A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Monthly archives for August, 2009

Which is worse?

Aug30
2009 4 Comments Written by Jessica

Which is worse?

Not being able to watch the Rays game and finding out they blew it, or witnessing the painful loss?

Getting to work and finding out they gave you the wrong coffee or the watered down drinks at the bar later?

Missing your connecting flight or sitting at a complete standstill in rush hour traffic?

Relief pitchers blowing leads or an offense that doesn’t get a lead?

The New York Yankees winning the world series or the Boston Red Sox winning it?

People who hurt animals or people who hurt other people?

The Detroit Lions or the never ending Brett Favre saga?

Lima beans or peas?

Which is worse?  It doesn’ t matter, all these things suck!  You know what else sucks?  This Rays team torturing us.  There is still a chance they could make the playoffs.  It’s getting smaller but it’s still there.  My optimism is wearing thin, but if they were to win tomorrow and then….

Go Rays!

Posted in Game Diaries

The I Should Have Gone to Bed Game…

Aug27
2009 4 Comments Written by Jessica

Life has been pretty crazy around here, but last night I made an effort to watch the game as I was tooling around the house getting stuff done.  Kazmir was looking great.  He and Zaun seemed to have things figured out.  The offense was struggling until Kapler decided it was time to take the lead.  Everything was looking ripe for the sweep.

Finally I settled in to watch the rest of the game.  When the second umpire dropped like a fly.  There was quite a delay, long enough to put this girl to sleep.  Zzzzzz.

I woke up in a daze sometime in the eighth inning and thought to myself “I should just go to bed,”  but at this point I was kind of refreshed from my power nap.

In the top of the ninth a couple guys got on, and I was pulling for the Rays to score an insurance run.  No dice.

So JP comes in to do his thing, but instead of shutting them down he gives up a home run to tie the game.  Evidently he doesn’t like to sweep.  No really JP Howell has been awesome for the Rays, but his three blown saves lately cause me stress.  They also cause him stress.  He was visibly shaken after that fateful pitch.  He got squeezed by the umpire, but I might have brought someone else in to try to keep the game alive.  Mr. Maddon stuck with his guy, as he has a tendency to do.

After the final wild pitch a blogger’s exasperated cry was heard “Ugh, I should have gone to bed!”

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Still in it.

Aug23
2009 2 Comments Written by Jessica

I’m not really sure what to say about this weekend, except the Rays are still in it.  Friday night was good, Saturday night was fun, but Sunday the Rays got shutdown.  We were all rooting for a sweep so that took the wind out of the sail a little bit.  Although I think everyone would agree winning the series against the Rangers definitely keeps hope alive.

Now they head out on the road again and every game is critical.  I think I’m actually more anxious this season than last season.  Last season the Rays were so good, we were all just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  This season they have yet to put it all together, so it’s really hard to be confident that they can stay in the race.  Here’s hoping, just like last year they prove everyone wrong.

Sorry for the lame post, but life is sometimes full of other non-baseball related schtuff.  Go Rays!

Posted in Game Diaries

O’ Damn It.

Aug20
2009 1 Comment Written by Jessica

Close, yet so far away.

I got home late tonight, so I didn’t see the first five innings.  The last four innings were pretty eventful though.

Top of 6th – Shields was cruising along but hit a road block when Longo biffed a throw.  He was able to get two outs, but he also walked two.  Result – bases loaded two outs.

Lance Cormier was brought in to take care of business.  Result – grand slam, aka four runs.  This was especially painful for me because Lance is one of my favorites.  That’s impressive because as a Rays fan my favorites don’t tend to come from the bullpen.

Bottom 6th – Barty starts it off with a base hit.  I loved him last year, but I really love him now that he’s all hitty.  Longo doubled.  Love him too.  Then BennyZ hits a three run homer!  The Rays are right back in it.

Top 7th – Cormier walks the first two batters.  I’m a little worried about him.  I hope it’s just an off night.  Springer is brought in for relief, but alas it’s not to be had.  Three runs are what’s to be had, and the Rays are right back out of it.  Grrrr.

Bottom 7th – The Rays go down one, two, three.  Not good.

Top 8th – Choate doesn’t choke.

Bottom 8th – Crawford singles.  Longo grounds into a double play…except Wiggy booted it.  Oh sweet justice.  Pat the Bat singles and moves the runners.  Gross ground in one run, and Pena doubles in two more to make it 8-7.  I thought Zaun and his mighty mullet might tie it up but not tonight.

Top 9th – Choate and Wheels sit them down.

Bottom 9th – BJ, BJ, BJ what the hell was that, and was it your own idea?  He pop bunted to the pitcher.  Bartlett singled, then stole second.  Crawford grounded out and moved him over.  Man on third, Evan Longoria in to save the day.  Not this time folks.  It’s crazy that it was even this close of a game what with the handing out of homeruns with runners on.

Now it’s time to make up that game with a few games of Texas hold’em.  Go Rays!! 

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O’ Kay that’s one.

Aug18
2009 1 Comment Written by Jessica

Yay, the Rays won the opener against the O’s.  Just some quick thoughts tonight.

BJ really likes Berken’s pitching.  He was a double away from the cycle.  Yep, BJ.  Can you imagine what this team could do if he were to get his bat going?  Besides he’s super cute in his post game interviews.

David Price didn’t really have it, but he still put the team in the position to win.  Unlike Mr. Choate who brought his team closer to losing.  Not good.

I’m sorry but I’m really tired of Kevin Kennedy.  I’m sure he’s a nice man, but can I have Brian Anderson back please.  I really like Todd Kalas in the booth, but he’s also a really good rover reporter.  Brian is fun.  Todd just blends in with the game, which is spot on for some people.  Kevin actually takes me out of watching the game because he annoys me.  Could just be me I guess.

Looks like Joe Maddon is going to need more ties.  That’s a joke grenade for all you FSN viewers.

C’mon Jefferson Niemann keep it going.  Go Rays!

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Hopelessly Devoted

Aug16
2009 1 Comment Written by Jessica

I guess when it comes right down to it, I’m hopelessly devoted to this team.  Although I have been mighty frustrated with them lately.  They are teasing us something terrible.

A losing team is something Rays fans can handle.  They’ve had a lot of practice at it.  Then last year our lovable losers were transformed into miraculous winners.  Now we know what they are capable of, and it is infuriating when they have bonehead maneuvers.  Like that whole trip out west.  Ugh.

Then this weekend they win the series against Toronto.  We’ll forgive them the loss against Halladay, after all they have beaten him three times this year.  Especially since they kept it together for the final two games.  How much do you love Gregg Zaun?  I was starting to wonder if he was bad luck.  That was before he blew sunshine and rainbows off his bat! 

Frankly, I don’t know what to think about this team.  They aren’t out of it yet, BUT it doesn’t feel like they are really in it either.  I guess I just stay hopelessly devoted, and hope they put it all together.  Go Rays!!

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The Agony of Defeat

Aug13
2009 3 Comments Written by Jessica

I recorded the Rays game today with the intention of watching it later.  Then I saw the final score.  That’s when I decided to spare myself the pain and agony of defeat.

Instead I made a movie about a conversation that I had with Gregg Zaun in one of my day dreams.  Yes I know that’s avoidance, I don’t care.

Thanks She-Fan!

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That is not what we discussed!

Aug10
2009 3 Comments Written by Jessica

Rays, Rays, Rays, that is not what we discussed.  The wild card is right there for the taking.  I don’t think I have to tell you that losing a series to the Mariners is not optimal right now.

Alright move on, no sense in dwelling on it now.  It’s over.  Focus on winning the series against the Angels.  You are smart boys.  I think you know how important all of these games are now.  I’ll spare you all the cliches.

How about one advertising slogan.  “Just Do It.”  You could even go with the one I saw on a kid’s shirt the other day, “I do it for my fans.  Especially the cute female ones.”  Yep that’ll work. 

Posted in Uncategorized

West Coast Pep Talk

Aug07
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

As we speak the Rays are in Seattle.  They probably had an excellent cup of coffee this morning.  Now that they are awake, it’s time that we chat.

Rays,

Stellar job taking two from Boston and rockin the Trop.  That was so lovely. 

Now I must apologize in advance.  You see, I will be rooting for you this week, just not like usual.  I suck at west coast games.  I’m very sleepy by the time the game even starts.  So I want to admit to being a big bucket of fail.  That way you know what to expect.  I will however cheer extra hard for you during the afternoon games. 

That doesn’t mean that you can slack off though.  You’ve got these teams right where you want them.  Do not let up.  Got it.  None of the errors.  None of the disappearing bats.  No pitching of meatballs.  Pretend they are Red Sox if you have to.  Just get it done.  Mmmkay thanks.

In parting I would like to leave you with some famous lines from the genius John Hughes that remind me of a couple of you boys.

JP Howell – “The thing is, I’m kinda like the leader.  Kinda like the king of dipshits.”

Joe Maddon – “We’re all gonna have so much fu*king fun we’ll need plastic surgery to remove our smiles.”

Longo – Oh he’s very popular Ed.  The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him.  They think he’s a righteous dude.

Joe Nelson – Long Duck Dong

Go Rays!

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Damn did we ever earn that donut.

Aug05
2009 2 Comments Written by Jessica

Rays fans are wondering this morning why their team is trying to kill them! 

First Matt Garza gave up home runs to the two guys we’d all like to thwomp, Youkilis and Pedroia.

Then the offense couldn’t seem to get anything going.

Then the bullpen bags sucked in the game winning run, and we had to listen to the announcers go on and on about it.

Then there were the men on base that never got to come home.  Over and over again.

Thankfully the Rays bullpen was brilliant, when I really thought they would blow it at anytime.

Thankfully the Rays defense held up.

Thankfully the Sox decided to pitch Longo, and he took matters into his own hands.

The game was never boring that’s for sure.  However many Rays fans are now staggering around work with coffee IV’s wondering if they can fit in a nap at lunch time.

Plus to make matter worse it’s raining where I am.  That means I can go back to bed right?

Way to go Rays!  See you in a couple of hours.

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