HER RAYS!

A popular trend among female baseball bloggers is to chose a player who performed well as their boyfriend of the game.

Well let me just tell you that tonight I would be a ho.  How could I chose just one boy on a night like this?

Jeff Niemann was brilliant.  He pitched a two hit shutout.  In other words, he did it all by himself.

Carlos Pena hit TWO home runs, to the tune of FIVE RBIs.  Plus he really needed that.  He even got a curtain call!

BJ was back in the lead-off spot and he owned it.  He was on base four times. 

Oh and don’t forget Longo who quietly went three for five and drove in two.  He has 46 RBIs on the 8th of June.  Dude.

So how is a girl supposed to be faithful to one?  Yeah it’s not happening.  I love them all.  Especially when they beat the Jays like that.

I do have one question about tonight though.  Why is the clean-up hitter bunting with two men on???

A win is a win right?  Last night I didn’t post anything because frankly it was one of those games where I just didn’t want to talk about it.  Tonight’s game didn’t feel much better.  Niemann wasn’t great but, it was like a study of opposites as far as hitting goes.  The Jays were striking the ball hard and far, while the Rays were pretty much stinking up the joint, again.

Then in the seventh they started picking away at Toronto’s lead.  I’m not really sure why they took Tallet out, but it worked for the Rays.

The way they have been playing lately, I still didn’t have oodles of confidence that a win was in their future.  Enter Kevin Gregg.  He made quick work of BJ Upton, but then the wheels fell off.  He walked Carl, who stole second immediately.  He had Carl picked off but threw the ball into center field, so Crawford took third.  Gregg then walked Longo.  We’ll skip the Pena at bat because it was shitty all around.  He got out and so did Maddon.  So there are two outs.  I didn’t have a lot of hope, but Gregg was the gift that keeps on giving.  He walked Jaso, and then walked in a run with Benny.  Bases loaded for Sean Rodriguez.  I still didn’t have hope, but Sean came up big!  A double in the gap scored three.  The Rays took the lead.  Whoa.

Slowriano came in and saved the day.  A win is a win right? 

A couple of thoughts on the game…

It’s nice to see BJ in the lead-off spot again, let’s hope it sets him off.
Navi had a pretty good night.  Credit where credit is due.
Balfour scared the crap out of me.  Rodriguez sure saved his butt.
Briggy had a tad of a rough game.  He did have an RBI double, but he looked pretty bad in his other at bats.  He has a  bit of Vladdy in him.  He doesn’ t meet too many pitches he doesn’t like.  I still love him even if he had an error in the bottom of the ninth that caused me and many others serious stress.

A win is a win right?  Put this one in the books and let’s hope the Rays can be more convincing tomorrow.  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!

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!

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!!

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!

An ode to my awesome evening at the Trop…

B oo-yah!  I freakin hate this word, and the fat sweaty guy in my section who kept screaming it, is lucky I didn’t kick him in the back of the head for being the one dark spot on a fantastic evening.

E d-WIN Jackson!  That’s the second time I’ve see him pitch this season, and last time he gave up multiple three run homers.  Thanks Edwin for finding it.  Whatever it may be.

E xciting and electric yet excruciating.  This game was great fun, but I really wish I could be there when they clinch.  Damn it why can’t I inherit a fortune from some long lost relative.

R ays win!  Wouldn’t it be cool if they can get at least 96 wins.  People they lost 96 games last year!

Now that it’s the morning after and I have this dull ache in my brain and I’m way bloated, I think I’ll go a few rounds with the punching bag.  You know who I’m going to visualize?  The Toronto Bluejays.  What is up with them being all awesome when they played the Rays last time, and now they can’t get it together and beat the Red Sox.  C’mon if you can’t do it for the Rays, there is another reason you birds should be winning.  So that the Yankees finish fourth in the AL East.  Get with the program.  Sheesh!

Alright Kazmir, let Balfour give you your mohawk before the game.  Use as a source of awesomeness please.  Go Rays!!

Another tough loss, time for a pep talk.

 Tom Brady is broken.  This is not something we wished to happen.  I mean sweet potato pie look at that picture!  Still the fact is he’s broken.  Therefore Boston is vulnerable.  The nature of the non bandwagon Red Sox fan, is always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  So the fall of their Stetson representative confirms how quickly things can change.

Listen up Rays.  You need to march into Fenway and give those Sox fans something more to worry about.  You are still the first place team and even though you don’t have the best pitching match ups, you can rock their worlds.  Besides you’re due to win one at Fenway.  Rays fans aren’t calling for a sweep, we just want you to make us proud.  Like Rocco owning Lester and the green monster for a start.

Also it will be super tough to not hit Mrs. Coco Crisp, but suspensions would not be good here. 

Go Rays!!  Unlike some people, we have faith that you’ll be playing in October (have they looked at the numbers?) but it sure would be nice to finish ahead of the nation.

We all knew it was coming, but it sure doesn’t make it any less painful!

Percy has blown the lead in several games before, but somehow the Rays always managed to rally and get the win anyway.  Well this afternoon we got to experience what it’s like when Percy gets the loss.  It sucks fireballs!  You know Maddon’s not going to give up on him, so let’s just hope he got it out of his system.  His super sucky system!  Sorry, lil bitter.  I’ll be better in the morning.  For the record that’s not bitching, it’s expressing an emotion in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

Oh and how annoying are the Toronto Blue Jays?  If they had actually hit the ball earlier in the season there might be quite a battle for the AL East.  Anyway they are having fun being spoilers.  That’s fine and all, but they better be spoiling the Red Sox season come next week.

Garza please put an end to this madness tomorrow.  Go Rays!!