Some thoughts on the Rays

A few thoughts about the Rays ...

1. They showed more life in Tuesday's 4-3 walk-off loss at Minnesota than in any of their other losses.

They came back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits. James Shields didn't implode after hitting a batter with the bases-loaded to force in the go-ahead run.

2. They still can't hit with runners in scoring position.

3. The bench is killing them.

4. You can't count on a pinch-hit home run from Ben Zobrist every night.

Speaking of Zorilla, why isn't he playing more?

Yes, manager Joe Maddon likes to move him around, and right now Zobrist is the only valuable part on the bench. He's also the only right fielder generating any offense.

Why not play him there while the team digs itself out of this funk? Can't hurt. Might help.

5. It's OK to win back-to-back games.

6. Was injured catcher Shawn Riggans that much a part of Matt Garza's success on the mound last season? Can't be, because the oft-injured Riggans wasn't around for the ALCS, and that's when Garza enjoyed his most success.

7. You know things aren't going well when Jeff Niemann is the stopper on the staff. Not that there is anything wrong with Niemann. It's just that he's doing a better job than Garza and Andy Sonnanstine.

A leadoff homer that stands? Not that uncommon

Home runs by the first batter in the first inning are not all that unusual.

Heck, Gerald Williams homered for the then-Devil Rays on the first pitch of the 2000 season.

But a leadoff home run that stands in a 1-0 win?

Rare. But not as rare as you might think.

It has happened 22 times in baseball history, the most recent Thursday in Seattle when Ichiro Suzuki took James Shields deep for the lone run in the Mariners 1-0 victory against the Rays.

That info comes from David Vincent of the Society of American Baseball Research.

Stats Inc. did a little digging and found Ichiro's dinger was the first of its kind since Alfonso Soriano went yard against the Pirates in a 1-0 win May 9, 2007. Before that, it was Kaz Matsui of the Mets who beat the Diamondbacks May 12, 2004.

It's actually happened once before in Mariners history. Greg Briley beat the Twins with one swing July 19, 1992.

As former Rays manager and current Cubs skipper Lou Piniella would say, "How about that?"

The DH rule: You decide

The Rays and Pirates are presenting fans with a unique look at the designated hitter rule Monday during their game at McKechnie Field.

Since it is a National League park, spring training rules say pitchers must hit. But the NL manager has the option of using a DH to get a position player more at-bats.

The DH was used during the first two trips to Bradenton this spring.

But today, the Rays will continue to use the DH, while the Pirates will let their pitchers hit.

That will basically amount to Pirate starter Zach Duke getting one, maybe two at-bats, before fans are treated to a parade of pinch-hitters.

The Rays will use Matt Joyce as the DH. Joyce has missed most of spring training because of an injury to his right calf.

So, the age-old debate (started in 1973) will rage on at McKechnie: is baseball better or worse with the DH.

You decide.

Ode to a cap

Saw this hat in the team store at McKechnie Field a few years back. Almost bought it. Didn't. Now wish I did.

They don't carry it now, of course. I suppose I can find it on-line.I remember when teams wore these pillbox hats in 1976. The Mets, Phillies, Reds and Pirates. There might have been more teams, but those I remember. It was to honor the 100th anniversary of the National League, so only National League teams wore them.

I thought they were kind of goofy then, but I was in the eighth grade, so what did I know?The 1979 Pirates wore the gold and black pillboxes to the World Series title - their last.I

've always liked the Pirates, and have met a few of the guys from the 1971 and 1979 championship teams over the years at Pirate City. Nicew guys, every one of them.

I have a hat from the 1971 season, replica, of course.Now I want one from 1979.

Wish I bought it that day at McKechnie.

Dang.

Shields to start Opening Day

Rays manager Joe Maddon announced his rotation for the season Wednesday.

James Shields will start the opener April 6 in Boston. He'll be followed by Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine.

Shields gets the Opening Day nod because he's earned it, Maddon said.

Kaz is No. 2 because Maddon wants to split the two right-handers with the left-handed Kazmir.

As for the fifth starter, the Rays won't need one until April 15, so Maddon doesn't have to make a decision for a few more weeks.

Don't expect it to be David Price. The left-hander will more than likely start the season at Triple A.

The No. 5 spot will probably go to either Jeff Niemann or Jason Hammel with the odd-man-out headed to the bullpen.

Of course, there is always the possibility of a trade.

Rays Day 1: Hello Peter Gammons

The Rays are a big deal this spring. How do we know? Peter Gammons attended Sunday’s workout, the Rays first of the spring.

Gammons, ESPN’s resident baseball guru, goes where the action is, and hitting the Rays camp this early in spring training means the Rays are one of the top stories in baseball.

But you would have guessed that being the Rays are the defending American League champs.

The first day of pitchers and catchers seemed like any other in the team’s history.

It began with a meeting on Field 3, where manager Joe Maddon gave his annual “we’re going to be real good” speech.

Then the pitchers broke into groups for the time-honored PFPs. That’s Pitcher’s Fielding Practice for the uniformed. PFPs are when pitchers work on fielding comebackers and throwing the ball to first, fielding bunts and throwing the ball to first and covering first when a ground ball is hit to first.

Now when a pitcher messes up covering first base in August and the announcer says, “That’s something they work on during the first day of spring training,” you’ll know the announcer is not lying but actually providing valuable information.

Sunday Night Baseball at the Trop

Sunday Night Baseball returns to the Trop in May for the first time in nine years.

The Rays play host to the Red Sox on May 10.

The last time the Rays played a Sunday night game at home – well the last time the Rays played a Sunday night game at the Trop was Game 7 of the ALCS against the same Red Sox – but the last time they played a regular season game on a Sunday night at the Trop was April 9, 2000 against the Indians.

It was a day the Rays hoped to forget sometime during the fourth inning, which was the second time the Indians batted around that night.

Cleveland won 17-4 with the help of a five-run second and a five-run fourth and a bunch of other innings in which they scored.

The Rays used six pitchers, most of whom weren’t effective.

After the game, a member of the Rays PR staff shook his head and said, “ESPN will never come back here again.”

He was wrong, of course.

The ESPN crew were regulars last season, but it took a historic worst-to-first run by the eventual AL champs to bring them back.