6 MLB Offseason Moves That Are Already Paying Off
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| [ PHOTO: NEW YORK POST ] |
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts
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28 September, 2018
VIDEO: If That Was CC Sabathia's Last Act as a Yankee, It Was an Appropriate Ending
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| [ PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST ] |
September 28, 2018
Peter Solari, Editor in Chief Follow @4PeteSakeNY
On Thursday afternoon, CC Sabathia may have taken the hill for the final time as a New York Yankee, and once again, he showed why he's been worth every penny and then some.
After Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Kittredge fired an up-and-in fastball behind the head of Yankees catcher Austin Romine in the top of the sixth inning, Sabathia took notice. Though both teams were warned by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza, The Yankee southpaw took the hill and, with his first pitch of the frame, plunked Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in the left thigh, and was subsequently ejected. As Sabathia was walking off the mound, he pointed to the Tampa dugout and could be seen mouthing the words, "That was for you, bitch." Watch:
After Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Kittredge fired an up-and-in fastball behind the head of Yankees catcher Austin Romine in the top of the sixth inning, Sabathia took notice. Though both teams were warned by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza, The Yankee southpaw took the hill and, with his first pitch of the frame, plunked Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in the left thigh, and was subsequently ejected. As Sabathia was walking off the mound, he pointed to the Tampa dugout and could be seen mouthing the words, "That was for you, bitch." Watch:
Tensions getting high as CC Sabathia is ejected after hitting a batter.— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 27, 2018
(via @FOXSportsFL) pic.twitter.com/WJMw04Sri0
What makes this situation so amazing is that Sabathia threw away a half million dollars to protect his battery mate. As part of his contract, Sabathia was slated to earn a $500,000 bonus if he pitched 155 innings on the season. Entering Thursday's game, he had pitched 148 innings, and was cruising through five. With his team ahead 11-0, Sabathia had given up just one hit and fanned five rays. He was well on his way to the payday, needing to pitch just two more innings, but the portly starter put his team ahead of himself, instead.
"I don't really make decisions based on money, I guess," Sabathia said after the game. "Just felt like it was the right thing to do."
Should Thursday really turn out to be Sabathia's last hurrah in pinstripes, what a fitting end it would be, as the left hander's sacrifice was the embodiment of what he has meant to the Yankees organization over the past decade.
In 10 seasons in the Bronx, Sabathia is 129-80 with a 3.75 ERA. He's been to three All Star Games and was the ace of the Yankees' last championship team in 2009, a year in which he was also named MVP of the American League Championship Series. With Thursday's victory, Sabathia now has 246 career wins, passing Dennis Martinez for 50th on the all-time list. He should easily be a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, and while he's had to re-invent himself as a pitcher over the years, one thing that's never changed is Sabathia's role as a team leader and his larger than life presence in any clubhouse he has been a part of. It was on full display at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees should give Sabathia his bonus regardless of falling two innings short of the 155 threshold; not only for his selfless act in Tampa, but for everything he has meant to the club over the years. He is arguably Brian Cashman's best acquisition in 20 years as the team's general manager, and deserves to be recognized for his accomplishments.
Sabathia will become a free agent at season's end, but has said he wants to pitch next year. Whether or not that happens in New York remains to be seen, but if Thursday afternoon in Tampa was Sabathia's final act as Yankee, he couldn't have done it in a more appropriate way.
Sabathia, Yanks Blow Out Rays 12-1
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| [ PHOTO: SPORTSNET NEW YORK ] |
September 28, 2018
Bill Chastain, MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- Tampa Bay had a chance to take the season series against American League East rival New York on Thursday. Unfortunately for the Rays, the Yankees' bats ended any suspense about the season's final accounting, claiming a 12-1 win at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees won the season series, 10-9, as the Rays fell to 88-71 entering their final series of the year, a three-game set against the Blue Jays beginning Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Miguel Andujar's 27th homer of the season -- a three-run shot off Rays "opener" Jaime Schultz, fueled a four-run Yankees first. New York added three in the fourth and four in the sixth, including back-to-back homers by Luke Voit and Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth. Stanton cracked a second homer in the ninth.
