RAYS 6, Toronto 4 Champion StadiumLake Buena Vista, FL

Win Probability Table and Stats Courtesy of Fan Graphs

• The Jeff Niemann move last night wasn't the only one the Rays appeared set to make. Though Niemann was pushed out to clear room for 1B Dan Johnson in the immediate, the team will also activate C Dioner Navarro following the conclusion of his rehab assignment tonight for Vero Beach. To make room for Navarro, it looks like C Mike DiFelice has lost out on the battle for the backup catcher's position to Shawn Riggans. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that DiFelice was seen saying goodbye and hugging teammates following the conclusion of Sunday's game. He could be claimed on waivers as a result of the Rays' having removed him from the active roster.
• In addition, with RHP Matt Garza also soon to return, Topkin speculates that OF Justin Ruggiano will be sent down later this week to make room for him. RHP Andy Sonnanstine was moved forward in the rotation one day to fill Niemann's slot, while it appears as though Garza will start the opening game of the Boston series on Friday. Also on the injury front, IF Ben Zobrist took BP at the Naimoli Complex, but is still a few weeks from returning.
• Some snippets from Marc Lancaster's Notes column in the Tribune:
The Rays say they are expecting attendance for the three-game series at Disney that begins Tuesday to be similar to last year's numbers. Three games against the Rangers last May drew an average of 8,806 fans. ... With Johnson joining the team, Maddon said he may give Carlos Pena another game or two at DH to make sure his right hamstring is fully healthy. Pena still appeared to be favoring his leg Sunday. ... The Rays are not believed to have serious interest in Frank Thomas, who was released by the Blue Jays on Sunday.

• Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times reports that newly acquired 1B Dan Johnson will report to the Rays today. At that time, the team will have to make a roster move to make room for him on the active roster. RHP Calvin Medlock was already designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Johnson on the 40 man roster, but the rumor is that OF Justin Ruggiano will be demoted to AAA Durham make room for Johnson at the major league level.
  
• Struggling SS Jason Bartlett will get a day off today as Manager Joe Maddon tries to help him break out of a slump that saw him make four errors in eight games. The shortstop said he experienced soreness in his arm that could possibly be the reason for his recent spate of throwing errors, though he'll still need to do far better offensively. He was hitting .230/.230/.237 going into last night's game, a line that rose marginally after a 1 for 3 campaign. IF Elliot Johnson will start in Bartlett's place this afternoon. With an off day coming on Monday, Bartlett will get two days to rest up before the Rays' series with the Toronto Blue Jays starting on Tuesday in Orlando.
• 1B Carlos Peña will likely be the Designated Hitter in this afternoon's game against Chicago, per Maddon's wishes. He too will get Monday to rest and could be back at first base for the Orlando series.
• LHP David Price threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli complex as his recovery from a left elbow injury continues.
• The focal point of Marc Topkin's Sunday column this week is, not surprisingly, the long-term deal that the Rays reached on Friday with 3B Evan Longoria. Explains Rays VP Andrew Friedman of the underlying strategy:

We're always going to have to manage our roster years and years in advance to be able to compete in this division. It's the way the economics of the game are right now, and it's something that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves we've got to be proactive and do anything and everything we can to succeed.

• The reaction from fellow players and their agents was, not surprisingly, rather negative. Quoth Alan Nero:

I give the Rays a lot of credit because they did what's hard to do anymore, which is make a heck of a business deal; they controlled their costs and extended their control. I'm happy for Longoria if it's what he wants, but I'm a little disappointed that a player with seven days (in the majors) would give away his future like that.

• Other interesting morsels from Topkin's Sunday column:

How does Evan Longoria's contract affect B.J. Upton's view of a potential long-term deal? "It doesn't," Upton said. … Former longtime Ray Toby Hall on the new uniforms and Trop paint job: "It's awesome. It all looks great." … Friday morning's advisory of a 1 p.m. "major announcement" drew calls asking if the Rays were signing Barry Bonds, including one from a curious MLB official. … Ex-Ray Shawn Camp, having added a changeup, got called up by Toronto and should be in the Jays bullpen at Disney.

RAYS 5, Chicago 0 Tropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FL

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You knew it was coming, but hey, at least I made it through a few days before trying to slam or tap the brakes on the Edwin Jackson love affair.

via d.yimg.com

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RAYS 6, New York 3 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY

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There is an interesting backstory to the reduction of OF Jonny Gomes' suspension from two games to one, and Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has it covered:

First, at around 4:10 p.m., the Rays were told it (the suspension being served) would be Friday. Forty minutes later, they were told it was changed to Sunday. Then an hour later it was back to Friday. Making it more confusing, the info was coming in media advisories sent to Rays communications director Chris Costello rather than direct word from MLB to Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman.

"I was just none too pleased with the process and the communication," Friedman said. "It doesn't much matter to us when it is and whatever else, it was just the process seemed a bit confusing."

Apparently, representatives of the MLBPA had bargained the reduction of Gomes' suspension, as well as the suspensions of Yankee OFs Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan, in a "secret deal" before their appellate hearings were to be held on Monday. Gomes was angling to serve the suspension on Sunday, rather than today, because he was scheduled to be in the starting lineup going into tonight's game and he would not have been in the lineup Sunday. MLB eventually said that Gomes had to serve the suspension last night, and he did so, but the message apparently didn't get out too well. Meanwhile:

• LHP Scott Kazmir will throw his final bullpen session this morning at the Naimoli Complex, and will move on to throwing batting practice sessions from there. He hopes to return by the end of the month.
• Florida Governor Charlie Crist and former Bucs FB Mike Alstott will throw out the first pitches at the Rays' home opener on Tuesday. Crist threw out the first pitch at the home opener last year as well.
  
• Apparently, Manager Joe Maddon wanted to give 3B Willy Aybar an extra day's rest for his sore left hamstring, and that is why he left him out of the lineup last night. Aybar will start this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
• Starting with the home opener, the Rays will play 17 of their 19 games at home and 34 of their next 51. The Rays have 34 games scheduled through June 1st at home; that is the most home games scheduled for any American League club through that date.
• The Rays are opening something called the "Budweiser Party Tent" in Lot 7 this season for all Prime and Weekend games, plus the home opener. Lot 7 is located to the east of the stadium in the main parking lot. It is to the south of the walkway to Gate 1.
• Rays 1B Carlos Peña will receive his AL Comeback Player of the Year Award before the home opener.
  
• The only player to go into the Hall of Fame as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, DE Lee Roy Selmon, will throw out the first pitch for next Friday's home game against the Baltimore Orioles.
  

RAYS 13, New York 4 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY

For my thoughts on the game, please follow the jump

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