Series Preview: 6/12-6/14 Washington Nationals @ Tampa Bay Rays

I hope David Eckstein shoots Adam Dunn for choking puppies.

We better sweep.

Adam Dunn in RF, The Hammer in LF, Dukes in CF, Guzman at SS, etc…

They have the worst road record in the league at 6-20.
They’ve only won 2 series all year, against the Braves and Diamondbacks.
They’ve been swept 6 times this year (Marlins x2, Phillies x2, Braves, Mets), 4 on the road, 2 at home.

I would have much rather seen PtB stay down and work on his timing and carry an extra arm (Winston) during the 6-game NL road trip than have PtB sitting on the bench next week.

so if we dont sweep, dont be too concerned

Burrell back so its 8
Barty back soon makes it 7
Bradford back soon makes it 6

And now

The Rays host the Nationals to open a three-game interleague series tonight, but Tropicana Field is already buzzing with acrtivity as LHP Scott Kazmir – rehabbing from a right quad strain (and working through mechanics) – is throwing a simulated game.

If this goes well, Kazmir will then likely move to a minor league rehab assignment, the next step in him rejoining the Rays rotation.

With pitching coach Jim Hickey, manager Joe Maddon and executive VP Andrew Friedman watching, Kazmir is facing Rays hitters Gabe Kapler, Reid Brignac and Joe Dillon.

Backup C Shawn Riggans (also on the DL), is catching.

If they both return it’s 4. Aki, Percy, Nando and Shouse

Aki wont be returning, Percy may never come back, we have no use for Shouse and Nando well…..miss his speed, wont be til September

LHP Scott Kazmir was encouraged with how he felt after throwing a three-inning (44 pitches) simulated game Friday afternoon at the Tropicana Field.

Kazmir, who is on the DL with a right quad strain (and to rework his mechanics) said his direction is good, delivery feels good, and both his changeup and slider have more bite (and hitters said his fastball has more life). He said the next step is making a start next week in Port Charlotte, a five or six inning outing in five days and see where he’s at from there.

Kazmir was watched by manager Joe Maddon, pitching coach Jim Hickey, executive VP Andrew Friedman and assistant to the pitching coach Brian Anderson, who was “thoroughly encouraged and impresed”

“He showed as much command as I’ve seen from him,” Anderson said. “He had a really good changeup, he was able to get his fastball consistently in on righties, which is a big key for him. If he does that, everything else falls in to place. He had the best slider I had ever seen from him….That’s was what I heard about when I heard about Kaz’s slider. That has to be close to what that was, because that was nasty.”

“Put it this way, if his stamina was where you’d like it to be, I would take that out on the mound tonight and feel good about my chances of winning…

“I’m telling you right now, if that kid had 100 pitches in him, you’d run him out there tonight and he’d go six or seven (innings) and win.”