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS FULL STORY FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
27 September, 2018
Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short as Rays Top Yankees
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| [ PHOTO: THE BERGEN RECORD ] |
September 27, 2018
Mark Didtler, AP
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Masahiro Tanaka had another poor outing in his final start before the playoffs.
Tanaka gave up four runs and six hits over four-plus innings in in the New York Yankees' 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
''It just comes down to the mechanics,'' Tanaka said through a translator. ''I wasn't able to locate my pitches the way I wanted to.''
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS FULL STORY FROM YAHOO! SPORTS
26 September, 2018
Sanchez, Severino Get Back on Track Ahead of Playoffs, Yanks Top Rays 9-2
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| [ PHOTO: NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ] |
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| [ PHOTO: NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ] |
September 26, 2018
Peter Solari, Editor in Chief Follow @4PeteSakeNY
Luis Severino isn't making things easy on Aaron Boone, but the rookie manager likely wouldn't have it any other way.
With five games remaining before their one-game wild card playoff with the Oakland Athletics (location to be determined), Severino turned in his third straight strong start for the Yankees Tuesday, striking out five Rays and surrendering two runs over five innings at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
With Boone having yet to name a starter for the wild card game, Severino's resurgence couldn't have come at a better time. The righty was 14-2 at the All Star break, but struggled mightily in the second half until recently, leading many to speculate that deadline-acquisition J.A. Happ would surely start the one-game playoff for the Yankees. Severino clearly has other plans, and New York is in a much better place because of them.
If Boone goes with Severino against Oakland, and assuming the Yankees are able to get by the Athletics, Happ, who was acquired because of his past-successes against Boston, would be available to start game 1 of the ALDS at Fenway Park. Boone could then turn to Masahiro Tanaka for game 2, before going back to Severino for game 3. That's not a bad top-3 for a best of five series.
In another encouraging sign for the Yankees on Tuesday, struggling catcher Gary Sanchez showed signs that he may be breaking out of his slump, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Watch Sanchez's three run homer below.
Luis Severino isn't making things easy on Aaron Boone, but the rookie manager likely wouldn't have it any other way.
With five games remaining before their one-game wild card playoff with the Oakland Athletics (location to be determined), Severino turned in his third straight strong start for the Yankees Tuesday, striking out five Rays and surrendering two runs over five innings at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
With Boone having yet to name a starter for the wild card game, Severino's resurgence couldn't have come at a better time. The righty was 14-2 at the All Star break, but struggled mightily in the second half until recently, leading many to speculate that deadline-acquisition J.A. Happ would surely start the one-game playoff for the Yankees. Severino clearly has other plans, and New York is in a much better place because of them.
If Boone goes with Severino against Oakland, and assuming the Yankees are able to get by the Athletics, Happ, who was acquired because of his past-successes against Boston, would be available to start game 1 of the ALDS at Fenway Park. Boone could then turn to Masahiro Tanaka for game 2, before going back to Severino for game 3. That's not a bad top-3 for a best of five series.
In another encouraging sign for the Yankees on Tuesday, struggling catcher Gary Sanchez showed signs that he may be breaking out of his slump, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Watch Sanchez's three run homer below.
Like with Severino, there was speculation about Sanchez not starting the wild card game game, with Boone, instead electing to go with serviceable backup Austin Romine. However, unlike with the starting rotation, Boone doesn't really have an option at catcher. There's no way New York leaves Sanchez's bat on the bench, in the biggest of games. Sanchez is going to start the one game playoff. If Boone is forced to make a defensive replacement later in the game, then so be it. But Tuesday was a reminder of just how good a hitter Sanchez is, and why he's vital to whatever success the Yankees may have in October. If Sanchez can keep his hot bat going into October, his struggles this season will be forgotten.
