A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Monthly archives for October, 2008

Bullpen, you are grounded.

Oct17
2008 6 Comments Written by Jessica

Go straight to your rooms, where you are to write “I’m sorry Scott Kazmir” 500 times.  I hope you got that out of your system, because I better not see it again.  Do not test me, because I am furious with you right now.  I don’t think you know how good you have it.  A seven run lead.  I don’t care what other bullpens are doing, you are not other bullpens.  So you better think about how this is never going to happen again.  Ever.

Okay that hurt.  I feel sick to my stomach.  I might just need to eat breakfast though.  This is going to be tough but I can do it, let’s look at the positive side of things.

The Rays lead the series 3-2.  They won two games at Fenway, something I wouldn’t have bet on.  They beat John Lester.  They have Shields ready to go in game 6.  Now they can win in front of the home town crowd.  They seem to do better when everyone doubts them.

When it comes right down to it that was just a loss last night.  Yes it was definitely painful, but it still only counts as one loss. 

C’mon home boys.  Time to kick some booty.  Go Rays!!

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Kaz’s turn to see the Baseball Guru.

Oct16
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Guru – Good morning son.  I’ve been waiting for you.
Kazmir – Sup.  Can you fix me, like you did Matt and Grant.
Guru – Are you broken?
Kazmir – lil bit.
Guru – I accept the challenge.  What seems to be the problem?
Kazmir – I’m not sure, but I’ve been getting schlacked lately.
Guru – Are you throwing your wicked slider?
Kazmir – Not too much.
Guru – Does it hurt to throw that pitch?
Kazmir – (in creepy girl voice) I’ll never tell.
Guru – Do you feel comfortable out there?
Kazmir – Not when they start hitting everything high and far.
Guru – I want you to wear cashmere under your jersey tonight.
Kazmir – Que?
Guru – Your name reminds me of cashmere and everybody feels more comfortable wearing it.  Besides it will keep you warm and help you to bring the heat.
Kazmir – If you say so.
Guru – Also, you need to quit worrying about your mechanics.  Work fast and just throw.  If you worry about anything it should be your downward torque.  Keep the ball down and you will have much success son.
Kazmir – Wear cashmere and keep it down, pretty simple.
Guru – You can do this.  Remember if you do, it’s party time.  Woop Woop!
Kazmir – Anything else?  Like maybe you need to prescribe a certain something that’s not quite legal for medicinal purposes?
Guru – Not today.  Nice try son.

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Don’t do it.

Oct15
2008 4 Comments Written by Jessica

Don’t even think it.  Do not get cocky right now.  You remember what happened to Cleveland last year right? 

Finally after the Rays have beaten Boston three times this post season, the national news is starting to change their tune.  They finally get it.  The Rays can play some baseball.  Today they are getting all kinds of praise.  Some even admit that the Red Sox have their work cut out for them.

The challenge for the Rays now is to not listen to all the hype.  Enjoy the Game 4 win, because it was definitely enjoyable.  Try not to look too far ahead.  Maddon will keep them steady, as he has all year.  The goal is simply to beat Boston one more time, not an easy assignment.

I for one am eager for the Shields vs. DiceK rematch.  That’s if they don’t switch it up and have Kazmir pitch game 5??  What’s the verdict on that?  I kind of like the idea.  Kazmir pitches better on the road.  Shields does not.  DiceK is worse at home.  Tough call.

Game 4 was a pleasurable experience, that eventually got boring, for all involved.  I’m pretty sure Francona was praying that one of his pitchers could hold the Rays so that he wouldn’t have to be there all night.  I’m also confident that Navi grounded into that double play towards the end of the game, because he was hungry and wanted to get to the spread.

Sonny was great again.  At what point do I stop being surprised by this? 

Carl Crawford had a superb night.  Let’s hope that’s a mainstay.

Is there such a thing as an unforced error in baseball?  Longo should definitely get one for biffing that grounder while the bat was flying toward his noggin.

BJ is looking supremely comfortable on the baseball field right now.  Other teams should be nervous.

Yes I’m holding all my excitement in today.  Do not get cocky.  Go Rays!! 

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Two Down, Two to Go.

Oct13
2008 2 Comments Written by Jessica

Who needs John Lester when you have Matt Garza!  Don’t get me wrong, every team would like to have a Lester, but tonight Mr. Garza was the man.  When he’s on, well, he can shutdown a team the likes of the Red Sox.  How sweet is that.  I have written many posts about how badass Garza is.  Suffice it to say I’m totally crushin on him right now.  There’s nothing hotter than pitching shutout baseball in October.  Unless you’re Randy Johnson, that doesn’t do it for me. *shudder*

Oh and how bout them Rays hitting dingers off of a lefty!  9-1, in a game that 99.9999% of people thought was a given for the Sox.  Check out the box score.  It’s so cool when everyone on the team contributes to putting dents in the green monster.  BJ’s new found power is so much fun.  It’s like McDonalds, I’m lovin it.  The fact that Rocco is contributing is pretty moving too.  Someone hug him, but not too tight.

