HER RAYS!

Remember when you were in high school and there were only a couple of weeks left of school and everybody had senioritis.  They were just coasting until school was officially over.  Yeah well I have a case of something similiar in regards to the Rays wrapping up the season.

I’m still going to games and watching them on TV but I’m not really into it.  It might have something to do with being traumatized by rattle drums, but I’m not even phoning it in.  I’m already dreaming of the off season and what kind of moves the team might make.  By the way these dreams all revolve around a bullpen overhaul with a side of Joe Mauer.

I even tried to watch the Durham Bulls the other night when they were on ESPN.  Hellickson and Jennings were a treat to watch.  I hope to see them with the Rays next season, but when they brought in the relief pitcher and he started giving up homeruns, I had to look away.  Especially since the Rays pitchers were doing the same thing on the other channel.  I’ll suffer through, but it is definitely time for a new season with fresh hope.

It was a little scary there in the beginning, and the end is always scary with the state of the bullpen, but they managed to beat the Orioles and end the skid.

Reid Brignac had a mind to win the damn game himself if he had to.  He went four for four and looked good on defense too.  Really makes me wonder what next season will hold when it comes to the shortstop position. 

Okay Rays fans, I have eight tickets I need to sell. (fundraiser)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Sun, Sep 20, 2009  1:38pm
Baseline Box Section 134 Rows L &M
$19.00  (less than face value)

If you are interested reply to this post or email me at jessica@herraysbaseball.com.

Six reasons to buy these tickets.
1. You would be supporting youth baseball which might end up helping the Rays someday in the future.

2. Minus the recent slump this hasn’t been a terrible season and the Rays could use our support in their final home games.

3. Aki rattle drums!  Oh good lord, maybe that’s not such a good reason.

4. The kids.  Hopefully Maddon will be playing the kids and we’ll get a look at the future of the Rays.

5. It’s your chance to hold up a sign encouraging Joe to return to the gray.  Make sure to include something about “It’s time”

6. Because deep down you still love them!  Go Rays!

Jeff Niemann needs to channel his inner Red Forman.

Grant Balfour – “Jeff, I’m really sorry man.  How about I take you out to dinner?”

Jeff Niemann – “How about I put my foot in your ass!”

Painful – Watching the Rays and their inability to stop the other team from scoring runs late in the game.  I’m not sure I can take much more.

To ease your pain, maybe my dorky story will cheer you up.  So I’m watching tennis tonight when the ticker catches my attention.  It reads Lincecum scratched back.  My response was of course, “Why can’t Lincecum pitch with a scratched back?”  Yep, I’m a DORK.

Dear Wade,

I’m really sorry I wasn’t able to watch your first game with the Rays.  It is something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time.  However I had other plans and after watching the bullpen throw away two games I didn’t know if I could stomach any more.

Anyway it seems you were totally awesome!  Congratulations on what should have been your first big league win.  I hope you know how much this Rays fan appreciates your performance.

I’m very sorry that the Rays bullpen has a severe case of suckisitis.  That must have been a very hard way to be brought back down to reality.

I have no explanation as to why those relievers were even asked to pitch again this weekend.  Maybe Mr. Maddon thought that the third time would be the charm?  Perhaps he thought they could maybe get lucky and hold a game?  Yeah, not so much.  They should be embarrassed.  I’m pretty sure Ben Zobrist could do a better job.

JP Howell is broken or something.  He doesn’t even look confident anymore, yet Maddon keeps marching him out there.  Since his blown save in Seattle he has been horrible.  Last year he made me nervous against right handed batters, well since August five of the seven hits he’s given up to blow the save have been to right handers.  Three of those were homeruns.  That’s not to mention all of the walks and wild pitches.  He’s literally painful to watch at this point.  Oh and don’t get me started on Grant Balfour!

So I’m sorry your display of excellent pitching was followed with huge disappointment.  Everyone tells me those three games meant nothing anyway, but there’s a big what if there, and it bums me out.

I promise to watch your next start.  I wish I could promise the bullpen would do better.

You rock,
Her Rays

Twice the Rays had a chance to move up in the wild card standings.  Twice the bullpen blew chunks!  Grrrrr!!

Bring in the frigging kids!  They can’t do any worse!  Matter of fact I have a friend who wants to know where he can try out?  His theory is for five hundred grand he could give it the ole college try.  He’s pretty sure he could even  throw wild pitches and walk people. 

Two games!  They could have moved up two games, and to make matters worse Andy Roddick lost. 

Time to start drinking…

Even though it doesn’t seem like it around here lately, I am still addicted to the Rays.  I love these guys, but they really have me torn this year between good baseball sense and basic emotions.

For example, I love Andy Sonnanstine and he’s really handsome but I did not want him on the mound Tuesday night.  I wanted Kazmir.  When I use my good baseball sense I know the Kazmir trade was smart, but my basic emotions thought the timing stunk because I wanted him to pitch against Lester.  I wish Scott well and I hope he gets a tan or something because he definitely looks better in blue.

BJ Upton also had me torn.  He is so great on defense and there’s nothing better than watching him gun down runners.  However I hear a sucking sound every time he comes to the plate.  Now last night he looked much better and I’m hoping he’s turning it around, because I was really starting to think they should pinch hit for him in big situations.  Come back to us Beej!

JP is causing me stress too.  Now is not the time for our bullpen savior to fall apart.  Send him to the guru stat!

Pat the Bat I thought you blew, but you can hit the ball, who knew!

Welcome back Mr. Longoria.  Perfect timing, now lose the beard.  I say that with nothing but love.

Team Barty!  WooHoo!

So what’s the biggest Rays question in my pea sized brain?  Are they still in it?  Tuesday I said no, Wednesday I said maybe so???  What’s a girl to think?  Go Rays!

Oh and Mr. Perez’s mustache is a thing of beauty.  It reminds me of someone???