HER RAYS!

Disclaimer – You know I love this team but sometimes tough love is better medicine, especially when they are playing like dog doo.

John Jaso JingleHeimer Schmidt – I like you lots.  I suggested that you should run for president.  Tonight you drove in the lone run, and you’ve been doing pretty well overall.  However tomorrow you will be practicing your Lord of the Dance moves for many hours.  That way you will be able to avoid line drives at your feet.  Oh and for the record I don’t like you in the lead-off spot.

Evan Longoria - You are awesome.  You are an all-star.  Please for the love of Pete do not start slumping now when nobody on this freaking team can hit.  If you keep this up I will have to make comments about your not so stellar hair.

Mr. Pena - Your defense is superb.  However first basemen are also supposed to hit the ball. 

Sean Rodriguez – It’s time I told you that you annoy me on many levels.  First I hate how you roam so far into the outfield on fly balls that are clearly the outfielder’s ball.  Second, many people commend you on being so aggressive on the base paths.  I find you aggressive to a fault though, and tonight was a good example of this.  You almost got doubled off, and then you were thrown out by a MILE in the bottom of the ninth when your team was only down by one run.  Ugh.  I do realize that there are worse things than being too aggressive, but remember I’m extra cranky tonight.

Beej – see Carlos Pena.  Your amazing defense is keeping you in the line-up.  However against logic I think you should be batting first.  I think you do better there, and if you do get on base then the fun starts.  I love the thought of you and CC on base together.  Make it happen would ya.

Navi – You are the third player mentioned that is in the line-up for their defense.  How long do you think that is going to last? 

All in all the Rays need to do better, much better.  I really like Wade Davis but five walks and 103 pitches in 4.1 innings is not going to cut it.  Hellickson was selected for the Futures game, but the future is now.  He should get a shot.

Although it’s not going to matter how well the Rays pitch if their offense can’t score more than one run!  Yes they have faced some tough pitching, but they look down right awful at the plate.  Like everyone says it’s time for a roster move.  Joyce to the rescue.

Since I’m cranky I’ll make my only comment on the stadium issue.  If you’ve been to the Trop, you know that it’s not a bad place to watch a game.  However if you’ve been to any of the new parks, you know there are much better places to watch a game.  How great would it be for the players of our beloved team to have a new park to play in.  I really don’t care where they build it as long as it’s in Tampa Bay.  If the high speed train from Orlando to Tampa becomes a reality it seems that downtown Tampa would be a great spot.  People travelling to Orlando for vacation could include a trip to watch their team play ball.  I’m not sure my opinion matters on this subject though, since if they keep the team somewhere in Tampa Bay I will still go to my handful of games in a season.

They say it’s not good to go to bed angry so I will finish with a positive note.  Congratulations to Dewayne Staats on his 5000th broadcast.  I’d like to thank him for his dedication.  Just think I grew up listening to Ernie Harwell and my kids will grow up listening to Mr. Staats.  He is the voice of the Rays, and he’s a great one.

Let’s hope the Rays give us something to feel better about tomorrow.  Go Rays!

A win is a win right?  Last night I didn’t post anything because frankly it was one of those games where I just didn’t want to talk about it.  Tonight’s game didn’t feel much better.  Niemann wasn’t great but, it was like a study of opposites as far as hitting goes.  The Jays were striking the ball hard and far, while the Rays were pretty much stinking up the joint, again.

Then in the seventh they started picking away at Toronto’s lead.  I’m not really sure why they took Tallet out, but it worked for the Rays.

The way they have been playing lately, I still didn’t have oodles of confidence that a win was in their future.  Enter Kevin Gregg.  He made quick work of BJ Upton, but then the wheels fell off.  He walked Carl, who stole second immediately.  He had Carl picked off but threw the ball into center field, so Crawford took third.  Gregg then walked Longo.  We’ll skip the Pena at bat because it was shitty all around.  He got out and so did Maddon.  So there are two outs.  I didn’t have a lot of hope, but Gregg was the gift that keeps on giving.  He walked Jaso, and then walked in a run with Benny.  Bases loaded for Sean Rodriguez.  I still didn’t have hope, but Sean came up big!  A double in the gap scored three.  The Rays took the lead.  Whoa.

Slowriano came in and saved the day.  A win is a win right? 

A couple of thoughts on the game…

It’s nice to see BJ in the lead-off spot again, let’s hope it sets him off.
Navi had a pretty good night.  Credit where credit is due.
Balfour scared the crap out of me.  Rodriguez sure saved his butt.
Briggy had a tad of a rough game.  He did have an RBI double, but he looked pretty bad in his other at bats.  He has a  bit of Vladdy in him.  He doesn’ t meet too many pitches he doesn’t like.  I still love him even if he had an error in the bottom of the ninth that caused me and many others serious stress.

A win is a win right?  Put this one in the books and let’s hope the Rays can be more convincing tomorrow.  Go Rays!

Jose Molina has a go-go gadget arm.  He will throw your ass out.  If he can throw Carl Crawford out TWICE, he can throw anybody out.  Why keep trying? Does it become like a Tin Cup moment?

They have a Molina, so what the Rays have a Price.  You see you don’t need to throw out runners if your pitcher doesn’t let them reach base.  David Price sent the Jays home today without even so much as a parting gift.  He was filthy and efficient, a wonderful combination. 

It’s so much fun having a catcher that can hit!  Jaso was 2 for 3.  Think Navi gives him the stink eye the whole game?

I love Barty, but it was awesome to see Brignac at short today.  Like Natalie Imbruglia, I’m torn.  At least Jason came in and drove in some runs.

BJ, Longo and Pena have been pretty solid lately, just quietly going about their business.  This team is so groovy.

Speaking of groovy, Mr. Garza and Aybar were groovin in the dugout.  I think we need an encore. 

There was a Matt Joyce spotting.  Somebody twirl that boy in bubble wrap, until he gets better.

In conclusion, the Rays are awesome right now.  Baseball is fun.  Let the good times roll.  Go Rays!

I got my free t-shirt.

I’m surprised there weren’t more men going for these shirts.  I know guys who have way bigger crushes on Longo than I do, and that’s say something.

The place seemed pretty empty, but then the people just kept rolling in.  22,000 is not bad for Friday night, and I would think there will be more over the weekend.  Plus wasn’t there some sort of draft going on?

So I’m not going to lie.  When Matt Garza’s other personality showed up I was squirming in my seat.  You see my mind is warped and I was starting to wonder if this was all my fault.  Did I break the streak by not being in my comfy chair at home, where I was for the first three of his awesome starts.  Then I decided to get over myself, and hope he’d snap out of it.  It turned out to be the first inning from hell.  Matt did better after that, but I don’t think he was ever feeling good out there.  Remind me to never piss him off in person.

I wish I knew if he was getting squeezed on pitches.  The Navi ejection made me think so, but it’s hard to tell without foxtrack.  Cecil seemed pretty comfortable.  Plus he looked badass in those glasses.

The Rays had quite a hole to dig out of and they just came up short.  Willy Aybar got things started with a home run, but Grant Balfour came out and gave it right back.  Mood killer.

The boys kept picking away though.  Benny doubled in Kapler to add one.  Kapler homered to add two.  He and Willy had great nights.  BJ singled to add one more.  Plus he’s awesome to watch roam centerfield.  So they are down by one, with two on and Jaso hits one hard and far but…it’s caught.  Tease.

Oh the bullpen did a good job of keeping the game within reach.  On to the bottom of the ninth, which puzzled me.  Why didn’t they pinch hit for Kapler?  Barty struck out looking.  Where was that pitch?  Looked too good to take.  Carl singled.  Which brings up Benny.  Once again, I don’t know where the pitches are but man it looked like they were close to take.  I’m surprised he wasn’t more aggressive there?  I’m not going to doubt him though since he’s pretty good at baseball. 

It was a bummer, but exciting to the end.  It’s not easy to win games when your starting pitcher is human and gives up five runs early.  Let’s hope Niemann gets back on track tomorrow.  The game is not on TV, so someone will have to let me know how he looks.  Go Rays!

Listen up Rays fans.  The time is now.  Your favorite team just came off the best road trip ever.  It’s time to get out to a game and show them your support.

This team is making it work.  Last night James “Hans Solo” Shields finally got some run support.  So of course what happens, his defense was a little scary.  James had to work extra hard and get extra outs through a few innings.  Luckily the bats picked him up.  I hope the crew made sure to pack those bats carefully and bring them back to Tampa Bay.  Because those bats are working.

Anyway after all their hard work on the road, I think we should make sure to come out and support them at home.  There is a lot to cheer about right now.

Garza is on the hill tonight, hoping to continue his dominance.
Barty was streaky on offense and defense on the road trip, so we need to perk him up.
Who knows how long we’ll be able to witness Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena’s greatness. 
Great news, Zobrist just got a shiny new deal.  He’s not going anywhere.
Longo gets plenty of cheers, but a few more and an ”I heart Longo” shirt won’t hurt.
Let’s scream extra loud for BJ.  To show him how awesome we think he is, so maybe he can get a shiny deal like Benny.
Navi definitely could use some positive reinforcement.   
Then you have the kids, who are super fun to watch.  Brignac is coming off a great game.  Rodriguez and Jaso are entertaining also.
How about cheering for Pat Burrell for once.  He’s been driving in some runs.  I think he’ll hit one out this weekend.
Don’t know if Willy’s baby has arrived, but I always like to see his bat in the line-up.
Oh and don’t forget about Kapler he’s nice on the eyes and he’ll scare you in the field but he usually makes the play.
The bullpen has been doing their job.  Let’s drink to that!

Let’s do this people.  See you at the Trop.  Go Rays!

Because the Rays are having a good time there.

They started the game with small ball.  Barty doubles, and Carl moves him to third with a sac bunt.  Zobrist puts it in play and Barty scores. 1-0 good guys.

Niemann goes to work and shuts them down.  He’s like a big oak tree.  He’s not flashy, he’s just solid.  I wanna give him a big bear hug.

Jason Bartlett likes John Lackey’s pitching.  He gets on again in the third.  Carl gets a base hit too.  Ben Zobrist walked twice, but actually struck out.  Yeah, try and figure that one out.  It’s alright Longo makes them pay with a two run double.  3-0 Rays.  Pena walks and then BJ strokes one to center.  Welcome back Benjamin Jackson!  6-0 Rays, good times.

In the 4th Reid Brignac doubles.  I think he should play everyday folks.  What’s he going to do stike out against lefties?  I’m sorry, that wasn’t nice.  Navi moves him over and then the unstoppable Bartlett hits a triple sending Lackey to the showers early.  Carl Crawford hits a sac fly off the replacement pitcher and the Rays are up 8-0.

I gotta be honest.  At this point I have faith that the Rays can pull this one out, and I have to get some work done.  I did keep the game on in the background though.  I saw Pat the Bat think he was fast, and I saw the Hermida homerun, and I saw the final outcome.  Rays win!

I hope they have this much fun in Chicago.  Do we get Brian Anderson again?  He increases my viewing pleasure exponentially.  Go Rays!

David was mixing and matching and wheeling and dealing.  He had it all working for him last night.  It is a pretty awesome feeling to watch a game and know that your pitcher has the big bad Yankees under control.

I gotta say that I like Javier Vazquez too.  He looked good until the fourth inning when the Rays seemed to figure him out.  The bats came alive, even Navi’s! 

Maybe Pat Burrell will benefit from a little healthy competition, because Willy Aybar could be gunning for his job.

All in all this was a comfortable game.  David Price basically said “I got this.”  That’s probably a good thing, since today’s game will be anything but comfortable.  CC Sabathia will be in the house.  Go Rays!!

Whew!  James Shields has a lot on his mind.  His wife is about ready to pop.  He’s the opening starter for the third year in a row.  His team looks awesome on paper this year.  Yet tonight an old nagging worry showed up.  Is he ever going to get any run support.  How many times is he going to hold his opponents to two or three runs and not get the win.  When is he going to get some love?

We love him but James will be known as Hans Solo around these parts until he fixes that little glitch of giving up solo home runs.  At one point he had only given up four hits but three of them were dingers.  Let’s hope we can ditch this nickname after his next start.

Besides those mistakes he pitched pretty well through his troubles.  The guy is steady.  Also he can’t be sad tonight because the runs did show up, in dramatic fashion.  Rays win!  Man did I miss this.

I mean it’s a walk off win, on opening day.  Yippee.

Just a few thoughts…
Navi vs. Markakis was entertaining.
Is situational hitting a lost art?
Pat the Bat sees the stop sign, Pat the Bat flees the stop sign.
Long Longo balls are fun.
Bullpens that do their job are more fun.  However drama still arises.
Two catchers are better than one.
Carl Crawford is awesome, and I’m going to appreciate him like never before. 

One down 161 to go.  Think we can handle it?  Go Rays!

The Tampa Bay Rays 2009 season is now in the books, and it is quite a collection of stories. 

Beloved main characters were lost.  Rocco Baldelli defected to enemy territory.  Jonny Gomes found success in a different city, and Scott Kazmir headed to LA to try to become a star.

The team’s story got off to a slow start in April but it picked up the next month.  Different facets did well at different times.  At times the offense was at the forefront.  Other times the pitching was masterful.  Even the bullpen had its moments.  However, the team never seemed to put it all together for any length of time.  This underlying theme is present throughout the 2009 story.

There were many subplots involving individual characters this year, some are joyous and others heartbreaking.  First there were the stories of the five all-stars.

Jason Bartlett had an amazing season at the plate.  He increased his power and got on base routinely, all while playing a not too shabby shortstop.  Plus I shared an elevator with his wife and son, and let’s just say he is a very lucky man.

Ben Zobrist decided to show the baseball world that he’s got this game figured out and he’s not going anywhere.

Evan Longoria started out blazing hot, and eventually cooled.  It’s obvious he has the talent to be an MVP in the future though.

Carlos Pena’s story is hard to classify.  Is it fantasy, he did hit 39 homeruns and didn’t even play the last month of the season.  Or is it tragedy, because he only hit about that many singles and he snapped two fingers?

Carl Crawford’s guide to a great year in left field is a best seller.  Hopefully we’ll get to read the sequel next year.

Jeff Niemann also quietly put together a great rookie campaign.  Let’s hope he can build on it next year.

Then there were the few, the tired, and the weary.  James Shields and Matt Garza didn’t have bad seasons they just were not nearly as sharp.  Let’s hope they get some much needed rest and come back strong next spring.

Now on to the sad stories…

BJ Upton’s was perhaps the saddest of them all.  This kid has enough talent to carry this team if he can find a way to put it all together.  It was very hard to watch him struggle.  I only hope we can watch his epic comeback next season.

Navi also struggled.  That is putting it mildly.  Only he can write the next part of his story.  I hope he puts in the work.

Pat Burrell’s got some ’splaining to do.  I would prefer he does it with his bat in about six months time.  If he can’t, I hope to see his butt on the bench and Willy Aybar’s cracking bat in the line-up.

The most painful story of the Rays season by far was of course the collapse of the bullpen.  It actually caused this blogger to seek therapy in college football, while watching the Rays with my hands over my eyes.

The coaching is hard to summarize.  My personal review is that Mr. Maddon is loyal to a fault, and it hurt this team this year.  It aided to the fact that the team never put it all together.  I understand wanting to encourage guys and show them support, but if it is at the expense of the team??  BJ Upton was left in the lead off spot for way too long.  Andy Sonnanstine was given way too many chances.  Pat Burrell was put in the line-up consistently and never proved that he deserved to be there.  Several relief pitchers were marched out there time and time again even during their own personal suckfests.  This is only my opinion, but I really feel that it hurt the team this season.

The most puzzling story is the one where the hitting coach is let go and the pitching coach stays??

Remember even though this season is in the books there are many exciting stories to look forward to next season.  Young kids who could save the world.  Okay, I might be getting a little dramatic now…

As for Her Rays, this season mirrored the team’s.  After an epic rookie year that was very exciting, this blogger suffered a bit of a let down this year.  Real life seemed to get in the way a little more, and as a result the performance lacked.  I still had a great time, and I have the Rays to thank for that.

I’m not sure what the future will hold for this blog.  Either I will work really hard this off-season and make the team out of spring training or I might be designated for assignment.  Thank you to those of you who stopped by.  I appreciate it.  A special thanks to those of you who were nice.  Yes, I found out these internets can be a cruel place.  Oh, and a very special thanks to the Professor at Rays Index for all of your support.

Have a happy off-season.  If I’m not here in the spring, you can find me at a Rays game.  Go Rays!

Thanks for being good at baseball and saving the bullpen and staying focused and striking out AJ and fighting for the win.  You’re cool big guy.

I feel like I should maybe thank Bobby Jenks a little bit too?

Others deserving fist bumps…
Barty – Nice night at the plate, especially the lead off single in the ninth against the guy who struck you out to end the game last night.  Right back at ya, Bobby.

Longo – Nifty defense and a timely sac fly.

Burrell – Bases loaded walks are RBI’s too.

Joe D – Pretty good D at second for someone who hasn’t played in a while.  ( I still think he got busted doing something and was grounded?)

Navi – Two hits and a good night behind the plate.  Can we get an encore tomorrow?

JP – Saving the day.

I know the games are only an hour later but it’s killing me.  Yes, I’m weak.  I must go sleep now.  Go Rays!