Series Preview: Detroit Tigers @ Tampa Bay Rays

by Steve Slowinski on Jul 26, 2010 4:00 PM EDT

First three games are 7:10 PM starts; the Thursday game is a 12:10 PM start.

Monday, July 26: Max Scherzer (4.30 FIP) vs. Matt Garza (4.69 FIP)

Tuesday, July 27: Justin Verlander (3.15 FIP) vs. James Shields (4.33 FIP)

Wednesday, July 28: Eddie Bonine (4.77 FIP) vs. Jeff Niemann (4.31 FIP)

Thursday, July 29: Rick Porcello (4.64 FIP) vs. David Price (3.70 FIP)

I live for this part of the season. The Yankees are facing the Indians, which shouldn't pose a problem for them, but the Red Sox are facing the Angels and have three tough pitchers to beat: Dan Haren, Jered Weaver, and Joel Pineiro. The Rays are already five games up on the Sox and if they can win this series, they have a great opportunity to pick up some ground on Boston. And then, as we near the trade deadline on Friday, the Yankees come to town for a three-game set, giving the Rays a chance to gain some ground in the division.

Strap on tight, it's going to be a crazy week.

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Sorry for the short preview

Busy day, and I’m working on some bigger pieces for later this week.

I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.

by Steve Slowinski on Jul 26, 2010 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Stoked for this week.

Scherzer’s the kind of pitcher we could give fits (or he could give us fits): great stuff but very questionable control. Hopefully, Big Game James shows up and not Jamie Yields. I really like the last two nights’ matchups. Let’s take 3/4 here ans 2/3 from the Spankees and call it a week.

by rglass44 on Jul 26, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

I really feel like games 3 and 4 are strongly in our favor. The first two are closer to tossups, but I would lean to the Tigers in both of them.

I’ll be very happy with 3 out of 4

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

why is Garza a tossup?

what is wrong with him? he should be better then this…

by davidsmarch on Jul 26, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

He hasn't been pitching well lately

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

ahhhh

that explains everything…

by davidsmarch on Jul 26, 2010 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

with how much this team walks, do you think we can break him?

I know I just advocated getting StB more playing time, but Maddon may want to bat a selective lineup against a pitcher with control issues. Hopefully Zobrist leads off..

Longo! (Ah-a-ah!) Fighter of the Upton! (Ah-a-ah!) Champion of the Rays! He's the master of batting and defense for everyone!

by pudieron89 on Jul 26, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He is leading off

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

i expect no less than 2 walks

Longo! (Ah-a-ah!) Fighter of the Upton! (Ah-a-ah!) Champion of the Rays! He's the master of batting and defense for everyone!

by pudieron89 on Jul 26, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

3 of 4 here would be excellent

by benderbrodriguez on Jul 26, 2010 4:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not crazy about BJ and Shoppach being in there vs a power righty

Dockoftherays.com

by Jason Collette on Jul 26, 2010 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

I don't get why no Jaso

Upton I can understand

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Jaso had an awful July

61% GBs for a speedless catcher who is a GIDP threat, still had good BB/K #‘s, ISO of .024. Pitchers are going to continue to attack him more and more. I’m not anti-Jaso, he’s a huge upgrade over Navi. Expectations grew too far too fast (See Brignac, Rodriguez). Shoppach is a more likely K but remember, he was brought in to be the primary catcher.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jul 26, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

What's worse then awful because that's what Kelly Shoppach's July has been like

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW I agree with what you said

But I would still prefer Jaso over Shoppach vs righties until Kelly does something to prove otherwise

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you will continue to see primarily Jaso, but with a bit more Kelly sprinkled in

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jul 26, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

meanwhile, Posey is leading all of baseball in BA over the past month

ugh

Dockoftherays.com

by Jason Collette on Jul 26, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

TIM BECKHAM WAS CLEARLY THE RIGHT PICK

BARRY LARKIN 2.0

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish we had a do over on that

by SRQman on Jul 26, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I would take almost anyone in the Top 14 over Beckham right now

That draft was loaded

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably worse thing the new FO has done.

by SRQman on Jul 26, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

J Ham

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Meh.

