David Price is Officially Monday's Starter

by R.J. Anderson on May 23, 2009 2:49 PM EDT

UPDATE: Price was to start Saturday for Durham, which will now use Jason Childers and Julio DePaula against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

This will mark Price's second career start in the majors. Anyone who wants to get revenge on Victor Martinez or whomever for the B.J. Upton incident need to push those hopes aside. Price needs not to concern himself with something like that. As for what I'll be looking for:

1. Non-fastball pitches.

During his time up last year, Price threw 98.7% fastballs/sliders. Whether he feels comfortable with the spike curve isn't as much to my concern as to whether he can mix the change-up in. Let's hope so. I'm not looking or hoping for him to become Shields-like in change-up usage either.

2. Durability and efficiency.

He had a 75 pitch allowance in Durham, who knows if the Rays increase that towards 90 immediately, or if they pace him his first time or two through the rotation. Hopefully he can make it through 5, maybe 6.

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Awesome

as for the spot….. I hear Wheeler’s pubic hair hurts and if we demote Thayer, terrorism will win.

For gods sake, give me this rotation from here on out. 1 James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3, David Price 4. Andy Sonnanstine(i guess I trust him) 5. Wade Davis

by joeybw on May 23, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Coach Kapler is redundant at this point. He serves no viable purpose.

by ReasonableDoubt on May 23, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

West is a 6'8" lefty

who has struck out 19 lefty batters in 12 innings and has a 1.42 ERA against them vs a 6.3 ERA vs righties. Of course it is a tiny sample, but perhaps the Rays have little scouting on him and want the righties to get a shot at him rather than the lefties. Navarro has caught 4 straight games and it seems he goes either 4 or 5 straight before Hernandez relieves him, so again it makes sense use Michel vs the lefty.

by bobr on May 23, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Question, R.J.:

Since David Price is growing up and joining the rotation, are you going to stay with last year’s Velociraptor Jesus imagery

or is Price going to become something like Utahraptor Jesus (the biggest raptor of all, and the one that most closely resembles the Jurassic park raptors)?