HER RAYS!

The Rays keep on winning even when this blogger procrastinates. 

I missed the game on Sunday because I was watching kids play baseball.  Cliff Lee pitched a complete game and the Rays still won.  I didn’t really have too much to say about that except “Good on ya mates.”

Then yesterday the Rays squeezed out another win, but it was pretty late when they finished and I was falling asleep at the computer.  I figured since there was a day game in a few hours…

On to today.  Rays win.  Again.  They are totally ridiculous right now.  Half of the team is not even hitting well and they keep finding ways to win.

The pitching has been pretty great.  Even if they aren’t perfect they find a way to keep their team in the game.  Can’t ask for anything more than that.  The bullpen is pulling their weight too.  Ben Wha?  Been awesome.  Sonny has even been getting some big outs.

Pena had some big hits today, and BJ is smacking the ball it just happens to be right at someone.  Longo is on fire.  I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I agree with Kevin Kennedy that Longo should be the number three hitter. 

It feels weird not having anything to complain about.  Rays fans could get used to this.  Oh, I can think of one thing that annoys me.  Watching a third strike, with runners in scoring position.  Yeah I’m lookin at you Benny and Willy.  Those pitches were way too close to take.  Matter of fact the nickname Zorilla came about because Ben was an animal who was aggressive at the plate.  Time to let the Zorilla loose again!

Oh and from bummer central comes the news that JP Howell is probably done for a year.  There needs to be a full blown investigation here.  I need to know if I should be hating on Peggy Fleming for wrecking the boy’s shoulder.

Tomorrow the boys will face the big bad Yankees.  Let’s hope they just keep keepin on.  Go Rays!

At least it’s not in Cleveland anymore!  That was abysmal.

Remember last year when I surmised that BJ had been cursed by a woman scorned.  Well obviously she’s from Cleveland.  Even last season the Indians were one of the few teams with a winning record against the Rays.  Who ever said Cleveland rocks was sadly mistaken.  Cleveland blows.

The good news is the Rays don’t have to play them again this season.  The bad news is they are limping home and a tough Twins team awaits them.  Let’s hope the Rays can get their A-game back.

On a side note I’ve been working on a couple of t-shirts.  You can find them on the side bar.  I mostly made them for myself, but put them here in case anyone else is interested.  I’ve only been able to do a few, but plan to do more.  If you have any suggestions let me know.  I really wanted to do one for Garza that said “Where we understand that spit happens”, but that phrase is copyrighted by a baby bib company.  Kind of funny.

Go Rays!

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.

Thursday’s game was so awful, all I was trying to do was wipe it from my subconscious.  Then Friday turned into a very long day.  All day I kind of had the sniffles.  Then in a super brilliant move I mowed the grass.  By the time I sat down to watch the Rays my head was completely stuffed up.  Then Scott Kazmir started pitching. 

Shortly there after the Rays were losing by seven runs.  I was starting to wonder if it was the worst day ever.  I was also starting to wonder if all the Rays pitchers were going to suck at the same time.

Thankfully Lance Cormier decided to stop the bleeding.  I’m thinking of call him the Lone Ranger since he always seems to ride in and save the day.  He also inspired the rest of the bullpen to hold the Indians.  So that the Rays lead by Zobrist and Upton could brighten my day and comeback for the win.  Yes it was their mission to make me feel better.

I also hope we can look back to BJ’s walkoff home run as a turning point in this season, since the Rays looked good again today.  Of course it helps when your starting pitcher can actually get people out.  Thank you Garza.  The bullpen held it together again.  Oh and thanks to the Professer at Rays Index I couldn’t help but stare at Joe Nelson to see what kind of package he was storing.

C’mon Rays, keep it up tomorrow!

(photo Yahoo sports)

Toto we’re not in Kansas anymore.  What the H-E-Double L is going on here!

What if I told you that you were in a Rays world where Ben Zobrist plays centerfield, Jason Bartlett is a flat out awesome DH, and Scott Kazmir is meh and can’t get through five innings.  No thanks, right?  This is also the world where the Rays scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to win in walk off fashion against the Indians.  Awesome yet baffling!  Cleveland 7 – Tampa 10.

BJ Upton was put in time-out today.  First let me say that I love me some Bossman Junior.  There’s no one I’d rather have in center for the Rays, and I hope he’s there for a really long time.  However I can see both sides to this story.  Call me old school but I hate it when players don’t run down to first.  It’s a pet peeve, but it only bothers me when it’s really obvious.  BJ had two of those instances before Maddon warned them.  He sees how close they are, and every play matters at this point.  9=8.  Last night BJ bunted a ball, and my reaction was “Why isn’t he running?” because when someone bunts you expect them to really hustle out of the box.  I think he was frustrated since the bunt went toward the pitcher, but I guess Maddon didn’t care for it.  What sucks is that BJ made a game saving spectacular catch last night. 

That being said what’s with all the BJ hating?  Are you people crazy?  There’s a big difference between wishing he would run out ground balls, and wanting him traded.  He’s awesome, he’s hot, and he’s young.  He’s going to get even better.  It’s making me angry, don’t make me go medieval on ya.  Okay, I’m done talking about it.

Thankfully they ended the day on a super high note and hopefully they can put the negative behind them.  In the mean time I will be wearing my #2 Upton shirt around town.  Go Rays!!

Oh and Gabe Gross is like some super awesome good luck charm, so I hope the Rays hold onto him!

Goodbyes,  High Fives, and Birthday Greetings. 

Good luck to Jonny Gomes who was sent down today.  He is a one person pep rally, and if there’s another brawl the Rays are really going to miss him.

The Rays finally rocked Cleveland 4 – Tampa 8.

High fives all around tonight.  The offense was rockin.  BJ made a game saving spectacular catch.  He deserves like an elaborate hand shake high five.  Fist bump to Gabe Gross who’s had some nice hits lately.  Longo, Pena, Navi, etc. nice night with the bats.  

Scouting report must be out on Grant Balfour?  Bullpen came through again though.

Happy Birthday to Crawford and Hinske!  We’re glad you guys were born.

So they scored a bunch of runs tonight, then they’re going out to celebrate the boys’ birthdays, and tomorrow is a day game.  Any chance they’ll win the series?  Someone send Kazmir home early please.   Go Rays!!

Tough assignments and a meeting with the president of the BJ Upton fan club.

Well the Rays had a tough assignment tonight facing Cliff Lee without Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett.  Final score Cleveland 5 – Tampa 2.  Let’s hope they can win one tomorrow, I mean c’mon, everyone else has beaten the Indians.  Why can’t the Rays?

Before the game this evening BJ Upton caught up with the president of his fan club.  Stanley Rosenbagger.

Stanley:  Hey BJ, thanks for signing those 500 balls for the little leaguers.
BJ:  No problem.  My hand is all cramped up, but it wasn’t too long ago that I was one of them.
Stanley:  I have some bad news.
BJ:  What’s up?
Stanley:  We’ve had some complaints.
BJ:  Really, about what?
Stanley:  They say you’re too nonchalant.
BJ:  Homey say what?
Stanley:  Yep, you appear lazy.
BJ:  I’m not lazy.
Stanley:  I know, but you did jog down to first a couple of times.
BJ:  Those were brain farts.  I’m not lazy.  Besides, Mr. Maddon calmly reminded us that we better get our asses movin.
Stanley:  People who don’t know you very well think you’re lazy in the field too.
BJ:  Seriously?  I’ve worked my butt off trying to learn that position.
Stanley:  You just make it look too stinkin easy dude.  They’ve had to bust their humps for everything in life, and you’re gifted.  They don’t see how hard you work at it.  They wish they could be half as cool as you.
BJ:  I am cool.
Stanley:  Some radio host even lumped you in with Young and Dukes.
BJ:  Aw man, that’s not fair.
Stanley:  Don’t worry they’re mental midgets.  Smart people don’t care what they say.
BJ:  So what do I need to do about all this?
Stanley:  Nothing.  Just keep being your awesome self.  There’s nobody your true fans would rather have.  The others will hopefully appreciate you someday.
BJ:  I am awesome aren’t I.
Stanley:  Some have compared you to God.  Oh, that chick from Her Rays recommends that you do more hot photo shoots and maybe some dance moves in the dugout.
BJ:  I’ll keep that in mind.

 Go Rays!!

When I left the Rays had a five game lead in the AL East.  Good times indeed.  They finished their sweep of the Red Sox when I was on the road.  It was okay being disconnected from Rays universe, since I woke up to the news that the Rays were still winning.  They took three of four from Kansas City.  Perfectly acceptable.

Just as I was starting to miss my computer, Staats and Magrane, and even Todd Kalas the Rays lost two to the Yankees.  It’s okay, I was surrounded by beer and Tigers fans.  So naturally I chose the beer. 

That’s when the down-slide started.  I was in the hills of North Carolina.  Totally disconnected.  My cell phone didn’t even work.  Nascar country and my Sprint phone didn’t have service!  This was probably good for me, but…whatever.

As I was comin down the mountain, I heard the news.  The Indians swept the Rays.  The Indians who had lost ten in a row?  So annoying.  To be honest everything was annoying me.  One guy called me a bandwagon fan since I was wearing my Longo shirt.  He said maybe if I was wearing a Devil Rays shirt it wouldn’t be so obvious.  This just irked me.  He’s right I’ve only been a Rays fan for half of their existence, but they aren’t that old!  And even die hard fans wear the new gear!  And at least I live there!  They rag on Rays fans for not filling the stadium, and then they call them bandwagon fans when they do show up.  Infuriating!

Then there’s this talk that Rays fans are all arrogant.  Every fan base has it’s jerk-offs, that doesn’t mean it’s the standard.  Most of the Rays fans I know can’t believe how much fun this season is, and are cautiously optimistic.  Funny how most of these comments come from Yankees and Red Sox fans.  Oh, and they can keep their Sweet Caroline.  Last time I checked the fans don’t decide what songs are played at the Trop.  I would have went with the old stand by “na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey Goodbye!”

Before I got home, I needed to get some groceries since the cupboards were bare.  That was just the cherry on top of my day.  As I was shopping two people in Red Sox gear passed each other and cheered “We’re in first place again!”  I gave them the evil eye, but they didn’t melt like I planned.  It took all of my strength not to scream at them. “Get out of my store!  Get out of my town!”  Instead I just threw more cookies in my cart.  Now it will be the Red Sox fault when I get fat.

Back in the car something dawned on me.  You know why I was so crabby?  Because I cared.  Because the Rays are a good enough team to make the playoffs this year, let alone next year.  For Rays fans the goal has changed.  We don’t just want a .500 season, we want the whole enchilada, and this team can do it.

So this blogger and the Rays are finally home desperately needing to regroup.  We knew the Rays would have a slump at some point, I’d say right before the All-star break is a good time to do it.  Now they can rest and get back to winning series again.

Let’s have some fun the next couple of days, with the home-run derby and the all-star game.  I’m a little nervous about Longo, but he’s young and what an experience that will be for him.  Plus this year I’ll have someone to root for.  As for the all-star game a win could come in handy when the Rays make it to the world series. :)

Great to be home!  Go Rays!!