HER RAYS!

Was it just me or was it really hard to stay awake for the whole game tonight?  The Rays definitely looked more awake than last night though.  They pick up the win 8-1.  They finish April 3 games over .500, and one game behind the Red Sox.  Best April ever.  Pretty sweet.

Some random thoughts from the game:
Aki starts the game off with a fly ball to center.  This is now like nails on a chalkboard for me.  He’s fast, he’s a lead off hitter, he needs to get on base, not hit fly balls!

The Rays load the bases in the 2nd with one out.  Gross and Bartlett to bat.  How much confidence do you have?  Gross hits a sac fly, and Bartlett grounded out.

Millar’s eyes were bigger than his hit.  He was busted trying to turn a single into a double.

Hinske!  Still want to trade him?  Two run homer to give the Rays the lead.

Sonny knows he’s working for a job.  If my vote counts I really like him.  He’s been pitching really well.  He’s cute.  He pitches a fast game, one of my favorite things ever.  Seriously, right up there with peanut M&Ms.

Bartlett seems to be improving a little at the plate.  He had a base hit, and a sac bunt.  Still wouldn’t pick him with the bases loaded though.

BJ was strokin it, especially against the nervous kid who couldn’t throw strikes.

Pena looked better tonight.  He had a big single that scored two in the 7th.

Navi too.

I like the fire this team has.  Sorafate (some pitcher for the O’s) made some comments to Pena about taking so long, and Pena takes a couple steps toward him and was all like “What the f*cks your problem man.”  BJ leaves first to back up his man.  Gomes is at the top of the dugout steps ready to charge and hit people with chairs.  Totally entertaining.

Day game tomorrow.  Let’s hope it’s warm and the Rays can take this series before heading to Boston.  Get ‘em Garza!  Go Rays!!

I’m blaming it on the cold.  The Rays won six in a row…Where it’s warm!  Tonight they lost 4-7, where it’s freakin frigid.

I was late getting to a TV and was quite surprised to see that Hammel was done early.  Sounds like he didn’t have much control.  He was cold!

The relievers weren’t themselves either.  Yep, that’s right they were downright chilly. 

The Rays bats were cold too, until the seventh but the Rays were down 0-7.  They scored 4 but couldn’t get any more than that.

Tomorrow night they need to crank up the heaters so the Rays can warm up and win this series.  Go Rays!!

The first month of the season is almost complete, so let’s take a look at the always competitive AL East.

We’ll start with the division leading Tampa Bay Rays!  So cool.
Strengths – So many great athletes in the line-up.  A much improved defense.  A bullpen that is kickin ass and takin names.  Their ace is on his way back.
Weaknesses – Three of their starting pitchers are inconsistent.  The bottom of their batting order gives opposing pitchers a mid game siesta.

 Baltimore Orioles
Strengths – Shutting up their critics, some of who thought they would be San Fransisco Giants bad.  The whole line-up is hitting.  Aubrey Huff is an RBI machine.
Weaknesses – Questionable starting pitching.

Boston Red Sox
Strengths - One of the best hitting  line-ups in baseball.  No lead is too big against them.  A nice youth infusion adding speed to their game.  A lights-out closer.
Weaknesses - Their middle relievers give their fans palpitations.  Only one ace in the starting rotation.

New York Yankees
Strengths – One of the best hitting line-ups in baseball.  Excellent back-end combination of Joba and Rivera.
Weaknesses – Starting pitching, defense, and injuries to two major players. (Posada and Rodriguez) 

Toronto Blue Jays
Strengths – All around pitching, and players coming out of slumps. (Hill and Rios)
Weaknesses – Defense and not the best hitting line-up ever.

Verdict – They’re all contenders, it’s only April!

Ya gotta love it!  The Rays just swept the Sox.  Boston 0 – Tampa 3.  I think we’re all going to need the day off to recover from the madness!

Here are some of my deep, insightful (read: lame, obvious) thoughts on todays game:

What is up with these Red Sox players and their ugly necklaces?  Unless they are made by sick children or something, I’m not a fan.

This Beckett kid is gonna be pretty good.

When did Hinske start stealing bases?  Think Varitek was expecting that one?

Nobody can hit Beckett… except Bartlett, weird.  Beckett miffs a pitch out and it goes into right field.  Run Bartlett Run!  He scores from first.  For the record, I declared my love for him long before this. 

When did Manny start stealing bases?  Think Navi was expecting that one?

I feel a little guilty.  I got mesmerized by the shiny strikeouts.  I didn’t really appreciate Shields performance until late in the game.  And I call myself a fan.  Pitiful.

Longo is the bomb! and he hits the bomb!  Love him.  Very smart hitter that one, he makes nice adjustments to pitchers.  0-2 Rays.

Did you see the patty cake exchange between Longo and Gomes in the dugout after the home-run??  Oh my goodness, it was the gayest thing I’ve ever seen. 

Bartlett uses his melon.  Literally he took one off the helmet.  Buy that boy a drink, he had a great game.

Crawford hit a triple double to bring in Bartlett.  CC got tagged out getting a little greedy.  In all fairness though it took a nice bounce off the wall.  0-3 Rays.

James Shields you rock.  2 hit shutout.  Excellent.

Now the Rays can fight for the division against the Orioles.  So funny that sentence almost looks like a mad-lib gone awry.  Go Rays!!

Pregame – Staats and Magrane with the call again.  I’m so obsessed with Staats hair.  Do you think it’s crunchy?  Ed-WIN Jackson vs. Clay Buchholz tonight.

Top 1st – slow roller + speedy runner = base hit for Ellsbury.  Pedroia hits into a nice 5-4-3 double play.  Drew gets a freakish broken bat single to Aki.  Jackson blows it all off and strikes out Ramirez.

Bottom 1st – Buchholz looks like a cute lemur, with way too many necklaces.  Aki strikes out.  Crawford grounds out.  BJ and Pena walk, but Bucholz blows it all off and strikes out Longo.

Top 2nd – Youkilis walks.  Crisp hits into a fielders choice, Youk out.  Varitek flys out to center and BJ doubles Crisp off first.

Bottom 2nd – Three up, three down go the Rays.

Top 3rd – Lowrie rips a nice base hit.  Word on the street is he’s workin Fabio Lugo out of a job.  Lugo flies out.  Ellsbury and Pedroia go down too.

Bottom 3rd – Three up, three down go the Rays again.  Shucks.

Top 4th – Three up, three down go the Red Sox.  WooHoo!

Bottom 4th – Upton doubles to left.  Rock on.  Pena grounds out but moves BJ to third.  Longo and Hinske both ground out.  Fudge.

Top 5th – Crisp base hit.  Varitek strikes out.  Wild pitch to Lowrie and Crisp goes from first to third.  Ugly.  Lugo strikes out.  Ellsbury hits a hard grounder to third and Longo damn near got him but Crisp scores.  1-0 Red Sox.  Pedroia grounds out.

Bottom 5th – Gross, Riggans and Bartlett sit back down in order.

Top 6th – Pena makes a great grab at first and they get the Sox 1,2, 3.

Bottom 6th – 3 Rays get out.

Top 7th – 1 walk but 3 Sox get out.

Bottom 7th – 3 Rays  don’t get on base.

Top 8th - Miller gets Ellsbury to pop out, and strikes out Pedroia, but then walks Drew.  No fear, Doh!man strikes out Manny Ramirez!

Bottom 8th – Gross strikes out.  Navarro in to hit for Riggy.  He totally struck out but the Sox didn’t get the call and one pitch later he singled to right.  Bartlett flies out.  No Way!  Aki hits a two run homer to right!  Who knew??  Rays take the lead .  Boston 1 – Tampa 2.  CC gets out.

Top 9th – Percy in to pitch.  He gets Youkilis and Crisp to fly out.  Then strikes out Varitek!  Rays beat Boston again!

Postgame – This game was not nearly as exciting as last nights most due to some great starting pitching.  Edwin pitched a great game.  Glad I’m not making the decision when Kazmir returns.  Buchholz also pitched great.  I actually felt sorry for him since he only made that one mistake and it cost him. 
More good relief pitching.  It’s hard for a Rays fan to handle.  Navarro came in and stepped up big with a single.  Aki is the hero tonight!  What’s next?  Is Bartlett hitting a walk off tomorrow?  Go Rays!!

