DRaysBay Aug 10, 2020
The Ji-Man Choi chant is back!
Photo by Julio Aguilar/ Ji-Man Choi! Ji-Man Choi! Ji-Man Choi! During the two home games of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field last October, the crowd was electric and Ji-Man Choi was the greatest beneficiary, as the fans started chanting to nearly unheard decibel levels when he came to bat in the domed masterpiece we call Tropicana Field. It was truly an incredible thing to behold, but unfortunately with the pandemic, that level of fan interaction doesn’t seem like a possibility during the 2020 campaign. Although, stadiums across the league have been flooding their...
DRaysBay Aug 9, 2020
Calculating baserunning break-even points
Photo by Mitchell Layton/ It’s a lot easier than running the bases. About a week ago, the Rays went on a little journey through bad baserunning. First, Kevin Kiermaier failed to slide into second while attempting to steal. Then Ji-Man Choi was thrown out tagging up and trying to go to third on a fly ball to left field. These baserunning blunders were upsetting. But more upsetting was the discovery, made while discussing the plays with my fellow DRaysBay writers, that I could no longer do basic algebra. Arithmetic was hard for me, too. I was trying to calculate the necessary expected...
DRaysBay Jul 28, 2020
The Rays are putting their scariest hitters at leadoff, and I love it.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ This is more op-ed than analysis, sorry. When you think of a leadoff hitter in your mind, what do you see? Do they look something like Ichiro or Billy Hamilton? Last season Kevin Cash started using Austin Meadows as his primary leadoff hitter — an All-Star caliber hitter and frequent DH, batting in front of Tommy Pham second and saving his big guns like lefty Ji-Man Choi or righty Yandy Diaz for fourth in the order. I loved this. There were moments where Cash reverted to some formidable hitters who’d be lighter on their feet in the early going: Brandon Lowe...
DRaysBay Jul 27, 2020
View from the Catwalks: a successful opening weekend
Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports The Rays take two of three from the Jays The Rays exit Opening Weekend with a 2-1 Record and in first place, tied with the Yankees and [checks notes] the Orioles? Yeah, okay. Anyway, the Rays pulled off a successful opening series thanks to big hits all weekend from Ji-Man Choi (including a homer from the right side), a big triple Saturday and a scrappy infield single on Sunday from Brandon Lowe, and a walk off triple on Sunday from Kevin Kiermaier. “New year, same mentality”- @KKiermaier39 pic.twitter.com/i6bFl7jZIH— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July...
DRaysBay Jul 27, 2020
Rays Your Voice: Opening Weekend Recap, Atlanta Braves Preview
Bullpen shines, Choi hits right handed, and Kiermaier is the hero in a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays Spotify Apple Baseball is back, and Rays Your Voice is back to recapping games! The Rays won two out of three against the Blue Jays, and there is a lot to unpack from this opening series. Yoshi Tsutsugo and Ryan Thompson each made their Major League debuts, Ji-Man Choi hit from both sides of the plate, and Kevin Kiermaier walked it off on Sunday to seal a series victory in the 10th inning. Kevin Cash and company will definitely take two wins from three in this series, but are there...
DRaysBay Jul 13, 2020
View from the Catwalks: Choi-full, Choi-full, we adore thee
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Kevan Smith on masks, Choi on swinging right handed, Shane and Shane impress. Rays News: Catcher Kevan Smith on masks: #Rays catcher Kevan Smith had a lot to say today. Listen/read: pic.twitter.com/a1UXIWgz8c— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) July 11, 2020 Marc Topkin on the Rays chemistry during these unusual times. Juan Toribio on Choi’s right handed swings. Ji-Man Choi, feared right-handed hitter pic.twitter.com/GC4lkxu5Pt— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 11, 2020 How is this not hot sauce? Ji-Man Choi delivers. Thanks, @cjm0519!...
