A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Huff

Some Strange Sunday

May17
2009 3 Comments Written by Jessica

That was for sure the strangest game of the season.  First it starts off with a line-up problem.  A problem that nobody clued the viewer in on.  So we watched people walk around and huddle up.  All while Staats and Kennedy speculate on what’s going on.  Their first instinct was the Indians pitcher was wrong in the lineup.  Frankly I wanted him to pitch.  He is cute and it was his first game back after being broken.

Alas the problem was actually with the Rays line-up.  They had two third baseman.  The Indians wisely questioned the line-up after Zobrist played the top of the first at third base.  Longo was supposed to DH, but because of the clerical error Sonnanstine would now be batting third.  Longo would be able to come in later.  Total entertainment.

Mr. Maddon this was the baseball gods trying to tell you something.  Longoria should be playing third base.  He does not need a day off.  He is twenty three years old and he’s a stud.  You’re pretty lucky this didn’t bite you in the ass.

He is also very lucky that Sonny is the best hitter in the starting rotation.  This would not have been cool if Niemann was pitching.  Okay it might have worth a couple of laughs.  Sonny stroked an RBI double.  Nothing better than pitchers hitting.  I hope no NL teams were watching they might find Sonny quite attractive.  In a different way than us female fans of course.

I have one serious question from this afternoon though.  If the Indians Francisco consistently pounds Sonny why didn’t they just walk him after Sonny got behind in the count???

Hernia had another big double driving in some runs.  I wonder if Navi’s jealous?

Barty is still hot, in every sense of the word.

CC made a miraculous catch at the wall.  He didn’t really catch it but…  That was a sucky call for the Indians and they were very frustrated.  Rays fans probably understand that as much as anyone.

Just when things were getting dull, the Tribe tries to hit BJ.  Twice.  Then since there was no warning issued Maddon made his displeasure known.  That’s when Victor Martinez started shooting his mouth off again.  Well Carl Crawford wasn’t having any of that so he flew out of the dugout and chaos ensued.

Erik at DRaysbay makes an excellent point.  It’s starting to feel a lot like 2008.  The walk-offs and the fist fights warm our hearts.

Now if someone could please take down those Blue Jays.

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Game 48 – Orioles vs. Rays

May23
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Back in the saddle again.

You know what’s funny?  I could hardly wait for the game to start tonight.  Due to illness and off days I hadn’t watched the Rays in like four days.  I know I’m a dork, but I was going through serious withdrawals, and they didn’t disappoint.  Rays win!  Baltimore 0 – Tampa 2. 

Aubrey friggan Huff hits a triple his first time up.  A triple.  He’s so annoying, but three batters later Pena makes a great play and gets him at the plate.  Pena is the opposite of annoying.

Bottom of 2nd Longo hits a ball all the way to the wall but Markakis makes a nice grab.  Dagnabit.

The Rays had 2 on and 1 out in the 4th too, but Longo and Floyd struck out to end it.  I think Clifford should have to let me borrow his earring for that.  Did you see the size of that thing? 

Pena makes a nice catch on a foul ball in the stands.  He’s still got it defensively.

Hinske singles in the bottom of the 5th, and then sort of steals second.  He only reached because of an error.  Aki hits a long fly ball but the Orioles outfield makes another great catch.  Crawford gets a base hit, and Hinske scores!

 Pena had a nice base hit in the 6th, but the Rays left him stranded.  Yes I said he got a hit.

Garza pitched a great game.  It wasn’t without drama, but he shutdown the O’s for seven innings.

Huff and Puff thought he hit a fair ball by first base, but it was call foul.  Boy did he huff and puff!  ION never showed a good replay of it so I have no idea if it was a good call or not.  Miller got him to ground into a double play after that.  Huge.

BJ singles in the bottom of the 8th, then Sherrill throws away his pick off attempt and BJ glides on over to third.  Pena cracks one, but another Orioles outfielder makes yet another web gem catch.  They won’t let anything drop.  BJ tags up and scores so the Rays lead is extended to two.

Percy came in and finished them off like the closer he is.

The Rays played a pretty clean game tonight.  My only negative thoughts were that Aki hit a bunch of fly balls again, never good, and Longo looked a little lost.

Let’s hope for an encore tomorrow night.  Go Rays!!

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Game 11 – Orioles vs. Rays

Apr13
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

The story of the day was Evan Longoria’s debut, complete with pregame interviews and shots of his family cheering him on.  It was all pretty exciting until the Rays lost a downer of a game.  Orioles 3 – Rays 2. 

Here are some of my thoughts:
Rough first inning for Hammel.  Roberts leads off with a double and then steals third easily.  Hammel actually hits the batter and the catcher with one pitch.  Tough start, but he holds them to one run.

Huff gets a double when BJ completely loses the ball?  Hernandez triples to give the O’s a 2-0 lead.  Ok it’s going to be a long night if they score every inning.

In the top of the 4th Pena makes a brilliant diving stop on a ball up the first base line.  He saved a double for sure.

Longoria gets on base his second time up, but it’s ruled an error??

Bottom of the 6th – Pena grounds out.  BJ walks.  Hinske base hit, BJ to third.  Longoria gets his first base hit and RBI! Then Haynes kills the buzz and hits into a double play.  Dammit!  2-1 Orioles.

Hammel gets them in order in the seventh to finish with a nice performance.  He settled down and held them to two runs.  I think we’d all take that every time from him.

Howell pitches the eighth and besides hitting a batter he gets through it.  Longoria looks great in the field by the way.

Bottom of the eighth – Pena ties it up!  Love him!  BJ lays down a nice bunt, but then gets caught in a run down.  Not his fault the pitcher balked but no one called him on it.  Hinske grounds out.  Longoria walks, but we got to see a taste of his swing when he creamed a foul ball.  Haynes strikes out.

And with one out left to go in the top of the ninth.  Wheeler gets behind in the count and lays one in there and Hernandez hits it out.  What a mood killer. 

The Rays can’t get anything going in the bottom of the ninth.  Game over.  3-2 Orioles.

The offense was quiet again today.  I for one wasn’t a fan of the lineup but what do I know.  Longoria had a nice debut.  He looked comfortable in the field and at the plate. 

Let’s hope the Rays can pick up their first series win tomorrow and stay at .500!  Go Rays!!

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Game 10 – Orioles vs. Rays

Apr11
2008 1 Comment Written by Jessica

Well I came in late, just as the O’s were making it 5-2.  So I really didn’t get to see how Shields did.  From reading the recap the game sounds a little sloppy to that point.  Evidently only two of those runs were earned.

Some thoughts on the part of the game I did watch.

Miller got a huge out on Huff and Puff with the bases loaded.
Congrats to Carl Crawford.  1000 hits. 
Carlos Pena is not only tall, dark and handsome but he can crank a baseball!  What more could you ask for in a man?
Al Reyes is in to pitch?  WTF?  Isn’t he hungover?  Doesn’t a taser take something out of you?  Why didn’t he get grounded?
Nathan Haynes had 3 hits.  Way to totally confuse the right field situation.
Everyone wanted in on the action in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding lead.
Percival slammed the door shut.

Big Win!  Baltimore 5, Tampa 10!!

Longoria and Niemann are coming to join in on the fun this weekend.  Go Rays!

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