Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees Postseason: Baseball rivalry makes for odd bedfellows and more

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For the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, the last several years have been born quite a rivalry that the whole baseball world has observed.  And that rivalry has blossomed into two teams that, plain and simply, just don’t like each other. And now the teams find themselves about to face each other in the American League Divisional Series at the neutral Petco Park in San Diego, California.  They will not only face each other in the five-game matchup, but they are also sleeping together at a Carlsbad, California ocean resort. Talk about drama!

The Tampa Bay Rays, born the Devil Rays, burst on the baseball scene as an expansion team in 1998. For there first ten years, the New York Yankees pretty much ignored their southern counterpart. They did, however, hate playing at the dank astroturfed Tropicana field. In 2008, the Yankees hosted the last All-Star Game at the old Yankee Stadium, and Yankees had a new manager, Joe Girardi. The Yankees hoped to win their 28th World Championship. The Yankees won 89 games that season but came in third in the division. Then it happened, the energetic mini payroll team of the Rays won the division. From that day on, the Yankees looked at the Rays as rivals.

As the years progressed, the rivalry increased, as did the tension when the teams played together. Both teams resented each other for aggressive play. Often accusing each other of purposely hitting each other’s hitters, and sliding into a bases to hard. All of this caused increased chirping from both dugouts.  The tensions between the teams reached its highest point on September 27, 2018. After a back-and-forth of hitting batters, when CC Sabathia was ejected for throwing at Jesus Sucre. Sabathia was furious, and let the Rays’ dugout know it by yelling directly at them.

The back and forth chirping continued in 2019.  In 2020 the Rays bested the Yankees for the Division win.  Also, the Rays won 8 of the ten times the team faced each other in the shortened season.  The teams faced more drama on September 1, when New York Yankee closer Aroldis Chapman nearly hit Mike Brosseau in the head. Both teams burst out of the dugouts, although there were no punches thrown, both teams shouted at each other on the field.  Both managers and Chapman were thrown out of the game. It should be mentioned that both teams have hit batters earlier in the series and the Yankees were tired of the Rays pitchers throwing up and in to their batters.

The entired incident boiled over when, after the game the Rays manager overreacted by claiming the Chapman ball was on purpose, and could have killed his player.

“Somebody’s got to be accountable. And the last thing I’ll say on it is, I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 miles an hour. Period.”

The threat was made real when the team had t-shirts made, emblazened with the phrase. And now these to teams will play a five game series to determine who will go on to the American League Championship series, and they will do it while living together ast the same resort.  The last time these teams faced off was on Sept. 2 at Yankee Stadium, while the ALDS will be played at a neutral-site at Petco Park in San Diego, preventing any home field advantage for either team. Ahead of workouts, the Rays Kevin Keirmaier didn’t mince his words.

“They don’t like us, we don’t like them, and it’s going to continue to stay that way,’

The New York Yankee, Brett Gardner was asked how he felt staying in the same hotel with the Rays.

“Listen, the feeling is probably mutual. The last several years a lot of back and forth and they got the best of us this year. Arguably the best team in baseball and had a really good season. Obviously, ran away with the division and I feel it is up to us to come out and play better against these guys.’’

“Obviously some drama between the two teams during the course of the season, but for me, for our group, the focus is simply on winning each and each and every day and trying to find a way to beat these guys in a five-game series and move onto the ALCS,’’ Gardner said. “Just put all of our energy and focus into that and go out and play the way we did against Cleveland and not worry about the things that happened in the past.’’

When asked about what’s it’s like meeting in the hallways, or crossing paths in the lobby, he added:

“I saw a few [on Friday night and Saturday morning]. Said, ‘Hey,’ and kept walking. Obviously, it’s not ideal, but it is the cards we have been dealt and I feel we got a group of guys who are very professional,’’ Gardner said before the Yankees worked out at Petco Park on Saturday. “It may not be ideal, but it is a big resort and we got a lot of space and so far it has been good.’’

With the tensions between these teams, and the stakes so high, one has to wonder what will happen in the series if a batter gets unintentionally hit by an opposing pitcher.  You have to remember that Rays manager Kevin Cash all but promised to get back at the Yankees.  For fans of both teams the series will be must watch tv.

 

 

Yankees are experiencing awkward situation with Tampa prior to start of series

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New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have an awkward situation brewing: 

It was inevitable the New York Yankees would end up facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS of the postseason. With both teams sweeping their opponents in the Wild Card, they will now continue their beef into exhibition play.

