So we're off to a 37-6 start, everything humming along, and then we get this on the off-day:
Time and place, dude.
Game 1: Whatever Mendez's misgivings may be, the team was unfazed by it as they scored 5 times in the 1st, 5 more in the 2nd and twice more in the 3rd as they rolled the Yankees 12-2. And who had the big hit in the first inning to break the game open? None other than the maligned Jimmy Leonard, who hit a grand slam (#11) and also doubled in a run in the 2nd. You don't have to run out a homer, I guess. Josh Alexander also drove in 3 with a 2-run double and a single and Dan Gregory added a 2-run shot (#6) in the 2nd. Jeff Brockman (you don't know how many times I have to stop myself from typing his first name as "Kent") went 7 2 0 0 0 5, improved to 8-0 and lowered his already puny ERA to 1.33.
And then after the game, this happens:
So I guess we're going to try to be the 1973 A's or the 1978 Yankees here. As you can see I opted to suspend Leonard with the other options being "do nothing" (not sure that's wise) or "release player" (fat chance as Leonard's an elite player, 2nd in the league in OPS). I will note I shopped him to see what I could get in trade and while there wasn't anything I liked among a return in prospects, there were several regular MLBers who were very attractive. We'll see how things go when Leonard comes back.
May 18: Activated OF Pat Moyer from his rehab assignment at AAA Durham.
He'll take the open roster spot with Leonard on the restricted list, keeping an extra pitcher (most likely Alex Stephens) up for now.
Game 2: After yesterday's drama the Rays turned in a subdued performance at the plate and suffered a rare 2041 defeat, falling 3-2 to New York. Josh Alexander was the only one swinging a decent stick, doubling and homering (#14), with Jose Mendez (whom I'm just as mad at about the whole Leonard incident as Leonard himself) going 0-3 in Leonard's spot in RF. Vinny Willard started and was so-so, going 6 5 3 3 0 2 and taking his first loss this season.
May 19: Activated SS Jeff Baez from the 10-day IL, optioned IF Jon Callahan to AAA Durham.
Game 3: The Rays bounced back and took a tight 4-0 win over the Yankees behind 6 2/3 shutout innings from Jose Mendoza, who turned in a very atypical contact-dominated line of 6.2 3 0 0 3 2 and improved to 6-0, 3.47. In fact Mendoza's two strikeouts didn't come until the 7th inning right before he departed after a walk. They held a slim 1-0 lead most of the game after Eric Phillips singled in a run in the 2nd and didn't get comfortable until the 9th when Seth Williams hit a 2-run homer (#7). Chris Williams got the final out of the 8th and then stayed on when there was no save situation for Kikuo Kawase so he got one instead, his 3rd.
Team record: 39-7. Next up: An off-day then we return home to play a pair against the Dodgers.