The Tampa Bay Rays crushed the New York Yankees in their home opener 15-5 Monday night!  This was an awesome night!  Not only did we destroy our division rival but we also raised the AL East and AL Championship banners!  The feeling in The Trop was amazing – people were very emotional.  Then to come out in the first inning and burn Wang in the fashion we did just added to the emotion.  I really believe the Rays converted a lot of bandwagon fans to die hard Ray fans with all that transpired last night.  It was a very classy, well conceived ceremony including the moment of silence to Harry Kalas – our condolences Todd! 

Carlos Pena provided the BIG bat during this game going 3 for 6 with 6 RBIs (4 by Grand Slam), 2 2B and 2 runs scored.  Jason Bartlett doubled his HR production from last year by belting his 2^nd HR in as many nights.  Nice to see Pat Burrell hit a rope into the LF seats as well, his first of this young season.

In total the Rays racked up 17 hits and 8 free passes!  The offense was clicking on all cylinders last night and chased Wang after 1+ innings.  The pitchers that followed Wang didn’t fair much better giving up 11 runs the rest of the way.   Yankee skipper Girardi was so desperate he had 1B Nick Swisher pitch the 8th inning!  Swisher actually did better than the rest of the Yankee staff.

The defense was clicking as well.  BJ Upton made his return to CF with a catch that would have made Willie Mays cheer.  Nady blasted a long fly to CF and as Upton approached the wall we all thought it was out.  BJ just reached his glove about 6 inches from his body and snags the ball as he ran into the wall.  Let me tell you — The Trop was silent.  No one knew where the ball was until he turned and fired back into the infield then a moment of disbelief hit……then…….ROAR!  BJ got a much deserved standing ovation.  This was an unbelievable catch!  Carl Crawford got into the action by taking a Swisher hit right off the top of the LF wall. 

Not to be overshadowed by the outstanding offense and defense was Scott Kazmir on the hill.  Kaz came out firing and was spot on with everything he threw.  In 6.2 innings he scattered 6 hits and 3 ER while accruing 6 K’s and 0 BB.  Kaz’s 2^nd great performance of this young season seems to point to him being 100% healthy.  He certainly looks like he is back to the form we all remember. 

This game had everything you could ever imagine; banners being raised, HR (3), one of which was a Grand Slam, 2Bs (4), stolen bases (4), outstanding defense and outstanding pitching.   A baseball fan could not ask for more!  Nice to see BJ make it back and look healthy walking 3 times, scoring 2 runs, swiping 2 bags and making outstanding defensive plays!  Nice to see Kaz pitching like we all know he can!  And of course – nice to see the Yankees lose!

Don’t forget – tonight is replica ring night – get your tickets now!

See you at The Trop!

Spring training is right around the corner Ray fans!   YAY!!!  I cannot wait.  Although the new MLB Network has relieved some of my withdrawal it’ll be nice to see live action again.  With that being said, let’s look at the major moves the RFO has made and grade them:

1.  Joe Nelson.  Nelson has been around a while but has played in limited duties at the major league level.  His first significant ML experience was 2006 with the KC Royals.  He made a big splash in the BP for the Florida Marlins last year.  He has a lifetime WHIP of 1.36.  He racked up 60 Ks to 22 BB last year finishing the year with an ERA of 2.00.  Anytime you can bolster a BP – especially one with little needs like the Rays – it is an excellent signing.  My only concern is that Nelson has not pitched in the majors in back to back years since he first emerged in 2001.  I still consider this a solid signing and will give the Rays a solid B+.

2. Matt Joyce.   It appears that the Rays got the better end of this trade with Detroit.  We get a solid young (24) player to mold in the “Ray Way.” Joyce has played only 92 ML games but has a decent BA (.252) and has shown some pop (12 HR in 242 at bats).  If you extrapolate that number out to a 600 AB season he has the potential to crack about 28 dingers.  On the downside he only has 92 games of major league experience.  He also has a 2/1 K to BB ratio – if he were a pitcher that would be good thing but….he’s not a pitcher.  Clearly Joyce has some things to learn yet so he may begin the year in Durham.  What we lost in the trade as a pitcher (Edwin Jackson) who may have had the best year he may ever had.  Yes, he won 14 games but Jackson gets in his own way when it comes to growth and improvement.  There was no room in the starting rotation with the emergence of David Price and his focus issues made it clear the BP would not be his place and no options remained.  So, we got a solid young player with a lot of promise and options.  This is an excellent trade and I’m giving the RFO an A.

3.  Pat Burrell.  Burrell is a veteran leader with great clubhouse presence.  He will fill the void left by the departure of guys like Hinske and Floyd.  He is a slugging RH hitter that has been sorely absent from the Ray lineup. He has racked up and average of 28 HR and 92 RBIs in his 9 seasons.  Add those power numbers to the middle of the Ray lineup with Longoria, Pena and a healthy Upton and you have the power line up we were missing to take us to over that final hurdle last season, a World Series victory.  On the downside Burrell does K a lot, an average of 141 K’s per season.  He also carries a low BA at career .257.  A change of scenery and a new role may spark Burrell to increase his productivity.  I’m giving the RFO a B.

The Rays made these 3 very significant moves to fill specific needs.  Each of these players possess the ability to become the final spoke in the wheel that is the Tampa Bay Rays.  The RFO have made decisions that, at this point, appear to be ideal for our current situation.  We all know the reality though, only time will tell.

See you in Port Charlotte!