A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Young

Hell-O and Goodbye

Aug02
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Whew, this feels like those moments in the old movies where they have a post-coital cigarette.  Jeremy Hellickson aka the Rays’ Strasburg pitched a very sexy game tonight.  I’m sure he was nervous, but you couldn’t tell.  He owned it.  He was perfect until Delmon Young decided he’d had enough of that.  He pitched seven innings and only gave up two runs.

He was so great and fun to watch that I don’t want to give him back!  The Rays sent him back down after the game.  I want to have a toddler tantrum of epic proportions.  You know like kicking and screaming.  Maybe someone should grab onto his leg and not let him go.

This is not a bad problem to have.  I’m sure the Rays have a plan for Jeremy, but it still sucks not to have him where the Rays might need him.  I know, patience young grasshopper.  Besides we love Dan Johnson, so he’s like the consolation prize.

I also really love Matt Joyce.  He continues to get big hits and contribute.

You know what else is great?  When BJ gets on base.  He was 3 for 4 tonight.  I hope he gets hot, because he is so dynamic that he could really elevate this team to another level.

Crawford and Longo continue to be their awesome selves.  It must be fun being them.

Keep bringing it Rays!

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Hot Weekend in Review

Jun07
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Things were pretty hot this weekend.

The weather was hot both here and in Texas.

The players were hot, and not just in temperature if you know what I mean.  The Rays are always hot, but I also appreciate the Texas Rangers.  Many girls go for the likes of Ian Kinsler, but I fancy myself some Michael Young.  I like to see the Rays beat the Rangers, but I feel like everybody wins when these teams face off.  Besides Mr. Garza got a haircut and the thing on his chin has been tamed, so he’s back in the hot column.

Rays fans were hot.  After their team imploded on Friday, you would have thought the sky was falling.  Then Saturday happened adding fuel to the fire.  Thank goodness one game can calm down a fan base and Sunday’s four hour battle to get a win achieved just that.

The offense was hot.  Well some of them were, and only on Sunday but it’s something right.  Imagine for a moment if every Rays player in the line-up were to get hot simultaneously?  Scorching!  The stuff that dreams are made of.

Speaking of the stuff that dreams are made of, John Jaso is the stuff that wet dreams are made of.  Boys I’m looking at you too.

Off day today and then it’s back to work for the Rays because the Blue Jays are coming to town and they’re not letting up.

Rays pitching seems to be struggling against aggressive teams.  Let’s hope they rethink the strategy a bit.  The big solid oak tree Niemann is up, so let’s see how he weathers the storm.

Today is also the start of the draft.  Let’s hope they draft somebody hot.  In this case hot can also be defined as good at baseball.

Stay cool my friends.  Go Rays!

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Thoughts on the All-Star Game

Jul15
2009 3 Comments Written by Jessica

It started off on a sad note when I found out Longo wouldn’t be playing.  Where has that finger been?  You’re right, I don’t want to know.  At least he was replaced by Michael Young, whom I’ve always liked.

Pena was so geeked to be a part of these all-star festivities.  Did you see his face when he was getting his picture taken with the President?  So cute.

What the hell is on Ryan Franklin’s chin?  I bet you could find some nasty left overs in there.

Between Longo’s finger, Franklin’s chin pet, and Lincecum’s hair there was a whole lot of icky going on in this game.

If you believe in announcer jinxes then Roy Halladay was doomed before he took the field.

Crawford had a nice base hit and would have had a stolen base if it wasn’t for that darn Ichiro dude.

Can we have Joe Mauer please?  He’s good.

Glad to see Edwin Jackson doing so well.  Wish he would have done that well for the Rays…

Hmmm Ben Zobrist sure looked like Barty playing short.  Barty’s the best shortstop in the AL right now and Fox couldn’t get his name right?  Good thing he gets so much love around here.

CC aka Superman saves the day!  Way to go Carl!

Is it bad that I thought it was kind of funny that Papelbon almost blew it?  Twice.

