Rays Win!  Rays Win!  Rays Win!  I never get tired of hearing that called out across the airwaves! 

The Tampa Bay Rays shone a bright Ray of Sunshine over the Chicago black out as they defeated the Chicago White Sox and ended the ALDS series, 6-2.  The Rays played excellent baseball on all sides of the ball, offense, defense and pitching!  The Rays out homered the MLB team leader in homeruns as well showing off their power.

SP Andy Sonnanstine did an OUTSTANDING job for the Rays in this important game 4.  Sonny had all his pitches working and his location was spot on.  Sonny pitched a very effective 5 2/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 ER, 1 free pass and 4 strike outs.  The bullpen followed and allowed only 1 hit in the remainder of the game!  This was a GREAT pitching performance starting with Andy.  JP Howell and Grant Balfour followed his lead and kept the Chicago bats and fans silent.  Great job!

Offensively the Rays were just as effective.  They knocked out Chicago’s best pitcher, Gavin Floyd, in 3 innings.  BJ Upton blasted 2 solo shots in his first 2 at bats!  Great time for BJ to get hot!  The Rays totaled 10 hits in all, 5 of which were for extra bases.  Carlos Pena had a big day at the plate going 3 for 4 with 1 free pass and 2 RBIs.  Carlos also swiped 2 bags along with Carl Crawford.  

This was a great all around performance led by GREAT starting pitching from Sonny!  If the Rays continue to play complete ball like this they will be playing in the World Series!

Our next opponent will be our division rival Boston Red Sox.  I think this really says a lot about the AL East division.  The Rays and Red Sox came down to the final weekend to determine the division winner now they are both playing in the ALCS.  This is by far the most difficult division in baseball.  This is going to be a nail biter series!  Go buy your ROLAIDS, TUMS or whichever antacid you fancy because you’ll need it!!

Go Rays!!

The Tampa Bay rays were hoping to finish off the Chicago White Sox Sunday afternoon but their attempt was thwarted by outstanding pitching from the White Sox. The Rays offense banged out 8 hits but were shut down for only 3 runs. They couldn’t seem to string hits together as Chicago SP Danks seemed to toughen up as runners were on the base path.

Rays SP Matt Garza had a great first 3 innings then imploded a bit in the 4th allowing Chicago to jump on top with 3 runs. Garza was tagged with the loss as the Rays could not recover from his bumpy 4th inning. Overall Garza’s line was 6 innings, 7 hits, 5 ER, 4 free passes and 4 K’s. Garza has had a few struggles the last 3-4 outings of the regular season as well. This does not bode well fro the Rays if they continue on deeper into the playoffs. They need Garza to step up and throw with the confidence he has had all season long.

On the offensive side of the ball the Rays were able to put runners on base all game long, 8 hits and 4 free passes. They were not able to string hits together or swipe bags as Danks showed off why Manager Ozzie Guillen calls him a big game pitcher. On the positive side Iwamura, Upton, Pena and Navarro all had a multiple hit game with 2 hits each. Nice to see Carlos back in the lineup and swinging the bat well! BJ Upton accounted for 2 of the 3 runs by blasting a towering shot to LF. The Rays have had a good approach at the plate and are swinging the bats well. An additional hit or 2 and the outcome of this game would have been reversed no doubt!

Today the Rays try to close out the series with Chicago and send Andy Sonnanstine to the mound. I have a real good feeling about this. The Rays have done well to neutralize the power of the White Sox for the first 3 games of the series allowing only 2 HR (both in Game 1) in this series. Sonny needs to keep the ball low and pound the strike zone. Sonny may get hit a lot but if he keeps it in the park Rays will win!

Go Rays!

The Tampa Bay Rays have continued their dominance of visiting teams at The Trop by pounding the Chicago White Sox 6-2 in the second game of the ALDS.  The Rays combined all components of the game – hitting, pitching and defense – to take a convincing 2-0 lead in the series.

