A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Tigers

Bragging Rights

Aug11
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

As some of you may know, my entire family roots for the Detroit Tigers.  In years past this has been a painful thing for a Rays fan like me.  NOT ANYMORE!  The Tampa Bay Rays, the lowly franchise from Florida beat those cats 6 out of 7 times this season.  They almost came away with the sweep.  You can usually expect to lose one to Justin Verlander so we’ll let it pass.  Oh, and we’re not going to talk about all the guys left on base.  Thirteen,  just sayin.

This year there is an added bonus to the bragging.  Matt Joyce.  They used to love him, but now he is ours.  Mwaa, haa, haa, haa.  Not only is he ours but he happens to play awesome against his old club!  He went 4-9 with a double and a home run this series.  Plus he’s super cute.  He is quickly becoming one of my favorites. 

Here’s hoping the day off does the boys some good and they come home and get hot again.  They need to cool off those Orioles.  Go Rays!

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GRRRRRR!!!!

Sep05
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Twice the Rays had a chance to move up in the wild card standings.  Twice the bullpen blew chunks!  Grrrrr!!

Bring in the frigging kids!  They can’t do any worse!  Matter of fact I have a friend who wants to know where he can try out?  His theory is for five hundred grand he could give it the ole college try.  He’s pretty sure he could even  throw wild pitches and walk people. 

Two games!  They could have moved up two games, and to make matters worse Andy Roddick lost. 

Time to start drinking…

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Game 161 – Rays vs. Tigers

Sep28
2008 2 Comments Written by Jessica

My bad.

So maybe I wished a little too hard that the Rays would get 96 wins, because now they seem to be stuck there.  Lesson learned, be careful what you wish for.  It’s all in the details.  Sorry about that.

Go Rays!! 

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Game 160 – Rays vs. Tigers

Sep27
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Ding Dong, the wicked witches of the east are dead!

Um, holy crap the Rays just won the AL East!  Admittedly in anti-climatic fashion, but who cares.  They won the division!  I’m really glad they clinched the playoff spot at home so they could celebrate with the fans.

I totally got all choked up watching Kurk’s Ray gem this morning on sportcenter.  I am so in love with these guys right now.  I love how they all sounded wasted in their interviews last night.  Honestly, I love every single thing about them. 

However, I refuse to gush, or sing praise or fawn until the season is over.  That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate where they are right now.  I made pancakes in their honor!   It just means it’s not over yet.  Plus I’m way superstitious, so I’m not going to get all cocky and wreck everything.  I’ll leave that to the Red Sox fans.

Two more games and then on to the playoffs.  Who will they play?  Who do we want them to play?  That’s a tough call.  On the one hand I like the Twins, and want them to make the playoffs.  Then Those Girls would get a chance to see Barty again, which I understand would be a major bonus for them.  On the other hand, I like the Twins.  It is way easier to root against the bad guys when they are actually, you know bad guys.  The White Sox fit that bill.

As for the actual baseball side of it.  The White Sox have a couple of good left handed pitchers, which the Rays struggle with, but the Twins are just pesky.  I guess we’ll just leave it up to the baseball gods.

The game tonight should be interesting.  Go Rays!!  Winners of the AL East.  Phenomenal!

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Game 159 – Rays vs. Tigers

Sep25
2008 3 Comments Written by Jessica

Benny Boo Boo and Scotty Boo Hoo…

What’s wrong with Mr. Kazmir?  I’m worried about him.  Is he going to be alright?  I need reassurance here.

Ben Zobrist, the new left handed DH?

Well let’s hope the boys can get it done tomorrow night since Cleveland couldn’t solve the Lester puzzle.  I’d rather they win it out right anyway.  ESPN’s boxscore headline was Rays fail to clinch again.  That’s just annoying.  They won yesterday, I wouldn’t call that a failure.

A lot of guys are getting mohawks to show their support for the Rays, but mohawks aren’t very attractive on women.  So how can chicks show their support?  There is another place a girl could get a mohawk, if you get my drift.  Some people call it a landing strip, but it is essentially a mohawk to the south.  It’s a more private way to support the team.  Pun totally intended.  What, too far?  Alcohol and blogging is dangerous!

I’m not going to be able to watch tomorrow, but I’ll record it.  I hope to come home to watch champagne showers!  Go Rays!!

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Game 110 – Tigers vs. Rays

Aug03
2008 6 Comments Written by Jessica

 navi 

Closers or Openers??

The Rays won a doozy this afternoon in extra innings.  Final score Detroit 5 – Tampa 6.  Some thoughts on the game…

When I turned on the TV there was some bizarro cartoon involving the Rays and an ice cream lady.  I came into it in the middle so I was a little confused.  Was it funny?  My reaction was basically “What the heck was that?”

In the second inning Joe Magrane was talking about how Polanco is a gold glove second baseman.  Then he called him a very heady player.  I almost spit out my soda.  If you’ve ever taken a good look at Polanco, he is indeed very heady!

Longo legs out a single on a ground ball to third.  He actually looked swift.  Let that be a lesson to all the slackers out there.

In the third the Rays had a pop up problem.  A ball was hit to shallow right, Aki made his way out there and Hinske was coming in, but neither caught the ball.  I have no idea whose ball it was, but that runner ended up scoring later in the inning which is frustrating.  Barty made a nice line drive catch and doubled off Guillen to stop the madness.

In the fifth Polanco doubled and Ordonez drove him in.  2-0 Tigers.

Polanco doubled again in the seventh and that was the end of Shields day.  Which was a very good day by the way.

Bottom of the 7th BJ ground rule doubled.  Total bummer since he was diggin for three.  Yes he was hustlin.  Love it.  Pena drove him in.  2-1 Tigers.

Balfour finished the 7th and then came out for the 8th.  I think he gets a little too pumped up.  Sheffield got himself into a full count, and Grant was getting more and more into it, at which point he pitched it hard but it was right over the middle of the plate.  He’s not going to be able to blow it by everybody.  Had he kept that ball down he would have struck him out, instead Sheffield crushed it out of the stratosphere.  3-1 Tigers.

Bottom 8th – Hinske gets one right back.  Home-run! 3-2 Tigers.  Barty strikes out, it happens.  Aki singles.  BJ Upton hit a two run homer to give the Rays the lead.  So awesome.  He’s heating up.  3-4 Rays.

Percy comes out in the 9th with a one run lead, so what does he do?  He gives up a first pitch home-run to Granderson.  So deflating.  Tie ball game. 

Nothing doin in the bottom of the 9th, and I mean nothin.  I think Jonny Gomes struck out with out even swinging the bat.  That’s not going to get ya the walk-off celebration.  On to the 10th.

Percy out to work again.  He lays one in there for Miguel Cabrera and Crawford watches it fly.  No shit, he gave up another home-run.  5-4 Tigers.  He then managed to get a fly out, but followed it with two walks.  Miller came in to save his behind, and actually did just that.

Bottom of the tenth, better known as wack a Ray.  Aybar walked.  Bartlett tried to pull back from a bunt attempt, but took it off his index finger.  On his right hand.  Not good people, Barty has a boo boo.  It looked pretty nasty when he removed his batting glove.  Everyone send him good vibes tonight.  Last time this team was without Barty, they went into a downward spiral, and I was sad since I love him. 

Maddon brings Riggans in to pinch hit for Bartlett.  Next thing ya know, Riggy’s layin on the ground.  He took a pitch to the chest.  It was actually really scary.   You have to love him too, he just tried to catch his breath, shook it off and went to first base.  Aki comes up and lays down the perfect sac bunt and moves the boys over.  Sweet two guys in scoring position, one out.  BJ draws a walk, a questionable walk, but a walk is a walk.  Walk much?  Bases loaded.  Crawford singles, run Rays run.  Aybar scores, but Riggy has to stop at third since he didn’t get a good jump.  Tie ball game. 

Bases loaded again, only 1 out.  Longo strikes out.  Two outs.  Oh and I really want the game to be over since I hate sitting there for so long during the day.  It’s all up to Pena, and he delivers.  The walk off walk!  Rays sweep.  Detroit 5 – Tampa 6.

Once again Percy blows the save but the Rays still win?  He’s a lucky SOB. 

Tomorrow night it’s time to rock Cleveland.  Let’s hope Garza can out-duel Lee, he seems to like a challenge.  Go Rays!!

photo from yahoo sports

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Game 108 – Tigers vs. Rays

Aug01
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Double the fun. 

2 new shoes for Scott Kazmir.  Could that explain him being uncomfortable?
2 doubles
2 triples
2 home-runs
2 times caught stealing
2 ER for Kazmir
2 strike outs for Percy
2 strike outs for Longo
2 strike outs for Pena
2 walks for Hinske
2 starters without hits
2 runs scored on wild pitches/passed balls
2 legit stolen bases
2 times Rays pitching loaded the bases

 = Detroit 2 – Tampa 5.  Rays win!!  That’s new math.

Let’s hope they keep adding it up tomorrow.  Go Rays!!

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Home Sweet Home

Jul14
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

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!!

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