HER RAYS!

The Rays lost tonight.  I know right?  I’m not really sure how to feel about it.  I am aware that they are not going to win every game this season, but it still kind of sucks.  Mostly because the game seemed to be right there within their reach. 

Both teams played solid.  Bannister shut down the Rays and Niemann was doing the same to the Royals.  The defense was superb tonight.  Pena was lobbying for his gold glove award.

Since the Rays haven’t lost in a while, let’s nitpick.
Jeff Niemann was visibly fatigued in the seventh inning.  He walked the first batter.  Tough call, but I might have went to the bullpen there.  He did end up giving up the tying run, but also got a ground ball double play which Longo handled with ease.  I was shocked to see him come back out in the eighth.  Of course he walked the first batter.  He and Choate were able to get out of the inning, so I guess that shows you why I’m not the manager.

Sean Rodriguez grounded into a double play in the 8th.  Where was Briggy?  He’s hot.  Where is the respect for the hot streak.  That’s probably why Jaso was off too, his buddy Reid didn’t have his back.  

Soriano did not have it today.  He kept hitting the bats.  Let’s not make a habit of THAT.

The offense tried to pull it out but came up just short.  Like one foot short.  Dagnabit.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some.  Let’s have some more wins.  Go Rays!

The Raysiverse has found a new love.  A hero with a crooked grin has ridden into this town and taken it by storm.  The Tampa Bay Rays have a catcher that can hit.  You know what else he can do?  Draw a walk!  You’re hired, Mr. Jaso.

The experts would remind me that it’s a small sample size and he’s bound to regress but let’s just enjoy the hot streak while it lasts.  Matter of fact let’s write him a poem.

John Jaso
Can he keep up this pace-O?
Keep getting on base-O?
Fans surely hope so.
If he wants to win the race-O,
he should buy Navi chili con queso.
Worth every peso.

We are also really loving Reid Brignac right now but Brignac doesn’t rhyme with too many things.  It does remind me of Big Mac though.  Rays fans are having a Brignac attack.  Chili, Big Macs, must be time for a midnight snack.  Go Rays!

I’ve been pretty busy the last couple of days, so I haven’t been able to sit down and really take in the games.  However I have been doing some drive by baseball viewing.  You know, where you have the game on in the background.  You peek at it every time you walk through the room.  You run in when you hear the crowd cheer or you hear Staats raise his voice.

I feel a little guilty when I don’t give the Rays my full attention but in my defense they are playing the A’s.  The A’s are blah.  I don’t hate them, but I don’t like them either.  I really dislike their uniforms, especially the shoes.  White shoes might look okay with their home white pants, but on the road with gray pants and green socks?  Yuck.  It was nice to see Gabe Gross, and Ryan Sweeney is super cute, but I didn’t know any of the other guys.

How ’bout them Rays?  They just keep rolling along.  The starting pitching has been good and when they make a mistake the offense is there to pick them up.  They even gave James Shields run support.  It’s been a really fun way to start the season.  I’m like the drunk guy at a party going around hugging everyone and slurring “I love you guys.”

See you tomorrow night.  Go Rays!

Jose Molina has a go-go gadget arm.  He will throw your ass out.  If he can throw Carl Crawford out TWICE, he can throw anybody out.  Why keep trying? Does it become like a Tin Cup moment?

They have a Molina, so what the Rays have a Price.  You see you don’t need to throw out runners if your pitcher doesn’t let them reach base.  David Price sent the Jays home today without even so much as a parting gift.  He was filthy and efficient, a wonderful combination. 

It’s so much fun having a catcher that can hit!  Jaso was 2 for 3.  Think Navi gives him the stink eye the whole game?

I love Barty, but it was awesome to see Brignac at short today.  Like Natalie Imbruglia, I’m torn.  At least Jason came in and drove in some runs.

BJ, Longo and Pena have been pretty solid lately, just quietly going about their business.  This team is so groovy.

Speaking of groovy, Mr. Garza and Aybar were groovin in the dugout.  I think we need an encore. 

There was a Matt Joyce spotting.  Somebody twirl that boy in bubble wrap, until he gets better.

In conclusion, the Rays are awesome right now.  Baseball is fun.  Let the good times roll.  Go Rays!

I got my free t-shirt.

