Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays' bullpen hasn't been what most would call reliable in the early going of the 2010 Major League Baseball season.

However, it appears that Rays pitcher Matt Garza has found the remedy for their troubles.

Don't let them pitch much.

For the second time in as many games, Garza relegated bullpen appearances to one inning of Rafael Soriano. Both games featured Garza pitching eight innings in a dominant fashion. Garza only gave up one earned run in each performance.

Week one of the 2010 baseball season was a bit of everything for the Tampa Bay Rays. Dramatic come-from-behind wins over the Orioles, a blow out of the Yankees in game one, then finishing the home stand with two ugly defeats at the hands of the Evil Empire definitely leaves a foul taste in the Rays' mouths as they head out for a 10 game road trip.

Starting the season 3-3 at home, while playing four of the six games in front of crowds of nearly 30,000, is not what the Rays were expecting. Tampa Bay usually excels when the Trop is filled.

After a rough start to the spring, Rays newcomer Mike Ekstrom settled in and pitched well enough to earn the team's final bullpen spot.

Manager Joe Maddon praised the control of his fastball, while a three-inning scoreless stint against Baltimore late in the spring schedule helped solidify his place on the roster.

This week I caught up with Ekstrom to talk about the spring and the upcoming season.

Well last night’s game was a debacle, but the Yankees have their ace, CC Sabathia (0-0, 8.44 ERA), out there today trying to right the ship against rookie RHP Wade Davis (0-0, no ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sabathia was strong in his last start until he fell apart in the sixth inning giving up three runs on two hits and a walk before he was pulled. The Yankees are hoping that his stamina improves today. Here are some Yankee notes:

If you looked close enough, you could see hype return.

Last night's dominance of the Yankees has grabbed headlines for a certain young Rays pitcher. David Price put himself back in the national spotlight pitch by pitch. 

Rays fans saw a flashback to the pitcher they've been waiting for.

Only one month into getting his first taste of the major leagues, David Price was called upon to get the most important outs in franchise history. Price held the world by a string when he closed out Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS. 

But then a funny thing happened.

New day, new insider. Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ sixth game of the season was the season opener at Comerica Park on Friday featuring the Tigers and the visiting Indians.

Previous Fantasy Baseball Insiders Tonight updates:

What I’m Reading

• The Rays might be built for 2010, but what about beyond that? Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford might be skipping town after the season is over.

We’re just three days removed from Opening Day, yet Fantasy Baseball Insiders have already scored four games as part of our journey to watch 162. Wednesday featured the Giants/Astros matchup in Houston.

Game No. 4 – San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros

You just got that buzz again, didn't you, Rays fans?

The thought crossed your mind the instant that Carl Crawford's walkoff two-run single sliced into right field and the Rays got a dramatic opening night come-from-behind victory against the Baltimore Orioles.

Just like old times.

James Shields put together a fine outing, only he put up three beach balls that Oriole hitters deposited into the Tampa Bay stands.

As the outs and opportunities clicked off, things began to look pretty bleak for the home team.

This past week, Toronto Blue Jays slugger Adam Lind signed a four-year, $18 million contract.

Lind's contract also has three option years that could bring the total to seven years and $38.5 million.

By locking him up now, the Blue Jays eliminate his three arbitration years and get cost control for the next seven seasons. 

So what does this mean to the Rays?