You Can Call Us Rays.. SatanFishRays-Yanks Gamer I

..you can can call us Bays, you can call us Bay-Rays. Just don't call us D-Rays. Let's say your team has never posted a winning seasonal record in the history of the franchise. Let's say your payroll is consistently one of the lowest in the game. Let's say your attendance hovers around 16k per game. What do you do?

A) Spend money to field better players

B) Change your name, mumbling something goofy (wait, that's Orlando) about sunshine, rainbows, puppies, and Kevin Costner. Oh, and sunshine

Tampa picked B, forgetting they play in a dome.

Actually, that probably sounds rather attractive to both teams right now, since it is a dreary 47 degrees in the Bronx heading towards game time. The Rays come to town having split with the O's at Camden, their third game postponed, as the Yankees were fortunate to get just enough runs at the right times to take two of three against the Jays, despite being outscored in the series.

Andy Sonnanstine faced the Yankees twice last year, losing his first at the Trop but then throwing one stunner of a start on August 31st in New York where the then-rookie hurled a two-hitter and issued no walks. The Yankees could muster only one unearned run while Tampa Bay plated nine Fish.

The following night Ian Kennedy did his part, throwing seven innings of five-hit ball in his major-league debut as the Yankees scored nine of their own.

These two rising stars of their respective organizations face off tonight at the Stadium. Game time is in one hour, comment away.

Melky Cabrera begins serving his two-game suspension tonight for his part in the altercation with the Rays in spring training, while Shelley Duncan will sit Sunday and Monday; both players originally received three games but reduced it to two games on appeal. Jonny Gomes also appealed and had his suspension reduced to one game, which he will serve tonight. Smells.

Tampa Bay
A. Iwamura 2b	.111
C. Crawford lf	.333
C. Pena 1b	.250
B.J. Upton cf	.286
C. Floyd dh	.286
D. Navarro c	.375
E. Hinske 3b	.333
N. Haynes rf	.250
J. Bartlett ss	.143
A. Sonnanstine	NA
NY Yankees
J. Damon cf	.182
D. Jeter ss	.300
B. Abreu rf	.500
A. Rodriguez 3b	.273
J. Giambi 1b	.000
R. Cano 2b	.091
J. Posada dh	.000
H. Matsui lf	.222
J. Molina c	.333
I. Kennedy	NA

Comments

[SF]

Dummies. Had the Tampa ownership had any semblance of cross-branding savvy or speculated about the format war victor, they could have gone with the Tampa Bay Blu-Rays. What a missed opportunity.

[attackgerbil]

Heh, that's clever, but considering Tampa's track record in the decision making department if they went down that road they probably would have called themselves the Tampa Bay Beta Fish.

[Dionysus]

I really really don't understand the reason for the name change. Isn't like changing the bedsheets when your house is on fire?

[Dionysus]

Did he say Joba and Kennedy were members of Generation Tray? What the hell is that?

[Dionysus]

Lucky positioning. Had it not been Crawford at second, it might be 1-0 right now.

[Dionysus]

Nobody heard that Generation Tray(maybe? It wasnt clear enough) comment? Was I hallucinating?

echo...echo...echo...

[Dionysus]

Whew almsot got Upton there. Nice pickoff attempt

[attackgerbil]

Not home yet.. I really want to watch this game. So far, I've only been able to watch the games on DVR, which has its advantages. Except today when I forgot to set it to record.

[yankeemonkey]

Trust me AG, so far you aren't missing a thing.

[attackgerbil]

Dio - it's a (bad) nickname for the three young Yankee pitchers coined by Joel Sherman. I don't use it. Cause I hate it.

[yankeemonkey]

Can we make it a rule that anyone saying G***** T*** automatically gets banned?

[yankeemonkey]

Alex is too anxious...

[yankeemonkey]

Can't believe Gomes only ended up with 1 game for bodyslamming Shelley. That's bull.

What a great pitch by Ian for a backward K.

[attackgerbil]

YM, yeah, I agree. Like I said above: SMELLS.

