HER RAYS!

First the disclaimer.  Remember where you’re at.  This is a female fan’s perspective.  It is not always rational or spot on like Rays Index.  It will not appeal to your mathematical side with pretty graphs like DRaysBay.  Nor will it remain eternally optimistic ala Mr. Chalk.  The reason being, girls rely way more on their emotions.

You see viewing pleasure weighs heavily into how a female fan feels about her team.  If a player is attractive and fun to watch then he gets our vote.  Some would say “Well, that’s stupid.”  To these people I would point out two things.  First stupid is a mean word.  Second we don’t go on looks and entertainment value alone, we actually want our team to win games.  However the players ability directly effects his attractiveness.

Example 1 - Matt Garza is pretty attractive.  He’s got a great smile and a rockin body.  However after game seven of the ALCS, where he was the MVP for his awesomeness, he went from pretty attractive to super hot.

Example 2 – Robert Pattison is quite hot, but what if he trotted out there daily for the Rays and his OBP was nill?  His negative baseball ability would suck the hotness from him, and while we’d wish him well, we’d call for his replacement.  Maybe Ian Somerhalder?

Now you know how my twisted mind works.  Those Girls explain it better and they even have stats to correlate.

So how do I feel about the Rays this season?  Well to tell you the truth it feels a little odd.  Normally at this time of year I am uber-optimistic.  Really believing that they can do better than 97 losses.  Then last year they won more than 97 games.  They went to the world freakin series.  Yet when I look at the team on paper, it looks even better this year? Don’t know about you, but my mind is not sure how to deal with that.

Outfield
With any luck the Rays should have a healthy Carl Crawford and BJ Upton shortly after the season starts.  It doesn’t get much better than that.  I’m also very excited that Matt Joyce got a spot on the roster.  Because of the formula above I’m hoping he can do well enough to boot one of the Gabe’s when BJ returns.  The way Ben Zobrist swung the bat last year improved his value so I’m sure he’ll be in the picture too.  I love Perez, so I’m hoping he can make it back by the dog days of summer if they need him.

Infield
The Rays have a great infield.  Longo is Mike Schmidt like.  Which is cool, unless he decides to grow the porn star mustache.  Barty is superb on so many levels.  Did anyone else like him in the lead-off spot?  Aki is back, and although he’s no Mark DeRosa, he was obviously the best looking guy on the Japanese WBC team.  That’s something.  Then there’s Mr. Carlos Pena.  He’s as pretty on the inside as he is on the outside, and he happens to be really good at baseball.  That folks is a win-win-win.

DH
I don’t really have a read on the new DH.  He’s supposedly a machine, so he shouldn’t break down.  I’m excited to see how he can help the Rays.  Cliff Floyd’s personality endeared him to me.  I’m hoping Pat’s bat endears him to me.

Catchers
Navi and Riggy.  What’s not to love.  If Navi can continue to improve every year that would be phenomenal.  Plus Riggy is the perfect back-up.  He’s so cute that he doesn’t have to be awesome, and when he is it’s like the cherry on top of your day.

Pitchers
This is where I get a little worried.  Don’t get me wrong these guys can pitch.  I’m just worried about them staying healthy.  Although the Rays have a better back-up plan than most teams.  Ever heard of Wade Davis or David Price?  That’s quite a back-up plan.  I’ll be following them at Watching Durham Bulls.  So who should be the fifth starter when the season starts?  If you go by my highly scientific theories it should be Jason Hammel.  He is way more attractive than Jeff Niemann.  Plus his Mom is a HerRays reader.  Major bonus points.  Besides I think Niemann is better trade bait.

The Bullpen
I just hope they can be more like 2008 than 2007.  This is the one area where I could care less what a player looks like.  At this point in the game my sanity is much more important.  Of course if the Rays could find a closer that looked like CJ Wilson and pitched like Mariano Rivera I would not object.  Plus there would be many nights I would go to sleep with a smile on my face.

All of that to say I’m totally geeked about the start of the season.  Go Rays!  Too bad Monday’s game is during the day.  I could use some brown liquor to help me deal with this…

Yeah so I’m a little lost now that the season is over.  I’m not finding much on TV.  I find myself thinking about things that aren’t really crucial but enter my mind anyway.  Like what the heck am I going to do with my hair?  It needs an upgrade.

When the Rays were in the hunt for October this kind of thing never even bothered me.  I mean following baseball is pretty time consuming if you put your mind to it.  So now I look around and think “Holy crap I really need to get some stuff done.”

The off season is also a bit nerve racking in that the team could look quite different when spring training rolls around again.  Last year I wasn’t sad to see certain guys move on, but this year is quite different.  I really love most of these guys and I don’t want anyone taking them away. 

Today the Rays declined options on Clifford and Trevor Miller, and since I’m a chick this affects me differently.  I know both are probably good decisions by the team, but these guys are pieces of the whole you know.  They played pivotal roles this season.

I really like Cliff Floyd, and he had some great moments for the Rays this year.  I love his earring and his smile and his big brother ways in the dugout.  It’s too bad he isn’t a good fit for the Mets, since Metsgrrl loves him.  Maybe he could be an advisor for some lucky team?

When I think of Trevor Miller I immediately think of his family, well that and his rockin mohawk.  I’m sure they loved him being here in Tampa with them.  I’m sure he will find a spot somewhere, but it won’t be as comfortable for him.  He got to be a part of the amazing turn around season though, maybe he’ll decide to retire now?  Either way I wish him the best.

Ugh, first I’m missing the Rays and now I’m saying goodbye to some of them.  How many days until spring training? 

Don’t worry I’ll make it through.  I’m updating my Netflix queue.  I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.  As for the blog, I’ll probably cut back to weekly posts if nothing is going on.  Don’t forget to rock the vote.

Because that was exhausting!  The post season is supposed to be all about pitching right?  Not last night.  It was like a study in opposites compared to the first game.

Kazmir had a painful start, giving up two runs in the first.  Not the tone the Rays wanted to set, but you can’t count the Rays out that early in the game.

In the bottom of the 1st.  Pena doubled and the Longo hit a two run homerun to get right back into it.  That was huge against Beckett.  Longo looked more like himself.  Could have been the pep talk he got from Maddon, or maybe my idea worked.  IBT* squad to the rescue.

Both pitchers got through the 2nd inning.  Then Kazmir gives up a homerun to Pedroia.  Ugh.  3-2 Boston.

In the bottom of the 3rd BJ homers right back to tie it.  Longo doubles and Crawford singles to score him.  This game is officially wacked at this point.  4-3 Rays.

Floyd hits a bomb to center in the 4th inning.  5-3 Rays.  Rock on!

Top of the 5th.  Kazmir gives up another homerun to Pedroia.  Two homeruns to mighty mouse!  Yes, I yelled at the TV.  Then he follows that up with another long ball to Youkilis.  Aaaaagh!  Maddon’s seen enough.  Balfour is in.  He promptly serves one up to Jason Bay!  Can no pitcher hold the game tonight?!  Balfour even walked the next two, and JP had to come in to end the inning.  6-5 Boston.  Dammit.

Bottom 5th.  Upton walks and then steals 2nd.  Pena singles and BJ scores.  Unfreakingbelievable.  Tie game.  Longo doubles and scores Pena.  7-6 Rays.  Pitching smitching.  CC singles and scores Longo.  8-6 Rays.  Can they keep it that way?

Top of 6th.  Howell walks Pedroia.  Maddon comes to the mound and says “focus dude, if you only do one thing for me today, strike this mofo out!”  JP strikes out Ortiz.  Bradford comes in and gives up a single to score that pesky Pedroia.  Just like that, the lead is cut to one.

The pitchers actually hold in the seventh.  Totally amazing at this point.

Top of the 8th.  Pedroia singles off of Bradford.  The kid is everywhere, it seems like he’s up to bat every inning.  Miller comes in and walks the only guy he’s asked to get out, Ortiz.  Maybe Maddon should have given him the focus speech.  Wheeler comes in and gets Youkilis to ground into a double play!  Sweet, except now Pedroia is on third.  Then came the wild pitch that was heard around the world.  Pedroia scores.  Tie game, again.  I can’t handle much more of this.

Wheeler actually did a great job except for that wild pitch.  He pitched the Rays into the 11th inning, where he was rescued by Mr. Price.  Price came in with one out and a man on first.  He walked Drew, but then regained his composure and got out of the inning.  You know he had to be so nervous.  Great job chosen one.

