Yankees-Rays Series Preview

You hate to hang words like "important", "crucial", "critical", et all, on a series played in April. But with six games against the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox this month, the Yankees know these games are important in determining who grabs the the AL East golden ring. The first of those series starts tonight when the Yankees and Rays meet at the Trop in St. Petersburg.

But these aren't your father's, er, your older brother's Rays. Tampa Bay has gone from the dregs of the American League to one of the top three teams. The Rays have finally found the right formula for success- pitching and defense. No longer are they trading the future (Bobby Abreu) for mediocrity (Kevin Stocker). The team jettisoned those they felt were malcontents (Delmon Young) or malevolent (Elijah Dukes), and brought in veterans who would provide a good influence (Cliff Floyd).

The Rays have built a solid young start rotation - Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, Jeff Niemann - and a bullpen of hard throwing veterans. They also have the top pitching prospect in the league in David Price, who will join the team at some point this season.

The offense has a rising superstar in Evan Longoria at third base, an outstanding all around player in Carl Crawford in left field, and one of the fast rising catchers in baseball in Dioner Navarro. Add to that the all around athletic play of B.J. Upton, the slugging and defense of Carlos Pena, and you can see why the Rays are once again favored to compete for the AL East and wildcard.

Of course, much of the credit has to go to third year manager Joe Maddon, who has not only worked on the Rays' fundamental aspects of the game, but their mental approach as well. Those new feelings of empowerment shone through in spring training last year, when Rays' infielder Elliott Johnson ran through the Yankees Francisco Cervelli, breaking the catcher's wrist. While the Yankees were upset with the aggressive play during a spring training game, Maddon stood by his players, telling the media, "I loved the hardball right there," Maddon said. "We're playing it hard, we're playing it right. It was a bang-bang play at the plate. I couldn't tell exactly where the catcher was in regard to the plate, but he was trying to score a run right there and that's part of the game."

That philosophy helped the Rays beat the Red Sox in the ALCS, before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. The Rays have split the first six games of this season, but two of those victories came in a series win in Boston.

Probable Pitchers

Monday - Chien-Ming Wang (0-1, 17.18) vs. Scott Kazmir (1-0, 1.50)
Tuesday - A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.38) vs. Matt Garza (1-0, 1.29)
Wednesday - Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.29) vs. Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 9.64)


Tonight's lineups

Yankees

SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Swisher
C Posada
RF Nady
2B Cano
DH Matsui
3B Ransom
CF Gardner

Rays
CF Upton
LF Crawford
3B Longoria
1B Pena
DH Burrell
C Navarro
RF Gross
2B Iwamura
SS Bartlett