Wow this post is pretty dorky, but I’m stoked that the Rays picked up a win tonight.  What’s not to love about this team?  Go Rays!!

C’mon Sonny, bring the heat tomorrow and help keep those bats warm too!

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Thank Goodness Sunday is a Day for Rest!

Oct12
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Because that was exhausting!  The post season is supposed to be all about pitching right?  Not last night.  It was like a study in opposites compared to the first game.

Kazmir had a painful start, giving up two runs in the first.  Not the tone the Rays wanted to set, but you can’t count the Rays out that early in the game.

In the bottom of the 1st.  Pena doubled and the Longo hit a two run homerun to get right back into it.  That was huge against Beckett.  Longo looked more like himself.  Could have been the pep talk he got from Maddon, or maybe my idea worked.  IBT* squad to the rescue.

Both pitchers got through the 2nd inning.  Then Kazmir gives up a homerun to Pedroia.  Ugh.  3-2 Boston.

In the bottom of the 3rd BJ homers right back to tie it.  Longo doubles and Crawford singles to score him.  This game is officially wacked at this point.  4-3 Rays.

Floyd hits a bomb to center in the 4th inning.  5-3 Rays.  Rock on!

Top of the 5th.  Kazmir gives up another homerun to Pedroia.  Two homeruns to mighty mouse!  Yes, I yelled at the TV.  Then he follows that up with another long ball to Youkilis.  Aaaaagh!  Maddon’s seen enough.  Balfour is in.  He promptly serves one up to Jason Bay!  Can no pitcher hold the game tonight?!  Balfour even walked the next two, and JP had to come in to end the inning.  6-5 Boston.  Dammit.

Bottom 5th.  Upton walks and then steals 2nd.  Pena singles and BJ scores.  Unfreakingbelievable.  Tie game.  Longo doubles and scores Pena.  7-6 Rays.  Pitching smitching.  CC singles and scores Longo.  8-6 Rays.  Can they keep it that way?

Top of 6th.  Howell walks Pedroia.  Maddon comes to the mound and says “focus dude, if you only do one thing for me today, strike this mofo out!”  JP strikes out Ortiz.  Bradford comes in and gives up a single to score that pesky Pedroia.  Just like that, the lead is cut to one.

The pitchers actually hold in the seventh.  Totally amazing at this point.

Top of the 8th.  Pedroia singles off of Bradford.  The kid is everywhere, it seems like he’s up to bat every inning.  Miller comes in and walks the only guy he’s asked to get out, Ortiz.  Maybe Maddon should have given him the focus speech.  Wheeler comes in and gets Youkilis to ground into a double play!  Sweet, except now Pedroia is on third.  Then came the wild pitch that was heard around the world.  Pedroia scores.  Tie game, again.  I can’t handle much more of this.

Wheeler actually did a great job except for that wild pitch.  He pitched the Rays into the 11th inning, where he was rescued by Mr. Price.  Price came in with one out and a man on first.  He walked Drew, but then regained his composure and got out of the inning.  You know he had to be so nervous.  Great job chosen one.

Bottom of the 11th.  The Rays face Mike Timlin.  Navi walks and Perez comes in to run for him.  Zobrist walked.  Barty had a timely chopper down to third and moved the runners over.  They walked Aki, and the bases were loaded with one out.  BJ hits a short sac fly to right.  No problem for Speedy McSpeedster, Perez scores.  Rays win!  Rays win game two!

In this case 9>8!  Go Rays!

Get some rest today people.

*itty bitty titty

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Sox Slice and Dice the Rays in Game One

Oct11
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

You know what’s really annoying.  When your team’s starting pitcher holds a power house offense like the Red Sox, only to have their pitcher be completely awesome on the same night.  Ugh.

James Shields was great.  He gave the Rays every opportunity to win that game.  Dice K happened to be great too.  The Rays had very few chances, and couldn’t put it together.

We could look at a couple of mistakes.  The sac fly that Lowrie hit was on an 0-2 count.  Granted it wasn’t a bad pitch, but it did get a lot of the plate.  Then Crawford almost made a great catch in left but it bounced off the tip of his mitt.

These miscues really don’t matter in the scope of things though, since the Rays offense couldn’t get anything going.

There is one huge issue that needs to be addressed immediately.  Ever since Evan Longoria was spotted at the USF game in the vicinity of a girl with a very nice set of boobies, he’s been stinkin it up at the plate.  This can not be happening right now.  He does not even look his normal comfortable self.  There is only one solution.  Get him a flat chested girl stat.  He needs to balance the scales.  That way he can go 4-0 not 0-4, and stay out of excruciating inning ending double plays.

Tonight Kazmir goes against playoff Josh Beckett, another tough task indeed.  Bring it Rays!!!

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Can the Rays go thru a pair of Sox to get to the promised land?

Oct09
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Doubting the Rays would be pretty foolish at this point in the season, but they definitely have a challenge ahead of them.  They got past the White Sox, but can they wear out the Red Sox?  It ain’t gonna be easy folks.  The Rays are going to have to lay it all on the line.  Just ask the Angels, any little mistake can cost you against Boston.  On the other hand, the Red Sox are going to have their hands full with the Rays too.

Yeah I just wrote a whole paragraph trying to say that this series is going to be intense.  I’m antsy just thinking about it.  At first I didn’t want the Rays to play Boston, but now I see that to be the best you have to beat the best, and it will only be that much more rewarding.

Here’s a list of what goes thru my mind when I see certain Red Sox players…

DiceK – his Indian name would be “man who throws too many pitches east”, because Kazmir is “man who throws too many pitches west”
Lester – ace of hearts, just need to get to the bullpen
Beckett – smug
Varitek – the glue
Casey – Mr. Ed
Youkilis – whiny baby who doesn’t suck at baseball
Pedroia – classic case of shortman syndrome
Lowrie – squeaky clean
Lowell – distinguished gentleman
Bay – coulda, shoulda, woulda
Ellsbury – annoyingly good
Drew – suddenly clutch
Papi – does he miss Manny?
Crisp – not kid appropriate, involves many four letter words

Oh and y’all thought I was crazy, but evidently I’m a trend setter.  Girls everywhere are going for the rayshawk to the south idea.  I think we should let the Red Sox players in on this phenomena.  That way maybe they’ll be distracted when they see a cute girl in the crowd, wondering if she’s really supporting her team.  Go Rays!!

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Um, it’s baseball season. So why is there no freaking baseball?

Oct08
2008 14 Comments Written by Jessica

dud spud

Is there a reason that the baseball postseason can’t be flexible?  These guys play baseball every day.  Obviously if one team takes five games to win and the other only needs three, someones going to have a few days off.  However on Monday the match ups for the ALCS and the NLCS were set.  Why is there no baseball until Thursday and Friday?  More importantly, what the hell are we supposed to do until then?

This is the Rays first postseason, in case you hadn’t heard.  The fans are eager to see them play on.  Plus this might be messing up their whole rhythm.  Besides I don’t want to watch Biggest Loser families or Dancing with the Stars.  I want to watch our leading men.  Pena, Barty, Longo, BJ, Garza.  These are the only heroes I’m interested in, and they are fantastic if I do say so myself.

What am I supposed to do?  Read a book? Clean house?  I don’t wanna.
Okay I got that out of my system, and I’m done pouting.

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ALCS BOUND!!!

Oct06
2008 3 Comments Written by Jessica

So lately people have been making me cranky.  So cranky that I haven’t even been able to enjoy the Rays.  If you know me, you know that means the crankiness has gone to a new level.  The games have been on at stupid times and I haven’t been able to truly focus on them.  Tonight that all changed.  I was determined to watch the game, to hell with everything else.  Man I missed these boys.  Damned if I didn’t get all choked up at the end watching them all celebrate.  The Rays are going to the ALCS.  The Rays!!

yippee
Hug me brother!  I love how Willy looks like a little kid on Christmas morning.

Sonny delivered.  BJ picked a great time to find his stroke.  Think they tried a new treatment on his shoulder?  Gross made another huge play, with a great catch to rob that weasel AJ of a homer.  Pena was obviously seeing the ball better.  Rays win.

I love this team.  I want to give them a big kiss.  MmmmmWaaaaah!  Thank you for cheering me up.  For six months and counting!  Go Rays!!

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Box the Sox

Oct04
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

The Rays beat the White Sox
to go ahead two and O
they had Kazmir on the rocks
but he said screw this and started to mow

Carlos scratched his eye like a dingleberry
good thing Willy is the super sub
and Navi is no hairy fairy
more like and RBI machine for this club

Aki wanted a turn as hero
so he planted one in the seats
Balfour thinks he’s DeNiro
confident he can take out anyone he meets

JP Howell is the man
and it’s nice to have Crawford back
BJ got a triple cuz he really ran
time to cut him some slack

I personally love the Woonsocket Rocket
he could make me sin
what’s next on the docket
Garza awesomeness and another win!

Go Rays!!!

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