Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

by Steve Slowinski on Jul 7, 2011 1:30 PM EDT

I don't think any of us need reminders on what is at stake in this series. The Rays are currently four games out of first place in the AL East, and anything less than a split of this four-game series would give the Rays a huge hole to climb out of in the second half of the season.

Oh, and that Derek Jeter guy is getting close to a pretty impressive career accomplishment. Which Rays pitcher is going to enter the history books as a trivia question?

Thursday, 7:05pm: Jeff Niemann (4.36 FIP) vs. Bartolo Colon (3.26 FIP)
Friday, 7:05pm: Jeremy Hellickson (4.30 FIP) vs. Freddy Garcia (3.97 FIP)
Saturday, 1:05pm: David Price (2.74 FIP) vs. A.J. Burnett (4.47 FIP)
Sunday, 1:05pm: James Shields (3.07 FIP) vs. CC Sabathia (2.57 FIP)

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Comments

With 3 hits to go for Jeter, Hellickson is a pretty safe answer.

by sc_monsta1015 on Jul 7, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

ILL BE THERE!

by rglass44 on Jul 7, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

SWEEEEEEEEPPPPP

Going into the all star break tied for 1st

by Sveet on Jul 7, 2011 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

That would make the talking heads on espn lose it

by Peter Piontek on Jul 7, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Yes it would.

If you ain't a Gator, you're Gator Bait!

by Gatorbuc15 on Jul 7, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

So the Orioles are sweeping Boston too?

by Hipster Doofus on Jul 7, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

McAllister, Beckett, Lackey

by DavidW. on Jul 7, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Aceves also

So Probably not.

by DavidW. on Jul 7, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Gonna take 3 out of 4

So I guess you are right.

We’ll be a .5 game out of first

by Sveet on Jul 7, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Half right

Sweep, and we’ll be out of it at the All-Star break. Then we can stop pretending we’re in it this year and bring up the kids! woot!

Buy My Book That Has Nothing To Do With Baseball

by nomoredevil on Jul 7, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Yes it would.

If you ain't a Gator, you're Gator Bait!

by Gatorbuc15 on Jul 7, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Ignore

If you ain't a Gator, you're Gator Bait!

by Gatorbuc15 on Jul 7, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Awful.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Jul 7, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

lol I know right.

If you ain't a Gator, you're Gator Bait!

by Gatorbuc15 on Jul 7, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweep the Yanks and hold Jeter at 2999

the ultimate F U to ESPN

by Peter Piontek on Jul 7, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

I find milestones like this to be so dumb.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Jul 7, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

I like the fact the 3 best we have

go in this series.

I could care less about Jeter. In fact I’d like him to go 3-3 and get it done so it stops being the center of the sports world. plus not seeing the DJ 3K stuff is as bonus.

by BenZorbist on Jul 7, 2011 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

NOOOO HE HAS TO DO IT FRIDAY!

by rglass44 on Jul 7, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Gonna wipe the floor with these shitstains, calling a sweep if the umps don't give them a game or two

@SandyKazmir
Yes I've only been a fan since 2009.
by blackraven on May 5, 2011 3:46 PM EDT

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 7, 2011 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Hope Damon can get back in there to pull a ball or two.

by DavidW. on Jul 7, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Dear Mr. Kazmir

Your S-stains remark is spot on. This is the team that hit our exbeloved 1b Carlos Pena in the hand by a pitched ball, so their bafoon at 1b could claim a HR title. I hope gas can lights up a couple of the stains.

by Landlord on Jul 7, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

im finna be in ur state. better watch yo back fool.

by rglass44 on Jul 7, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

NY is a big state hoss, I live 7 hours from NYC

@SandyKazmir
Yes I've only been a fan since 2009.
by blackraven on May 5, 2011 3:46 PM EDT

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 7, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

No one realizes this.

GO RAYS!

by SandalsNoPants on Jul 7, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I say he gets 2 hits off Neimann

And is held hitless the next 2 games and then gives ESPN a highlight they will drool over for years, hitting a walk off homer for #3000 off Farnsworth. ESPN would only use that one highlight for rest of the damn season if he did that.

Under construction

by joeybw on Jul 7, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

I think if he goes hitless tonight then he doesn't get to 3000 this series

but he has owned Niems

by Sveet on Jul 7, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends which Neimann shows up

If he pitches like he did against the Cards, he can hold Jeter down but it’s Neimann and he will gone before the 6th ends either way. Even though, I can see that walk off homer I mentioned, I can also see Hellickson finding himself in a highlight for many years by letting up #3000 tomorrow.

Under construction

by joeybw on Jul 7, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions