Well, what can you say?   The opportunities presented themselves but we did not capitalize.  I mean with the tying run 90 ft away, 0 out and Carlos Pena, BJ Upton and Carl Crawford batting you have to like your chances to tie the game.  I mean that could not have been setup more perfect.  But, in the end, the Ray bats were held silent as all 3 of them struck out. 

Make no bones this was a pitching duel between Beckett and Matt Garza.   They matched each other number for number – each giving up 3 ER.  Their lines are actually amazingly similar:  Garza went 7 innings, 116 pitches (72 for strikes), 3 ER, 7 hits, 3 BB and 6 K’s; Beckett went 6 innings, 118 pitches (68 for strikes), 3 ER, 6 hits, 3 BB and 5 K’s.  So you can see this was an awesome game to watch! 

The problem for the Rays came once again in the bull pen.  Brian Shouse gave up a leadoff double to Ortiz and Dan Wheeler followed by giving up a double to Bay to put the Red Sox up for good. 

The Ray offense obviously struggled against awesome pitching from Beckett.  But come on guys, tying run on 3^rd with 0 outs and we cannot make contact?  I know it was Papelbon, but…… really?  Remember he’s the one that put the runner on 3^rd and 1^st to begin with! 

Well all in all this road trip has proven to be very successful and not just in the sense of the record but more for what guys have been doing.  Upton has shown signs of life, Burrell is starting to look a bit more comfortable, Longoria and Crawford continue their hot hitting.  The question is that bullpen.  The RFO really need to address it as it is not very good.

I really think the next 20 games are going to show a lot about this team.  We are transitioning from a very difficult schedule to a very light schedule.  The next 20 games are with teams that are struggling.  We MUST beat them to have a shot at October I believe.   Good teams beat teams they should beat so we’ll see if we are a good team or not.

Enjoy your day off Ray fans!  See you at Camden yards!

The Rays pulled into Fenway for the opening game of a 3 game set.  SP James Shields cruised through the first 5 innings with little more than the occasional hit.  Then the wheels came off when we hit the 6^th inning.  A hit, the first walk he gave up in the game and a blast later and the score was tied at 3.  Then another hit and another blast later and the Rays are down 5-3.  Shieldsy lost the ability to hit his spots low and left a few up I the sweet zone.  Shields was clearly rattled as he was yelling into his glove at himself and the Red Sox took advantage of the opportunities he gave them.  The bull pen, specifically Grant Balfour, gave up 2 runs in his 2 innings of work assuring the Red Sox the easy victory. 

The Rays offense struck early to take a 3-0 lead.  Carl Crawford had another outstanding offensive game going 3 for 5 scoring 3 and swiping another bag.  He was a HR away from the cycle!  CC has looked much better at the plate recently taking a lot of pitches and selecting a pitch he can do something with.  Jason Bartlett had a nice day at the dish as well collecting 2 2Bs in 3 trips and driving in a run.

The Rays have looked much better as a whole of late.  In the last week they have given us a glimmer of the 2008 team.  The one thing that I see separating the World Series team from the 2009 team is pitching.  The pitching this year is absolutely unreliable.  From the starters to the bullpen no one has stood out in more than an outing or 2.  Matt Garza has been the best starter and the bull pen would have a difficult time claiming anyone as a stand out to this point.  The Rays offense cannot possibly come from behind time after time, eventually these pitchers are going to have to step up and shut down the opposition.  

I will add and I will keep saying it – BJ Upton needs to switch positions with JB in the lineup — period!  The numbers make this statement so painfully obvious this isn’t even a question.  Look at this:  BJ = .152 BA, .272 OBP, .205 SLG, 31 K; JB = .355 BA, .382 OBP, .495 SLG, 15K.  Now, tell me where the argument lies in this!  I’m getting tired of everyone making excuses for his poor performance.  The shoulder surgery excuse has now sailed.  If he is still rehabbing it he should be in the minors doing it not here!  I get the distinct impression that Upton will be a “could have been” – a lot of unfulfilled promise.   

Well we go at it again tomorrow and hope Kaz brings his ‘A’ game!

The Rays staged a late inning rally to earn a split in the short 2 game series with the Orioles Tuesday at The Trop.  Key hits provided by season long quiet bats provided the spark need to back another nice pitching performance from Matt Garza.  Garza went a very strong 8 complete innings giving up only 4 hits, 2 BB and 3 ER while striking out 2.  Unfortunately for Matt 2 of the 3 hits were HRs providing all the scoring for the O’s.  Matt had a few location issues early, hence the HRs, but recovered nicely to shut down the O’s. 

The silent but deadly bats I referred to are those of Dioner Navarro and BJ Upton.  Needless to say these guys have not been performing up to expectations to this point in the season.  But, today when they were called upon to get the big hit they came through!  Navi kept a rally going by knocking out a 2B creating a 2^nd and 3^rd situation and would score 2 runs.  BJ laced a 2 out, 2 strike pitch to LF for a 2B and an RBI and would eventually score on Evan Longoria’s bases loaded single.  Yes, Longo is keeping his hot hitting going in the early part of May by going 2 for 4 with a 2B and 3 RBIs to add to his MLB lead.

This was a nice game to watch. Seeing the Rays go down early and to watch them come back little at a time against an Oriole pitcher who was spot on was great.  The O’s SP Uehara threw 92 pitches, 72 for strikes – that is an amazing ratio.  But, the Rays remained patient and made him work in the later innings.  They eventually got pitches to hit and they took advantage.  This game could go a long way in the contest Wednesday in NY facing AJ Burnett.  Burnett can be that dominating as well but with patience he can be had as evidenced by a 5.40 ERA.

So, off to the new Yankee stadium for a short 2 game series with the Bronx Bombers. This is, in my humble opinion, a very important series.  I’d say to start making any noise in this AL East we need to walk away with nothing less than a split in NY and a series victory in Boston.  We’ll see…

 See you in NY!

Go Rays!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt Garza was outstanding in game 1 of a 4 game set pitching against the Rays AL East rival Boston Red Sox.  Matt pitched a perfect game through 6 innings!  A squib infield single in the 7^th broke up the perfect game for Matt but he quickly erased the runner inducing a double play.  There were only 2 other Red Sox runners on base the entire game – a walk by Garza and a walk by Balfour.  No Red Sox made it to 2^nd base.  The combination of Garza for 6.2 innings and Balfour for 1.1 innings faced the minimum 27 batters for the 9 innings.  For all the bad pitching performances the Rays have had as of late this performance was unbelievable!  Garza hit every spot, threw every pitch and used several different pitches as his “out” pitch keeping the Red Sox hitters off balance.

Garza’s battery mate for this game was Michel Hernandez.  He did an outstanding job handling Garza’s zone and calling the game.  Hernandez looked confident behind the plate and worked the umpire on all sides of the plate to get those close calls going in Matt’s direction.  Oh yeah, he also managed to throw in his first career MLB home run!  He went 4 for 5 at the dish, scored 1 run and drove in 3.  Nice day Michel!  I expect we’ll be seeing him behind the plate more often.  

The offense was electric!  These guys were pumped with an energy I have not seen to this point in the season.  Along with Hernandez, Evan Longoria knocked his 6^th out of the park.  But, Evan’s big at bat really came in the 3^rd inning with bases loaded against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.  Longo worked the count and picked a pitch he could handle and drove a base clearing double to RCF gap.  In total the Rays banged out 18 hits and chased Beckett after 4.2 innings.  Rays hitters were patient at the plate and picking pitches they could handle.  Although they did strike out 11 times in total they still looked much more confident at the plate.

Look gang, this was a GREAT outing all over the place tonight!  Remember last year, the game in Toronto that everyone said really lit the team up and helped them turn that corner?  This could be that game!  I saw a ton of excitement in that dugout tonight, more than I’ve seen this season at any point.  Let’s hope this signals the righting of our ship!

The Rays were outmatched on all sides of the ball Saturday afternoon in Oakland.  They were out pitched and out hit.  The only thing that remains consistent in the Rays game to game approach is inconsistency. 

Matt Garza struggled through 5.2 innings giving up 4 hits and 4 BB which led to 4 ER.  Matt struck out 6 but showed little consistency with his pitches through out this losing effort.  The bullpen did well with 3 pitchers combining for 2.1 innings 2 hits and 1 ER. 

