HER RAYS!

Bizarre is how I’d classify game 1 in Boston.  The boys were wearing number 42 and it was 42 degrees and dropping that night.  Wade Davis was not sharp.  He got into way too many full counts and used way too many pitches, but who flippin cares.  He’ll work on those things later.  He’s the number five starter and he went to Boston and held them to one run.  I’m a simple girl and that makes me happy.

The baseball gods seemed to be on the Rays side.  Carl Crawford hits a ball to short.  Scutaro couldn’t make the play.  Then CC steals second.  Then Zobrist hits a chopper to third which Beltre loses in the lights?  Carl scores.  I can’t believe Josh Beckett’s head didn’t explode.  This is the run that held them through.  Weird.

So I hear that Varitek can’t catch up to a good fastball anymore, and the Rays were told to in no way throw him an off-speed pitch.  However he homered on an off-speed pitch.  Who’s grounded?

Big Papi finally hits a double and Youkilis forgets that he’s not wicked fast and tries to score from first.  You’re out dude!

Choate came in for his confidence booster and received a lolly pop for being a good boy.

Lance Cormier deserves a medal for his performance in this game.  Especially for getting two ground balls after some mishaps loaded the bases.  Kudos to Longo for making it up to him and getting the final two outs.  How many of you thought the Rays would get out of that jam?  How many thought Pat Burrell would be the one to bring it home?  Yeah not many.

It is pretty cool when the DH hits.  Keep it up Pat.

On to game two.  Disclaimer – I was flipping between this and the Mets/Cardinals while also keeping up on the no hitter.  That’s a whole lot of baseball boys.  I feel like I should watch a chick flick today.  Any recommendations.

The Rays got to Buchholz right off the bat.  Get it, off the bat.  Hee Hee.  Barty grounded out.  Crawford singled.  Benny moves him over, and then he steals third.  Speed rocks.  Longo walks.  Then Pena hits a fly ball to center.  This is where Cameron drops the ball and it’s the gift that keeps on giving.  Carl scores.  Upton walks to load the bases.  So what happens when the DH does hit?  Pat hits a double down the line and clears the bases!  4-0 good guys.  Way to go Pat, you phat.

Shields cruises with the lead.  Literally, he’s hardly taking a breath in between pitches.  In the fifth he got the first two batters out easily.  At this point I said out loud “He needs to slow down.”  That must have been my women’s intuition because right after that Scutaro hit a home run.  A single later and Hickey came out to tell James “Slow down man.”

Marco Scutaro is an excellent defensive player, so do you think that there is an E6 curse at Fenway?  BJ gets on, and is shortly at third.  Speed rocks.  Jaso doubles and brings him in.  Can we keep that Jaso kid?

Longo homers.  Love him.

Shields struggled in the 7th.  I think he was out of gas.  Sonny didn’t help.  No excuses for him.  Choate got another ground out.  Good boy.  Wheels worked a scoreless inning, and Soriano had his first 1,2,3 inning.  In short Rays win again.  Yahoo!

One final note, Sean Rodriguez looked awful at the plate and went 0-4.  Team Brignac, just sayin.  Go Rays!!

Rays fans are wondering this morning why their team is trying to kill them! 

First Matt Garza gave up home runs to the two guys we’d all like to thwomp, Youkilis and Pedroia.

Then the offense couldn’t seem to get anything going.

Then the bullpen bags sucked in the game winning run, and we had to listen to the announcers go on and on about it.

Then there were the men on base that never got to come home.  Over and over again.

Thankfully the Rays bullpen was brilliant, when I really thought they would blow it at anytime.

Thankfully the Rays defense held up.

Thankfully the Sox decided to pitch Longo, and he took matters into his own hands.

The game was never boring that’s for sure.  However many Rays fans are now staggering around work with coffee IV’s wondering if they can fit in a nap at lunch time.

Plus to make matter worse it’s raining where I am.  That means I can go back to bed right?

Way to go Rays!  See you in a couple of hours.

This…

is not helping.  Really, was a kleenex inducing ad necessary?  You look way too cute in the picture and what’s with all the niceness?  This would be way easier if you would just say “later sucka.”  Just go be with your new buds.  You can dance with Papelbon, hunt with Beckett, use Pedroia’s head as an arm rest, and feel free to smack Youkilis in the dugout.  I think it’s customary.  

Because that was exhausting!  The post season is supposed to be all about pitching right?  Not last night.  It was like a study in opposites compared to the first game.

Kazmir had a painful start, giving up two runs in the first.  Not the tone the Rays wanted to set, but you can’t count the Rays out that early in the game.

In the bottom of the 1st.  Pena doubled and the Longo hit a two run homerun to get right back into it.  That was huge against Beckett.  Longo looked more like himself.  Could have been the pep talk he got from Maddon, or maybe my idea worked.  IBT* squad to the rescue.

Both pitchers got through the 2nd inning.  Then Kazmir gives up a homerun to Pedroia.  Ugh.  3-2 Boston.

In the bottom of the 3rd BJ homers right back to tie it.  Longo doubles and Crawford singles to score him.  This game is officially wacked at this point.  4-3 Rays.

Floyd hits a bomb to center in the 4th inning.  5-3 Rays.  Rock on!

Top of the 5th.  Kazmir gives up another homerun to Pedroia.  Two homeruns to mighty mouse!  Yes, I yelled at the TV.  Then he follows that up with another long ball to Youkilis.  Aaaaagh!  Maddon’s seen enough.  Balfour is in.  He promptly serves one up to Jason Bay!  Can no pitcher hold the game tonight?!  Balfour even walked the next two, and JP had to come in to end the inning.  6-5 Boston.  Dammit.

Bottom 5th.  Upton walks and then steals 2nd.  Pena singles and BJ scores.  Unfreakingbelievable.  Tie game.  Longo doubles and scores Pena.  7-6 Rays.  Pitching smitching.  CC singles and scores Longo.  8-6 Rays.  Can they keep it that way?

Top of 6th.  Howell walks Pedroia.  Maddon comes to the mound and says “focus dude, if you only do one thing for me today, strike this mofo out!”  JP strikes out Ortiz.  Bradford comes in and gives up a single to score that pesky Pedroia.  Just like that, the lead is cut to one.

The pitchers actually hold in the seventh.  Totally amazing at this point.

Top of the 8th.  Pedroia singles off of Bradford.  The kid is everywhere, it seems like he’s up to bat every inning.  Miller comes in and walks the only guy he’s asked to get out, Ortiz.  Maybe Maddon should have given him the focus speech.  Wheeler comes in and gets Youkilis to ground into a double play!  Sweet, except now Pedroia is on third.  Then came the wild pitch that was heard around the world.  Pedroia scores.  Tie game, again.  I can’t handle much more of this.

Wheeler actually did a great job except for that wild pitch.  He pitched the Rays into the 11th inning, where he was rescued by Mr. Price.  Price came in with one out and a man on first.  He walked Drew, but then regained his composure and got out of the inning.  You know he had to be so nervous.  Great job chosen one.

Bottom of the 11th.  The Rays face Mike Timlin.  Navi walks and Perez comes in to run for him.  Zobrist walked.  Barty had a timely chopper down to third and moved the runners over.  They walked Aki, and the bases were loaded with one out.  BJ hits a short sac fly to right.  No problem for Speedy McSpeedster, Perez scores.  Rays win!  Rays win game two!

In this case 9>8!  Go Rays!

Get some rest today people.

*itty bitty titty

Doubting the Rays would be pretty foolish at this point in the season, but they definitely have a challenge ahead of them.  They got past the White Sox, but can they wear out the Red Sox?  It ain’t gonna be easy folks.  The Rays are going to have to lay it all on the line.  Just ask the Angels, any little mistake can cost you against Boston.  On the other hand, the Red Sox are going to have their hands full with the Rays too.

Yeah I just wrote a whole paragraph trying to say that this series is going to be intense.  I’m antsy just thinking about it.  At first I didn’t want the Rays to play Boston, but now I see that to be the best you have to beat the best, and it will only be that much more rewarding.

