Rays Notes: J.P. Howell’s Incredible Play, Rays Clubhouse, WBC

With a runner on 3rd and 2 outs in the 7th inning of Sunday’s game, J.P. Howell made an incredible game-saving play. If you haven’t seen it yet or want to relive it again (and who wouldn’t?) here it is.

The video incited some interesting discussion in the Rays clubhouse.

JP’s play on Rasmus was the play of the year.Impossible to make but he did it. The afterbirth of that play in our dugout was incredible.

— Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) September 23, 2012

JP Howell on his defensive play : “I wrestle with my dogs a lot, so that was good because it gives me that angle to just throw it.” #Rays

— Patrick Kurish (@PKurish) September 23, 2012

What? Do we even want to know, J.P.? In any event, like Maddon said, it was an unbelievable play and he could not have picked a better time to make it considering the tying run was about to score from 3rd. In other Rays clubhouse news…

Another day of Isley Brothers Radio in Pandora in the #Rays clubhouse. Don’t want to mess w/ this silky smooth vibe. Ryan Roberts behind it.

— Dave Haller (@HallerDave) September 23, 2012

I told @elliotjohnson9 and @chrisgimenez5 they need to match for Autograph Sunday. This was their countermove. twitter.com/HallerDave/sta…

— Dave Haller (@HallerDave) September 23, 2012

Winning makes the clubhouse a lot happier, no doubt about that. But it’s incredible how Joe Maddon and everyone are able to keep this team relaxed no matter what happens and that has definitely played a role in the Rays survival and success this season.

In one non-clubhouse related note, reliever Eduardo Morlan tossed 3.1 shutout innings in Spain’s 9-7 victory over Israel on Sunday night to qualify for the World Baseball Classic. Of course, congrats to Spain, but we’re mentioning this here because Morlan was a former Rays prospect, being the rarely-remembered throw-in prospect along with Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett in the trade for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie. Morlan made 90 relief appearances while in the Rays system from 2008 to 2010, all at Double-A Montgomery, and he posted a 123-57 strikeout to walk ratio in 129.1 IP, but allowed a bad 1.2 home runs per 9 innings, leading to his eventual release. Moran, still just 26, finished 2010 with the Brewers organization but has played primarily in independent ball since then, seeing brief time in the Braves organization in 2011. As a member of the Spain WBC team, Morlan showed flashes. Considering how young he is, we may not have seen the last of him.