In what might be one of the more exciting series of the entire 2020 season, the recent history between the Yankees and Rays is tumultuous. Both teams have chirped at one another and taken potentially severe actions during live-action.

The most problematic action was by closer Aroldis Chapman, who threw an errant ball at the head of Michael Brosseau. A 100 mph fastball can threaten a man’s life, and that is exactly how Tampa took the stray ball.

One awkward situation is brewing between the two teams, who are currently staying at the same hotel prior to the start of the series. Veteran outfielder Brett Gardner spoke to the media via Zoom on his experience, so far.

“Nobody that I try to avoid on purpose,” Gardner said. “Nobody that I’m too scared of. Obviously, Kevin Cash is an old teammate of mine and some other guys over there I know kind of well. As I said, there was a lot of drama between the two teams over the course of the season. A lot has been made of that but our focus, I can’t speak for them, but our focus is on trying to beat these guys.”

Gardner understands that being mentally focused is the most important part leading up to Monday’s opening game. Distractions can often be the cause for failure, and the Yankees are doing everything they can to remain positive.

“I know they got in late (Friday night),” Britton said, “we were there pretty much for a whole day by ourselves. I expect both teams to be professional at the hotel. There’s families there. I wouldn’t expect that to carry over away from the field. It’s all about the competition on the field. Obviously we’re two passionate teams, so I don’t expect there to be any issues in the hotel. And if we see each other I’m sure it’ll be a friendly nod and just go about our business.”

Considering how hostile the games were, I wouldn’t be surprised if something happened at the hotel. Nonetheless, hostility will likely be saved for game day, in which the Yankees and Rays have plenty of time to go back-and-forth at one another. This should be one for the ages, my friends.

New York Yankees ALDS blueprint starts with Gerrit Cole

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Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

There are not many years where people could say that the most anticipated playoff series is in the divisional round. However, the New York Yankees facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays is expected to be must-see TV for all baseball fans.

The Rays had their way with the Yankees winning eight of the ten regular season matchups. The bombers just couldn’t get over the hump against the Rays. One of the games that the Yankees won was started by their ace, Gerrit Cole.

In that game in Tampa Bay, Cole went 4.2 innings but struck out 10 while giving up 3 runs. It was his fourth start of the year, and he just ran out of gas in the fifth innings. The Rays beat Cole in their second matchup on the year.

However, Cole has turned a corner for the Yankees in the month of September. Cole went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.00 in September and struck out 34 batters in 27 innings. Cole made his Yankees postseason debut against the Indians where he went seven innings and struck out a season high 13 batters.

Gerrit Cole has been known to be a slow starter. His year is actually on pace with where he was a year ago when he turned the corner for the Astros. When Cole got hot, he couldn’t be stopped as the Rays found out last year in the ALDS.

Can Cole repeat history for the Yankees?

Last year, the Rays pushed the Astros to the limit. However, they couldn’t get by Gerrit Cole. Cole started two games and he won both games pitching a combined 15.2 innings, striking out 25 batters and only giving up one run.

Had the current Yankees ace not been a member of the Astros, the Rays would have likely made the ALCS last year. Cole will get the ball twice in this years’ ALDS barring a sweep by either team. Cole will be the starter in game one and game four for the Yankees.

If Cole can pitch the way he has over the last month, the Rays could be in a lot of trouble. In my opinion, it’s easier to be the underdog after a season of losing to one team. The Yankees an an underdog are a very dangerous team.

It’s hard to imagine calling a team an underdog when they will have Gerrit Cole starting two games in a five game series. However, that’s the position the Yankees are in. The Yankees are hot right now with the bats, but the blueprint to victory in the ALDS starts with the $324 million man, Gerrit Cole.

New York Yankees Postseason: How volatile will a Yankees Rays ALDS be? (video)

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The New York Yankees will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Divisional Series at the home of the San Diego Padres, Petco Park, on Monday. These two teams don’t particularly like each other, which has developed over the last few years as they became closer rivals and had frequent runs ins. That rivalry has only intensified this season. The Yankees and the Rays met up ten times this year, and the Yankees came away with just two wins on the season.

The New York Yankees started this season the odds on favorites to win the East Division, go to the World Series and possibly win a 28th World Championship.  That didn’t happen; the Yankees got the injury bug again and lost two starting pitchers for the entire season. The also lost a key part of the bullpen when Tommy Kahnle had Tommy John’s surgery and was unavailable for the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, the Yankees went 11-1 in their first twelve games.  Then the Yankees lost two of the team’s most potent hitters, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, to injuries they claim happened at the Rays Tropicana Field.

