hammer

Las Vegas - Before we get to the pick, I'm crying. Why? MC Hammer is gonna throw out the first pitch. How GREAT is that. I still have my baggy GOLD parachute pants and get giddy when Hammer comes on any of my devices. “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit!" So, why is the ceremonial first pitch Hammer-time? Stanley Burrell, aka Hammer, was born in Oakland and served as clubhouse assistant and bat boy for the A’s from 1973 to 1980. Now I'm just praying that Hammer doesn't go all 50 Cent and embarrass himself on national TV. If you have not seen Fiddy throw, Google it, and you'll laugh for a week!

Back to basics. Oakland is gonna start Sean Manaea, and the first question you have is, how do the Rays fare against lefties? Tampa hit .255 and with a .748 OPS against lefties and .253 with a .761 OPS against righties. They were 32-25 against lefties and 64-41 in games started by righties. Manaea had shoulder surgery last September, and has had just five starts since returning on September 1. However, the results have been rock solid, with a 4-0 record and a 1.21 ERA. And if you wanna talk solid, then Tampa's Charlie Morton is a load. Morton steps to the mound with a 16-6 record and a 3.05 ERA. He hasn't lost a game since the end of August, and his last outing, 6 innings, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 9 Ks, was dominant. He posted an 8-3 mark on the road, and his work against Oakland was shut down-city. In two starts against the A's this season, he gobbled up 13 innings, allowed just 1 earned run and posted 13 Ks. So, not gonna go crazy, but thinking about a little tickle on the Rays.

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