Though OF Wil Myers was 0-for-4 in his Tuesday afternoon big-league debut, he still enjoyed the overall experience.
"It was very awesome,'' he said. "I tried to soak it in a little bit. A very cool experience. It was everything I thought it would be.''
Myers didn't have much impact on the game, catching one fly ball and having a slight bit of trouble picking up the ball on Shane Victorino's triple.
He said the Fenway fans were "loud" but didn't get on him too bad.
Myers also enjoyed the opportunity to share his moment with nearly 20 friends and relatives, including his parents, brother, one set of grandparents, girlfriend and best friend.
Myers also said he was eager for the opportunity to play a second game and finish his first day with more to show for it.
After a 5-1 loss in Tuesday's rain-delayed opener, the Rays are set for the second game of their day night doubleheader, with Jake Odorizzi on the mound facing the Red Sox.
Evan Longoria told manager Joe Maddon that his right foot, sore from plantar fasciitis, felt good enough to play third base in the second game as well. The original plan was to play the field in the opener and DH in the nightcap.
As a result, the Rays lineup looks like this vs. Boston LHP Felix Doubront:
Jennings cf Rodriguez 1b Zobrist 2b Longoria 3b Escobar ss Myers rf Scott dh Lobaton c Johnson lf Odorizzi p
Wil Myers' debut didn't go too well. The prized prospect went 0-for-4 as the Rays lost a 5-1 game that included a three-hour rain delay in the fifth inning. Myers popped out to shallow center, flied out to right, was called out looking and flied to center again in his first big-league apparance. Another rookie factored more prominently in the story line, as RHP Chris Archer delivered another unimpressive start, failing to get through five innings as he walked five and threw 109 pitches. The key moment occurred in the third with the score 1-1. The Sox had two on and one out with first base open, the Rays pitched to David Ortiz and he singled in two runs. The Rays dropped to 36-34 and six games behind the AL-East leading Red Sox. The second game of the day-night doubleheader will start around 8.
UPDATE, 5:25: The tarp is off and the game is expected to resume at 5:55.
UPDATE, 5:12: Red Sox officials are talking about possibly resuming the first game by 6:30 or 7, with the second game starting 45-60 minutes later. Rain seems to be letting up.
UPDATE, 5:02: No official updates, but there is some thought the rain will end in about 45 minuets and be done for the night. Also, the Rays have been told that per MLB rules the first game has to be played to completion or the second game can't be started. So that eliminates the scenario of the first game being called as official and the second being played; if they call the first game they have to reschedule the second game.
DEVELOPING: With the Rays losing 4-1 and Wil Myers 0-for-2 so far in his major-league debut, Tuesday's game is now in a rain delay in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Chris Archer, who was not sharp and walked 5, had just been replaced by Josh Lueke when light rain became heavy, causing the delay.
In Myers' first at-bat he came up with two on in the second and swung at the first pitch - after Sox start Alfedo Aceves had walked the previous two hitters - and popped to shallow center. …
* 3B Evan Longoria said his right foot felt better today and h would play 3B in the day game but probably DH in the night game. Never having had plantar fasciitis before he's not sure exactly how it will feel, and said there may be some day of game decisions, but he hopes to be able to continue to play in the field.
* Manager Joe Maddon said he talked to RHP Alex Cobb, who was hit in the right ear by a line drive on Saturday, and that Cobb is feeling better, but there was no way yet to saw when this season - or even if - Cobb would return to the mound.
"He's feeling a little bit better, obviously not tremendously better,'' Maddon said. "It's one of those things that's just going to take some time. My advice to him was to not try to really rush anything, just permit your body to tell you when you're ready to do the next thing, and I think he's pretty much accepted that thought.''
Maddon didn't have any specifics whether the concussion or the ear issue were the bigger hurdle. but that "it's going to be a long process I think.'' …
UPDATE, 12:28: Myers predictably said he is excited about the opportunity, took BP on the field and then posed for pictures with his family and girlfriend who got to watch BP from the field. Myers went in to see manager Joe Maddon who told him to go out and have fun and play his game. Evan Longoria said he would offer similar advice, and he thought Myers' promotion was a sign fron the front office of their determination to win and he called it "re-invigorating" to have Myers in the lineup and that he was "excited" to see him play.