The Yankees then went on a 5-15 stretch as more injuries mounted.  During this period, the Rays met the Yankees at Yankee Stadium and swept them in three straight games. At this point, the Yankees were 1-7 against the Rays.  In the last meeting between the teams, the Yankees traveled back to Tampa to face them in the final three games of their season together. The Yankees won one of those games, but in the September 1 Yankee win, a  near bench-clearing brawl was triggered when Aroldis Chapman buzzed Mike Brosseau, with a 101 mph fastball.

Aroldis Chapman claimed it was unintentional, but was issued a three-game suspension.  Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said after the incident:

“Somebody’s got to be accountable. And the last thing I’ll say on it, I got a whole damn stable of guys that throw 98 mph. Period.”

The team was so upset by the incident that they made t-shirts emblazoned with the Cash 98 mph phrase.  To say the least, the two teams were on umpire watch and the Rays did not retaliate in the final game of the series. But now these two teams that are on edge with each other, will face eachother in the best-of-five postseason round, known as the American League Division Series. The winner of that series will go on to the seven game American League Championship series.

The question at Petco Park in San Diego, starting on Monday, is how volatile will that series be.  Will hitters be hit, will there be brench clearing brawls, or will both teams behave themselves and concentrate on winning the series, and setting aside the rivalry. If Tampa Bay Ray’s manager Keven Cash is to be believed, there will be some volatility if anyone of the Ray’s team get hit by a pitch.  Only time will tell, but there is no question that the series will be intense.  The Yankees want to win the series and advance.  The Rays appearing in their second ALDS in as many years will want to advance beyond the ALDS for the first time since 2008. The Yankees have gone a decade without a World Series Championship.

2017 NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton is excited to meet the Ray outside of Tropicana Field, and has this to say going into the ALDS.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be facing Tampa Bay in San Diego when this year started? It’s good,” Stanton said. “We know what they got, we know it’s gonna be a fight, and we’ve got to play our best. … We ready, we ready. It’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be a good fight, to take this East Coast battle to the West Coast.”

For the New York Yankees, they have announced the Yankee ace, Gerrit Cole will start the first game at Petco.  Cole in his one appearance in the Wild Card series went seven innings in the Yankee win against the Cleveland Indian;s presumptive Cy Young award winning Shane Bieber. Cole threw 105 pitches, giving up two runs, while striking out 13 Indians and walking none.  Bieber was pummeled by the Yankee’s offense. For the Rays, they have not announced a starting pitcher for the first game.  Those in the know, believe it will be Blake Snell although Tyler Glasnow has been more effective against the Yankees.

Stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com for all the lastest New York Yankee postseason news and highlights.

 

Tampa Bay Rays troll Yankees with ‘stable’ shirts

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New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Kevin Cash

The Tampa Bay Rays, fresh off claiming the American League East division title on Wednesday night, made fun of the New York Yankees in a clever way. Players were seen wearing a T-shirt with the message “whole damn stable,” which Bombers’ fans know the reference very well.

The theme of the T-shirt stems from the confrontation between the Rays and the Yankees back on September 1, when Aroldis Chapman pitched behind Mike Brosseau and later received a three-game suspension. Back then, both teams emptied the benches and exchanged words and insults.

“It’s ridiculous. Enough is enough. … It was mishandled by the Yankees. Poor judgment. Poor coaching. Poor teaching. Somebody has to be accountable and the last thing I’ll say is I have a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph,” Rays manager Kevin Cash say after Chapman’s pitch. Those comments were viewed as a threat back then, with games remaining in the series between the Yankees and Rays.

A familiar foe of the Yankees celebrated with one of the shirts

One of the Rays players that was seen wearing the shirt was Charlie Morton, who was also in the Houston Astros team that defeated the Yankees in 2017 and went on to win the World Series that year.

“It was in my locker last week and I like horses. … I rode when I was younger,” Morton said, per the New York Post. “I was ecstatic to see this shirt in my locker so I wore it.”

Morton also noted, “We’ve got some guys that throw really hard. There’s a premium on that nowadays, especially.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Cash both received one-game suspensions after the incident.

The Rays went on to win the regular season series against the New York Yankees eight to two.

For now, the Rays are celebrating their deserved, hard-fought division title. It remains to be seen who will be laughing when all is said and done.

