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm sure I won't be the first to say this

But why is Haynes starting for the second game of the season? We just had a day off, why is Hinske sitting?

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Title IX

by Matt Bishoff on Apr 2, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's facing a righty, me no get. There goes my Hinske for MVP every thread Garza doesn't start plan

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

not tru, maybe haynes will only start on garza game

by Matt Bishoff on Apr 2, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Haha

Maybe Garza gets a lot of ball hit out to right. Maybe he needs a personal right fielder.

by Vin on Apr 2, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's on the roster

So Maddon is going to play him. This isn't really too surprising given Maddon's past tendencies. I'm not a fan of it either, which of course means Haynes will go 3-4 with a base-clearing double.

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 2, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

On the Heater blog.....

The listed rationale is that Maddon wanted to sit Hinske because he was 3 for 21 lifetime against Cabrera. Even buying the rationale that a 21 AB sample size should dictate you sitting a player that homered in the previous game, why is Haynes the replacement? Gomes is a better hitter against RHP.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gomes is also a dead fastball hitter

And Cabrera doesn't really have much else. So... I'm with you. Gomes should have gotten the start today.

by Vin on Apr 2, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bossman

Assist from deep, 2 RBI, 3-5, 6 TB

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 2, 2008 5:07 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP: Willy Del Jesus Aybar

"It is like Menudo, where guys reach a certain age and are kicked out of the band. And they go on to be Ricky Martins somewhere else." -Billy Beane

by Stephen Webb on Apr 2, 2008 5:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Pull that trigger till it goes.....click

Mound Visit

by Mound Visit on Apr 2, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

If only Aybar were a closer....

The Jesus Saves!

"It is like Menudo, where guys reach a certain age and are kicked out of the band. And they go on to be Ricky Martins somewhere else." -Billy Beane

by Stephen Webb on Apr 2, 2008 6:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

FYI

Garza is 3-0 2.16 ERA in Camden for his short career.

Good preview up on MLB.com

www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Apr 2, 2008 5:12 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP

I'm stickin' with Bartlett. Justify my love Barty!

Sometimes there's a man, sometimes, there's a man. Well, I lost my train of thought here. But... aw, hell. I've done introduced it enough.

by H.R. Paperstacks on Apr 2, 2008 5:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Aww Phuck it

Going with Haynes as the MVP

Mound Visit

by Mound Visit on Apr 2, 2008 5:26 PM EDT 0 recs

Bossman

by Tyler on Apr 2, 2008 5:33 PM EDT 0 recs

I'll go with Pena

Cabrera is the type of pitcher he should feast on.

www.raysbb.com

Yes, we really do have fans.

by killa3312 on Apr 2, 2008 5:36 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP Pena
Score Rays 7 O's 3

Garza 6 IP 8 K

by JBrooks31 on Apr 2, 2008 6:05 PM EDT 0 recs

Game MVP

Cliff Floyd....

Eh, he's gotta justify the contract early.

by Jacob Larsen on Apr 2, 2008 6:08 PM EDT 0 recs

LVP

We always give the MVP of our team, but can we predict the LVP of the opposing team?

Im gonna go with Millar, only because he should never be batting cleanup for any team.

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on Apr 2, 2008 6:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Aki

Because he's not pickled yet.

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 2, 2008 6:33 PM EDT 0 recs

MVP

Barty

Top Josh Paul Porno- Big Navy Stroking

by SRQman on Apr 2, 2008 6:37 PM EDT 0 recs

Floyd

Because "that's how I roll!"

In the Name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Apr 2, 2008 6:38 PM EDT 0 recs

I see "Hanna" Cabrera

Being wild and overhped... I hope the boys in blue wait for thier pitch and give the fans in the outfield seats a lot of keep sakes...

In the Name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Apr 2, 2008 6:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Haynes/My thoughts

The only reason I could see for why we are playing Haynes so early is that we are trying him out. I would rather have Murton and I think a couple bad starts from Haynes and we make a trade. Of course if he plays well we keep him and whatever we would have to give up to get Murton.

For tonight we need to be patient. Cabrera has some pretty big control problems and the sooner we can get into the Orioles bullpen the better. Aki has always been aggresive but tonight I'd like to see him take a few pitches to start the game. Cabrera can be really good but only if he gets off to a good start. We get to him early we should be able to win the game.

by Dbullsfan on Apr 2, 2008 6:46 PM EDT 0 recs

According to Maddon

Gomes will start tomorrow and on Saturday. Tomorrow, the starter is Steve Trachsel, a righty, and on Saturday it's Andy Pettite, a southpaw. So I really don't get the pattern for playing Gomes here.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 2, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs