Morning Round-up: Easter Bunny Edition

The Easter Bunny came and went at my house. Hopefully, some of the Rays got some treats to help them hit better today. Getting swept by the Orioles this afternoon would definitely leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

With that said, here's an Easter abbreviated version of the Morning Round-up. As usual, my comments are in italics:

- Baltimore Sun writer Dan Connolly had an easy story to file. All he had to do was describe the first inning and repeat the praises O's manager David Trembley dished out.  The first inning broke this game for the O's. Outside of that, it was pretty competitive. Too bad it wasn't that enjoyable to watch because of the scoreboard.  The Rays and James Shields need to figure out a way to shut down the first three in the O's lineup (Brian Roberts, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis) this afternoon.

- Tampa Tribune writer Marc Lancaster breaks down the Rays line-up versus lefties this year compared to last years.  In 2 games, the Rays have had mixed results. Game 1 versus the Orioles looked eerily similar to games against journeyman lefties last year.  The Rays had all kinds of troubles against the most pedestrian of southpaws.  Thursday's game against the O's kept that alive, despite adding Burrell and Kaplar in the line-up.  Overall, I think the Rays will be alright, but it's cause for concern.

- The Rays Party Blog did a good job chronicling the Rays missed opportunities last night. They broke them down 1 through 7.  I'm still blaming the cold and I'm hoping this is just an aberration. But, this whole game looked like games the Rays struggled in last year.

Morning Round-up: Ex-Rays edition

Many familiar faces in the other dug out for last night's series opening game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.  Two of former Rays pitchers did their part to end the Rays 12-game domination of the O's.  In honor or Mark Hendrickson and Danys Baez... here's the morning round-up.

The Baltimore Sun talks about Hendrickson and the O's big victory last night.  A couple interesting tid bits out of this article. I didn't realize Hendrickson was 7-1 in April.  The other was that Hendrickson told Orioles manager Dave Trembley that he didn't have any more gas after the Carlos Pena single.  

Speaking of Hendrickson, the Sun's Toy Department blog (not sure the meaning behind this name) chronicle's Hendrickson basketball vs baseball decision in the 90's. Interesting read.  Hendrickson is actually doing something that Michael Jordan wished he could've done. Of course, I don't think MJ would trade his basketball success for Hendrickson's journeyman baseball career. Here's more on Jordan posterizing Hendrickson from the Palm Beach Post last year.

Marc Topkin of the Times pointed out all of the Rays miscues in last night's lost.  Rays need to tighten it up tonight.  Jump on Guthrie early and get to the bullpen again.  Restore the balance of power.

Bring it on! Opening day thoughts from around the web.

Surfing around the internet this morning, here are some of reaction to yesterday's opening day loss to the Boston Red Sox (my comments in italics):

- Boston Herald columnist Mike Silverman says Josh Beckett and Dustin Pedroia have the Red Sox thinking big. It's only one game, but I do have to agree that Beckett looked filthy yesterday. I also wish some would plunk Pedroia for me, just once.

- Much of the same from the Boston Globe. Vintage Beckett.  Both Boston papers went a little overboard with the poetry about opening day and the pre-game ceremonies. But, I guess that's what I get when I'm reading those rags.

- John Romano from the St. Pete Times talks about "Big Game" James Shields' struggles on the road.  I think this is the year that some of the newer Rays fans get a look at Kazmir as the true ace of this rotation. No offense to Shields, but when Kaz is on it doesn't matter where he is playing. As for Shields, he'll be fine.  He loves pitching in the Dome.  And he should have a little easier go of it on Sunday in Baltimore.

-And finally, MLB.com's game report was pretty vanilla... until you got to the comments. One game into the season and already the Yankee and Red Sox fans are verbally battling it out on any message board they can find. My favorite? The one where Yankee fan calls out Red Sox fan for getting excited about the beating their "little brother" the Rays.  Maybe he forgot that the Yankees lost to a less-than-steller Baltimore Orioles team on Monday.

Today's Game @ 7:05 on Sun Sports

What I'm looking for:

• Production from the 3/4/5 batters, especially Mr. Carlos Pena. Four strike outs is unexceptable. I know hitting lefties isn't always your thing Pena, but you've got to come with the stick tonight.

• The return of Kaz. A lot of talk in the rags about Beckett's redemption to 2007 form. I'd like to see Kaz get sick tonight on that Red Sox lineup.

• Rocco Baldelli in a Red Sox uniform. Hopefully, the Rays have enough scouting information on him to keep him from going wild.