Game of the Week: April 13: TB @ NYY

[Commissioner Erick]

Tampa Bay Rays (2-5) @ New York Yankees (6-0)


TB: Brent Honeywell (0-1, 10.80)
NYY: Luis Severino (0-0, 3.60)


The Rays added Madison Bumgarner to an already excellent pitching staff and strong lineup in the hopes of capturing an AL East title. The Yankees faced the Rays aspirations head on and slapped them against the wall in an inspiring three game sweep to start the season.

Tampa Bay will lick their wounds and look to deal some blows of their own when the Tampa Bay Rays face the undefeated AL champion New York Yankees in New York's home opener.

It was as bad a week as could have been imagined for the Rays as their first attempt at showing the Yankees that Tampa was the class of the AL East was humiliatingly thwarted. New York took three games in Tampa, only one a close one, by a score of 20-7. Tampa Bay followed with a disappointing split against Toronto while the Yankees went into Baltimore and swept the Orioles. The starting pitching for Tampa was strong for the most part last week, but an awful bullpen performance held them back.

Dan Altavilla and Brandon Waddell combined to give up five runs in 2 innings on opening day as the Yankees pulled away late for a 7-1 win. Alex Colome gave up a three-run home run to Gary Sanchez in the ninth inning of the second game to blow a late lead for the Rays, and Waddell and Jose Carlos Medina fanned the flames after a poor Brent Honeywell start as the Yanks took the final game 9-3. Tampa Bay will need its bullpen to come around to compete with teams as good as the Yankees.

For New York, they showed why they were the AL pennant winners last year, with a dominant start to the season. The Yankees are already showing off their fantastic slugging ability that has them atop the AL in home runs after a week. Gary Sanchez essentially won the second game of the year for the Yankees, and had home runs and three RBIs in three consecutive games. Sanchez already has four home runs and 10 RBIs. The RBIs are tied for the league lead, while the home run numbers are only one shy of Tampa's Casey Gillaspie. With both sluggers facing each other, it should be a fun game for fans to watch.

New York's pitching has been stellar to start the year, particularly its sensational bullpen. Yankees relievers have allowed just two runs in 17.2 innings, walking three and fanning 20. Aroldis Chapman has been the headliner with three saves in three appearances, and seven strikeouts. Nick Runeblow has allowed just a run in 3.1 innings, while Jonathan Holder and Dellin Betances have combined to go 3.2 shutout innings. Ronald Herrera has been the brightest story though, allowing just one run in 7.2 frames as a long man. While Herrera won't be in as many close games as the other stalwarts, great long relief will help the Yankees weather injuries and stay in games their starters struggle in.

While its only the second week, with the way the Yankees have looked, this is already shaping up as a huge game for Tampa Bay to keep contact with in the AL.


Questions for the GMs:


For Graham Stratford, rough way to start the season. What has disappointed you the most about your start?

You mentioned Andres Giminez will split shortstop duties to start the season. How do you think he's looked?

With the start Gary Sanchez is having, do you have a strategy of letting anybody else beat you?

For Gary Masceri, how has the Mitch Walding versus Didi Gregorious battle worked out for you after the first week?

Ji-man Choi has only played three games. Will you try to get more at bats for him?

Luis Severino had a rough postseason last year. Do you think he's over that?



TRIVIA: Casey Gillaspie has 117 career home runs. Three hitters who have played exclusively in the AL have more home runs than him. One is Giancarlo Stanton. Who are the other two?

[gmyankees]

For Greg Masceri, how has the Mitch Walding versus Didi Gregorious battle worked out for you after the first week?
Ji-man Choi has only played three games. Will you try to get more at bats for him?
Luis Severino had a rough postseason last year. Do you think he's over that?


We're off to a great start at 12-0 with 32 HR's and 93 runs scored with just 39 runs against us this year so far. Mitch Walding and Didi Gregorious will both see alot of play at third base this year, with Didi getting the most play. For Ji Man Choi he will mostly be platooned with Mikey White at DH with Choi ravaging righties and Mikey taking the most swings against lefties. Severino had a terrible post season but I think that was a horrible occurrence that was something we dont expect to be repeated. Luis and Masahiro are our go to guys and we expect that's the way it will be this year. Our bullpen is awesome and we look like we're in mid season shape after the first two weeks of play. It's a long season and there will be ups and downs but I love our chances this year !

[tampabay_g]

1. It has been a disappointing start but the part that has disappointed me the most is our bullpen. With how well we performed in our bullpen last year it is sad the start we have had so far but we will be looking to turn it around now.

2. It is very early in the season but through his first five games he has played well defensively but I am hoping his bat turns around soon and can become a regular player. Willy Adames has looked good in his couple games so we may look to give him more opportunity these coming weeks.

3. Yankees have a great team so one player isn't going to beat us, but it makes it difficult to beat a team such of theirs. We are going to have to be focused to win these tough games and we have the team to do so.

[Commissioner Erick]

Yankees 5 - Rays 1


WP: L. Severino (1-0)
LP: B. Honeywell (0-2)


After Gary Sanchez ravaged Tampa Bay pitching, leading to a Yankees sweep of the Rays to start the season, Tampa Bay was well aware of his prodigious power. Tampa Bay knew that shutting him down would be a key for victory.

A Sanchez Grand Slam later, and the New York Yankees once again reminded the Tampa Bay Rays that the Yankees are top dogs in the AL East, beating Tampa Bay 5-1 in New York's home opener.

Sanchez continued his obscene start, parking a hanging curveball from Brent Honeywell into the left field seats for his fifth career grand slam, to give New York a third-inning 4-0 lead. It was Sanchez' fifth home run in seven games, and he now has 14 RBIs, averaging two a game. It was Sanchez' second home run against Honeywell this year, and the fifth in his career. The only pitcher Sanchez has taken deep more often is Rick Porcello, seven times. He's clearly locked in and his monstrous start has contributed to the Yankees' 7-0 record.

Of course, while Sanchez continues to shine as the offensive star, Luis Severino turned in a second consecutive strong start against the Rays. Severino built on a 5 inning, two run opener against Tampa Bay last week to go 7 innings allowing just a single run last night. Severino's filthy changeup allowed him to match up with Tampa Bay's lefty-filled lineup, and he only allowed two hits, both singles. It certainly appears that Severino has put last year's disappointing postseason behind him and is carving up the league like he did in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's poor showing exasperated how they've only had three players hitting well to begin the year. Kevin Kiermaier is still hitting .333 despite an 0-4 day, and though he didn't homer, Casey Gillaspie walked and scored to go with the five home runs he had coming in to the game. Joe McCarthy singled, drove in a run, and upped his average to .346.

Aside from that trio, the team isn't hitting. Jake Bauers' 0-3 dropped him to a .194 average. Eric Hosmer has a .222 average with just two driven in. Matt Chapman is just .111 on the year. Brad Miller struck out three times to see his average drop to .242.

It's a really disappointing start for the Rays, who are already 5.5 back of the Yankees for the division.

On the other hand, Greg Masceri keeps pushing the right buttons. Mikey White got the start at third base and made all five of his routine plays on defense, had two hits, and upped his average to .357. New York also got two walks from Gleybar Torres, who still has an on-base mark of .559, plus a home run from Aaron Judge.

With crisp defense, strong pitching, and contributions from a variety of hitters, it's easy to see why the Yankees are on top of the league so far.


Questions for the GMs:


For Graham Stratford, the offense really struggled again today. How much of that was Severino, and how much is your offense struggling?

Your lineup has been shut down by Luis Severino twice now. Will you try something different for future games?

Sanchez is so locked in with men in scoring position. Are you at a point where you have to pitch him extra carefully even if it means allowing a run?

For Greg Masceri, Mark Payton got the start and went 0-3. Is he a player worthy of significant at bats going forward?

Sanchez is so absolutely locked in right now. How much easier is it to construct a roster knowing that you have a catcher that's such a weapon.

Your squad drew four walks from the top two hitters in the lineup. How much does it satisfy you to see the top of your order making things happen with its patience, setting things up for Sanchez and Bird behind them?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: At 40-23, the Rays are the team the Yankees have beaten the most all-time. Which AL team is the only AL Team with an all-time winning record against the Yankees?

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia answer to earlier question: Chris Davis and Miguel Sano

[gmyankees]

Mark Payton got the start and went 0-3. Is he a player worthy of significant at bats going forward?
Sanchez is so absolutely locked in right now. How much easier is it to construct a roster knowing that you have a catcher that's such a weapon.
Your squad drew four walks from the top two hitters in the lineup. How much does it satisfy you to see the top of your order making things happen with its patience, setting things up for Sanchez and Bird behind them?

We like Mark Payton as a solid contact hitter, that said he will see limited duty at third base. If he can progress as we hope he will see substantial time in the lineup but Didi is still almost irreplaceable in the field. Having quality guys that can be utilized in platooned situations or otherwise is really exciting. As far as Gary behind the plate and hitting 3 or 4 in the lineup and being as hot as he is right now we’ll thats why we’re where we are right now. My philosophy as a GM is to be strong obviously in pitching but next to that catcher is the most important position player on any team, and we are blessed with theKracken. In constructing our batting order we need lead off guys like Torres, Fowler and Robles to set the table for our big bats. It’s very satisfying to have quick, smart batters at the top of our lineup to light the fuse. I like our chances this year and if we play like we’re capable of playing we fear no one and believe we can win it all.

[tampabay_g]

Nov 15, 2018 22:41:43 GMT -5 Commissioner Erick said:

TRIVIA: At 40-23, the Rays are the team the Yankees have beaten the most all-time. Which AL team is the only AL Team with an all-time winning record against the Yankees?

the red sox?

[tampabay_g]

1. as a manager my girlfriend has been mad at me recently and i think it has effected the way my players have been playing. they have been angry for me and been trying to swing to hard at the plate and i think bringing my personal life into the team has brouht us down as a whole.

2. Yes, next game we are going to try to hit line drives straight at him to hopefully get him a MINOR injury so that he cannot finsih the game but will not be hurt for season. this will allow us to get to the bullpen sooner and let our huge dongs go wild.

3.i dont worry about any hitters unless they are my own and swinging for the goddam fences. hey if he can hit our five aces we got, good for him. maybe we need to shore up our #1 bullpen that we had last year? damn i guess we suck?

[Commissioner Erick]

Nov 16, 2018 3:00:22 GMT -5 tampabay_g said:

Nov 15, 2018 22:41:43 GMT -5 Commissioner Erick said:

TRIVIA: At 40-23, the Rays are the team the Yankees have beaten the most all-time. Which AL team is the only AL Team with an all-time winning record against the Yankees?

the red sox?

It is not the Red Sox!

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia Answer: The Toronto Blue Jays have a winning record against the Yankees All-Time at 33-24