What a game!  I’m exhausted.  Whew, where to start…

Crawford triples in the first to set the tone.  So awesome to watch.

Upton hits a sac fly to bring him in.

Garza had an agonizing 2nd inning.  No control.  Did he spit this much in his other starts?  He ended up walking in a run and giving up two more.

Wakefield had almost as much trouble the next inning but got out of his bases loaded jam.

Garza came back much better after that.

Bottom of the 3rd, runners on 1st and 2nd and BJ is called out stealing 3rd.  What does he have to do to get a call?  I’m suprised he hasn’t completely lost it.  He was clearly safe and this was a big deal because the next batter, Longo, singled and drove in one run that should have been two.  I found myself thinking of this all throughout the game.

BJ made a great diving catch in center.

Crawford tripled again in the fourth scoring one, then Gomes brought him in.  It was technically an E by Lugo.

Howell relieved Garza and was very hittable.  He gave up one run, but Crawford made a web gem catch to end the threat.

Howell came back strong after that and went through the heart of Boston’s order.

Wheeler gives up an unfortunate infield single.  Followed by a grounder to Aki that should have been a double play ball or at least one out, but a little hesitation later, no outs.  It was quite unbelievable.  I thought the game was over right there.  Maddon actually made a smart move and came out to settle everyone down.  2 on and 1 out and Wheeler digs deep to get Ortiz to fly out and strikes Manny out.  That rocked.

So bottom of the ninth.  Aki walks.  Crawford strikes out.  Upton fielders choice, Aki out at second.  Pena in to pinch hit.  How many thought this was a good idea??  He singles to right, BJ to third.  They walk Longo.  Bases loaded for Hinske.  He hits one all the way to the wall, but Drew makes the catch.  Soooo close.  I thought they missed their chance.

Miller gets a strike out but walks two in the top of the tenth.  Glover comes in and gets Fabio Lugo to ground into a double play.  Love it!  Bartlett is playing awesome in the field by the way.

Bottom of the tenth.  Navarro gets a wing and a prayer infield single.  Gross strikes out.  Bartlett hits a double play ball but shows determination and hustles himself safe at first.  Aki flys out anyway.

Glover is back in.  He hits Varitek.  Ugh.  Ellsbury sac bunts and moves him over.  Pedroia singles to right but Varitek stays at third because Gross has a cannon for an arm.  I like him out there.  So Dohman comes in with runners on first and third and gets Ortiz to ground into a double play!  Frickin amazing!

Bottom 11th – Crawford singles to left. (after being down 0-2 and taking it to a full count) Then he steals second, because he can.  BJ walks.  So who’s up?  Nathan Haynes.  He ran for Pena earlier.  He hits a game winning single!  No, I’m not shitting you!  Nathan Haynes is the hero!

Rays win in 11.  Final score Boston 4 – Tampa 5.  It was a great game.  The Rays put it all together and came away with a big win!  I must sleep now.

The Red Sox are in town.  Which means the Red Sox fans are going to start coming out of the woodwork.  Ugh.  They have become worse than the Yankees fans they always hated.  I would love to see the Rays get a couple of wins.  Just for sh*ts and giggles let’s compare the line-ups.

Catcher – Navi vs. Varitek
I’m loyal but c’mon this is a no brainer.  Navi is swinging the bat pretty well right now, but Tek is way more consistent all around.
Hotness factor(not related to baseball ability) - Not really my cup of tea, but I know many chicks dig the lumber jack look of Varitek.
Advantage – Red Sox

1st Base – Pena vs. Casey
While both are excellent fielders I would give the edge to Pena because he moves a little better.  Normally Pena would be a better choice at the plate too, but he looks a little lost lately.  While Casey is batting .346.
Hotness factor – Casey is cute and always entertaining, but Pena is tall, dark and handsome.
Advantage – Even

2nd Base – Aki vs. Pedroia
Two excellent second basemen in the field.  Pedroia is light years ahead at the plate though.
Hotness factor – Neither one of these guys does it for me.
Advantage – Red Sox