Stupid but cocaine is a hell of a drug

by SRQman on Jul 26, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Ya but they still could have kept him on the 40 man no problem

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh. I still somewhat believe it was probably best he didn't come back here.

and got a fresh start. But that is just my opinion.

by SRQman on Jul 26, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably, but I still hate thinking that he could be playing for us right now

by Sveet on Jul 26, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Posey and Alvarez look like the only studs out of that right now

And I’m not a big fan of Alvarez’s BB/K (of course he has plenty of time to figure it out)

by benderbrodriguez on Jul 26, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

6 guys in the top 15 in the majors right now:

Alvarez, Matusz, Posey, Alonzo, G. Beckham and Smoak. None of the guys in their 2nd year are playing well, and they all had good years just like Posey and Alvarez (so far).

Now to be fair, they’re all college kids and Becks was a high-school draft pick, but he’s still struggling in high-A and it’s not an encouraging sign. I’m looking to give him another year yet to start showing some legit promise, but if he’s still struggling in high A ball in 2012 then it’s a problem.

So I should just change my sig to
I hate everyone of color, along with invalids, the old, and the retarded?
by firemangreg on Jul 21, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

by kericr on Jul 26, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not encouraging that his power hasn't picked up yet

But his walks are well up and scouts say his defense is much improved

by benderbrodriguez on Jul 26, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

But have you seen his bat speed?

by sternfan1 on Jul 26, 2010 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I saw his bat blur

And if one has a problem using stats to prove a point, then use your eyes.

2010 Trade Deadline Primer --> http://dockoftherays.com/2010/07/03/2010-trade-deadline-primer/

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 27, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

You also have the issue of facing 5 RHPs in a row

So it’s a matter of Maddon picking the spots to play Shoppach. Not sure why he picked this particular matchup.

by sstamour on Jul 26, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Garza is pitching

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Jul 26, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Also a possibility.

I do, anecdotally, think that KS’s thoughts on calling a game match up better with Garza/Price’s stuff and style of pitching.

by sstamour on Jul 26, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Starts vs BAL/BOS-Jaso behind the plate=bad

Other 3 starts with Shoppach=good

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Jul 26, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Obviously it's tough to draw conclusions from that

But we do know that Garza and Price tend to rely on establishing their 4 seam fastball first and foremost, and Shoppach calls a game that emphasizes that pitch to the exclusion of others. Like I said, it’s anecdotal though.

by sstamour on Jul 26, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be suspicious of using this as evidence that one catcher is the better pitch selector...

for a few reasons. 1. Obviously , very small sample size. 2. Garza is an “established” pitcher (4+ years in the majors) and likely determines much of his own pitch sequence, and I’d even be willing to bet that Price does too, considering his confidence and competitive drive (though it’d be interesting if there were some sort of “Shake Off %” stat I don’t know about…) 3. I think we’d all agree, and I’m sure the pitchers know, too, that Shoppach is the better defensive catcher right now and the guy you want behind the plate. Any of the starters are probably less likely to put the ball in the dirt with Jaso behind the plate than Shoppach, especially with guys on. This will affect their pitch selection and likely their effectiveness as well.

by mattc286 on Jul 26, 2010 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That should read

“…the guy you want behind the plate when you’re throwing a ball in the dirt.”

by mattc286 on Jul 26, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Anybody know if maggs has a similar vesting option based oa PAs like last year

The broken ankle could be a godsend for dumbrowski. We have to keep taking two of three a sweep pretty much gives us a stranglehold on the wc. GO FOR THE JUGGULAR!

And if one has a problem using stats to prove a point, then use your eyes.

2010 Trade Deadline Primer --> http://dockoftherays.com/2010/07/03/2010-trade-deadline-primer/

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 26, 2010 4:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions