HER 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.

Or better known as the never ending all-star game!

I guess it was quite a fitting send off for Yankees stadium.  You don’t have to be a Yankees fan to appreciate the stadium as a piece of our history, or to know how awesome that must have been for the Yankees past and present to be a part of.  Derek Jeter seemed to be just soaking it in all night.

Sheryl Crow seemed like an odd choice to sing the national anthem?  I expected some one more relevant to NY.

Wouldn’t it have been awesome if A-Rod came up to bat to a Madonna song?

The Gatorade ball girl climbing the wall to catch a foul ball commercial would have been a huge hit if it wouldn’t have been all over the Internet a month before hand.

Sheets pulls a Chase Utley and drops a nice F-bomb for the national audience.

A good friend of mine has now added Kevin Youkilis to his list of Red Sox players he would have to hit with a pitch.  He’s up to three now including Lugo and Crisp.  He has a point.

I saw a FOX commercial that really disturbed me.  Are they really going with the “There’s only one October” slogan again?  Cuz, I don’t know if I can take it.

Great to see Kazmir getting cutter lessons from Mariano Rivera.  I like his thinking.

Zambrano pitched one over Manny Ramirez’s head.  It was kind of cute, like a love tap or something.

Matt Holladay finally got past the awesome pitching and hit one out in the fifth.  I think he’d look great in a Rays uniform.  Ya with me simkins?

NL strikes again in the sixth as Buck and McCarver are giving the Rays some love.  Hanley Ramirez and Utley both get basehits, and Berkman hits a sac fly to score the run.  2-0 NL

In the 7th Morneau starts it off with a double.  Navi is in.  Oh, he strikes out, bummer.  Drew hits a two run shot to right.  I can honestly say that is the first time I’ve been happy to see Drew hit a home run!  Tie ball game.

Wierd.  Papelbon pitching and Navi catching.  Papelbon has had a shitty time in NY.  He was kind of unfairly ripped in the press, and the crowd is taking it out on him.  Maybe it’s like a karma thing for shooting his mouth off?

Tejada gets a base hit then steals second when Navi makes a terrible throw letting Tejada go to third.  Ugh, suddenly I know what it’s like to have little leaguer.  You just want him to shine.  Sac fly and the NL takes the lead 3-2 on a critical error by our guy.

Bottom of the 8th.  Sizemore gets a 2 out base hit.  Longo’s in!  Oh my gosh, he hit an RBI double!  I’m so proud!  He tied the game and saved Navi’s ass.

Top of the ninth K-Rod came in to pitch.  I was very surprised Rivera wasn’t called on, but then Terry Francona brought him in after a couple of batters, and he was able to make his grand entrance.  He and Navi get a strike out throw out to end the inning!  So proud again!

Navi struck out again in the bottom of the 9th, but remember these pitchers are filthy!

Dan Uggla had a nightmare of a night.  He ground into a double play top of the 10th and then made two errors in the bottom half.  They walked Guillen to load the bases.  0 outs.  Sizemore, Longo and Morneau all hit weak grounders and Cook was able to get out of the jam.  Unbelievable, I just wanted to go to sleep.

How many times do you think Corey Hart has been asked if he wears his sunglasses at night?

Bottom of the 11th was interesting.  Kinsler started it off with a base hit, then was thrown out stealing 2nd.  He was actually safe but whatever.  Navi walked.  Drew base hit.  So 1st and 2nd, 1out.  Young, who is quite cute, hits a basehit.  Run Navi, Run.  Navarro gets thrown out at the plate.  Looked like his feet might have gotten in, but I bet there are quite a few blog comments about the fat catcher today.

Continuing Uggla’s nightmare he struck out with bases loaded in the 12th, but so did Gonzalez.

Bottom of 12th.  Very late.  Guillen almost hits one out, settles for a double.  Sizemore grounds out and moves him over.  Longo has a chance to be the hero again, but…struck out.  Morneau walked and Kinsler grounded out.  C’mon! Doesn’t anybody want me to sleep?

Navi grounded out in the 13th.  Our guys sure are getting a lot of playing time.  Longo struck out again in the 14th.  I think.  Stuff was getting blurry.

Kazmir in to pitch!  He did great.  So proud again.

Bottom 15th.  Morneau base hit.  Kinsler flied out.  Navi gets a base hit!  WooHoo, I was delirious at this point.  Drew walked.  Then that super cute Michael Young hit a sac fly and Morneau scored the winning run!  Hallelujah it’s over.

Kamir was the winning pitcher!  Go Rays!!

The Astros were due to win one.

The Rays had a little bit of a post Cubs let down, and the Astros had to win one sometime.  That’s how baseball rolls.  Or it could be that I’m over analyzing things and justify the loss.  Astros 4 – Rays 3.

Speaking of over-analyzing and justifying, according to the Tampa Tribune Matt Garza is seeing a well-known baseball psychologist.  Oh, to be a fly on that wall.

Baseball Guru:  So what seems to be the problem son?
Garza:  I get a little too amped up on the mound.
Baseball Guru:  Do you drink the Amp.
Garza: um, no
Baseball Guru:  Oh right, that’s my other client the race car driver.  Do you eat the Mounds?
Garza:  No, I don’t like coconut.  I thought you were a baseball guru?
Baseball Guru:  Baseball, racing, it’s all just left turns.
Garza:  Um, okay.
Baseball Guru:  So you just need to channel all that energy and concentrate.  My recommendation is to meditate and find your focus point.  Just don’t get too zen or you’ll end up like Barry Zito.  Have you seeked the advice of your peers?
Garza:  A few.
Baseball Guru:  And what gems did they have for you.
Garza:  Josh Beckett said I should just execute pitches.
Baseball Guru:  Not a surprise, that’s his answer for everything.
Garza:  Jonny Gomes said it made him feel better to punch Coco Crisp.
Baseball Guru:  Yes that would be good therapy for anyone.
Garza:  Carl Pavano told me to fake a glutes injury, but Derek Jeter gave me a boring and politically correct speech, so I didn’t.
Baseball Guru:  Yeah, the Yankees have their own issues to deal with.
Garza:  Jim Leyland told me to get it together or I’d be takin a ride on the D-train.
Baseball Guru:  Jimmy always did know how to cut the crap.  Did you consult A-Rod?
Garza:  Yep, he gave me a long list of people to ask for advice.  He seemed really honored that someone was asking him.
Baseball Guru:  I could see that.  We’ve spent a lot of time together.  So why do you get so emotional out there?
Garza:  It pisses me off when they hit my pitches.
Baseball Guru:  What does your catcher say?
Garza:  I can’t understand him, he doesn’t take his mask off.  I just say I got you, I got you.
Baseball Guru:  A couple of pitchers on your team have baseball themed names.  You know like Glover and Balfour.  Maybe that would work for you.  They could call you Mitt Garza.
Garza:  Do you get paid for this shit?
Baseball Guru:  Yep, isn’t that awesome.
Garza:  So what am I supposed to do?
Baseball Guru:  Quit over-analyzing everything.  Pitch it exactly where Navi tells you to and if they hit it, so what.  You have a great team.  They’ll pick you up.  Besides, you’re a major league baseball player, how cool is that?  Have some fun.
Garza:  Can I go now?
Baseball Guru:  Sure.  That will give me more time with Eric Gagne.

Go Rays!!

Rock’em Sox’em Rays!

What the hell?  We knew there might be some drama in Boston tonight, but I didn’t expect a good old fashion brawl.

Was Crispy really surprised when he got hit by that pitch?  Cause the ESPN announcers from the night before pretty much told him to expect one in the numbers.  It hit him in the leg.  What is his problem?  Roid Rage?  Seriously he f*cked everything up. 

Now the Rays will be facing a bunch of suspensions.  Shields, Gomes possibly Navarro and Crawford.  Not good for a contending team!!

He also messed up things for his own team.  Karma came around.  Youkilis and Manny were spatting.  Jacoby might have hurt his wrist on a web gem catch in center.  Also Manny pulled up a little lame in a later at bat.

Sean Casey (the nicest guy in MLB) must be wondering why we can’t just all get along! 

The best revenge would have been to actually win the game, but nooo.  I suppose that’s a chick comment but oh well.

Let’s hope the Rays can get past all this hoopla and get back to winning baseball games, because any team that walks Julio Lugo that much doesn’t deserve to win.  Get out of Boston and focus on Texas.  C’mon Kazmir!

By the way Shields needs to take some lessons from Kyle Farnsworth on what to do when someone rushes the mound.  I would show you video but the move is so successful that MLB has removed the video.  Basically he grabs the assailant around the waist, lifts them off the ground and then body slams them.  It’s really awesome and much better than missing with a weak looking swing.

Hey welcome to the Rays Tim Beckham!  Do you have any martial arts skills?

Gettin away from Garza.

Everything was getting away from Matt Garza tonight.  His pitches were getting away, and since they were comin up and in the batters started getting away, and then in the sixth the game got away from him.  Did he have onions at dinner? 

The Rays lost one tonight even though they didn’t play bad.  I’m still waiting for the night that offense clicks from top to bottom though.  Final score Tampa 4 – Boston 7.

Aki started it off on a high note with a home run.

Speaking of notes, has anyone else noticed that Garza seems to be singing to himself in between pitches?  I noticed it on his last start.  I wonder if he’s trying to keep himself loose?  What do you think he’s singing?

Pedroia’s beard is scraggly.  Ick.

In the bottom of the second I thought it was over.  Garza gave up a hit, home run, and a double with no outs.  Apparently he listened to me, since I was pleading with him “Settle down!”

He was dodging the bullet all night.  In the third he was in trouble but miraculously got Manny to ground into a double play.