3rd Base – Longo vs Youkilis
This is just a comparison of age and experience.  Both are great players but I think you have to give the edge to Youkilis right now.
Hotness factor – Duh, Longo is way cuter, but most people are way cuter than Youk.
Advantage – Even

SS – Bartlett vs. Lugo
I can’t stand Lugo.  If I had to be honest they are probably about even both in the field and with the bat right now.  I just had a pain in my chest typing that.
Hotness factor – Lugo has a negative hotness factor.  I like to call him Fabio Lugo since seeing him in his designer sunglasses constantly rearranging his junk.  Ick.  Bartlett on the other hand is very easy on the eyes.  He always has a nice clean haircut on the back of his neck.  This is a major turn on…wow sharing too much.
Advantage – Rays

Left Field – Crawford vs. Ramirez
How do you choose between two all stars, especially two that are so different.  One is built for speed while the other is built for dependability.  What is this a car commercial?  Anyhoo, Carl is the man, but Manny is Manny.
Hotness factor – Crawford dreads down.
Advantage – Even

Centerfield – BJ Upton vs. Ellsbury
Wow tough call.  BJ is fast but Ellsbury is Dash from the Incredibles fast.  BJ is better with the bat.
Hotness factor – Ellsbury is a big hit with the ladies of Boston, but he is no Bossman Junior.
Advantage – Rays

Right Field – ??Gross vs Drew
This really depends on which JD Drew comes to play that day.  He is immensely talented, and I hardly know Gross.
Hotness factor – Gross is not gross at all and could easily compete with Drew for the ladies.
Advantage – Red Sox

DH – Gomes/Hinske vs Ortiz
Big Papi was cursed but they dug up that jersey and now he’s free to blast.  Gomes and Hinske are both hitting well too.
Hotness factor – Gomes has that whole K-Fed thing going for him.  I don’t like the Red Sox, but you have to love Big Papi.  His smile is contagious.
Advantage – Even

Pitchers – Garza, Jackson, Shields vs. Wakefield, Bucholz, Beckett
Garza and Jackson are two unknowns.  They could be great or they could blow.  Shields has also struggled a bit.  Wakefield owns the Rays.  Bucholz has been shakable, and who knows if Beckett will be healthy. 
Hotness factor – Garza trumps them all.
Advantage – Red Sox

Bullpen – Rays vs. Red Sox
The Rays bullpen has been excellent, but this is going to be quite a test for them.  No lead is too big against Boston.  Boston’s middle relief is a little shaky.
Hotness factor – negative points to Boston for this.
Advantage – Even

End result – The Rays will have to be at their best to beat the world champions, but it could totally happen!  Go Rays!!

So last week I was in a cautiously optimistic phase when it came to the Rays, because they’d win a couple and then have an ugly loss or two.  They also seemed to lose some of their spring training positive momentum.  That’s why it’s so great that they swept the Jays!  They’re back to .500.  It is a nice boost for this team and their fans.  Let’s hope they can build on it.

Sonny pitched out of a lot of trouble to keep the Rays in it.  He gave up three runs, and only one was an actual RBI.   Who’s covering home?  Whips, nobody.  That and a wild pitch were two free runs.

Crawford is hot, and I agree that he is the captain of this team and sets the tone.
Longo is freakin awesome.  Have I mentioned that I love him.  Hinske and him are quite a combination in the line-up.
Navi is also rakin.
I didn’t get much of a feel for the Gross guy.
Glad to see Bartlett have another good game.
Percy made me nervous as hell.  I think Maddon got lucky there, and should never use him in three games in a row again.

Rays 5 – Jays 3!  Sweep!  Groovy!

Ok now they just need to stay far away from the Red Sox because they have some mutant flu virus.  Can they play with masks and gloves? 

Let’s hope they can pick up another series and gain some ground in the AL East!  Go Rays!!

Pregame – Most of the pregame discussion revolves around all of the roster moves/trades the Rays are making, or will be making as players come off the DL.  I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a chick, but I’ve never gotten into debating these moves.  I pretty much go on emotional involvment.  In other words most of the discussions of that last couple days don’t bother me much because I’m not attached to any of the players involved. 
Hammel vs. Halladay
Pena’s in the line-up at first.  WooHoo.

