HER RAYS!

I’m not one to fold socks actually.  I just throw them in the drawer.  It could be because I live in Florida and I hardly ever wear socks.  Anyway, I think the Rays might have thrown the Sox in the drawer this weekend.  Let’s hope that drawer is slammed shut soon.

Game – The Red Sox took the first game since the Rays are sucked into some alternate universe on Friday nights.  It’s bizarre.  Lester wasn’t sharp, but the Rays offense was anemic again.  The only run they scored was on a wild pitch.  Not a single run batted in.  Ugh.  Price pitched pretty well except to Victor Martinez.  Conclusion – If the Rays make it to the playoffs there might have to be some sort of Crash Davis rain delay like scenario planned if a game is scheduled for Friday night.  Oh and Martinez must be beaned.

Set – Saturday night fever!  Garza and Bucholz were dealing.  Martinez was once again a pain in the bum.  However BJ sat on a curve ball and tied the game up all by himself.  In extra innings Dan Johnson hit a walk off home run.  I must now apologize to him because I said some not nice things to him during the course of the game.  Then he had his post game interview and he seemed so excited and nice.  I will be dealing with my guilt issues this week.  Conclusion – Victor Martinez is a drama queen, with a little AJ Pierzynski sneakiness thrown in.  He did not foul that ball off his foot, but after a brilliant performance sold it to the umpire.  He must be punished.

Match – James Shields led the Rays to the series win on Sunday.  Just as Joe Morgan was talking about the shift and how deep the 2nd baseman was playing, Carlos Pena hit a ball that no shift in the world was going to stop.  Zobrist got another base hit.  Maybe things are looking up for him?  I hope so, because I’ve found myself wishing for him to have a day off.  It  might have something to do with missing Briggy baseball though!  Carl Crawford showed how awesome he is.  The bad news is he did it on national television and basically sold himself.  Now everybody wants one.  Dan Johnson had another big hit driving in the go ahead run.  I feel like we should also mention Longo being steady and the bullpen.  They were not scary at all this weekend!  Conclusion – CC hit Martinez with his bat, and Carlos slid in spikes up, but I still feel a little gypped.

The game, set, match theme is because today is the start of the US Open.  Tennis in prime time folks.  Get excited!

Let’s hope the Rays can keep those Jays at bay.  Go Rays!

This is one of those games that you could tell your friends about and it sounds so far fetched that they’ll think you’re making the whole bloody thing up.

You – Carl Crawford got picked off first.  Guess where the ball hit him?  In the hoo-hoo.
Friend – No way.
You – Way.  He left the game.  Nobody had the balls to call him tater-nuts though.

You – Garza gave up back to back to back home runs in the second.
Friend – Get outta here.
You – Seriously I thought his head was going to explode.

You – BJ Upton hit a home run.
Friend – Because he wanted to jog around the bases instead of running hard?
You – Hardee Har Har

You – Garza gave up another home run to Luke Scott in the 3rd.
Friend – Bringing the total to four?  This story is getting deep.
You - Seems like it.

You – Matt Joyce hit a home run.
Friend – Now that I believe.
You – Plus he’s cute.

You – The Rays scored 4 runs in the 6th inning.
Friend – It’s the Orioles, that’s possible.

You – Benny made a boo boo in right and two runs scored.
Friend – You are a liar.  Take it back.
You – It wasn’t the only weird route he took.

You – Choate was only able to retire one of the lefties he faced.
Friend – That sounds about right.
You - No, I said left.
Friend – Right.

You – Brignac homered to take the lead back to two.
Friend – He’s no Sean Rodriguez.
You – Reid my lips, I love that kid and I will throw you down.

You – The Rays had a two run lead going into the ninth.  Bring in Soriano.
Friend – Game over.
You – Not so much.  Soriano’s a tad rusty since he’s been on the shelf FOREVER.  Tie ball game.
Friend – That blows.
You – Chunks.

You – They go to extra innings.  The Rays take the lead in the top of the 12th.
Friend – But?
You – But they give it right back in the bottom half of the inning. 
Friend – This story is getting tired.
You – You’re telling me.

You – Guess who blew the game?
Friend – Lance Cormier?
You – Oh you’ve heard this story before.
Friend – Tragically.
You – Know what else is tragic?
Friend – What’s that?
You – The Yankees finally freakin lost a game.
Friend – Well you always have the day game after a night game to look forward to.
You – Yippee.  Go Rays.

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!

Splits are good right?  They don’t feel so good.  Matter of fact these games against the White Sox were a bit draining to watch.  One minute they’re up, the next minute they’re down.

Yesterday was great.  Davis was dealing.  Pena and Upton were producing!  Then today was a game of bizarro.  Shields finally got some run support but was totally out of character and gave up a grand slam.  I guess I can’t call him Hans Solo anymore.  I’m sure it was a freak accident and we won’t have to call him Hans Quatro.