New York Mets: 8-5 Loss Allows Tampa Bay Rays to Clinch the AL East

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New York Mets, Michael Wacha

The New York Mets had no choice but to win every remaining game to give themselves a shot at the postseason, but the Tampa Bay Rays had a division to win. They fired off four home runs, two from Randy Arozarena in their 8-5 win, clinching the American League Eastern division for the first time since 2010.

Michael Wacha was making his final start of the season and likely his last in a Met uniform. He started strong by striking out the side in the first inning. This episode is one we have seen from Wacha before as the first inning does not translate to the rest of his start.

While his pitch count was low, he could not avoid the home run. He allowed a solo homer to Joey Wendle and Arozarena’s first home run of the game. Arozarena’s home run gave the Rays the lead in the sixth, and they never looked back from there. Wacha made it through six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, only needing 66 pitches.

Glasnow Glows

Tyler Glasnow came into his final start of the season, ranking fifth in strikeouts for the American League. He showed off his strikeouts stuff against the Mets offense with eight over six innings and holding the Mets to two runs. Glasnow made hitters look foolish with his fastball/curve combination. When the Mets struck against him, they did so with home runs from Andres Gimenez and Dominic Smith.

The Mets had some life when down six in the ninth. They tallied three runs, two coming from a Todd Frazier home run. It was no enough for the Mets to climb back, and the Rays clinched the division at Citi Field.

The Mets head to the road as they finish off their season with a four-game road trip against the Washington Nationals. Two lefties matchup as David Peterson faces Patrick Corbin in the first game from Nationals Park. The first pitch is at 6:05 p.m. ET.

New York Mets: Offense Backs Lugo in 5-2 Victory Over Rays

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The New York Mets get a good starting pitching effort for the fourth consecutive night. This one against the Tampa Bay Rays came from Seth Lugo, who desperately needed one after his rough outing against the Phillies. The Mets offense also woke up to support Lugo in their 5-2 victory.

Lugo found the handle on his curveball early in this start. It eluded him over the last two starts, but his equalizer was the curve against the weak Rays offense. Lugo pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned), and striking out seven. Out of 95 pitches, 66 were strikes, and he produces plenty of uncomfortable swings.

Solving Snell

Blake Snell had one of the best starts of his career when he faced the Mets back in 2018. He came into his start without allowing any runs in the first two innings of the game during 2020. Robinson Cano changed that with his solo home run on an extremely high fastball in the second. Cano tomahawked the ball into the left-field corner, and it was the highest pitch hit for a home run this season.

Pete Alonso‘s solo home run in the fourth and RBI single in the sixth provided the other two runs against Snell. Alonso also contributed an RBI fielder’s choice in the eighth. Guillermo Heredia‘s first home run as a Met was sandwiched between Alonso’s RBI chances.

It was a much-needed game from Alonso, who was threatening to fall into the interstate with his batting average. Alonso’s swing looked calmer and relaxed instead of his typical swing, which caused him to be off-balanced.

The bullpen trio of Justin Wilson, Chasen Shreve, and Edwin Diaz silenced the Rays bats for 2.2 innings after Lugo left the game. Wilson kept the tying run from scoring in the seventh, Shreve struck out the side in the eighth, and Diaz picked up his fifth save of the season. Diaz lowered his season ERA to a magnificent 1.50 on the season.

The Mets hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with Michael Wacha on the mound in the rubber match of the series. He opposes the fireballer Tyler Glasnow for the 7:10 p.m. ET start from Citi Field.

New York Mets: deGrom’s 14 Strikeouts Wasted in 2-1 Loss Against Rays

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The New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays displayed why each team sits in their respective positions in their respective divisions. Tampa Bay used their opener method and heads up baseball to win while the Mets failed to make the most of Jacob deGrom‘s stellar start. The 2-1 loss was the third straight game a Mets starter struck out at least ten batters.

deGrom showed no ill-effects from his hamstring spasms that hampered his last start. His strikeouts stuff was on display with 14 strikeouts over seven innings and allowing two runs. deGrom threw a season-high 112 pitches and, most impressively, was still throwing over 100 mph when he reached the century mark.

Bullpen Dominance

The Rays revolutionized the opener for the rest of baseball and showed its worth again. Six pitchers combined to keep the Mets to one run. Josh Fleming had the longest outing with three innings, striking out two while allowing the only Mets run.

The game-changing play came from Willy Adames in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Rays up 2-0. Jeff McNeil lined a ground ball up the middle with the bases loaded and two outs. Adames dove to stop the ball from trickling to the outfield, preventing two runs from scoring. Fleming ended up getting J.D. Davis to fly out, keeping the 2-1 lead. It was the last scoring opportunity the Mets put together.

