RHP Alex Cobb was summoned from Triple-A as the Rays shuffle their bullpen to have a fresh long man given the string of short starts they got in the last three games — five, three and five innings. Cobb replaced RHP Dane De La Rosa, who was called up Saturday to replace RHP Josh Lueke.
C Jose Molina’s unique way of setting up behind the plate could have something to do with the lack of effectiveness by the Rays starters, manager Joe Maddon said. “I think it might,” he said. “It’s a different catcher back there and J-Mo sets up a little bit differently. We’ve been on the edges a lot and we have to be a little bit more aggressive getting to better counts — too many full counts, too many walks. It’s not who we are. We normally pound the strike zone, we get ahead, we dictate the game more in a pitching sense and we haven’t been doing that. We’re giving the other side way too much credit.”
INF Elliot Johnson was one of a few Rays who thought they could handle running the Boston Marathon, which will be staged Monday while the Rays are playing the Red Sox in the 11:05 a.m. game. “It’s a long way to run,” Johnson said. “It’s too far. I guess I could push my way through it, I suppose. But I wouldn’t really want to.”
RHP James Shields said since he is still on something of a spring training schedule, starting the 11:05 a.m. Patriots Day game on Monday won’t be that big of a deal. “It’s just going to be a little weird,” he said.
C Chris Gimenez was called up from Triple-A to replace Jose Lobaton, who went on the 15-day DL with right shoulder soreness, and will share playing time behind the plate with veteran C Jose Molina. Manager Joe Maddon said the decisions will be made based on the potential for offensive success against the opposing pitcher.
C Jose Lobaton went on the 15-day DL with right shoulder soreness, He was replaced by Chirs Gimenez.
