HER RAYS!

This trade deadline felt like Christmas.  There was a lot of anticipation.  There was a lot of speculation.  The spirit of giving was in the air.  However in the end, the other kids got all the cool gifts.  Oh well, what are ya gonna do.

First Cliff Lee went to the Phillies.  He would have made a nice addition to the Rays, but I guess they wanted too much from the farm.  That makes those Phillies pretty tough.

Ditto for Roy Halladay.  I’m not sure what it would have taken to land him.  Think Toronto just couldn’t bear to part with him?

I put Joe Mauer on my list, but I knew that was a pie in the sky idea.  He’s not going anywhere.  I doubt Minnesota will deal with the Rays any time in the near future anyway.  Garza and Bartlett are just too good.

Victor Martinez is heading to Boston.  The Rays could have used him, but he doesn’t always make the right impression around here.  I’m not sure if I wanted him, but I sure as hell didn’t want Boston to get him.  It’s like Jason Bay all over again.  I wonder if Mr. Friedman is pissed or if the Rays decided they didn’t want VMart?

Jake Peavy would have been nice.  Glad the Rays are done playing the White Sox this regular season.

There were other trades but I’m tired of focusing on what we didn’t get.  Let’s focus on what the Rays already have.  They have a very solid team.  If they were to play up to their potential, I put them up there with the best.  So no more slacking, everyone contributes.

Sidney Ponson helped the Rays focus on that tonight.  There was actually offense and pitching together, it was beautiful.  Let’s see it again tomorrow.  Go Rays!

Word – Anemic
Lacking vigor or energy.
Can you tell me the origin?  Ancient Greek.
Can you use it in a sentence?  The Rays offense is anemic.

Garza pitched just fine, holding the Yanks to three runs.  This loss rests on the offense.  The bullpen didn’t help the cause but it didn’t matter since nobody was hitting the ball.

The Pena Burrell combination is just ducky right now.  Does Pat always look at the first strike?  It bugs me.  I mean even against Mo Rivera.  That guy hardly ever throws a ball, so why give him anything?

Mark Teixeira is really annoying.  He’s made at least four plays in this series that Giami would never had made.  Get out of town. 

Might be time for Mr. Maddon to shake up that line-up.  Can’t make it worse.

Enjoy your off day tomorrow Rays fans.  Let’s hope the front office comes up with something great.  Let’s hope the guys regroup.  Let’s hope Friday is a better day, cause tonight’s game kinda sucked.  Go Rays!!

Scott Kazmir was faboosh tonight!  He actually pitched seven innings.  Seven.  He outdueled Sabathia.  Unbelievable.

His name has come up in trade rumors, and as is typical I have a total chick reaction to that.  I know it might be best for the team, but it’s Scott Kazmir.  He was good for the Rays when no one else was.  I’m kind of attached to him, especially when he shuts down the Yankees or Red Sox.  Can’t they fix him so we get this result everytime?  I know, I’m just a silly girl.

It was great to see the offense show up too, minus Pat Pena.  Let’s not dwell on that…Rays win!

Tomorrow should be fun.  Garza vs. Joba.  Whoa, smokin.  Actually it might come down to who ever can control their emotions.  Remember Matt, baby steps.    Go Rays!!

This game made me grouchy right from the get go!  Why the heck wasn’t it in HD?  Come on!

Where is Brian Anderson?  I want Brian Anderson.  Come on!

What is it about AJ Burnett?  The Rays seem to be rendered useless when he’s on the mound.  Is the snarl his source of power? Come on!

Shields had his normal rough inning early, but what was up with the back to back homers in the 6th?  Come on!

Time to order new bats, because these ones aren’t working.  I don’t have the energy to look up the stats, but the Rays seem to be down in the count a lot.  New York looked a lot more aggressive at the plate.  Granted they were getting fatter pitches, but they really came out swinging right from the beginning.  Take notice fellas.  Come on!

Joe Nelson scares the crap out of me.  He comes in a throws a wild pitch then walks the guy.  Come on!  (he was able to work out of it though)

Evan the RBI machine had a rough go of it tonight.  Unless you count the RBI GIDP.  Come on!

Balfour made me yell at the TV during the Jeter at bat.  He blew two fast balls right by the swinging shortstop, then instead of throwing some junk he decided to press his luck.  Big surprise Captain America singles to right.  Ugh.  Come on!

Albaladejo better watch his back.  Do not hit Longo.  I WILL come down there.  Come on!

Is it bad that I wished Pena was batting 6th when he came up with a chance to pull the Rays within one.  Fail.  Come on!

Shouse.  No other words are needed.  Come on!

Pat, nice home run, but you are late to the party.  Please bring more tomorrow.  Come on!

Yes this game made me Ms. Grouchy McGrouchypants.  The Yanks looked like the much better team.  I hope it made the Rays grouchy too.  Time for them to score some runs, and they have their work cut out for them tomorrow.  CC vs. Kazmir.  Oy.  Let’s hope for the best.  Go Rays.  Come on!

All in all that was not a bad road trip.  It wasn’t pretty, but it could have been much worse.

Saturday I got home right in the middle of the Rays comeback.  That was fine by me because I missed all the bad stuff, and it hurts my heart when David Price doesn’t do well.  However my heart likes it very much when Barty drives in winning runs.

The game today stunk, but I really think the guys just want to come home.  So tonight they get to sleep in their own beds and catch up with their families.  Let’s hope that recharges them and they show up to the park happy and ready to play, because it’s crunch time.

The big bad Yankees are coming to town.  They are coming off a hella good homestand, so they need to be brought back down to earth a little bit.  That’s right, they must be crushed.  None of these super comebacks.  Well, if it’s necessary to come back then by all means, but the preferred method of winning would be showing no mercy right from the beginning.   It’s time to gain some ground in this division.  Do not let those bombers get comfortable.  Make them sweat.

Does anyone know how I can get a couple of notes to the dugout? 

Gabe Gross,
Fire up your cannon.  They’re used to pop ups to right being home runs.
Thanks.

James Shields,
Pitching to contact might not be the best idea against this line-up.
Best Wishes.

Pat the Bat,
Quit being so picky and hit the damn ball.
Sincerely.

Longo,
How you doin?
xoxo

Go Rays!

Pardon me fella, but could you please sit your ass back down. 

Holy crap I got everything I asked for in my last post.  The trip to the Guru worked and Garza found his zen like state, enabling him to pitch up to his potential.  The Rays pulled their heads out of their behinds and scored some runs, and they took down those birds dressed in baby blue.  Sweet! 

Seriously though Matt Garza was phenomenal when all anybody could talk about was how great Roy Halladay is.  Matt has won this match up several times.  I for one appreciate it, especially tonight.  He went the distance pitching nine innings.  Thank God.  For a minute there I saw some guys up in the bullpen who I did not want to see in this game.  I won’t name names but some rhyme with boat and dealer, and the other is the opposite of strike three.

Thanks to BJ, CC, Barty, Pat and especially Longo for getting hits tonight.  It was very nice to see the offense come through and get Matt the win.  It sucks when a pitcher goes nine innings and gets a loss.  Just ask Roy.

How happy were you to see JP Howell come in?  Watch out JP, Rays fans are getting attached to your comfortable presence at the end of the game.  You make us feel safe.

Here’s the plan for tomorrow.  Price finds his way again, and everybody hits giving him a comfortable lead.  Oh and the Yankees and Red Sox manage to lose their games.  Go Rays!

First let me start by saying I’m not a fan of the White Sox.  Matter of fact they are one of the teams I have an irrational distaste for.  I hate that every time they hit a home run there seems to be at least two runners on base.  I hate that the Rays seem to lose their minds a little when playing them, and I really don’t like AJ Pierzynski or his fuzzy blond hair.

I am also not a fan of watching the Rays unable to hit the ball.  I really wanted them to pick up a split in this series.  I really wanted Scott Kazmir to pitch well.  Most of all I wanted them to play a clean game, since last nights game made me grouchy.

However deep down I’m just a big homer of a baseball fan, and I’m ashamed to admit that by the end of the game today I was rooting for the bad guy, Mark Buehrle.  Especially after the catch by Dewayne Wise who just came in the game.  Wow.

A perfect game is an awesome achievement.  Seriously look at the box score, it’s blank.  He blanked… aw crap he blanked the Rays.  Good but not good.  I’m torn.

Here’s what I’m gonna do.  Congratulate Mr. Buehrle on a job well done, encourage Mr. Garza to find a zen like state and outduel Mr. Halladay tomorrow, and persuade the Rays offense to pull their heads out of their butts and score some runs. 

C’mon Rays time to finish the road trip on a good note.  Get pissed off and take down some BlueJays!  Go Rays!

Thanks for being good at baseball and saving the bullpen and staying focused and striking out AJ and fighting for the win.  You’re cool big guy.

I feel like I should maybe thank Bobby Jenks a little bit too?

Others deserving fist bumps…
Barty – Nice night at the plate, especially the lead off single in the ninth against the guy who struck you out to end the game last night.  Right back at ya, Bobby.

Longo – Nifty defense and a timely sac fly.

Burrell – Bases loaded walks are RBI’s too.

Joe D – Pretty good D at second for someone who hasn’t played in a while.  ( I still think he got busted doing something and was grounded?)

Navi – Two hits and a good night behind the plate.  Can we get an encore tomorrow?

JP – Saving the day.

I know the games are only an hour later but it’s killing me.  Yes, I’m weak.  I must go sleep now.  Go Rays!

Well the Rays managed to sweep the Royals, but Mr. Garza looked a little unhinged.  Time for another session with the Baseball Guru.

Guru – Back so soon Mr. Garza?
Matt - Mr. Maddon made me.
Guru – So what’s the dealio?
Matt – I’m getting pissed off all the time again.
Guru – Who are you pissed at?
Matt – Everyone, the batter, my catcher, the umpire, the bat boy.
Guru – What’d the bat boy ever do to you?
Matt – He’s always looking at me with those shifty eyes.
Guru – Paranoid much?  Maybe he’s wondering how one person can create so much spit.
Matt – Maybe.  I’m tired of Blue sqeezin me though.
Guru – Oh Blue who.  Cry me a river.  You think your the only one?
Matt – I guess not.  What’s your problem today?
Guru – I thought we were past all this.  You’re not perfect, neither is Navi.  Sometimes the batter is going to hit the ball.  It’s their goal in life.  You are an awesome pitcher, don’t let your head get in the way.  Blah Blah Blah.
Matt – Easier said than done, I’ve got a pretty big head.
Guru – The chick from Her Rays made a good suggestion.  Pretend that gross thing on your chin is your anger.  Now take a razor and remove all the anger from your life.
Matt – Think that’ll work?
Guru – Worth a shot.  Oh, and you could make a conscious effort to chillax and get back to your bad ass self.
Matt – You got a pill for that?
Guru – Sorry not unless you want a 50 game vacation.  Might be time for a new message in your hat.
Matt – What’s wrong with “lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it…”
Guru – Because you get more than one shot.  If one guy gets on base, get the next one out.  Plus I think you need to lighten it up.  Maybe “the faster I sit these suckers back down, the faster I get to go home to the little woman.”
Matt – Are you sayin I need to get laid more?
Guru – Couldn’t hurt.

.025 percent of serious Rays fans thought they would win this game tonight, but they managed to pull it off.  Donuts for everyone! 

Kazmir looked good.  Kazmir looked strong.  Kazmir left because something was wrong. 
Hopefully it’s nothing serious.  Forearm cramps are easily treated right?

Barty drove in the first run for the Rays with one of his patented shallow fly balls that seem to find the hole.  Love him.

BJ had an interesting game.  On the one hand he had three hits and drove in a run.  On the other hand he erased two of those hits when he got caught stealing and picked off.  D’oh.

Pat Burrell had another big double.  I could get used to this.

Willy had a huge night at the plate too.  I love his bat but his defense is not always the best.  I wonder if he has ever tried the catcher position?

So they beat Greinke, and gained a game on the Red Sox, but something is still bothering me.  It’s like the money you could be saving on Geiko.  It’s staring at the Rays.  What is it?  Why that’s the eleven runners you left on base!  If Beej would have stayed on it would have been thirteen!

Oh well, bygones.  I’m ready to witness the sweep tomorrow.  Go Rays!!