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Rays Journal: Kiermaier slippery on plan to stay warm

 
Published April 4, 2018

NEW YORK — CF Kevin Kiermaier was planning to try something new to combat the biting wind and frigid temperatures for Tuesday's game at Yankee Stadium — covering his body with Vaseline.

But something about the extensive social media reaction rubbed him the wrong way, as he tweeted an hour before first pitch he would play au naturel:

"Sorry to disappoint the blown outta proportion comment about me possibly applyin vaseline to help keep me warm tonight. Forgot to put it on. Have my 2 under shirts on already and goin vaseline free. Print that folks."

Kiermaier had said earlier he got the idea from other players who said the Vaseline provided an extra layer to help shield them from the wind.

"I saw Carlos Gomez do it in spring training for a couple chilly games there," he said. "So I think I'm going to layer up in some Vaseline, get a nice little lather going. And I'll definitely layer up with undershirts and jerseys. And I'll definitely have that hoodie on, I hate when my ears are cold and that's what I'm most worried about."

Kiermaier, who grew up in Indiana and played collegiately in Illinois, has plenty of experience playing in the cold but still doesn't like it. "I'm always trying to stay active, moving around, keeping everything as loose as possible," he said. "For the next 10 days there's going to be a lot of stretching."

Kiermaier's comments got a lot of attention, including a stretch as a Twitter moment.

Accidental tourists

With Monday unexpectedly off following the early morning snow-out postponement, several Rays braved the cold for the chance to explore New York. LHP Ryan Yarbrough and his girlfriend checked out Rockefeller Center, where his brother works, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. RHP Andrew Kittredge and his new wife went full tourist on a hop-on, hop-off bus and saw Times Square, the 9-11 memorial and the Statue of Liberty. RHP Yonny Chirinos, a Venezuelan making his first visit, ventured out on a walk that took him by the United Nations.

Stat of the day

.053 Kiermaier's batting average through five games, 1-for-19

Number of the day

5 Career-most strikeouts for Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton, drawing boos from home crowd

Pomp and circumstance

Though the baseline introductions were scrapped due to the cold weather, Tuesday was the second of three "opening days" for the Rays. They beat the Red Sox in the season opener Thursday, then were the guests Tuesday and will be again Thursday in Boston. This is the second time the Rays had triple the fun, also in 1990 when they opened at Baltimore, at home and at Toronto. … This was the fourth time the Rays were the Yankees' guests, all losses.

Snell game

Though winless with a 5.30 ERA in five games at Yankee Stadium, including his 2016 debut, LHP Blake Snell starts today saying there is a lot to like about the experience. "It's one of my favorite places to pitch; I'm excited for it," he said. "There's multiple reasons — 1. It's a beautiful stadium. 2. I made my debut here, so it's just special to me. And 3. I like the mound; I think it's a great mound, I think it's fun to pitch on." Snell said neither the cold weather nor the adjusted schedule, moving up to face the Yankees rather than the Red Sox on Thursday, will make a difference.

Miscellany

• First pitch temperature was 40 degrees, and there was at least mist and at times rain during the whole 3½-hour game.

• Manager Kevin Cash said he was "not overly comfortable" in doing so but went with as right-handed of a lineup as he could against LHP Jordan Montgomery, starting C Wilson Ramos at DH and Jesus Sucre behind the plate.

• RHP Sergio Romo was okay after an awkward fall covering first in the eighth and stayed in.