Here’s a list of what goes thru my mind when I see certain Red Sox players…

DiceK – his Indian name would be “man who throws too many pitches east”, because Kazmir is “man who throws too many pitches west”
Lester – ace of hearts, just need to get to the bullpen
Beckett – smug
Varitek – the glue
Casey – Mr. Ed
Youkilis – whiny baby who doesn’t suck at baseball
Pedroia – classic case of shortman syndrome
Lowrie – squeaky clean
Lowell – distinguished gentleman
Bay – coulda, shoulda, woulda
Ellsbury – annoyingly good
Drew – suddenly clutch
Papi – does he miss Manny?
Crisp – not kid appropriate, involves many four letter words

Oh and y’all thought I was crazy, but evidently I’m a trend setter.  Girls everywhere are going for the rayshawk to the south idea.  I think we should let the Red Sox players in on this phenomena.  That way maybe they’ll be distracted when they see a cute girl in the crowd, wondering if she’s really supporting her team.  Go Rays!!

The Rays are rad!

Did you see that game?  I fell asleep.  No shit.  I did watch it when I woke up though, and of course I felt like I totally missed out on bonding with Rays fans worldwide.  Like how I assume there are Rays fans everywhere?

Anyway I’m so stoked that the little engine that could keeps on going.  They think they can, they think they can.

Troy Percival might need more than just positive thinking to get back on track though.  Wow.  There were so many times I thought the Rays had lost that game last night.

It started with the Dan Wheeler deja vu experiment.  Let’s walk Youlikis again, and pitch to Jason Bay.  Glad Wheeler rewrote the ending.

Finally Pena, the hunk of burnin love, hit a three run homer.  So awesomely rad. 

Not so fast though.  Percy comes in and immediately loads the bases.  Thank heavens Maddon is losing his patience with him and sat him down.  I’m all for Percy trying to be awesome, but if you’re hurt you’re going to do nothing but hurt the team.  Time to admit that until you’re healthy someone else is better suited for the job.

Hammel, the unlikeliest of heroes, comes in and saves the day.  Now I feel really bad about not wanting to let him on the bus the other day!

Rays won, in Boston.  How sweet is that?  A big ole free donut sweet, I say.  Go Rays!! 

Runs, Runs, Rays get Runs!

Of the baseball variety, not the type that would require Imodium AD.

People the Rays won last night at Fenway!  Rejoice.  They actually scored some runs, battled and looked like the Rays we’ve grown to love this season.

Kazmir was shaky at first but pitched a great game.  A lot of fly balls though?  I only noticed because the camera work made every fly ball look like a homerun.  I did a lot of this “Aaayyy Oh whew.”

Everything was looking good, but there was always some angst just below the surface because a one run lead in Boston is not comfortable.  Especially when Wheeler walked Youkilis.  My spidey sense picked up some danger signs.  Then Jason Bay who should have been a Ray hit one out.  I’m pretty sure I called him a boob.  Not that he really is one, he actually seems like a darn nice guy.

Great now the tables were turned, but the Rays had to face Papelbon and his uncomfortable cup.  Have no fear though, Dan is here.  Barely.  Dan you had me at hello.  Straight from Durham he steps in and hits a monster game tying home run.  Then he couldn’t wipe the smile of his face.  That was so cute.  I’m adding him to the love list.

Also newly added to the love list is Perez.  He hit a double off the monster, and I swear he’s so fast, he was at second as the ball bounced off the wall.  He’s snazzy and I dig that.

Don’t forget Navi who has been hitting even when everyone else has been taking a nap.  Way to go whiskers.

Okay so then Troy Percival enters the game.  I actually said out loud “I have no confidence in you.  You better prove me wrong.”  Did it look like Maddon was chewing him a little before Big Papi batted?  Give him credit though, he got the job done.  It couldn’t have been easy for him, especially with the tying run on third.

So awesome.  I’m actually in a better mood today since the Rays won, but I think it’s more that they showed signs of life ya know.  Tough task tonight with Sonny going against Beckett, but at least Beckett is not a lefty!  Go Rays!!

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!!

Rays win round one!

Boston 4 – Tampa 5!  Rock on.

BJ Upton started it all with a first pitch homer.  So should he be a lead off hitter or a clean up hitter!

