Bullpen not providing much relief
The bullpen was SUPPOSED to be the strength of this year’s team…but after 4 losses at the hands of our relievers, I am 
beginning to wonder when we are going to flip the switch on a few things.
Dan Wheeler has been super hittable–5 innings of work has led to 4 hits and 4 runs, Troy Percival couldn’t seal the deal on the swing match of a 3 game series with the Yankees last night and even Grant Balfour–whom I think is our BEST reliever has worked 1.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and four runs.
J.P. Howell who was superb last year, has 4.1 innings in long relief, but he has given up 7 hits and 2 runs.
I know that it is a LONG 162 game season, and it may be BIT early to hit the panic button, but we do have some guys down on the farm that are chomping at the bit to get away from “pitching to high schoolers”.
Just sayin’…when will we see a move? Another lost series or two at the hands of the bullpen and I think that time may come.
Posting up the runs needed to win only to see that offense squandered in the late innings is enough to cause a serious rift in the clubhouse, and start a downward spiral that may be unrecoverable, because no matter how many times we say “it’s a long season let’s see what works out”…the fact of the matter is, every series counts.
Time will tell.
Niemann to throw again
Jeff Niemann will make his second start of the season from his fifth spot in the rotation today in the series opener against the White Sox.
Hopefully he fairs better in this outing than his last.
Remember that game against the Orioles? Or have you blocked it from your memory banks yet?
If you have…here is a quick reminder: 5.1 innings pitched, 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 runs, 1 home run and 1 hit batter.
Remember now?
The good news about that performance, all the damage happened in the first inning. After that he looked strong. In fact, better than Andy Sonnanstine has looked so far this year.
Now, if Niemann can come out strong today and rebound from the debacle of a game he had against the Orioles, then I will have confidence in him going forward. However, if he comes out and gets shelled early in the game again, I think the organization may start to conjure up ideas of Wade Davis joining the team within the next few weeks.
Honoring a game changing great
All players wore number 42 without a name plate in honor of Jackie Robinson in Wednesday’s game in a tribute to the man who broke down the race barriers during the civil rights movement.
This is a great tribute that all Major League teams take part in once a year.
Robinson’s jersey number 42 has been retired across all of Major League Baseball.
Thomas Gemkow is the editor-in-chief of TampaBayRaysFan.com. Founded in January of 2009, TampaBayRaysFan.com is a compilation of all the best of the Rays, from across the web. The website can be followed on Twitter
