Hammel picks up relief win: Joe Maddon walked up to Jason Hammel before the game and gave his little-used reliever a pep talk, telling him it was only a matter of time until he contributed after not taking the mound for 11 consecutive days. That time came only a few hours later when Hammel pitched three scoreless frames in extra innings to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Monday night. "I said, 'Listen, I know it stinks but we need you to stay ready because we're going to need you at some point, and you're going to come through for us tonight,' " Maddon said. "I did not have that in the back of my mind when I said it to him. He pitched great. He really did." (Updated 05/20/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/23/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Hammel (3-2) said he told his manager he was "pretty near insanity" because of the long layoff, but he handled it just fine once he took the mound to start the bottom of the 10th. He allowed one baserunner in the 10th, pitched out of a first-and-second jam with one out in the 11th and ended his night with a perfect 12th. Hammel might return to the rotation at some point in 2008, but remains just an AL-only Fantasy option. (Updated 05/20/2008).
No information available at this time.
Hammel picks up relief win: Joe Maddon walked up to Jason Hammel before the game and gave his little-used reliever a pep talk, telling him it was only a matter of time until he contributed after not taking the mound for 11 consecutive days. That time came only a few hours later when Hammel pitched three scoreless frames in extra innings to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Monday night. "I said, 'Listen, I know it stinks but we need you to stay ready because we're going to need you at some point, and you're going to come through for us tonight,' " Maddon said. "I did not have that in the back of my mind when I said it to him. He pitched great. He really did." (Updated 05/20/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/23/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Hammel (3-2) said he told his manager he was "pretty near insanity" because of the long layoff, but he handled it just fine once he took the mound to start the bottom of the 10th. He allowed one baserunner in the 10th, pitched out of a first-and-second jam with one out in the 11th and ended his night with a perfect 12th. Hammel might return to the rotation at some point in 2008, but remains just an AL-only Fantasy option. (Updated 05/20/2008).
= probable start