[yankeemonkey]

Nice recovery this inning...a pop-up and 2 Ks. Pitch count skyrocketing, though.

Argh, Giambi robbed of a hit by Upton. Nice sliding catch.

[yankeemonkey]

Yankee bats looking...flaccid.

[yankeemonkey]

Good grief, wtf is up with the strike zone these first few games? It's all over the place.

[attackgerbil]

YM: I didn't notice it the first couple of games, but last night was AWFUL, for both the Jays and Yanks.

[yankeemonkey]

Cano is smoooooth.

[AndrewYF]

Man, Cano has some serious range. It's weird, because he's not really all that fast.

[sf rod]

how's IPK looking? strictly for fantasy purposes only.

[yankeemonkey]

Not so good unless you get points for BBs.

[sf rod]

wonderful. thanks ym.

[yankeemonkey]

don't mention it.

*vomits*

[attackgerbil]

Andrew: Regarding Cano, yeah, I wonder about that. Specifically I wonder if he has what I have heard called "deceptive" speed, meaning he's a lot quicker than he appears due to having a really good first step, though not truly fast on the top end. "Speed doesn't kill. Acceleration is the bitch," to paraphrase. I dunno. He just seems effortless and his OOZ in 2007 was stellar.

[yankeemonkey]

Christ. I sure hope this is when IPK gets this out of his system. I don't know that I can watch it much longer...

[yankeemonkey]

Hey, Albaladejo! Let's if he, too, has strike-zone phobia.

[sf rod]

maybe shelly should send a message.

[yankeemonkey]

Kennedy's line: 2.1 IP 4H 6R 4BB 2K
Ouch.

[yankeemonkey]

Godzilla! First tater of the season.

[walein]

Kennedy and J Sanchez killing my team's era and WHIP

[sf rod]

well...at least you guy's are trying. the sox have already mailed this one in. i don't even want to watch the game anymore.

[yankeemonkey]

Stand-up triple for the Kaptain drives in Molina from 2nd. I think I heard the ground shake as Jose rumbled around the bases....

[AndrewYF]

Awful job by Kennedy. I don't think even Kei Igawa put up a line that bad last season.

[yankeemonkey]

Oh I don't know, Andrew. Igawa had some pretty putrid outings. Kennedy really didn't get hit all that hard, what did him in was the walks. Just had zero control. It happens. Like I said before, we'll hope he's gotten it out of his system.

[yankeemonkey]

Giambino goes the other way (!), drives in ARod from first with a double. 6-4.

[AndrewYF]

Look at the gamelogs. Kei's worst outing was a 4 inning, 8 run turd. I'd say Kennedy's 2.1, 6 runs were worse. Of course, that could be due to a long leash from Torre last year given the state of the Yankee bullpen.

Meanwhile, the Yankee O is doing its thing.

[sf rod]

igawas 4 inning, 9 hit, 8 run, 3 hr performance against seattle last year was pretty sweet though.

[L.T.]

Bodyslamming Shelley...poor baby...what about the gash Aki got from his high clete slide! Wish Gomes would have knocked Shelley into next week, bodyslamming was too good for him.

[L.T.]

Bodyslamming Shelley...poor baby...what about the gash Aki got from his high clete slide! Wish Gomes would have knocked Shelley into next week, bodyslamming was too good for him.

[yankeemonkey]

Cano kills the rally. Still, 4 runs nothing to sneeze at. If the pen can lock it down from here, I like our chances.

[yankeemonkey]

lol @ rod

L.T., do you ever see Theismann's leg in your nightmares?

[yankeemonkey]

DJ is not helping the cause.

[AndrewYF]

I wouldn't call it a 'bodyslam', Gomes kind of tripped and fell towards Duncan. Now, whether he tripped on the base or his 'for the children' morals we may never know.

[yankeemonkey]

I'll call it a "bodyslam." Sounds much cooler.

[yankeemonkey]

Strike 'em out-throw 'em out DP. Molina does it all!!!