Lowell drove in a run in the fourth to tie it up, but Gabe Gross turned around and crushed a two run homer in the bottom half of the inning.  It was a no doubter.  Like Gwen Stefani.  I crack myself up.  Gross sure seems to have big games when the Rays need it.  He was showing his socks tonight, does it makes him look faster.

Navi threw a beauty to get Moss stealing in the fifth.

Pena hit a double and Aybar scored all the way from first to make it 1-4 Rays.

In the top of the 6th I thought Shields had Drew struck out, but he didn’t get the call.  I had a feeling…then Drew hit one to the seats in right.  Mother Scratchin Umpire.  2-4 Rays.

Shields gave up a basehit to the Lowell, who was on tonight, and a walk in the 7th, so that ended his night.  His night was stellar by the way.  Miller came in and gave up a walk.  Then Balfour finished out the inning.

Aybar had a pretty sac bunt in the 7th to move CC over.   Pena and Longo both walked.  Could we get that pitcher again tomorrow please?  He walked three and almost threw it away on the bunt attempt.  So bases are loaded, one out.  Maddon decides to bring in Gomes instead of Hinske.  Gomes hits a double play ball, but hustles it out, and the run scores.  2-5 Rays.

They bring Wheeler in for the 8th.  I was surprised Balfour didn’t pitch some more, but what do I know really.  Wheeler got three quick fly outs.

Percy takes the ball in the 9th because this gamed needed some more drama right?  First batter, Manny Ramirez.  No problem, he strikes himout.  Then Lowell, did I mention he’s hot tonight, doubles.  Youkilis hits a hard grounder to third.  Longo dives and knocks it down, but there’s no play.  Moss then hits a fly ball to right, but it hits a rafter or something in the roof and becomes a double which scores a run.  3-5 Rays.

So now there are men on 2nd and 3rd with one out.  Varitek steps up and hits a sac fly to right.  Gross is actually able to catch this one.  Another run scores 4-5 Rays.

To add to the drama, Percy is hopping around like his hamstring is grabbing?  Maddon comes out to check on him.  Percy wants to go.  Maddon says “I don’t like it.”  Percy says GFD.  Yeah he’s pissed.  Thankfully Maddon is reasonable and doesn’t let him stay in.  Matter of fact he had to tell him “that’s enough.”  I for one am thrilled because I’m not comfortable with Percival in one run games.  It’s purely emotional, but other guys make it easier on my guts.

Howell gets to come in with the tying run on third.  Fabio Lugo up to bat.  He of course had to take it to a full count, at which point I told JP that all my love for him would be gone if he walked Julio freakin Lugo.  He got him to line out to short!  Rays win!  I love JP Howell!

Let’s hope for a repeat performance tomorrow, from the first place Rays.  That’s pretty cool to type.  Go Rays!!

Rock’em Sox’em Rays!

What the hell?  We knew there might be some drama in Boston tonight, but I didn’t expect a good old fashion brawl.

Was Crispy really surprised when he got hit by that pitch?  Cause the ESPN announcers from the night before pretty much told him to expect one in the numbers.  It hit him in the leg.  What is his problem?  Roid Rage?  Seriously he f*cked everything up. 

Now the Rays will be facing a bunch of suspensions.  Shields, Gomes possibly Navarro and Crawford.  Not good for a contending team!!

He also messed up things for his own team.  Karma came around.  Youkilis and Manny were spatting.  Jacoby might have hurt his wrist on a web gem catch in center.  Also Manny pulled up a little lame in a later at bat.

Sean Casey (the nicest guy in MLB) must be wondering why we can’t just all get along! 

The best revenge would have been to actually win the game, but nooo.  I suppose that’s a chick comment but oh well.

Let’s hope the Rays can get past all this hoopla and get back to winning baseball games, because any team that walks Julio Lugo that much doesn’t deserve to win.  Get out of Boston and focus on Texas.  C’mon Kazmir!

By the way Shields needs to take some lessons from Kyle Farnsworth on what to do when someone rushes the mound.  I would show you video but the move is so successful that MLB has removed the video.  Basically he grabs the assailant around the waist, lifts them off the ground and then body slams them.  It’s really awesome and much better than missing with a weak looking swing.

Hey welcome to the Rays Tim Beckham!  Do you have any martial arts skills?