Series Preview: 7/20-7/23 Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 1:57 PM EDT Comment 102 comments

More photos » by Paul Beaty - AP

Browse more photos »

7/20: David Price vs. Gavin Floyd (8:11 SS)

7/21: Jeff Niemann vs. Clayton Richard (8:11 FSF)

7/22: James Shields vs. John Danks (8:11 SS)

7/23: Scott Kazmir vs. Mark Buehrle (2:05 FSF)

I hate to play the dramatic card, but this is potentially a big series for the Rays. The Yankees are hosting Baltimore for three. The match-ups there are David Hernandez/Andy Pettitte; Rich Hill/Sergio Mitre; and Jason Berken/A.J. Burnett. After that, they play host to Oakland, with Vin Mazzaro dueling with CC Sabathia. Best case scenario is probably the Yankees losing two of those four, more realistic is the Yankees win three.

Meanwhile, Boston is in Texas for three then plays the O's. Those probable pitchers are: John Smoltz/Kevin Milwood; Josh Beckett/Tommy Hunter; Tim Wakefield/Vincente Padilla; and Brad Bergesen/Brad Penny. Again, I think you have to expect the Sox to take two or three of those games.

If the Rays luck out, they can be within two games of the Yankees heading into next week, in which they host the Yankees for three. Of course, this assumes the Rays don't falter against Toronto either. Roy Halladay pitched yesterday, and unless he's traded by the weekend, the Rays are likely to run into him yet again.

The Rays need to split this series. A series victory would be glorious, but just take two, any two, and we're on our way to a .500+ road trip.

0 recs | Comment 102 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

This could be a fun series for homers.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

7-3 road trip is a distinct possibility and would go a long way in moving us closer

I’m almost afraid that we will score 13 in a game and 6 combined in the other 3

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

7-3 would be ridiculous.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Split CWS take 2/3 from Toronto

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with Sandy, though: I think we split in CHI and win the TOR series

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then get the Yanks at the Pit for 3 and 3 more against an angry Royals team

NOW IS THE TIME

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So lame that the NYY series is Monday-Wednesday

All the NYC tourists will dominate the stadium.

(attendance post +50 replies to thread)

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just wait for the post on how Carl not playing on Sundays actually ups the attendance.

Ergo: trade Carl, save the Rays.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fine with me bump that attendance for our slow days

Also, is there a better sound than when we win and the stadium is silent?

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When we win and the stadium is rambunctious?

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't be a hatter

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RJ?

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on Jul 20, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sandy likes to really absorb those complex silences

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I put a dip in like 10 mins ago so I'm multitasking like a Zobot

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't disagreeing with him.

I was just saying, that would be awesome.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you hate the rays and you know it

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For a guy that watches a lot of baseball he sure doesn't seem to understand it

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're going 10-0 on this road trip

Put that in your calculator, DRB user “RJ Andersen”.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Balling someone's crush with a...erm...

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WE PLAYIN' WITH WORDS

by Suttree on Jul 20, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we fly

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BUT GUYS THAT IS JI

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 20, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

JIM THOME

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 20, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT: what exactly is a "get me over" pitch? In all my years of watching Excel sim baseball games, I've never quite gotten this term.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Basically: a below average pitch.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

seems it would be a lot clearer just to call it that

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be too critical.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

let's call it a participant's ribbon pitch

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody would understand that.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nobody understands it the way it is

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's to promote participation.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

im talking about the get-me-over pitch

/hits RJ with a mallet

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to get ahead here

but I can’t wait for the NYY series. I am going to try to go to all 3 games. The local media really needs to pump it up a little bit.

I thought a reason the Phillies series was so poorly attended was the lack of media attention to it.

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 20, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In this economy?

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

People need the get their priorities straight

1.) Attend Rays Games
2.) Feed Family

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 20, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We should see a lot of Gabe Kapler in this series

and his monster OPS vs lefties.

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 20, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Odds that we see this.

RaysJoeMaddonCWS r throwing 3 lefties I may use all r guys vs diff pitchers & give some a day off, It creates opp 4 creativity, I like every 1 involved

C Hernandez
1B DIllon
2B Aybar
COF Kapler/Zobrist

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is that from the Heater?

by matthan on Jul 20, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No?

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is it from?

I can barely figure out what it says.

by matthan on Jul 20, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Maddon's twitter.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Jul 20, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Twitter.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I see it is Maddons tweeter

Wow that is really freaking embarassing.

by matthan on Jul 20, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago White Sox are throwing three lefties. I may use all of our guys versus different pitchers and give some of them a day off. It creates an opportunity for creativity. I like to get everyone involved.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jul 20, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Translation brought to you by IT'S A PUT ON

by Suttree on Jul 20, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really hate that one of my fav. Who songs only has (really) two members in it.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jul 20, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa, whoa, you don't think Roger's doing a lot in that song?

by Suttree on Jul 20, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Enty and Pete.

Roger was the (really) part. I read that they had him in the recording booth with a guitar but didn’t plug it in on purpose. Roger was unaware and thought he was on the track until someone told him later on.

OT: I won a second place prize in the Windmill Contest they recently had! Got me a Rock Band 2, T-Shirt, and Who DVD. Pretty nifty.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jul 20, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs