Tampa Bay Rays Nix Doubleheader: A Recollection of a September 2009 Incident

Friday night's rainout of the Rays-Yankees game had me really hot under the collar. Well, not the rainout itself, but the refusal by the Rays to play a doubleheader Saturday.

A doubleheader today would have given Derek Jeter more opportunities to get his 3,000th career hit at home.

It was the Rays' right, of course. Visiting teams have the last word in such situations. The Rays say they are a banged up team and, therefore, a doubleheader wouldn't work for them right now. They would rather make the game up in September when they'll have the luxury of an expanded roster.

The decision makes sense, but I wonder how much of that decision was just wanting to give Derek Jeter fewer opportunities to reach that coveted milestone against them. After what happened in September, 2009 with Mark Teixeira, I wouldn't put it past them.

Teixeira was tied with then-Ray Carlos Pena for the league lead in home runs at 39.  Pena's season had ended a few weeks earlier when he broke two of his fingers while getting hit by a pitch. The Rays hosted the Yankees for what I think were the final games of the season. 

During the series, Rays pitchers didn't give Teixeira anything to hit, thereby making it impossible for him to hit his 40th home run. Pena and Teixeira ended the season tied at 39 home runs a piece.

Any team that pulls stunts like will never be given the full benefit of the doubt by me. Because of what happened in '09 I will always be suspicious of this team whenever they make the kind of decision they made last night.

Here's hoping Saturday is the day for Derek Jeter. He needs two hits to reach 3,000. Go captain and go Yankees.