HER RAYS!

Honestly the Rays can’t expect to win games the way they played tonight.  Too many negative factors. 

Shields pitched a pretty good game, but he made two costly mistakes.  First he walks the batter right before he gives up a home run.  Negative.  Then he hits a batter to give them another free run.  Negative.  So he gave up three runs.  Mistakes or not, his team should be able to give him some run support.  Negative.  Zobrist can’t do it all by himself.

I didn’t get home until later in the game, so I’d like to know why Aybar went home on a fielders choice?  Sounds like it was quite a bummer since Barty hit a base-hit right after that.  Negative?

Aybar struck out looking with runners on and two outs.  LOOKING.  Worst pet peeve ever.  Even worse than CC swinging at pitches way out of the zone.  Negative

Navi saved Percy’s butt.  Percy was looking like a big man about to give up some runs, when Navi threw out a runner at third to end the threat.  Not Negative.  I’m actually surprised the Twins sent that runner?  Isn’t there a rule about not making the first and third out at third base.

So it’s top of the ninth and in comes Joe Nathan.  I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before but he is quite attractive.  I’m checking him out when Zobrist jacks one to tie it up.    Definitely not negative.

Was there ever any thought as to bringing in another pitcher when Howell was letting everyone on base?  I usually don’t question Mr. Maddon, but…

Ok Rays, tomorrow is a perfect time to win another series.  We like the wins.  Go Rays.

Last night I finally got to sit down and enjoy my favorite show, the Tampa Bay Rays.  Now the show has gotten some pretty rough reviews lately, but I thought last night’s episode was excellent, a winner you might say.  It almost kept me entertained for the three hour duration, but alas I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open.  No worries, DVR to the rescue.  Rays win!

Niemann was good.  He seems to get all flustered when he has to go to the stretch, but it’s usually just for that first batter after he allows someone to reach base.  So after he gets two on, then has a visit from Hickey, he figures it out.  That’s not scary at all.  Pitching is always the source of drama on my favorite show.

BJ and Navi both had singles last night, let’s hope they can build on that tonight.  Comeback kids.

Justin Morneau is tough.  He could transition to hockey easily.  Did you see him take that ball off the shin without even flinching?  What a man.  He was the bad-ass on my show last night.

The best part was when the three hot guys brought it home.  Longo and Pena make quite an RBI team, and Barty wants to join the hot guys who drive in runs club too.  That my friends is must see TV!

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!

Man, I love these guys!!

I’m kind of at a loss for words this morning.  It’s hard to express how sweet that victory was yesterday.  You see a big part of me wants to gush and go on and on about how great this team is, but the more practical side realizes that this is just the beginning and there will be plenty of time for praise later.  Yet for this team a playoff spot is not to be taken lightly.  So real quick…THE RAYS ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!!  Yes, I followed that with a super happy dance.  What makes it super?  The running man of course.

Ok, now what are the chances the Rays come to the game sober this afternoon?  We might be better off rooting for the Blue Jays.

Oh and the most awesome mohawk award goes to….drumroll….Ben Zobrist!  That thing was exquisite. 

They’re going to the playoffs.  I can’t get it out of my head.  Go Rays!!

An ode to my awesome evening at the Trop…

B oo-yah!  I freakin hate this word, and the fat sweaty guy in my section who kept screaming it, is lucky I didn’t kick him in the back of the head for being the one dark spot on a fantastic evening.

E d-WIN Jackson!  That’s the second time I’ve see him pitch this season, and last time he gave up multiple three run homers.  Thanks Edwin for finding it.  Whatever it may be.

E xciting and electric yet excruciating.  This game was great fun, but I really wish I could be there when they clinch.  Damn it why can’t I inherit a fortune from some long lost relative.

R ays win!  Wouldn’t it be cool if they can get at least 96 wins.  People they lost 96 games last year!

Now that it’s the morning after and I have this dull ache in my brain and I’m way bloated, I think I’ll go a few rounds with the punching bag.  You know who I’m going to visualize?  The Toronto Bluejays.  What is up with them being all awesome when they played the Rays last time, and now they can’t get it together and beat the Red Sox.  C’mon if you can’t do it for the Rays, there is another reason you birds should be winning.  So that the Yankees finish fourth in the AL East.  Get with the program.  Sheesh!

Alright Kazmir, let Balfour give you your mohawk before the game.  Use as a source of awesomeness please.  Go Rays!!

Goodwill Hunting…….the hell??!!!!

So after Percy pitched the eighth and didn’t give up any runs, I was getting sleepy.  I switched over to watch a little bit of Goodwill Hunting.  If you knew me, you’d know that I have a serious problem with getting sucked into movies.  Even if I’ve seen them a hundred times before.  Imagine my surprise when I snap out of it, and switch back to the Rays game and the score is tied.  What the hell?

This was the most messed up game I can remember this season, but as I reflect on it, it’s obvious that the baseball gods had a plan all along.  You see the Twins had lost four in a row.  They needed this win.

What else could explain the backwards way that game was played?  The Rays have been winning all season with pitching and defense plus some timely hitting.  Last night the only pitcher that could stop the Twins was Percy???  That’s messed up, man.  Plus our offense was on fire, which was nice but bizarre.  Longo, he of the scratch and dent mohawk section, hit three home runs himself.  Awesome, but wacked.

 Don’t fret this loss, the baseball gods have the big picture in mind.  Besides, Katie from Those Girls really needed a boost.  I mean who know what levels she was going to have to go to.  She had already taken to body graffiti, and I was seriously worried for Cleveland fans.  She has a plan for how this can all work out for the Rays and the Twins.  Let’s hope the baseball gods are listening, and if not maybe we can bribe her with a Bartlett Rays shirt??  Go Rays!!

Don’t worry Rays, nobody saw your blunders.  Proceed as if they never happened please.

Between the Olympics and no TV coverage of the game does this loss even count?  Fraid so. 

Word is the Rays lost last night.  Tampa 1 – Oakland 2.  Sounds like a tough game, but the real story is they let it get away with mental errors.  Okay boys we’ll give you one, but don’t let it happen again.

CC is having potentially season ending surgery.  He needs to lend his superpowers to someone else, preferably Rocco Baldelli.  That would seriously pump up the Rays world!

Let’s hope the guys can get it back on track tonight, just hang in there until they can get back to their home crowd.  Oh and it would be nice if the rest of the American League could chip in and help the Rays through this little stretch.  The Rangers and Twins gave it a whirl last night, but came up short.  How about pickin up a win tonight fellas?  Thanks.

Thank You Twins.

I almost have a little guilt after games like today.  The Rays won.  Marlins 1 – Rays 4.  The two guys picked up from the Twins made it happen.

Garza pitched seven innings, three hits and 1 run.  He is officially ungrounded.  Congrats on getting back to your bad self.

Bartlett had a 2 RBI single to give the Rays the lead.  I’m sure he played great defense too, but the game wasn’t on TV.

These two not only helped get the win today, they are a big part of the Rays success.  So I just want to assure Twins fans that we appreciate these boys.  Some even love them.  Moi?

Edwin for the sweep.  I’m geeked, I’m going to the game!  Go Rays!!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!  Rays 7  – Twins 3

The Rays got a good solid outing from Hammel tonight.  Would have been even better but he kept giving up two out hits. 

They had a great fifth inning.  Exactly the kind I asked for, where they string together some hits and send the pitcher to the bench.  How many of you thought Haynes was getting that bases loaded hit!

Six different players had RBI’s.  That’s a good team win.

Howell was superb.  So superb there was no need to take him out.

Evan Longoria is just awesome to watch both in the field and at the plate.  He makes it look easy.  They can’t send him back down can they?

DiFelice had a rough night with the bat, but the team wins more when he’s catching than when Riggans gets the start.

That pitcher for the Twins, Neshek, was freaking me out.  That’s what too much RedBull can do to ya.

Hope Pena just had a cramp.  If he needs someone to rub oil on it my number is 867-5309.

Okay I must be getting tired cuz I’m getting goofy.  Way to go Rays!  C’mon home and sweep the White Sox!

It’s April 17th and I’m already crabby with this team!  The Rays lost another close one last night (5-6)to make it three in a row.  Ugh.  They have so much potential and we’ve seen glimpses of it, but they haven’t really put it together.  I just want to see them shine, for more than one inning.

Oh and someone please tell me why they haven’t passed a law that all sporting events must be on ESPN.  I was a bad fan last night.  ION was coming in terrible and the Twins dome has absolutely no atmosphere, so I caught myself switching to ESPN, and every time staying a little longer because it was so much more visually appealing.  It was like the Rays were playing arena baseball.  I mean this place makes the Trop look awesome.

Why is BJ Upton still stealing bases?? And isn’t Maddon aware that Mauer is a pretty good catcher?

Bartlett had a very untimely error.  Funny thing though, Lugo had one just as bad against New York.

Shields pitched okay.  That seems to be a theme lately with Rays pitchers.  The offense doesn’t seem to be living up to its expectations.  I know there were homeruns tonight and that’s great, but the heart of the Rays order should be dominant.  I am waiting for them to start stringing hits together and sending pitchers to the bench.  Too much to ask for?

I don’t like being negative this early in the season, but the Rays had a chance to make up some ground last night.  I hope I see something positive tonight.  Go Rays.