Game Day Thread: THE RAYS ARE ON SUN SPORTS

In case any of you missed the memo, today is the 2013 debut of the Rays on Sun Sports.

Dewayne Staats, Brian Anderson, and Todd Kalas are back with Orestes Destrade joining the broadcast crew as the Rays host the Red Sox.

I'm like a kid on Christmas. Turn it on now!

Lineups:

RAYS

1. Yunel Escobar, SS
2. Kelly Johnson, 2B
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Matt Joyce, RF
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Chris Gimenez, C
7. Jack Cust, DH
8. Leslie Anderson, LF
9. Sean Rodriguez, CF

Matt Moore, P

RED SOX

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Daniel Nava, LF
4. Ryan Lavarnway, DH
5. Ryan Sweeney, RF
6. David Ross, C
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Drew Sutton, 3B
9. Pedro Ciriaco, SS

John Lackey, P

Thoughts on the Rays:

S-Rod is covering center after Jennings rolled his ankle rounding the bases yesterday. Jennings was on the field for warm ups this morning, and Maddon expects him back on Monday, according to twitter.

Luke Scott wanted to return today, he told reporters, but Cust got the nod at DH. Scott and Sam Fuld are nursing hamstring injuries, and the Boar Hunter should be back in the lineup tomorrow.

Thoughts on the Red Sox:

Daniel Nava is batting third in the order, which only reminds me of last season for the Red Sox and makes me laugh. John Lackey looks five years younger, dude is skinny.

Pedro Ciriaco is at short stop because Boston's new shortstop (because they keep trading theirs away?) Stephen Drew is not in the lineup after suffering a concussion from a hit-by-pitch to the helmet.

I'm disappointed chicken pox Will Middlebrooks isn't in the lineup, if only so I could make more jokes.

Thoughts by Stu Sternberg:

The Rays principle owner is in the house!

#Rays Sternberg said it's "absolutely" possible to keep @davidprice14 long-term, no "thoughts at all" of trading him any time soon

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 10, 2013

#Rays Sternberg on stadium issue: 'The mayor and I had a meeting, a nice cordial conversation and we’ll see. I’m optimistic'

— RMooneyTBO (@RMooneyTBO) March 10, 2013

#Rays Sternberg expecting some imprvmnt in attendance, but after being last in '13, sez payroll of ~$61M is "well higher than it ought 2 be"

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 10, 2013