HER RAYS!

As we get closer to the regular season there is something that concerns me about the Rays.  Who’s playing the outfield?  Carl Crawford is a given thank goodness.  However if BJ Upton can’t make it back in time, the plan is to platoon both center and right field.  Platooning is not my favorite, but I trust Mr. Maddon and if he says it will work…

Let’s look at the options.
BJ Upton – He’s basically the man.  The man we’re hoping makes a speedy recovery, because the other guys on this list don’t even compare.  Don’t be lazy on that rehab plan Bossman.  (before I get a bunch of scathing emails, that’s a joke people)

Fernando Perez – He’s broken, and that is a big fat bummer.  He’s part of the Rays dream outfield of the future.  In my head at least.  I think he’s fabulous.  He’s got a lot of personality and he’s a blast to watch.  He was having a great spring trying to show the Rays that they didn’t need no stinkin platoon.  Sigh…get well soon.

Matt Joyce – Who?  No really I have high hopes for him.  I think he fits the Rays mold.  I hope it’s not long before he joins the big league club this season. 

Gabe Gross – Who we know by now is not gross at all.  He has a cannon, and gave the Rays some timely hits last season.  He’ll do, but for some reason he doesn’t excite me.

Gabe Kapler – Is very muscly.  There are many images of him without his shirt on.  That’s not my thing, but many girls appreciate it.  I don’t really know much about him.  Wiki says he’s a superb defender, so it must be true.  That can’t hurt.  He’s had kind of a rough spring with the bat, but his career numbers aren’t bad.  I’m willing to give him the ole college try.

Ben Zobrist – Am I the only one that would rather see him play the outfield than the infield?  His bat really came around last season, so hopefully he can keep that up.  He’s a new father though, hope he can stay rested.

Justin Ruggiano – Not really sure about this guy.  I remember a couple misplays, but I also remember a great play at the wall.  I feel like he’s never really lived up to his potential.  I’d love for him to prove me wrong.

Pat Burrell and Willy Aybar are also options.  I guess it’s good to have so many options.  It will be fun to see how it all shakes out.  All I can say is “Hurry BJ!”

First let’s address this.

(St Pete Times)  Thanks Felicia!

I don’t even know where to begin.  Jaso is the one on the left pretty in pink.  Nice tan lines dude.  Oh and love the Pat Benetar head band.  Love is a battlefield.

Sonny is tucked behind there.  He’s supposed to be a turkey, but looks more like a lobster, shrimp or some other shell fish.  I would hide in the back too.

It looks like Longo has a police girl uni on.  We need more evidence in this case.

Not only are Perez’s legs fast but they’re purrrty too.

Justin “bring the sexy back” Ruggiano seems a little too into this cross dressing thing??

Aybar or somebody back there is a frog prince.  Interesting. 

Aki’s interpreter is a gymnast.  Word is he’s wearing red pumps.  I wonder how many of the guys have high heels on?  We need more and better pictures.  Anyone?

The best by far is taco Matt Garza, complete with large soda.  I’m going to call him chalupa, cuz it’s fun to say.  Chalupa.  Also in his honor I will be drinking margaritas and cheering loudly tonight.

The next thing that needs to be addressed is the recent mohawk development.  Chalk has evidence here.  Both Longo and BJ are sporting them.

It’s kind of surprising but I think it’s hot.  I tend to like my guys clean cut, so for me mohawks are way better than beards or bleaching of hair. 

These boys obviously spend way too much time together.  If they’re not getting haircuts then they are playing with their facial hair.  Did anyone notice Kazmir’s overgrown mutton chops yesterday.  Garza also has this weird side-burn, space, little patch of hair then goatee going on.

The conclusion to all of this is…The Rays are still hot and if they can turn it on tonight against Boston they’ll be scorching!  Go Rays!!

edited to add – Chalk has video of the rookie hazing.  Love Sonny’s turkey strut!

Mr. Maddon’s outfield traffic laws.

Red – Carl Crawford.  Stop.  Do not proceed until you have a note from your doctor.

Yellow – Rocco Baldelli.  Caution.  Approach the fly balls with caution.  Please do not go balls out all the time.  Do not break yourself.

Green – Justin Ruggiano.  Throw caution to the wind.  No more being safe.  Risk life and limb to bring the ball in.  Your time is now, go!

Earlier this season I wondered if Justin could bring the sexy back to the outfield.  Well now that Maddon has unleashed him I think we just might see that happen.  Spectacular final catch last night to save the game.  Rays win! 

Mr. Garza and Mr. Pena, you guys rock my world. 

Let’s hope the Rays can pick up the series win tonight.  Oh and it would be nice if the Yankees could manage a win.  Sheesh.  Go Rays!!

Huh?  They lost.

The Rays won the series, but lost the final game tonight.  LA 5 – Tampa 4.  A lot of blame could be thrown around, but basically the Rays didn’t play a very clean game so they got beat.

They seemed to have the momentum going their way after they tied it up in the 8th.  I would have loved to have seen Rocco in to pinch hit there for Zobrist.  Then again I’d always love to see Rocco over Benny so I’m not very objective.  The crowd would have went nuts, but who knows how Rocco is really feeling.

Balfour came out after pitching a great 8th, to start the 9th.  I’m sure this is because the game was tied, but I honestly don’t think he expected to go back out.  I might be suffering from sleep deprivation but I think I saw him in the dugout in his sweatshirt just chillin with the guys.  Doesn’t matter, but he did give up a lead-off walk.

Then Ruggiano missed a fly ball.  Staats and Kalas seem to think he lost it in the lights.  I think he made a bad decision and decided to let it drop instead of going for it.  We all make bad decisions, but that one really blew.  What would an announcer say?  It changed the whole complexion of the game.

Funny how we can’t accept the losing now isn’t it.  Let’s hope the Rays can get back to their winning ways in Chicago.  Go Rays!!

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!!

So much better than Sunday’s suckfest.

What a game!  Rays win!  Chicago 2 – Tampa 3.  Let’s relive it from my effed up perspective!

Way too much Cubs gear in the crowd.  I know there are a lot of duel fans.  You know Cubs fans since birth, Rays fans since moving to FL.  These people should be wearing their Rays gear.  The Cubs get tons of support at their home games and so should the Rays.  At the end everyone was cheering though.

Top 1st – Kazmir sits them back down 1, 2, 3.

Bottom 1st – Aki and Aybar strike out.  BJ walks but then gets thrown out stealing 2nd.  Really wasn’t even close.

Top 2nd – Kazmir walks one but gets three others out.

Bottom 2nd – Hinske grounds out.  Longo fouls out.  Clifford crushes one!  0-1 Rays!  Navi strikes out.

Top 3rd – Kazmir retires them in order.

Bottom 3rd – Gross base hit (you’d think I’d be used to it, but that still sounds funny), Bartlett base hit, Aki flies out, Aybar base hit, sweet bases loaded and only one out.  BJ taps one and they get Gross out at home.  Still bases loaded, but Hinske strikes out.

Top 4th – Kazmir walks one cub, but gets three others out again.

Bottom 4th – Longo and Clifford both fly out.  Navi gets a base hit, but Gross strikes out.  Man these pitchers are good.

Top 5th – Cubs wake from hybernation.  A strikeout followed by a base hit to center that ends the no hitter, followed by another strikout.  Then a chopper to the right side.  Aybar invades Aki’s space and it gets by both of them allowing a run to score.  Tie game.  So first and third with 2 outs.  Kazmir walks the next guy, ending his night.  He pitched great but he couldn’t always reign it in so his pitch count got away from him.  Balfour came in and got a huge bases loaded strikeout to end the threat.  HUGE.

Bottom 5th – Bartlett flies out.  He and Longo are scruffy.  This girl likes them better clean shaven, but probably wouldn’t be picky if it came right down to it.  Aki walks.  Aybar lines out.  BJ  base hit!  1st and 3rd, 2outs.  Hinske strikes out again.  Bummer dude.

Top 6th – Balfour retires the side.

Bottom 6th – What do they say?  Chicks love the Longo ball.  Well, this chick does!  1-2 Rays.  Cubs make some nice plays and we move on.

Top 7th – JP Howell I live without you, is in to pitch.  He strikes out the first two, and then is completely jinxed by Joe Magrane.  He couldn’t stop going on about how much JP means to this team, and Bam! a dude hits a double.  Navi’s got his back though.  He threw the guy out stealing 3rd.

Bottom 7th - Aki hits a chopper and the cubs pitcher throws it into right field, so Aki ends up a third.  Woohoo!  Aybar lines out again.  BJ walks.  Hinske finally decides he’s not going to leave all these runners on base and gets a base hit to score Aki.  1-3 Rays.  Longo hits a fielders choice and they get BJ at home.  I was surpised he was running, but then it’s BJ we’re talking about.  Jonny Gomes takes one for the team, and it’s bases loaded for  Navi.  He hits it all the way to the warning track, but some annoying Cub caught it.

Top 8th – Wheeler gets them in order.  Yep, he avoided the drama.

Bottom 8th – Gross fouls out.  Bartlett doubles.  Love him.  Then he steals third.  Double love, but the Rays leave him stranded.

Top the 9th – Percy in to show no mercy, except he did.  Started with a fly out.  Great catch by Ruggiano.  No way Hinske catches that ball.  Next batter gets a base hit as does Fukodome.  Mercy Percy you’re makin me nervous.  2nd and 3rd 1out. 
Wild pitch scores a run!  2-3 Rays.  Ugh does anyone have any Rolaids?  Percy strikes the next guy out, and I started breathing again. 
Guy on third, 2 outs Jim Edmonds in to hit.  Another wild pitch but this one bounced back to Navi.  Way to close for comfort.  He walks Edmonds.  It’s seriously tense here.
1st and 3rd, 2 outs and the Cubs try the old squeeze play and it damned near worked!  Longo made a great grab and bounced the throw a little. but Aybar played it like the pro he is!  Rays win!

Let’s hope they play this good tomorrow, since this game was so fun.  Go Rays!!

Sometimes you just have to make sacrifices for your friends.

I wanted to watch the Rays tonight.  My friends wanted to watch hockey, and since it is the Stanley Cup Finals I didn’t even try to argue the merits of watching baseball.  Also, Red Wings fans are dangerous.  I find that cookies keep them subdued quite nicely though.

The nice thing about hockey is that they have 20 minute breaks, so we did watch a bit of the Rays.  Tonight that was enough for me.  They ended up losing 1-5.

During the first break I got to watch Edwin walk Julio Lugo.  That’s just excruciating.  One of my friends said “If I was a pitcher I would have a hard time not hitting that dude.  He looks like a real douche.”  Exactly. 

Later I saw BJ get tossed for arguing, but after watching so much hockey I really wanted him to slam the umpire into the boards.  Wouldn’t that rock.

So what is it about Fenway that freaks the Rays out?  Shitty weather?  Chowder?  Do they spike the Gatorade?  Are they having too much fun at night?  Is Beckett sharing his beauties?  If they want to be serious contenders they are going to have to win a game there.

This could all be my fault though.  Over the weekend I noticed the Dunkin Donuts ad.  You know the one, if the Rays win you get a free donut.  So I’ve been kinda craving a donut, and since then the Rays haven’t won.  It’s donut karma.  Tomorrow I’m going to go buy myself a donut, so the Rays can get back to their winning ways.

Pena to the DL is sad news after his performance last night.  It’s also sad cause we’ll miss his hotness in the lineup.  But Ruggiano is back!  Man has everybody been waiting for this.  No pressure dude.  Shields to the rescue!  C’mon Rays fire up and get one.  Go Rays!!

As a rookie to the Rays blogosphere I am honored to have been asked to contribute to an interesting draft preview by David Chalk of Bugs and Cranks.  I hope to be as talented as the other contributors someday.  Check it out!

Another Game, Another Hero.

Clifford hit a walk off homerun!  He’s not a big red dog, but he’s large and he can wail.  Rays win!  Final score Chicago 1 – Tampa 2!

Mr. Maddon must have got my memo since he went back to my preferred line-up.  Now if only he would give Ruggiano a chance.

James Shields is such a trooper.  Last time out he didn’t have great stuff but pitched eight innings anyway.  He was off again tonight, but he kept going after them, and he kept his team in the game.  I dig that about him.  He really only made one big mistake and that was to a guy that nobody knows how to pitch to anyway.  Oh, and his wife is really cute too.

The relief corps did their jobs, when any slight mistake could have cost the Rays the game.  Excellent work men.

BJ Upton is looking great at the plate right now.  He’s the guy I want up there in the big situations.

Pena is not the guy I want up there right now.  He had two more strikeouts tonight in key situations.

Aki had a couple hits tonight.  He’s really stepping it up.

The defense was excellent again.  Couple huge double plays.  The only blip was the fly ball they let drop in short center, but BJ was able to make a play at second anyway for the third out.  Nice job by Longo to be covering there,  or as Magrane called him “Johnny on the spot.”

The big guy deserves three beers cheers for creaming that fast ball to center, and leveling the series with one swing of the bat!

Let’s hope Kazmir can keep it going tomorrow!  Go Rays!!

Who is Justin Ruggiano?  He’s right fielder number four for the Rays, but we’ve hardly gotten a chance to get to know him.  Perhaps everything he touches turns to gold ala another Justin, Timberlake.  Gomes and Hinske are great, just not in the field.  Haynes is not great, at the plate.  So when will Justin get his shot.  He’s had great success for Durham.  Who’s to say he won’t for the Rays!