I’m surprised there weren’t more men going for these shirts.  I know guys who have way bigger crushes on Longo than I do, and that’s say something.

The place seemed pretty empty, but then the people just kept rolling in.  22,000 is not bad for Friday night, and I would think there will be more over the weekend.  Plus wasn’t there some sort of draft going on?

So I’m not going to lie.  When Matt Garza’s other personality showed up I was squirming in my seat.  You see my mind is warped and I was starting to wonder if this was all my fault.  Did I break the streak by not being in my comfy chair at home, where I was for the first three of his awesome starts.  Then I decided to get over myself, and hope he’d snap out of it.  It turned out to be the first inning from hell.  Matt did better after that, but I don’t think he was ever feeling good out there.  Remind me to never piss him off in person.

I wish I knew if he was getting squeezed on pitches.  The Navi ejection made me think so, but it’s hard to tell without foxtrack.  Cecil seemed pretty comfortable.  Plus he looked badass in those glasses.

The Rays had quite a hole to dig out of and they just came up short.  Willy Aybar got things started with a home run, but Grant Balfour came out and gave it right back.  Mood killer.

The boys kept picking away though.  Benny doubled in Kapler to add one.  Kapler homered to add two.  He and Willy had great nights.  BJ singled to add one more.  Plus he’s awesome to watch roam centerfield.  So they are down by one, with two on and Jaso hits one hard and far but…it’s caught.  Tease.

Oh the bullpen did a good job of keeping the game within reach.  On to the bottom of the ninth, which puzzled me.  Why didn’t they pinch hit for Kapler?  Barty struck out looking.  Where was that pitch?  Looked too good to take.  Carl singled.  Which brings up Benny.  Once again, I don’t know where the pitches are but man it looked like they were close to take.  I’m surprised he wasn’t more aggressive there?  I’m not going to doubt him though since he’s pretty good at baseball. 

It was a bummer, but exciting to the end.  It’s not easy to win games when your starting pitcher is human and gives up five runs early.  Let’s hope Niemann gets back on track tomorrow.  The game is not on TV, so someone will have to let me know how he looks.  Go Rays!

Listen up Rays fans.  The time is now.  Your favorite team just came off the best road trip ever.  It’s time to get out to a game and show them your support.

This team is making it work.  Last night James “Hans Solo” Shields finally got some run support.  So of course what happens, his defense was a little scary.  James had to work extra hard and get extra outs through a few innings.  Luckily the bats picked him up.  I hope the crew made sure to pack those bats carefully and bring them back to Tampa Bay.  Because those bats are working.

Anyway after all their hard work on the road, I think we should make sure to come out and support them at home.  There is a lot to cheer about right now.

Garza is on the hill tonight, hoping to continue his dominance.
Barty was streaky on offense and defense on the road trip, so we need to perk him up.
Who knows how long we’ll be able to witness Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena’s greatness. 
Great news, Zobrist just got a shiny new deal.  He’s not going anywhere.
Longo gets plenty of cheers, but a few more and an ”I heart Longo” shirt won’t hurt.
Let’s scream extra loud for BJ.  To show him how awesome we think he is, so maybe he can get a shiny deal like Benny.
Navi definitely could use some positive reinforcement.   
Then you have the kids, who are super fun to watch.  Brignac is coming off a great game.  Rodriguez and Jaso are entertaining also.
How about cheering for Pat Burrell for once.  He’s been driving in some runs.  I think he’ll hit one out this weekend.
Don’t know if Willy’s baby has arrived, but I always like to see his bat in the line-up.
Oh and don’t forget about Kapler he’s nice on the eyes and he’ll scare you in the field but he usually makes the play.
The bullpen has been doing their job.  Let’s drink to that!

Let’s do this people.  See you at the Trop.  Go Rays!

What do you mean?  I wasn’t worried.  Were you?

After a dreadful first three at bats, the Rays showed us that they can hit a stinkin southpaw if they really want to.  Matter of fact to rub it in they turned it into what seemed like the longest game ever.  They cranked out 12 runs and gave the White Sox a whoopin.

Wade Davis showed us that he is a very valuable asset.  He walked three early and looked a little shaky, but ended up shutting the Sox down for six innings.  He probably would have worked deeper into the game but the offense wouldn’t let him back on the field.  I doubt he minded though since it was freaking cold there.

