The Official Site of The Tampa Bay Rays: News: Decisions loom with Kazmir's return

Links (4)

AL & NL East News - 4/28
Published 4/28/2008 by Ian at SOX & Dawgs
Mike Lowell should return to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. Tom Glavine plans on starting Tuesday for the Braves. John Gibbons shook up his slumping Blue Jays lineup before Sunday’s game. The Marlins’ Wes Helms didn’t mind the boos he got on Saturday night in Milwaukee. The Orioles need Daniel Cabrera to give them innings today. Moise Alou’s comeback to the Mets is in jeopardy after a setback. The Rays have some decisions to make with Scott Kazmir’s return on the horizon. Nationals OF Elijah Dukes is making progress with his rehab. Yankees ...

4/28: News & Notes
Published 4/28/2008 by Patrick L. Kennedy at DRaysBay
... Chastain produced another article, the latest to focus on the Rays' impending rotation crunch, and he does a fairly decent job in summarizing things. Chastain also says that LHP Kurt Birkins, who has not pitched in a week, will be optioned to AAA Durham once Reyes is activated from the DL. Essentially, the team faces two tough choices. First, who exactly will be bumped from the rotation? Second, who will be bumped from the active roster? The answer to both questions could easily be the same person, either RHP Andy Sonnanstine or RHP Matt Garza (unlikely). ...

Rays Enjoy View From The Top
Published 4/28/2008 by Tommy Rancel at Outs Per Swing
“We’ve got that feeling of winning, and we kind of like it.” –Rays All Star Carl Crawford in the St. Pete Times. It may only be 25 games into the season, but the Rays are in first place. After an offseason where the Rays hammered home  a “change” and a ”new era” it was important to have a start like this. Even after all the roster moves and changes in uniform and attitude, there was a still a “well let’s see what you can do on the field” mood around the Bay area. After completing a three game sweep of the defending World Champion Red Sox with a two hit shutout by Co-Ace James Shields, the Rays are on ...

6 Guys, 1 spot: A Closer Look at the Kazmir Decision
Published 4/29/2008 by Tommy Rancel at Outs Per Swing
Privately the Rays have been having this conversation for weeks. Who goes when Scott Kazmir returns? Normally, in past years there would be a glaring choice for the Rays and the decision wouldn’t have much thought behind it. However, this isn’t an ordinary Rays season. At first glance, someone would immediately say “Kurt Birkins, Kurt Birkins”, but Birkins won’t be on the roster past Thursday when Al Reyes is activated. That leaves us with six candidates (Andy Sonnanstines, Jason Hammel, Edwin Jackson, J.P. Howell, Gary Glover, Scott Dohmann) for one spot.  There are a few ways the Rays can go here: They can simply option Andy Sonnanstine ...