Adeiny Hechavarria, who filled in for the injured Didi Gregorius, got the Yankees on the board in the first with a solo home run. Rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar drove in two runs, including his 26th home run of the year, a solo shot in the ninth inning. New York broke the game open in the third inning, as seven Yankees crossed home plate. Watch below.
With the win, New York's magic number to clinch home field in the wild card game dropped to two.
The Yankees return to action Wednesday night for the third of a four game series with the Rays. Masahiro Tanaka will get the start for New York against Ryne Stanek of Tampa Bay. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM.
BONUS:
Watch Gary Sanchez stand his ground to tag out (and bloody up) Tampa Bay's Ji-Man Choi at home plate to prevent a run from scoring.25 September, 2018
Yankees Beat Rays at their Own Game
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| [ PHOTO: NEWSDAY ] |
September 25, 2018
Billy Witz, The New York Times
With the Rays then 17 games out of first place, what could it matter?
It turned out to be a rousing success, with the Rays using 18 pitchers in a three-game sweep of the Yankees, who then had the best record in the majors.
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS FULL STORY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
14 May, 2018
Orioles Stay Hot, Rout Rays 17-1
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| [ PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST ] |
Eduardo A. Encina, The Baltimore Sun
The Orioles’ early-season tumble to the worst record in the major leagues was predicated by a bunch of patchwork lineups that were necessitated by injuries and inconsistency.
Now, just seven games into this nine-game homestand, the Orioles have put together their best stretch of baseball this season. Yes, it’s a reflection of how poorly this club played before this stretch, but out of nowhere, the Orioles are scoring runs in bunches and finally look more like their complete selves, and their 17-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays was an example of that.
The club has unquestionably benefited from the return of middle-of-the-order bats Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo. But it is also now suddenly a team that is better able to put its pieces where they belong, and it’s resulted in recent wins.
The club has unquestionably benefited from the return of middle-of-the-order bats Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo. But it is also now suddenly a team that is better able to put its pieces where they belong, and it’s resulted in recent wins.
01 October, 2017
Casali, Snell Lead Rays Past Orioles 6-0
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| [ PHOTO: CAMDEN CHAT ] |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Curt Casali hit his first home run of the season and Blake Snell had a career-high 13 strikeouts to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday at Tropicana Field. The Rays swept the Orioles and closed the season winning four straight to finish 80-82,…
30 September, 2017
Miller, Archer Propel Rays Past Reeling Orioles
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| [ PHOTO: THE BALTIMORE SUN ] |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Brad Miller hit a three-run homer and Chris Archer threw five shutout innings, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays (79-82) won their third straight and clinched the season series with the Orioles, as they enjoy a 10-8…
29 September, 2017
Yankees Fail to Gain Ground, Lose to Rays
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| [ PHOTO: THE NEW YORK TIMES ] |
NEW YORK -- Wilson Ramos highlighted a seven-run top of the fifth inning Thursday with a go-ahead two-run homer, lifting the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-6 victory over the New York Yankees, who are on the verge of elimination from the American League East title race. Aaron Judge hit his league-leading 51st homer as New…
28 September, 2017
Yankees' Severino Shuts Down Rays
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| [ PHOTO: NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ] |
NEW YORK -- Luis Severino pitched six effective innings as the New York Yankees blasted three homers in the bottom of the sixth inning and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 Wednesday night. Severino (14-6) allowed one run on four hits in his final start before a likely start in next Tuesday's wild-card game. He struck…
25 September, 2017
Hardy, Sisco Lift Orioles to Win Over Rays in Home Finale
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| [ PHOTO: THE BALTIMORE SUN ] |
BALTIMORE -- J.J. Hardy and Chance Sisco each hit a two-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles ended their home season in style with a 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Camden Yards. Hardy, playing in what might have been his final home game as an Oriole, received a standing ovation from fans…