Sean Rodriguez showed us that his spring numbers weren’t a fluke.  He was 3 for 5 with a home run and 4 RBI.  If he stays hot Mr. Maddon is going to have a lot of decisions when making out his line-up card.

Mike Ekstrom and Andy Sonnanstine showed us that they can keep the shut-out in order.  Oh come on, you know you had your doubts.

Paul Konerko showed us that he is always dangerous.  Last night his bat was on fire.  Tonight he was trying to take guys out.  Our guys.  First he crunched Sean Rodriguez’s hand like a cockroach.  Then he whizzed a ball at the back of Longo’s melon.  Watch yourself tomorrow boys.

So everything I complained about the Rays proved they could do.  Hmmm what should I complain about tonight, maybe BASERUNNING.  Hopefully that will be fixed tomorrow.  Go Rays!

Do we honestly need to worry that every time the Rays face a left-hander, not only will they lose but that there’s a good chance they might get no-hit?!  This is troubling indeed.  Jon Lester is the only lefty they’ve seemed to figure out.  Do you know who pitches tomorrow?  Mark Buerhle.  Anybody have any Rolaids?

Thank goodness Carl Crawford was in the building or this would have been downright ugly. 

A couple of relay throws made me wonder if the Red Sox defensive woes were contagious.  However no defense was going to matter tonight since the Rays couldn’t hit the ball or even work a walk.  You have to tip your hat to Danks, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is troubling.

David Price didn’t seem comfortable all night.  Maybe it’s because he knew in order to get a win he’d have to shut down the White Sox.  He gave up three runs, two of them homeruns.  He threw 95 pitches in six innings and he still looked pissed when Mr. Maddon came to get him.  I think Maddon just realized that if the Rays wanted a chance to win this game they needed to keep it close, and Alex Rios had put good wood on one earlier in the game.  

I think Zorilla needs bananas.  He seems to be missing something, and not just the ball.

Balfour was really good for two innings.  I hope to be able to type that sentence a lot more this season.

Wheeler fell prey to Konerko but I’m pretty sure Cy Young would have been gobbled up by Konerko tonight.

So what’s the plan for tomorrow evening?  I think they need to shake up the line-up.  Bring in the kids.  See how Reid can do against a lefty and give Jaso a shot too.  Wade Davis definitely needs to be careful against those big boppers.  The plan is simple though.  HIT THE BALL.  Go Rays!

Because the Rays are having a good time there.

They started the game with small ball.  Barty doubles, and Carl moves him to third with a sac bunt.  Zobrist puts it in play and Barty scores. 1-0 good guys.

Niemann goes to work and shuts them down.  He’s like a big oak tree.  He’s not flashy, he’s just solid.  I wanna give him a big bear hug.

Jason Bartlett likes John Lackey’s pitching.  He gets on again in the third.  Carl gets a base hit too.  Ben Zobrist walked twice, but actually struck out.  Yeah, try and figure that one out.  It’s alright Longo makes them pay with a two run double.  3-0 Rays.  Pena walks and then BJ strokes one to center.  Welcome back Benjamin Jackson!  6-0 Rays, good times.

In the 4th Reid Brignac doubles.  I think he should play everyday folks.  What’s he going to do stike out against lefties?  I’m sorry, that wasn’t nice.  Navi moves him over and then the unstoppable Bartlett hits a triple sending Lackey to the showers early.  Carl Crawford hits a sac fly off the replacement pitcher and the Rays are up 8-0.

I gotta be honest.  At this point I have faith that the Rays can pull this one out, and I have to get some work done.  I did keep the game on in the background though.  I saw Pat the Bat think he was fast, and I saw the Hermida homerun, and I saw the final outcome.  Rays win!

I hope they have this much fun in Chicago.  Do we get Brian Anderson again?  He increases my viewing pleasure exponentially.  Go Rays!

OK Mr. Garza, you are the man and your chin thing can stay as long as you deem it necessary.  I don’t care for it, but I will definitely learn to accept it if you keep pitching as if you own the place.  I’d also like to thank you for shutting down those Sox today.  You see there has been a whole lot of baseball in the last two days, so it was good to know that with a little help from your offense you had it under control.  Your fans appreciate this because at some point in the weekend we must acknowledge that our families exist and hang with them.

We all know it’s a long season, but the winning is fun.  See you again tomorrow.  Go Rays!