Rangers vs. Rays: Desmond Jennings Solo Shot Gives Tampa 1-0 Lead

If Desmond Jennings were up for the entire season, he could have been runaway AL Rookie of the Year. But the Rays (wink wink) kept him in the minors (wink wink) so he could (wink wink) work on some things. It certainly didn't have anything with service time and not starting his arbitration clock. Wink.

And that decision almost cost the Rays way more money than it might have saved them. Missing out on playoff revenue would be a big deal for any team, much less the Rays, and for a few months they were messing around with Sam Fuld and Justin Ruggiano.

Now Jennings is up, the Rays did make the playoffs, and now they get to enjoy an extra year of Desmond Jennings before he can't catch a line drive that costs the Red Sox a playoff berth. Jennings also hit a shot over the left-field fence to break up a scoreless game, and the Rays have a 1-0 lead through four innings.