Bottom of the 11th.  The Rays face Mike Timlin.  Navi walks and Perez comes in to run for him.  Zobrist walked.  Barty had a timely chopper down to third and moved the runners over.  They walked Aki, and the bases were loaded with one out.  BJ hits a short sac fly to right.  No problem for Speedy McSpeedster, Perez scores.  Rays win!  Rays win game two!

In this case 9>8!  Go Rays!

Get some rest today people.

*itty bitty titty

Holy Shitske!

People the Rays won again.  I know right?  Hinske made that web gem.  Edwin pitched seven innings and only gave up one run.  The bullpen gave up a couple of runs, but they still saved the game.  Floyd and Aybar took care of the offense.  This team can play some baseball.  There were 14,000 people there to witness it first hand.

The attendance for this series has been a hot topic.  That’s why I must make a confession.  Besides all of the normal excuses of money, work, etc., there is one other reason Rays fans don’t get out to the games during the week.  Thirsty Thursdays.

Depending how far you want to stretch the Tampa Bay area, there are three to five minor league teams that play here.  So some people, yes I’m guilty, abandon their major league team.  Why?  Because sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.  It could also have something to do with the dollar beers, and the gulf breeze as you watch outdoor baseball.

This does not mean that I love the Rays any less.  I mean, have you met me?  I just prefer to go to the Trop on the weekends.  Sorry Rays.  Keep up with the whole being awesome thing and I’ll see you this weekend.  Go Rays!!

(photo ESPN)

Bloody hell mates, what you got against Texas?

It sure seemed like the Rays were doing anything they could to avoid finishing this game and heading to Texas.  Somebody should have called time-out to bribe the boys with promises of big Texas sized steaks and beer and women if that’s what it takes.  I missed the Rays, but not enough to spend 4.5 hour with them today!

So I watched the game in a fly by manner.  Every once in a while I would zoom in and check it out.   Here are some of the things I saw…

The A’s were wearing an alternate jersey.  Much debate followed as to whether they were black or very dark green?  Any fashionistas care to clear this up?

I learn something new every day, and BJ might have too.  Evidently if you round second but then you need to get back to first, you have to touch second again on the way.  I guess this makes sense.  I just never knew it was a rule.  I’m going with the I’m just a girl excuse on this one.  BJ should go with the nobody ever told me that excuse.

Shields faces two batters and gives up a triple and a homerun.  Not exactly the start he was hoping for I bet.

Clifford scores from first.  Two times!

Ruggiano RBI scores Clifford again.  Somebody get that big red dog some water.  I almost said a bone, but figured your dirty minds would wander.  No, just me huh.

Rocco strikes out looking with bases loaded.  That is such a pet peeve for me that even players that I love hear about it.

Chad Bradford, who’s name is really fun to say, got his job done with a little help from  Baldelli who laid out for one in right.  My response to this is holding my breath and covering my eyes by the way.

(photo Yahoo sports)

Howell strikes guys out left and right.  Really, some were righties and some were lefties.

Wheeler held serve too.  Oops too much Olympics.

Upton hits an RBI double off of the invincible Ziegler.  To that point he hadn’t given up a run in 39 innings.  Bossman thought it was time to end that streak.

Percy math.  Walk + ball hog = sprained knee.  To his credit the Rays have yet to lose when he blows the save.  I guess he’s a winner.  I would like to know if he sprained his knee coming off the mound to field the bunt or when he decided to play tag instead of flipping the ball?

Balfour gets a strike out but then gives up a game tying single to Frank Thomas.  I didn’t see this at bat, so I don’t know, but was Balfour in love with his fastball again and left one up?  I’m the only Rays fan that thinks he gets a little too pumped sometimes.  I still love him.

Rocco tried to score on a wild pitch but got a bummer bounce and was out by a mile.  So it went in this endless frickin game.

Someone mentioned the steak to Pena and hit one out. 

Finally the Rays are up by two in the bottom of the 12th.  All they need is three outs.  What do they do?  Error, wild pitch, hit batter but they finally do get the win!  Rays win another series!  Tampa 7 – Oakland 6.  Let’s hope they can keep it going in Texas.  Go Rays!!