Masterson buzzed BJ, and BJ was like, oh no you didn’t, and responded with a double.  Pena copied him and the Rays tied the game.

Nancy Drew should change his name to Rob, since he robbed the Rays a couple of times tonight.

Then to make matters worse he creamed one off of Garza.  2-3 Sox.

In the sixth BJ singles, steals second and then Pena hits one out.  Mmm Mmm good.  4-3 Rays.

That fuzzy feeling didn’t last though.  It all unravelled in the bottom of the sixth.  Garza hits Youkilis.  Then Manny hits a ground ball to short that Bartlett can’t handle.  Lowell fouls out.  Then Drew walks.  So bases loaded 1 out.  Varitek singles up the middle, scores 1.  Tie game.  So do you take Garza out?  My thought was no since he’s got the 8 and 9 hitters coming up.  I was wrong, Crisp hits a double that Hinske misplays.  4-6 Sox.

So Balfour comes in to relieve, and promptly walks Lugo.  Lugo.  You’ve got to make Lugo hit the ball.  Were they trying to set up the double play?  If so I don’t agree since Ellsbury is on deck.  He ends up hitting a sac fly, 4-7 Sox.  Balfour gets a strike out to stop the bleeding.

You better sit down for this news.  Glover pitched two scoreless innings.  No shit.

Why don’t they show the fan running on the field?  That’s must see TV.

The Rays never ending list of outfielders came in handy tonight when Maddon was playing bait and switch with Terry Francona. 

I get bummed when the Rays lose now, even when I knew it would be tough to win at Fenway.  Longo was robbed by Drew, and drew a walk but he also looked awful at the plate a couple of times.  Barty had an error at a bad time and was 0 for 4.  I still love you guys.

Let’s hope the Rays can shake it off, and come out swinging and pitching tomorrow.  Go Rays!! 

Pregame – Staats and Magrane with the call again.  I’m so obsessed with Staats hair.  Do you think it’s crunchy?  Ed-WIN Jackson vs. Clay Buchholz tonight.

Top 1st – slow roller + speedy runner = base hit for Ellsbury.  Pedroia hits into a nice 5-4-3 double play.  Drew gets a freakish broken bat single to Aki.  Jackson blows it all off and strikes out Ramirez.

Bottom 1st – Buchholz looks like a cute lemur, with way too many necklaces.  Aki strikes out.  Crawford grounds out.  BJ and Pena walk, but Bucholz blows it all off and strikes out Longo.

Top 2nd – Youkilis walks.  Crisp hits into a fielders choice, Youk out.  Varitek flys out to center and BJ doubles Crisp off first.

Bottom 2nd – Three up, three down go the Rays.

Top 3rd – Lowrie rips a nice base hit.  Word on the street is he’s workin Fabio Lugo out of a job.  Lugo flies out.  Ellsbury and Pedroia go down too.

Bottom 3rd – Three up, three down go the Rays again.  Shucks.

Top 4th – Three up, three down go the Red Sox.  WooHoo!

Bottom 4th – Upton doubles to left.  Rock on.  Pena grounds out but moves BJ to third.  Longo and Hinske both ground out.  Fudge.

Top 5th – Crisp base hit.  Varitek strikes out.  Wild pitch to Lowrie and Crisp goes from first to third.  Ugly.  Lugo strikes out.  Ellsbury hits a hard grounder to third and Longo damn near got him but Crisp scores.  1-0 Red Sox.  Pedroia grounds out.

Bottom 5th – Gross, Riggans and Bartlett sit back down in order.

Top 6th – Pena makes a great grab at first and they get the Sox 1,2, 3.

Bottom 6th – 3 Rays get out.

Top 7th – 1 walk but 3 Sox get out.

Bottom 7th – 3 Rays  don’t get on base.

Top 8th - Miller gets Ellsbury to pop out, and strikes out Pedroia, but then walks Drew.  No fear, Doh!man strikes out Manny Ramirez!

Bottom 8th – Gross strikes out.  Navarro in to hit for Riggy.  He totally struck out but the Sox didn’t get the call and one pitch later he singled to right.  Bartlett flies out.  No Way!  Aki hits a two run homer to right!  Who knew??  Rays take the lead .  Boston 1 – Tampa 2.  CC gets out.

Top 9th – Percy in to pitch.  He gets Youkilis and Crisp to fly out.  Then strikes out Varitek!  Rays beat Boston again!

Postgame – This game was not nearly as exciting as last nights most due to some great starting pitching.  Edwin pitched a great game.  Glad I’m not making the decision when Kazmir returns.  Buchholz also pitched great.  I actually felt sorry for him since he only made that one mistake and it cost him. 
More good relief pitching.  It’s hard for a Rays fan to handle.  Navarro came in and stepped up big with a single.  Aki is the hero tonight!  What’s next?  Is Bartlett hitting a walk off tomorrow?  Go Rays!!