Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Joe Smith covers the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Bucs for the Tampa Bay Times. He joined the Times in 2006 after spending two years with the Modesto Bee in California, where he did everything from covering the Single-A Modesto Nuts minor league baseball team and high school football to tackling first-person stories on whitewater rafting and adventure racing. Smith, 26, grew up in the Detroit suburbs and attended the University of Michigan, where he covered the football, basketball and hockey teams for the Michigan Daily. He freelanced for the Associated Press and Detroit Free Press before securing internships at Crain's Detroit Business and the Raleigh News & Observer. An avid runner, Smith loves traveling, pizza and checking out local bands.
Phone: (813) 310 9024
Email: joesmith@tampabay.com
Blogs:
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Rays' Myers excited to start his 'dream'
06/17/13 BlogRays 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....
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Rookie pitchers to carry load for Rays
06/17/13 The HeaterThe true test of the Rays' pitching depth may come on this week's road trip, when they're likely to start a rookie pitcher in four of the seven games against the Red Sox and Yankees.
RHP Jake Odorizzi was called up from Triple-A Durham to start tonight's game in Boston, added as the 26th man for the doubleheader, with RHP Chris Archer to start the day game (as well as Sunday in New York)....
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Rays make it official, call up Odorizzi to start Tuesday
06/17/13 BlogThe 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....
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Rays' Myers thrilled to get big-league call
06/17/13 The HeaterWil Myers said he didn't know when his time would come.
Myers, 22, the Rays' prized outfield prospect, noticed — and appreciated — fans clamoring on Twitter for his arrival to the majors during the first few months of his up-and-down season with Triple-A Durham. He felt he took big steps in becoming a more complete player and started to feel like a "big-league" hitter a few weeks ago....
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Rays: Evidence of Myers' youth
06/17/13 The HeaterRays at Red Sox
When/where: 1:05 and 7:10 today; Fenway Park, Boston
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers
GAME 1
Rays: RH Chris Archer (1-2, 4.80)
RED SOX: RH Alfredo Aceves (3-1, 5.58)
On Archer: Has been inconsistent in three starts this season, including walking four in a four-inning loss to the Red Sox last Tuesday....
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Rays-Red Sox preview
06/17/13Sports. UP NEXT
at Red Sox
Today-Wednesday
What's new: The Red Sox (42-29) lost three of four to the Orioles after last week's series win over the Rays but remain in first place in the AL East. They're missing RHP Clay Buchholz (sore neck) but could get 1B Mike Napoli (general illness) back today, though 1B Mike Carp is nursing right hamstring tightness. They've recalled Rays tormentor RHP Alfredo Aceves to start today's day game and added RHP Pedro Beato to the bullpen....
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Rays recall prized prospect Wil Myers
06/16/13 BlogUpdate 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....
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Price won't start minor league rehab Tuesday, says not a setback
06/16/13 BlogMaybe 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....
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For starters, Rays vs. Royals, with a Cobb update
06/16/13 BlogThe 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....
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Cobb released from hospital Sunday, in good spirits
06/16/13 BlogUpdate 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....
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Rays call up top prospect Myers
06/16/13 The HeaterST. PETERSBURG — The Rays have always said that when they believed prized prospect Wil Myers was ready for the big leagues, they'd make a spot for him on their roster.
On Sunday, they felt the time was right.
After much deliberation and weeks of speculation, the Rays made the much-anticipated move of calling up Myers from Triple-A Durham, with the 22-year-old expected to play regularly, mostly in rightfield, while providing some pop from lower in the lineup....
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Rays' Cobb released from hospital
06/16/13 The HeaterST. PETERSBURG — Alex Cobb woke up Sunday morning with a little headache, but by the afternoon the Rays pitcher was released from Bayfront Medical Center to begin his recovery by resting at home.
That brought a sizeable amount of relief to both the Rays and the Royals, as well as anyone who saw Cobb get struck on the right ear by Eric Hosmer's line drive during Saturday's game.
The right-hander suffered what the team called a "mild concussion" and was treated for cauliflower ear, with fluid drained to alleviate pressure, but all other tests were normal, the Rays said. He was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list, but there's no timetable for his return. Reliever Josh Lueke was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take his roster spot, and the team will have to decide who will take Cobb's turn in the rotation, with righty Alex Colome the likely possibility. ...
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Ex-teammate Davis strong as Rays fall to Royals
06/16/13 The HeaterST. PETERSBURG — The Rays will soon see what kind of impact Wil Myers will have on their lineup.
But so far, the blockbuster offseason trade to Kansas City for the prized outfield prospect has been a bit one-sided, as the three players the Rays shipped away have come back to beat them.
On Sunday, it was Wade Davis who pitched six strong innings in lifting the Royals to a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay in front of a Father's Day crowd of 27,422 at Tropicana Field....
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Rays: Maddon to participate in hometown project
06/16/13 The HeaterGetting HIP
Manager Joe Maddon will spend today's off day in his hometown of Hazleton, Pa., attending the grand opening of the Hazleton Integration Project's Hazleton One Community Center. "I'm really excited about that," Maddon said. "This is about three or four years of work in the making, and I think, hopefully, it's going to make a difference in our community."
Quote of the day... -
Rays push back Price's first rehab start
06/16/13 The HeaterST. PETERSBURG — LHP David Price says it's not a setback, but the soreness he felt Saturday has at least delayed the schedule manager Joe Maddon discussed for his minor-league rehab assignment.
Maddon had said Price, out since mid May with a left triceps strain, was exceeding expectations after Thursday's 54-pitch simulated game, suggesting Tuesday as a possibility for his first rehab start. But Maddon said Price had "a little bit abnormal" soreness after Saturday's bullpen session, so they backed off. Price played catch Sunday, will play catch again today then throw a bullpen Tuesday, when Maddon said they'll decide the next step....