UPDATE, 10:27: The Wil Myers era will begin with him playing rightfield and hitting sixth against the Red Sox.
And, oh by the way, Evan Longoria is back at third base and Desmond Jennings moved up to the second spot.
Myers talked on a conference call Monday night about how excited he was about the opportunity, and has been feeling his way around the clubhouse this morning, getting settled in his locker, with a No. 9 jersey hanging there, and learning how to get the tickets for his family and friends who came up, etc. …
Rays prized outfield prospect Wil Myers already had to wait so long for his first big-league call-up.
Then came Monday''s crazy travel day to Boston, with his plane having to be re-directed due to some bad weather, and then stuck on the runway after landing due to lightning.
But it was all worth it knowing that on Tuesday, Myers, 22, will make his much-anticipated debut against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"It's very exciting," Myers said Monday night, while standing near the airport taxi stand. "Everything I've worked for all my life is finally coming true."
Myers, the key piece in the blockbuster offseason trade with the Royals, said his parents, Eric and Pam, along with his brother, Beau, and girlfriend, Maggie Reaves, will be in the stands tomorrow to watch him play against Boston in the day-night doubleheader. A lot of his family was in town Sunday when Myers found out he was coming up.
Myers said he was coming off the field after the bottom of the second inning with Triple-A Durham, and manager Charlie Montoyo told him he was coming out of the game and "may or may not be going to the big leagues." …
The Rays made it official Monday, recalling RHP Jake Odorizzi from Triple-A Durham as the 26th man, and having him start Game 2 of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader in Boston.
Of course, Odorizzi's former roomate, OF Wil Myers, will be the headline act arriving at Fenway Park for his big-league debut. But Odorrizi, who scuffled at times in his first two starts with the Rays this season, will pitch the night game after RHP Chris Archer starts Game 1.
The Red Sox will start RHP Alfredo Aceves in the day game and LHP Felix Doubront at night.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson will start Wednesday.
With Odorizzi called up for Tuesday, it means that RHP Alex Colome will likely get the call later this week to take RHP Alex Cobb's turn in the rotation. Cobb was released from the hospital Sunday, having suffered a mild concussion while getting struck by a line drive Saturday. He's on the 7-day concussion disabled list, but there's no timeline for his return.
Update 6:26 p.m. Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said they've always maintained that when prized OF prospect Wil Myers was ready, they'd auger out a spot for him.
And that's exactly why Friedman said they called Myers up now, saying he's made the necessary adjustments and will "fit right in" to the Rays team. Myers will play regularly, mostly in rightfield, with Friedman saying he'll "inject" another bat against right-handed pitching.
"He's going to play a lot," manager Joe Maddon said. "Of course you don't bring somebody like that up to sit around."
There has always been a lot of expectations placed on Myers, last year's minor league player of the year, since he was the key chip in the offseason trade of RHP James Shields to the Royals. But Maddon said while "outside" expectations are high, they're going to try to "ease him in," hitting him lower in the lineup and telling him to just be one of nine.
Maddon said Myers, pulled in the third inning of Durham's game Sunday, will play one of the games in Tuesday's doubleheader. …
Maybe Rays Cy Young lefthander David Price (left triceps strain) isn't as ahead of schedule in his recovery as originally thought.
Price, out since mid-May, experienced soreness after Friday's simulated game, so they are going to take it slow, having him play catch today and Monday, and throw a bullpen Wednesday. Manager Joe Maddon had said it was possible Price could make his first minor league rehab start this week, on Tuesday, but that clearly won't happen.
Price said it's definitely "not a setback," since nothing was really set in stone on his schedule. He said that he feels "really good" today, one day after his whole arm was sore. Price said that was normal, comparing it to the first live batting practice in spring training, when he throws after not pitching for a while. He considered how he felt Sunday a "bright spot" but is unsure when he'll make his first minor league start.
Price was expected to return in late June, but said the key is for him to come back and stay back, not rush it and hurt himself further.
The Rays will wrap up their 10-game homestand today with a Father's Day matinee with the Royals, with ex-Ray RHP Wade Davis starting for Kansas City.
But the biggest - and best - news so far is that RHP Alex Cobb is scheduled to get released from the hospital today.
