Nice Day; Nice Baseball

Season: 6-1, Home Stand: 3-0

Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

We have had some very uncomfortable April days at the DBAP, but yesterday wasn’t one of them. Perfect weather, interesting baseball, and a win. Just terrific.

Leslie Anderson’s bat has some serious pop to it this year. Yesterday you could hear an especially loud “crack” on each of his two home runs (helped a bit by the fact that there was only 3,300 of us cheering). Anderson also showed a good glove at first. So things are keeping on track for Anderson who is beating on the Rays' door. He was the Bulls best hitter last year and he was recognized by the Rays as the top performer in this year’s spring training. Single, two home runs, a walk, 4 RBI on the day. 

Matching Anderson in RBI was outfielder Jason Bourgeois. He had three doubles and two walks, so he had just about as good a day at the plate as you can have. He also made a terrific throw from center field to Chris Gimenez at the plate in the 8th inning to catch a runner trying to score from second base. Bourgeois was signed by the Rays in the off-season to a minor league contract. He’s had considerable major league time, mostly with Houston in 2010 and 2011, which leads me to worry that he’s playing on one of those “opt-out” contracts. Hope not. He’s looking very good this year.

Chris Archer worked hard yesterday. Jimmy Dupree over at the Herald-Sun got some good quotes about his outing from Charlie Montoyo and Archer himself. Good story. Check out link above.

We are all in for a treat as we watch shortstop Hak-Ju Lee this year. If you are one of those who like to debate deep philosophical issues such as: what matters most, a strong arm or a quick release? Lee seems to fall within the quick release school. He is a treat to watch. He was also the key figure in a very unusual play yesterday. On first base after a bunt single,  he took off on one of Jason Bourgeois’ doubles. Coming around third base he confronted Bulls third base coach Dan DeMent signaling him to stop. He touched DeMent in his scramble to get back to third and was called out. Charlie Montoyo, a bit tongue-in-cheek, commented for the Herald-Sun: “He’s got to stop grabbing the coaches when he goes by third base. It doesn’t work in this league — I don’t think in any league."

DeMent, by the way, is a coach in the Rays system who works most often with the Class A Hudson Valley team. He’s in town to help out while Charlie Montoyo is in LA.

Outside the game

• The Rays have acquired a catcher, Juan Apodaca (stats). At least one blogger thinks he will end up in Durham. But he’s on the DL. How does that work?
• Bull Durham racing mascots getting some good press.

Norfolk comes to town today. Here’s the matchup: