A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Jeter

Shopping for a Snuggy?

Sep21
2010 1 Comment Written by Jessica

It’s that time of year Rays fans.  I don’t know who originally said it, but Derek Jeter preaches it all the time.  Good teams make the playoffs, hot teams win in the post season.  The Rays are a good team and barring a disaster of epic proportions they will make the playoffs.  However they definitely don’t look like a hot team right now.

I’m not the only one who is fretting over this matter.  B. Woodrum over at DRaysbay wrote an excellent piece on this very subject.  He? looked at the last five World Series winners and their level of hotness* going into the playoffs.  He did his best to make me feel a little better.  There have been teams that were hot all the way through, and others that were not hot in September but then turned it on in October.

I guess what I really want is for the Rays to give me a warm fuzzy feeling, and soon.  I want them to build up my confidence in them.  I want their pitchers to return to getting people out.  I don’t want broken Jeff  Niemann and Matt Garza.  I want to see Benoit and Soriano, not Wheeler.  I want Zorilla to let loose.  I want Brignac ungrounded.  I want the manager on his game, not all like “oops my bad, I brought Garza back out after he clearly was done.”

Hopefully tonight they can play a clean game.  Shields can use more of his off-speed stuff and they can pull out a win.  Hopefully they can work on restoring the warm fuzzy or I might have to start shopping for a Snuggy.  Go Rays!

*note – hotness here is defined as good at baseball.  Being a girls blog hotness is usually defined differently around these parts, but if that were the case the Rays would normally win hands down.  However right now they are being brought down by Longo’s mulletness.

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Most Excellent!

Sep15
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

This series did not disappoint.  Frankly, I’m exhausted from the whole thing.  The best part is that even though the Rays are tired, especially the pitchers, they were still good enough to take two from the Yankees and slide into first place.

Tonight James Shields was really great.  He held the Yankees to one run.  Plus there was nary a long ball in sight.  So great.

Thank you to Evan Longoria for getting the first hit of the night and loosening things up.

Dan is the man!  Dan Johnson that is.  How many runs were on the scoreboard?  Four.  How many runs did Mr. Johnson drive in?  Four. 

Derek Jeter will be adding an Emmy to his trophy colosseum this evening.

I don’t think I’ve ever told Grant Balfour that I love him before tonight.  I told him quite emphatically this evening.

Soriano for MVP.  That’s my vote and I’m sticking to it.  Yes I just untucked my shirt when I typed that.  (Such a lie.  Who tucks in their pajamas?)

Enjoy the off day and rememeber the Rays are in first place.  Most excellent!  Go Rays.

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Dagnabit

Jul16
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Well I really didn’t expect the Rays to pull off a win against CC Sabathia, but he was a bit off and they definitely had their chances.  What did they do with these chances?  They squandered them!

The Rays picked away at CC and came up with three runs.  Shields was cruising, only giving up one.  Kapler made a great catch at the wall to save his butt.  Then it all went awry.  James gave up two home runs and the lead.  Bummer but the Rays still had their chances.

In the seventh one of my favorite things happened.  BJ got on base in front of Carl and soon after they were on second and third with no outs.  Can I have more of this please?  The Rays only got one run out of it, but that could have been a game winner. 

Balfour handled the seventh.  So the Rays have a one run lead going into the eighth.  I’m thinking no problem.  Benoit for the eighth and Soriano for the ninth.  Well Benoit was a little off.  I knew he wasn’t going to be perfect, but he picks now to be a little off!  He gave up a home run to Nick Frickin Swisher.  Plus he was super scary getting out of the inning, but he did keep the game tied.

Girardi makes the call to Mo Rivera to come in and shut down the Rays so the Yankees have a chance to win it.  BJ miraculously gets a broken bat single.  However he kills the rally himself by getting picked off first for the gazillionth time.  Not even close.

Maddon does not make the call to his closer and give the Rays a chance to win the game.  Instead he goes to Choate the lefty specialist.  The lefty specialist who let the two lefties he faced get on base.  I think specialist is the wrong term.  I have another term but we try to be nice around here.  Wheeler was then brought in with the daunting task of sitting Derek Jeter down in a clutch situation.  It took him four strikes but he did it. 

So who does Maddon bring in to face Swisher with two outs in the ninth of a tie game.  Lance Cormier.  Wait what?  I like Lance, but he has been struggling this year.  This game must not be as important as I think is?  Yankees win.  Rays fans go home totally confused.  After Mariano Rivera the Yankees bullpen is shaky.  The Rays would have had a chance if they could have gotten that far.  I know it’s not a save situation, but it’s a win situation.  Where was Soriano?

Time to turn it around tomorrow.  Go Rays!

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Come On!

Jul27
2009 2 Comments Written by Jessica

This game made me grouchy right from the get go!  Why the heck wasn’t it in HD?  Come on!

Where is Brian Anderson?  I want Brian Anderson.  Come on!

What is it about AJ Burnett?  The Rays seem to be rendered useless when he’s on the mound.  Is the snarl his source of power? Come on!

Shields had his normal rough inning early, but what was up with the back to back homers in the 6th?  Come on!

Time to order new bats, because these ones aren’t working.  I don’t have the energy to look up the stats, but the Rays seem to be down in the count a lot.  New York looked a lot more aggressive at the plate.  Granted they were getting fatter pitches, but they really came out swinging right from the beginning.  Take notice fellas.  Come on!

Joe Nelson scares the crap out of me.  He comes in a throws a wild pitch then walks the guy.  Come on!  (he was able to work out of it though)

Evan the RBI machine had a rough go of it tonight.  Unless you count the RBI GIDP.  Come on!

Balfour made me yell at the TV during the Jeter at bat.  He blew two fast balls right by the swinging shortstop, then instead of throwing some junk he decided to press his luck.  Big surprise Captain America singles to right.  Ugh.  Come on!

Albaladejo better watch his back.  Do not hit Longo.  I WILL come down there.  Come on!

Is it bad that I wished Pena was batting 6th when he came up with a chance to pull the Rays within one.  Fail.  Come on!

Shouse.  No other words are needed.  Come on!

Pat, nice home run, but you are late to the party.  Please bring more tomorrow.  Come on!

Yes this game made me Ms. Grouchy McGrouchypants.  The Yanks looked like the much better team.  I hope it made the Rays grouchy too.  Time for them to score some runs, and they have their work cut out for them tomorrow.  CC vs. Kazmir.  Oy.  Let’s hope for the best.  Go Rays.  Come on!

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Opening Day, feel the breeze…

Apr07
2009 1 Comment Written by Jessica

Yeah there were a few swing and misses today.  Beckett was dealing. 

4, 5, 6, 7 = zero
Pena, Burrell, Joyce and Navarro 
That makes it hard to get anything going.  

At least they don’t have to wake up to cover stories about how much money they are costing the Rays everytime they suck.

Carl Crawford looked really good today.  I’m hoping he can keep it up and then when BJ comes back they can be like the wonder twins.  Wonder twin powers activate.  Make me into a cheetah.  Oooh, me too.

Sorry this post is so bland.  I was just really excited for opening day and once the game got started there was not much to be excited about.  It was a bit of a let down.  Then again it’s like a wake up call.  It’s a long season, time to settle in, take it one game at a time.  Oh my gosh, I’m so bland I’m starting to sound like Derek Jeter canned comments.

Let’s hope the Rays can pick up a win tomorrow so I can snap out of it.  Baseball is back!

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Hey JP, lookin good.

Mar05
2009 4 Comments Written by Jessica

Nothing better than blowin off work and spending the day at the ballpark.  I’ll be seeing the Rays later this month, but today I got to check out Team USA as they took on the BlueJays.  I had a great time, since it was almost like going to an all-star game.  Plus as a bonus I got to see JP Howell pitch a scoreless inning, complete with pimp walk off the field.

He started out with two strikeouts.  Then he got bored and gave up a couple of hits, but he recovered and got a fly ball to end the inning.  JP representing.

I won’t bore you with my pictures since they all have that netting in them, and most of them are players from the back.  There is one that’s kind of odd though…

buds

It was funny, these two and David Wright spent most of the game on the top step of the dugout, just shootin the breeze.  It was driving their fans crazy.  I think they really wanted them to hate each other.  I just wanted to know what they were talking about?  How Pedroia got time off from his reality show Jockies?

Some other HerRays observations from the day…
Ted Lilly is good at baseball.
Chipper Jones is a big dude.
Adam Dunn is ginormous, and a better first baseman than Kevin Millar.
Jimmy Rollins is little, but he has big range.
I didn’t see the Hawaiian fly?
Derek Jeter is captain America.  No really, he’s the Michael Jordon of baseball.
Mark DeRosa is kinda hot.  I like Aki and all, but maybe we could make a trade.
Curtis Granderson looks bigger in person, and man is he built for speed.
Barry Larkin looks like he could still play some good ball.

It’s quite a team.  Hopefully they can put it together and do well in the tournament.  In the meantime, now I’m really excited to see the Rays.  It’s baseball season people!

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Game 146 & 147 – Rays vs. Yankees

Sep14
2008 3 Comments Written by Jessica

Dagnabit!

Alright, I know the Rays are probably going to the playoffs and the Yankees chances are slim to none, but it still would have been nice if they could have beat them this weekend.  Because now we have to hear things like, “the Yanks owned them this year.”  Ugh, all that and the standard “26 rings” comments.  The Rays have beaten so many number one teams, but I’m still a little greedy and wanted them to spank the Yanks.

Things we learned this weekend:
Split squads sound fun in theory, but they are really not.
Benny can give runs, and Benny can take runs away.
The Rays bullpen can fail.
As can their starting pitchers.
Derek Jeter can hit the ball.
A-Rod can hit the ball farther.
Giambi should stick to DH.
Yankees have some girthy pitchers.
The Rays like to play with razors.
David Price’s potential is scary good.
I miss CC and BJ.
Carl Pavano is fragile.

No biggie.  Shake it off boys.  C’mon home and take on the Sox.  Kazmir will right the ship again.  Go Rays!!

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Game 136 – Yankees vs. Rays

Sep03
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

henry

Bleck!!?!!

What is the deal with the Rays and Mike Mussina?  He owns them.  The whole time I was watching the game all I could think about was Mussina as Henry Rowengartner and the Rays as Heddo,  “Henry, he can’t hit your fastball”.  Ugh it was not pretty, and the umpire was not helping.  Aki looked at so many pitches I was honestly wondering if something was wrong with him.

Then the umpire went and pissed off the ever volatile Matt Garza.  First he was pissed because Jeter should have been out by a mile at second but the play was biffed.  Can you imagine how freakin pissed he would have been  if he played for the Rays last year and had to deal with that defense?  Look out.  Then he struck out Alex Rodriguez but didn’t get the call and ended up walking him.  That kinda pissed me off and I’m a pretty reasonable chick. 

I think Matt had reason to be pissed off, and he’s super entertaining that way, but when he get angry he gives away the game.  Maybe he needs a little refresher with that baseball guru.

BJ made a stellar catch at the wall in dead center.  So proud.

So here’s a question.  I know Hinske should have looked at the third base coach when rounding second, but if Hinske is safe with a triple shouldn’t Aybar be safe at home?  They never really showed it at an angle so that you could see Willy and if he could have scored.

Okay we should just chalk that one up to losing to their ace, but I sorta feel like the Rays beat themselves.  So let’s hope they come out tonight and stick it to those Yanks.  If they don’t, I’m going to blame the Professor and his many Yankees are roadkill comments.  :)   I know they have basically no chance to make the playoffs but I’d really like to see the Rays put them away.  Go Rays!!

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2008 All-Star Game

Jul16
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

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!!

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Game 73 – Astros vs. Rays

Jun20
2008 1 Comment Written by Jessica

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!!

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