The lone Rays runs came from Manuel Margot‘s sac fly, and Nate Lowe‘s home run off deGrom. This was the type of game the Rays were built to win. They came into the game with winning records in both one-run and two-run games.

The Mets try to get back in the win column on Tuesday with Seth Lugo on the mound. He faces former Cy Young winner Blake Snell for the 7:10 p.m. ET start from Citi Field.

New York Mets Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (9/21-9/23)

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets try to hold on to their small hopes of making the postseason as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series. The Rays are the best team in the American League, and the Mets need a sweep to keep their chances alive.

Probable Pitching Matchups:

Monday, (9/21) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Pete Fairbanks (5-3, 2.74 ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (4-1, 2.08 ERA)

Tuesday, (9/22) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Blake Snell (4-1, 3.05 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (2-3, 4.34 ERA)

Wednesday, (9/23) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 4.21 ERA) vs. TBA

Jacob deGrom makes his first start after hamstring spasms forced him out after two innings. The poor start dropped him back in the Cy Young race, but two more great starts from deGrom could do plenty to get him his third straight Cy Young. Also, the Mets need a great start out of him as he tries to contend with the tough Rays offense.

Injuries were not the cause of reason for Seth Lugo’s last start. Balls flew all around Citizens Bank Park, and it was evident his swing and miss stuff was non-existent. Despite the Mets winning the game, it put the rotation for game one against the Braves in shambles.

Rays Pitching Depth

The Rays pitching is one of the biggest reasons they are a World Series contender this season. They have a 3.66 ERA and rank second in the AL in strikeouts. Twelve different pitchers have started games for them, and the same amount have recorded saves. Manager Kevin Cash has weapons to use at any time and is not afraid to use them in big moments.

Young upstart Brandon Lowe is emerging into a start this season. He leads the Rays in all three triple crown stats, hitting .272 with 13 home runs and 33 runs batted in. Lowe also leads the Rays in hits, walks, runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

Key Stats

Blake Snell vs. Todd Frazier: 1-for-8 (.182), Walk, Strikeout

Michael Conforto during Wins in 2020: .419/.537/.756, 8 Doubles, 7 Home Runs, 15 Walks, 17 Strikeouts

Brandon Nimmo w/2-Out during 2020: .341/.400/.610, 3 Doubles, Triple, 2 Home Runs, 3 Walks, 5 Strikeouts

Jacob deGrom Career vs. Rays: 2 Starts, 1.88 ERA, 14.1 IP, 15 Strikeouts

 

Tampa has the Yankees’ number, as Bombers can’t figure out Rays

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New York Yankees, Larry Rothschild

Another day, another defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. The New York Yankees fell 5-2 on Wednesday night in the last matchup of the season against their divisional foe, in a series that ended up heavily in their favor: they won eight games out of ten, which will potentially be the defining factor in the AL East division title race.

Last night, Tampa came out firing and chased Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery in the first inning. Mike Brosseau, the Rays player that Aroldis Chapman almost beans in the head on Tuesday, homered two times. It couldn’t get any worse.

“I’m very disappointed,” Brett Gardner told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “I’m not happy about it; I don’t think anybody in that room is. They’ve obviously played really well against us. They’ve had our number, and to this point, we haven’t really been able to figure them out. So the hope is we’ll see those guys again in October.”

Montgomery allowed hits to the first five hitters he faced, two homers among them. It was, without a doubt, a night to forget.

“I hung a couple pitches or put it there in good hitter counts,” Montgomery said. “They made some good swings.”

“I really made our bullpen go through it,” Montgomery said. “They threw great, they picked me up. I just put us in too much of a hole. But I’ll get back to work tomorrow and be ready to get the ball again in five days.”
In total, New York Yankees relievers combined to allow only three hits in 8 1/3 innings of work.

The Yankees were thoroughly outplayed

Still, the fact that the Yankees could only scratch a couple of victories against the Rays in ten games is especially worrisome, considering that the two sides could meet again in the postseason.

For the loser at that instance, there will be no tomorrow. Dropping a series in October and every effort to get there will go to waste.

“Our goal is always to win the division,” Gardner said. “I know that we’re obviously not in a good position right now, but we’ve got some baseball left. If we want to get where we want to be at the end of the season, we just have to play better. It’s just as simple as that.”

The Yankees are hoping to leave the Rays behind them. For now.