Scott Kazmir pitched as he has all season long, early trouble, a lot of pitches and early exit.  Kaz had allowed the Sox to load the bases with 0 outs in the first inning. He showed a great deal of poise and resilience while limiting the damage to 2 runs.  His line ended at 5.1 innings, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 free passes and 4 K’s.  More importantly his postseason record stands at 1-0!  Enough cannot be said of the Rays bull pen.  Grant Balfour, JP Howell and Chad Bradford followed Kaz and stifled the mighty White Sox bats!  These guys have been outstanding in any and all situations you send them into.  They fear no situation and more often than not are successful!  The turn around in that BP is by far the biggest reason, in my opinion, for the Rays consistent success this season. 

The offense was potent in racking up 12 hits.  The big bat was provided by Akinori Iwamura in the 5^th inning.  With Jason Bartlett standing on first base and the Rays down 2-1 Aki hit a bomb into the LC field seats!  The Trop exploded!  Aki smack placed the Rays on top to stay.  The Rays added 3 insurance runs in the bottom of the 8^th to secure the game!  Aki’s hit was even more exciting because SP Buehrle had made Aki look sick up to that point.  Aki’s concentration and focus when his team needed him most exemplifies the Rays success all season long.  Key hits, key plays, key pitches at the most important times all season long, that’s the Ray’s game.

I have to tell you, I’m exhausted!  LOL – having gone to the first 2 playoff games in Tampa Bay Rays history is in my top 5 of most exciting things I’ve ever done (not sure what kind of statement that makes about my life but..).  The atmosphere is amazing in and around The Trop!  The restaurants in and around The Trop will find people from all walks of life sitting together at tables cajoling about our Rays!  I have met more people just trying to get a bite to eat than I have met in a long time.  The tie that binds is our Rays!  Even though the ALDS is far from over it has been a very eye opening experience for me. Around the nation the Ray’s fan base has been knocked continually for not being absent.   But, trust me, they are there.  Next year The Trop will have a much bigger fan base and more seats will be filled.  From what I’ve seen and heard I’d just about guarantee it! 

Go Rays!!

Wow, what an amazing game!  Evan Longoria once again showed the nation why he deserves to be Rookie of the Year.  He was a stud at the plate!  Longo ended his day going 3 for 3 with 2 Home Runs, a single, a BB with 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs and a stolen base!  Yes, that’s right, 2 Home Runs!  Only the second time in postseason history a player has belted 2 home runs in his first 2 postseason at bats, the first by a rookie!  Ironically the only other player to do this is Rays AAA hitting Coach Gary Gaetti.  Longo approached the dish each at bat and looked like he had about 10 years experience.  Clearly the postseason is not going to rattle him or his teammates.                                           

James Shields did an outstanding job of limiting the White Sox big play offense.  He did give up a 3 run blast to Dewayne Wise but aside from that the Sox bats were ineffective against him.  He went a strong 6.1 innings, scattering 5 hits and compiling 4 K’s along the way.  \

The huge play in this game came in the 7^th inning with bases loaded.  Grant Balfour replaced Shields with 1 out.  The Aussie struck out Uribe for the 2^nd out.  Next to the plate Orlando Cabrera.  The first pitch to him was outside and apparently Cabrera wanted something better — he kicked dirt in the direction of Balfour.  Well the Thunder from Down Under did not appreciate that and a war of words broke out.  Grant Balfour eventually strode to back to the top of the hill and proceeded to blow to hard fastballs right by Cabrera for the huge K!  On his way to the dugout Balfour pointed at Cabrera and told him to sit down!   It was awesome!  I was at The Trop and the crowd exploded!  The energy in that dome was amazing!  From that point you felt like the game was over.   

The Rays have shown the rest of MLB that they will no longer be a door mat for anyone.  That began with Elliot Johnson running over the Yankee catcher in spring training.  It has not stopped.  The Rays are confident in the fact they can beat anyone, they’ve done it all season.  They fear no team!

Can’t wait to get back to The Trop!