I’m sure you’ve heard by now.  Longo is joining Carl on the DL.  This sucks hard.  It’s a big fat bummer folks.  However if you’re feeling low, you’ve come to the right place, because this girl is an optimist. 

This is not to say that we won’t miss these boys.  My love for them is well documented, but this team hasn’t gotten this far riding on one man’s shoulders.  It has been a team effort, with lots of heroes.  So three weeks should be no problem, and then they will be all set for the final push in September.  Rally caps Rays fans!

Here’s the plan…
The pitching staff decides to be even more awesome than before.  Starting with Kazmir blowing the white shoes off of the A’s tonight.
Navi stays his consistent self and ups his RBI’s by default.
Pena plays stellar defense and keeps roping the ball on offense.  Oh and occasionally he takes his shirt off in the dugout to make up for the loss of Longo.
Aki continues to get on base, and dances with Zobrist whenever the mood strikes them.
Barty returns, but still hits like a DH, and tries to surpass Carl in triples.
Aybar takes over third admirably and keeps his bat hot.  Someone buy him bat covers that look like boots with fur!
Hinske plays an okay left, but nobody notices because he hits an insane amount of homeruns making the Rays look brilliant.
BJ exudes the attitude “Who needs them when you’ve got me” and becomes the premier centerfielder in the game.
Gross and Ruggiano both field and hit so well that Maddon honestly can’t decide who to put out there after…
Rocco plays magnificent the first six innings!  Everyone’s afraid to leave him out there too long.
Cliff Floyd decides he really hates to run so he just hits the cover off the ball instead.

See, no problemo.  If John Kruk thinks the Rays can do it… c’mon he’s an expert right?

Go Rays!!

Wow, a road win!

I think there are times that a position player should get credit for the save.  Last night when I heard Percival was warming up, my reaction was…Uh Oh they better try to get some insurance runs, because one run isn’t going to cut it for Percy.  Not exactly the feeling you should have when your closer comes in.  Thankfully Carlos Pena did add some insurance runs and saved the day.  Rays win 5-2!

Since it was Friday and the game was later, I’m sure I’m not the only one that was tired.  So I was easily distracted.  For instance, the white dot on top of the Royals hats is weird.  I started to wonder if other teams have this and I just haven’t noticed.  It looks a little like a bird came along and you know left a dot of poo on their hats.  Just sayin.

I also found this chick behind home plate distracting, and I’m not even a dude.  She was wearing a tube top.  Well someone should inform women that when they wear strapless shirts to a baseball game that the seat in front of them blocks the view of their actual shirt and they end up looking like they’re sitting there naked.  Nekkid!  This phenomena is increased if the woman has eye catching tan lines.

Oh yeah, I did actually watch the game. 

E-Jax – Was better.  Had a no hitter going thru five?  He gave up two homeruns but they were of the solo variety, instead of the three-run ones he tends to give up. 
Balfour – Is it possible to get too pumped up?  He did fine, was a little wild.  Does it look like he’s calling the batters bad names under his breath?
Howell – Great as usual, even with bases loaded in a one run game.
Wheeler – Also held the Royals at bay.
Percy – Scary again.  He gave up a homerun.  I have no confidence in him.
Aki – Good game, two hits, his normal great play in the field.
BJ – Had a lazy bones play to start off with that really pissed me off.  Once again he didn’t run a ball out.  He thought it was a base hit, but he was very wrong.  Fail.  He doubled later in the game, but I’m still a little pissed.
CC – Has been pretty terrible.  Far cry from when he used to be known as superman.  I hope it’s just a slump, and he turns it on right when we need him to.  Like soon.
Longo – Solid play all around.  Love him.
Pena – Finally broke out a little last night.  He doubled and hit a much needed two run shot in the 9th.  Oh and he’s always a gold glover.
Clifford – Hit a couple of balls hard, but they only made it to the warning track.  One at bat he looked lost and silly.
Navi – Mr. Consistent lived up to his name once again.
Hinske – Had a hit, but still hasn’t been able to turn it on.  No embarrassing plays in right field though.
Barty – Made a couple of great plays in the field.  When he wasn’t getting hit by pitches he actually hit the ball hard, just right to someone.  Still love him though. 