[AndrewYF]

Me likey Albaladejo already. Too bad he's slated to go to the minors tomorrow, but my guess is he'll be back sooner or later.

[yankeemonkey]

Is that a "Boston sucks" chant in the background? Classy...

Any bets on how pitchers Torre would've run through by now?

[yankeemonkey]

Albaladejo is dealing.

[yankeemonkey]

Albaladejo's line: 2.2IP, 1H, 0R, 4K. I assume he's done and if the Yankees can come back to win this game, he's the hero for sure.

[AndrewYF]

If it's a "Boston sucks" chant, it's unacceptable. Unless they showed Ellsbury's embarrassing display of defense on the big monitor, but that in itself is pretty unacceptable too.

I'm guessing it's a 'box seats suck' chant from the bleachers. It happens a lot, at least when I go to games.

[yankeemonkey]

Andrew, you may be right. Let's hope so.

[yankeemonkey]

I think the offense forgot they can score in more than one inning.

[yankeemonkey]

Ivy League represent! WTG, Ross.

[AndrewYF]

Blehh, come on Yanks, this isn't a tie game. You actually have to score 2 runs to not lose.

[yankeemonkey]

Why does Ross only go 1 inning? Trying to save him for tomorrow in case Andy doesn't last long?

[yankeemonkey]

Holy cow! I don't believe what I just saw!!!

[yankeemonkey]

Didn't realize Rays had 3 lefties up in a row - makes sense to bring in Traber in that case...

[L.T.]

Andy is still in there...Rays still in the lead. That says a lot for the Rays starter vs the Yankee starter...win or lose. Yankees have high hopes for Kennedy...hope they know what they're doing!!

[yankeemonkey]

L.T. is a Rays fan? Or should I say...the Rays fan?

[L.T.]

Born and raised in New York...living now in Florida. Actually a fan of both...in the same division...is that possible? It is if you're a fan of baseball.

[L.T.]

Oh, forgot to add...there are actually 2 of us fans...including my spouse.

[yankeemonkey]

L.T.: both which? Yanks and Rays? Sox and Rays?

Does it strike anyone as odd that, in a close game, they're picking player of the game candidates before the 8th inning?

Haha, phantom tag by the Big G.

[sf rod]

how does singleton say "that's a good play by jeter." he must have had the same view as the first base ump.

[yankeemonkey]

Durrrrrrrr.

[L.T.]

Super Bowl was great!! Go Eli!! Does that answer your question?

[yankeemonkey]

Oy vey. Hawkins not doing much to inspire love of the masses.

[L.T.]

Has anyone checked out the Jays, Red Sox score? Oh My!!

[yankeemonkey]

?

It's just 6-3...

[yankeemonkey]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Just gets better and better!

/giggles hysterically

[yankeemonkey]

I remember when Yankees used to put up innings like that...sigh.

On the other hand, it's nice to see who's total crap in the pen. Mayhap LaTroy is not long for the pinstripes.

[L.T.]

Interesting how it gets very quiet with a score of...can't keep track...13 to 4...is it? Well, tomorrow is another day.

[yankeemonkey]

Sox lose. I take no joy.

[yankeemonkey]

It was quiet all night, LT. Same in the Sox thread.

[sf rod]

uh oh, duncan in. hope shelly knows your not supposed to try in games you're down by 9 runs in. it's unwritten.

[Lar]

I was at the game. There was a "Boston sucks" chant at some point near me, but that's because of a Sox fan standing up and inciting everyone.

I don't get why someone would go to a Yanks game in a Sox jersey. I mean, okay, obviously during a game against the Sox, but.. against the Rays?

Do YF shows up in random Sox games?

[Dionysus]

Yes they do, Lar. I've been to several Sox-Os games and seen guys in NY caps and Jeter shirts wandering around, so it goes both ways

[ur mama]

yankees rock redsox suck

[hand banana]

go sox

[tarzan eats mooses]

go sox!!! i went to home opener!!! =]

[adam is gay!]

ADAM IS GAY! GO SOX!!