Granderson showin off the triple.  If the Rays didn’t have so many great outfielders of their own, I’d be pretty jealous.  Same thing for Adam Jones.

Benny Boo Boo struck out, but he did catch the final fly ball.  I hope he had a great time.

Major props to Joe Nathan for striking out Ryan Howard in a huge situation.

It was very fitting to have Mariano Rivera easily put the game to rest.

AL wins home field advantage in a game that defense made the difference.  The NL’s lack of in the first doomed them and Carl’s catch saved the AL.

I know the Rays had home field advantage last year and it didn’t make a difference, but the way the weather was in October the more games at the Trop the better.

Congratulations Carl, you’re an MVP around here all the time.  Go Rays!

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Game 123 – Rays vs. Rangers

Aug18
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Balfour’s Percy impersonation was not amusing!

First, sorry no post on Saturday’s game.  There was really not too much to say about it.  It was kinda like tit for tat.  Garza shut them out and so they returned the favor.

However last night the Rays won another series.  That is so groovy.  You know what else is groovy?  BJ Upton.  He knows that groove is in the heart!  He came back and went three for five.  I hope he keeps stickin it to the man.

Also congrats to Kazmir for making it through six innings this time.  Now that your not afraid of six, how about shooting for seven next time.

The ninth inning of this game was not amusing.  Did anyone else read Navi’s body language.  He was getting so pissed.  You can’t even see his face, but I’m sure it said “C’mon throw a strike already!” 

I think Mr. Balfour should visit the same baseball guru that worked wonders for Matt Garza.

Guru:  What can I do for you Mr. Balfour.
Balfour: I was hoping you could help me like you did Matt.
Guru:  Well son you must help yourself, but maybe I can give you some guidance.
Balfour:  That would be great.
Guru:  First I must tell you that your case is far more serious than Mr. Garza’s.
Balfour:  Aw, bloody hell mate.
Guru:  Wanna go to Outback steakhouse to finish this session?
Balfour:  Thanks, but I just want this to be over.
Guru:  Part of your problem stems from you trying to overcompensate for your very unfortunate last name.
Balfour:  Really, it doesn’t bother me.
Guru:  It’s the underlying cause for all of this.
Balfour:  I don’t even know what the problem is.  My boss just said I need to see you.
Guru:  Have you not ever watched video of yourself pitching?
Balfour:  Yeah sure, so?
Guru:  Did you not notice the strutting around?
Balfour:  No.
Guru:  Or the puffing of the cheeks?
Balfour:  I’m just breathing.
Guru:  Like a blowfish!  What’s with the swearing?
Balfour:  I’m pumping myself up.  Visualizing the batter as the enemy.
Guru:  You’re not visualizing, your vocalizing.  If your not careful, your going to get your ass kicked.  I mean you can jaw jack Josh Hamilton because he’s found Jesus, but Milton Bradley will hurt you.  Have you seen him break a bat.  Imagine your the bat.  What’s with swearing at Michael Young?  That girl at Her Rays thinks he’s the cherry on top of baseball goodness.  You are free to strike him out, but being mean to him is not tolerated.
Balfour: Uh, okay.
Guru:  What’s with the necklaces?
Balfour:  I don’t know I just think they look cool.
Guru:  Wrong my friend.
Balfour:  Am I doing anything right?
Guru:  Yes, you see all of these annoying qualities you have, and trust me they are very annoying, they can all be overlooked if you just strike these mothers out. 
Balfour:  Really.
Guru:  Really.  When you start walking people, imagine Rays fans throwing boomerangs but they all come back at you.
Balfour:  Whoa.
Guru:  This is not a reason to get more pumped up out there son.  You need to chillax.
Balfour:  You mean like relax?
Guru:  Duh.  Scott Kazmir has something that could help you with this.  Just make sure to bring a bag of Doritoes to the bullpen with you.
Balfour:  Thanks I think.
Guru:  Peace out.

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2008 All-Star Game

Jul16
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

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!!

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