Top 1st – Hammel walks Eckstein to start it off.  I think Pena could pick Eckstein up and put him in his pocket.  Stewart hits a sharp grounder down the 3rd base line, but Longo makes a great play to get the out.  Hill moves Eckstein to third with a ground out, but Hammel strikes out Wells!  Nice.

Bottom 1st – Halladay gets the Rays in order.

Awesome, the three amigos are at the game.  Excellent sombreros.

Top 2nd – Shit.  Stairs just hit a homerun.  1-0 Jays.  Hammel gets the next three.

Bottom 2nd – Pena hits a bloop single.  Yuck, Longo grounds into a double play.  Hinkse flies out. 

Top 3rd – Jays get a man on, but leave him stranded.

Bottom 3rd – Gomes gets a base hit up the middle.  Yuck, Navarro grounds into a douple play.  Sounds familiar.  Bartlett ground out.

Top 4th – Hammel walks one but three fly out.

Bottom 4th – Aki singles up the middle.  Crawford moves him over.  BJ flys out, Aki to third.  Pena strikes out.  Sh*t burgers.

Top 5th – Inglett base hit and steals second.  Eckstein strikes out.  Inglett steals third, Navi slow to throw.  Hammel gets the next two.  Nice again.

Bottom 5th – Rays go down one, two, three.

Top 6th – Wells singles to right.  Holy crap! Stairs just launched one again.  3-0 Jays.  Hammel settles down and gets three ground outs .

Bottom 6th – Navarro doubles to left.  Alright! Let’s go.  Bartlett RBI!  but no?  Why the hell is Navi still on third.  He better score in this inning or I’m gonna have a fit.  Aki strikes out.  Crawford base hit up the middle and whew Navi scored!  3-1 Jays  BJ walks, bases loaded for PENA.  Ugh he strikes out.  Longo!  Base hit scores two!  Tie game  Love him.  Hinkse!  Base hit scores one.  3-4 Rays.  Gomes pops out, but the Rays take the lead.

Top 7th – Wheeler’s in to pitch.  Eckstein singles, but a sweet double play and a pop fly end that.

Energized drinker fan gets the award for pounding beers.

Bottom 7th – Rays go down in order.

Top 8th – Wells gets a base hit but Wheeler holds them.

Bottom 8th – Crawford triples to center!  He is wicked fast.  BJ hits a sac fly to bring him in.  3-5 Rays!  Pena and Longo ground out, but I still love them.

Top 9th – Percy in to pitch.  Do I dare call him that?  He could squash me like a bug.  Ouch, a kid just made a great catch on a foul ball, but it was with his barehand.  Had to hurt.  Three up, three down and the Rays win!

Post Game – It’s a helluva day when you can beat Halladay!  Hammel did just what we always ask of him.  Defense was good.  Offense was good.  The Rays looked tough tonight.  I dig that.  Let’s hope they can stay hot and sweep the Jays and get back to .500!  Go Rays!!

Hey Hey the Rays beat the Jays!  Final score Toronto 4 – Tampa 6.

I came in late again, so I didn’t really get to see much of Shields.  I did go back and watch the second inning though.  Man was that ever ugly.  Must have been excruciating for you guys who watched it real time.  He’s lucky he got out of that inning with only two runs on the board.  When is Pena coming back to play first?  Not soon enough.

The offense came through and put Shields right back in the game.  Longo hit one out to dead away center.  It didn’t even look like he swung that hard.  Love him.  Hinske follows with a double.  Shitske, I don’t think so.  Welcome back Navi, he singles and that evens the score.  Nice work boys.

Shields settles down.  He gives up two more runs, but the offense had him covered tonight.  Hinske rocked the house!  He was a single away from hitting for the cycle.  Navi was bringin it too.  Bartlett snuck in an RBI so he wouldn’t feel left out.

Wheeler and Percival came in and finished them off.  Yes that’s right, they held the lead and the Rays won!

It’s been ages since I’ve been able to watch a whole game live, but tomorrow is the day.  I’ll have a full game diary, for the two of you that have been missing them.  Let’s hope the Rays make it two in a row.  Go Rays!!

Oh, the Rays acquired some Gross outfielder from Milwaukee.  More on that tomorrow.