Cobb, who suffered a mild concussion when getting struck by an Eric Hosmer line drive in the fifth inning Saturday, also got treated for an issue with draining in his ear, but otherwise, all tests came back normal, the team said.
Cobb is not expected at the ballpark today, and will go on the 7-day concussion disabled list, with no timetable on his return. RHP Josh Lueke was called up, and will be here today.
In other pre-game news, LHP David Price (left triceps strain), who experienced soreness following Friday's simulated game, won't start a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday. He will play catch today and tommorrow, with a bullpen Wednesday. From there, they'll see how he feels. While Price didn't label it a setback, it does appear like it might push back Price's scheduled return, which was late June. …
Update 3:20 p.m. The Rays said RHP Alex Cobb has been released from Bayfront Medical Center and is heading home.
Developing: The Rays say righthander Alex Cobb, struck with a line drive during Saturday's game, is scheduled to be released from the hospital today, but not expected back at the ballpark.
Cobb suffered a mild concussion, and was treated for an issue with draining in his right ear, but all tests came back normal, the team said. Cobb will go on the 7-day concussion disabled list, with RHP Josh Lueke called up.
The Rays say there's no timetable on Cobb's return, but they're all relieved with how good he feels - and sounds.
LHP Matt Moore said 10-15 players - including Royals RHP James Shields, INF Elliot Johnson and 1B Eric Hosmer (who hit the line drive) - visited Cobb at the hospital last night. They said he seemed "normal" and joking around, despite likely being in some pain.
Hosmer said it made him feel a lot better to see Cobb okay, and said the righthander jokingly ribbed him at at least he got him out on the play. Moore said they told Cobb they're petitioning for him to get the win, drawing a smile. …
Rays RHP Alex Cobb was laughing with teammates, joking with staff at Bayfront Medical Center and doing okay overall late Saturday night after being hit on the right ear by a line drive.
And, he posted on his @Acobb53 Twitter account, he was thankful for the support:
"Can't thank everyone enough for the prayers. Was the only way for me to make it out of there ok. Look forward to getting back out there"
According to someone who visited with Cobb, he had a headache and his right ear was bandaged, but otherwise he felt okay, having been diagnosed with what the team said was a mild concussion. All scans and tests came back normal, and he was was being held overnight at Bayfront Medical Center as much for precautionary reasons as anything.
Cobb is expected to be released Sunday, and the Rays should have a better idea of how long he is expected to be out and how they will shuffle their pitching rotation.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said he "kind of shut down" after his line drive struck Rays righthander Alex Cobb during Saturday's game.
"Scary stuff," he said. "I honestly didn't even want to run to first... I'm not going to lie to you, I was not focused on the game at all. I was thinking about how he was doing."
But Hosmer appeared relieved to hear the news that Cobb is expected to be okay, having suffered a minor concussion. Cobb will stay overnight in the hospital, the Rays said, and Hosmer planned to join Shields and ex-Ray Elliot Johnson to visit him tonight.
"It's fricken scary stuff," Hosmer said. "I'm glad he's allright... There's a lot of things racing through my mind, and I just kind of shut down after that happened. It's not a fun spot to be in. It's tough."
Royals manager Ned Yost said there was nothing Cobb could do, as "you can't hit a ball harder than (Hosmer) hit that ball."
"It just makes everybody in the stadium sick to their stomach when something like that happens," Yost said. …
The Rays snapped their three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Royals on Saturday.
The game was marred by a scary incident in the fifth inning, when Rays starter Alex Cobb was struck on the right ear by a line drive and taken from the field on a stretcher, though he did not lose consciousness.
The Rays took a 3-2 in the third on a two-run homer by Luke Scott, who was back in the lineup hitting third after an extended slump. They added on with homers by Matt Joyce and Evan Longoria.
Alex Torres, who replaced Cobb in the fifth, was awarded the win.
Fernando Rodney, after allowing a two-out hit and a walk, finished for his 14th save.
The teams conclude their four-game series on Sunday, with Roberto Hernandez facing ex-Ray Wade Davis.
The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2013 season with Evan Longoria, David Price, Fernando Rodney and a few new faces. Can they best the Yankees and Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.
0
Comments