Good win, since it looks like they are all going to be important from here on out.  It’s going to be a battle for the east!  Let’s hope they can get another win tonight.  Go Rays!!!

Royal Suckdom.

Tampa 2 - Kansas City 4

Royally Good

Gill Meche – He shut down the Rays.  Not that that’s really hard lately, but he never let them in the game.

Jason Bartlett – Welcome back!  Guess he doesn’t want people to miss Zobrist’s bat.  He went 3-3 with a double.  Plus he made a couple of outstanding plays in the field.  Love him, so having him back increases my baseball viewing pleasure exponentially.

Bullpen – Howell, Balfour and Wheeler all pitched scoreless innings in an effort to let the offense join the game.  To bad they didn’t.

Longo – He’s all that and a bag of chips.

Royally Bad

Mr. Garza – He just did not have it today.  He was so off that I’m hoping he’s not hurt.  Of course he got royally jinxed by Staats and Magrane.  They kept going on and on about his pitch count and how he should be able to go deep in the game.  How many innings did he pitch?  Five.  4ER.

Hinske – He had a Dan Uggla all-star kind of performance.  0-4 at the plate.  3 strikeouts.  Two horrendous plays in right field.  Royally Awful is more like it.

Pena – He did get a hit tonight, but he’s still classified as bad.  He’s had way too many chances to drive in runs lately.  Fail.  It’s a good thing he’s so cute or he’d be on my shit list.

Royally not Good

Everyone else.  Aki, CC, BJ, Floyd, Navi.

Let’s hope the Rays can find their strokes and get back on track tomorrow while the Red Sox and Yankees beat on each other.  Go Rays!!

Hey, Matt Garza here.  I know I look half-baked in that picture there, and my hat is crooked, and it looks like I dipped my chin in chocolate but…I totally just out dueled Roy Halladay.  Why?  Because I can.  My spit don’t stink.  I pitched seven plus innings and they only got two hits. 

Then my boys went to work with all kinds of bunts.  Because turns out it’s really hard to hit Roy’s pitches too.  Carlos finally drove one in thankfully.  Then the kid, E-Lo, who’s like two whole years younger than me, hit his first grand salami!  I bet that chick at Her Rays wishes she could have seen that.  She loves him.  Clifford hit one out later too.  6-0 Rays.  Quite a cushion for the bullpen.  Right?

No.  They damn near imploded.  They needed three outs.  They gave up four runs!  Can I just tell you I would have went bat shit crazy if they would have blown that.  From what I hear they did that a lot last season.  We can’t be having that. 

Anyway let’s get back to talking about me.  I’m really starting to get the hang of this.  I ruled out there tonight.  Someday Minnesota’s going to be talking about how they shouldn’t have let me go, forget that Santana guy.  Don’t worry it’s not cocky it’s confidence.  Anybody would want to pitch better following Shields and Kazmir.  Let’s hope Edwin can keep it going tomorrow.  Go Rays!!

Since the Rays are on the road again, and I am on a road trip, I got to thinking…What would the guys be like on a road trip in a VW microbus?  Besides crowded.

This is what comes to my warped mind.

Kazmir giving Shields a manicure.
Garza hopped up on sour patch kids playing video games.
Sonny picking crumbs out of his beard.
Edwin Jackson reading poetry.
Navi making the bus driver stop at every Dunkin Donuts, so he can get his free donut.
Pena rubbing lotion on…Oops wrong fantasy.
Aki and his interpreter making fun of everyone else in Japanese.
Barty, Hinske, Floyd and Gross playing poker.
Hinske is trying to stack the deck.
Bartlett is using that poker face of his and stealing all their moolah.
Floyd going all in trying to win enough to upgrade his earring.
Gross smiling, just happy to be included, and getting a big hand when he needs it.
Longo twirling his gum and dreaming about the Longo ball.
Crawford assuming the role of the impatient kid.  “Are we there yet?”
BJ is way too cool for all this, so he ignores everyone and listens to his Ipod.
Gomes trying to get everyone fired up with sing a longs.
Percy trying to keep things under control.  “Don’t make me come back there”
I think we all know what Howell would be doing in the back of the van.  What’s that funny smell?
Maddon directing the driver to the next wine tasting.

Sounds like fun, I’m in.  Go Rays!!!