Tomorrow is my birthday, so I’d like to make a few wishes.  I’ll list them in my favorite batting order.

I wish for…
Zobrist to embrace his new role as lead-off and continuously set the table.
Carl Crawford to keep being his awesome self even if it turns him into a hot commodity.
Longo to stay healthy all season so we can witness greatness.
Pena to find his stroke and keep it.  I want to see that smile back on his face.
Jaso to stay hot, and keep working hard on his defense.  He shouldn’t make me appreciate Navi.
Willy to keep hitting a heavy ball, and good things will happen.
BJ’s offense to be half as good as his defense which is phenomenal.
Briggy to stay fresh and into it.  I love this kid.
Sean Rodriguez or Gabe Kapler to be successful in their roles, even if it is king of the bunt.

Garza to relax and go to work keeping those Blue Jays at bay.
Barty to take it easy and get healthy.
The Rays to keep their amazing road record going.

Well that’s a lot of wishes, but I have one more.  Please take a moment to remember the soldiers, past and present, for all that they’ve done for us.  Go Rays!!

Jeff Niemann, the big solid oak tree, brought the Rays back to the winners circle.  He had a couple of walks in the second that scared the bejesus out of me, but he got out of it and only really made one mistake all night.  I’m telling you the dude is solid.  Embrace him people.

Carl Crawford soothed the whole fan base with his first inning home run.  This was really good considering it wasn’t until the fifth that the Rays could get anything going again and it was Carl who drove in that run too.

Remember when everyone was choosing between Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac?  I was happy when Sean got hit by a pitch tonight, because he didn’t seem hurt and that actually put him on base.  Reid on the other hand I want in the line-up every day.  Sean did get lucky on a gutsy/dumb play taking third base, and he eventually scored.  This doesn’t really change how I feel about him vs. BJ.  As painful as it is to watch BJ at bat right now, I would much rather see him in center field.  Besides offensively they’re about the same.

I have the same problem with Pena.  He is the master at first base.  Does his defense make up for his sucking at the plate?

Longo homered in the sixth.  I cheered and then found myself wondering if he really manscapes.  Ugh. 

Hank Blalock drove in some much needed insurance runs.  I have more warm fuzzies for him than Burrell.

Choate gave up a hit, but Wheeler saved the day.

See they just needed to change their Sox.  Let’s hope David Price can find his groove again tomorrow.  Go Rays!

Some would say the Rays suffered from an intensity let down.  Some would say there were a few too many cocky fans that thought a win was a certainty against the Astros.  Some would say the boys were tired from the quick turnaround.  What would I say?  Eh, you can’t win them all.  Although the Rays had every chance to win this one.

Garza didn’t have his best stuff, but this girl noticed that he was workin hard.  He saved the pen and battled through eight innings giving up only two runs.  If your offense can’t score two runs then you are in trouble son.  Matt did have a little league moment though where he couldn’t pitch strikes to the pitcher because he was showing bunt.  Like a youngster he got frustrated and ended up hitting him.  Kinda funny until a run scored later in the inning.

It was rather funny watching Mr. Garza bat.  It’s one of my favorite things in baseball.  Watching pitchers who rarely hit step in the box.  Now maybe Matt can imagine what it’s like for someone to see his pitches coming.  He did get a sac bunt down though.  It almost makes up for the pitch that he bailed on that turned out to be a strike.  Yep, I love him but I laughed at him.

What can I say about the offense?  Well Benny Z and Brignac hit well on the night.  Other than that the story is about LOBs.  The Rays left a family reunion on the bases.  What happened to get the mofo in?!

Why oh why was Zobrist stealing third with no outs???  It’s a puzzler.

There were many chances to win the game, but alas it didn’t happen.  Let’s hope Niemann can get them back on track tonight.  Oh and he will be most excellent to watch step up to the plate!  Interleague is fun, and I haven’t mentioned it yet but Brian Anderson makes me laugh.  Did you catch him giving Staats crap about calling Lee slow.  Good times.  Go Rays!

Friday night I got home kind of late and I sat there with a lot of hope thinking the Rays would make it happen.  If I had watched the whole game I might not have had that hope.  The middle of the order was like a big ole free pass for the Mariners.  That’s a hard way to win games.

Fast forward to this afternoon.  James Shields goes to work.  He held Seattle to two runs, but as is often the case his offense wasn’t helping him out.  Finally Longo got the first hit, and it became a ball game. 

Team Brignac had another reason to get excited today.  Good job Reid!

Pat Burrell was designated for assignment and the day he leaves Willy Aybar hits a walk off home run.  Somehow it seems fitting.  

I really wish Pat the best of luck where ever he ends up.  From the beginning this just wasn’t a good fit for him.  He never really seemed comfortable and that’s a bummer for both sides.

Let’s hope the Rays can pick up the series tomorrow.  Go 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!

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!