The offense, oh the offense…..  This was a bit painful to watch as the Rays had bases loaded several times during this game and were unable to score.  The Rays stranded 8 on base while giving away 6 K’s to A’s pitching.   

This is a very short blog for me BUT just review what’s been written to this point in the young season.  The Rays have shown that they are going to play really well and crush a team or really bad and lose.  There doesn’t seem to be any midpoint.  This is what we’ve been missing to this point, that midpoint where the game could swing either and the burning desire to win those games.  There doesn’t seem to be any fire in this team….maybe they are satisfied for having gone to the World Series last year, breaking the Ray version of their own “curse”.   

Be nice to see the Rays look like they have a purpose on the field today and take this series from Oakland.  It would be only the second series victory this season and far overdue.  Here’s my shout out to the Rays and today’s SP Andy Sonnanstine!

In a 3 game set no 2 games could be more different.  From the Rays crushing performance the night before to the Yankees rebound and pitcher’s duel tonight.  The score does not really indicate how close this game actually was. 

AJ Burnett and Matt Garza battled through 2 tough lineups all game long.  Burnett pitched a no hitter through 6 innings while Garza allowed only 2 ER in his 7 inning pitched.  The Yankee staff accumulated 12 K’s while the Rays staff came close to a match at 10 K’s.  An impressive point about Garza’s performance I’d like to mention happened in the very first inning.  In the first inning the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs and Matt came back to allow only 1 run. 

Carl Crawford broke up the no hitter with a single in the 7^{th with} 1 out.  A single by Evan Longoria sent CC to 3^rd.   Another single by Carlos Pena sent CC to the plate and Longo to 3^rd.   The Rays then tied the game with a sacrifice fly by Pat Burrell to score Longo. 

The bullpen took over for the Rays in the 8^th and Yankees blew the doors off this game.  JP Howell took the loss in this game by allowing 1 ER.  Dan Wheeler was not able to hold the game to a 1 run difference by allowing 4 hits and 4 ER in the 9^th.  So, to this point in the season, it would appear the Achilles heal of the Rays is the bullpen.  Howell has an ERA close to 5, Wheeler is 12.00 and Balfour is over 20.00!  Obviously for the Rays to be successful something will have to give in the BP. 

This was a well fought pitcher’s duel that was a joy to watch!  The Trop was rocking and everyone was having a great time.  Kudos to the Rays Front Office on the replica ring giveaway – these rings are HOT! 

Another stellar pitching match up this afternoon with Andy Sonnanstine going against Andy Pettitte.  Remember – game time is 4:05 today! 

See you at The Trop!

Matt Garza threw a gem against the Boston Red Sox to clinch the series victory Wednesday afternoon.  Garza threw a very strong 7 complete innings to earn his first W.  The only inning Garza ever faced any trouble was the 6^th in which he gave up a lead off 2B which would score 2 hitters later on a 3B before recording the final 2 outs of the inning.  His control was excellent aside from the 2 pitches he left up in the zone in the 6^th.  His line was 7 innings, 5 K’s, 3 BB and 1 ER.  I have to admit knowing how intense and pumped up Matt can get I was expecting a shaky first inning before he’d settle down.  Garza never showed any negativity on the mound.  His mound presence was intense but controlled.  He was very impressive today!

The Rays offense also had a nice showing chasing Dice-K after only 5 1/3 innings.  The Rays were banging the ball all over Fenway!  Offensively we knocked out 10 total hits 7 of which were for extra bases!  Matt Joyce began the scoring in the 2^nd inning with his first blast of the season.  Evan Longoria followed with a 2 run shot in the 3rd.  Shawn Riggans added to the scoring by sending out a beautiful opposite field blast in the 4^th. 

Shawn Riggans got the call behind the dish today and called an excellent game!  

The bullpen had a bit of a hiccup giving up 2 runs in only 2 innings pitched.  Brian Shouse gave up one manufactured run but, in my opinion, the big blow came in the 9^th when Troy Percival entered the game.  Percy came on and gave up a blast to Varitek on the 2^nd pitch he threw.  He then enticed 2 outs but allowed a free pass to Ortiz bringing the game winning run to the plate in the form of Youkilis, something I’m sure many Ray fans were not too comfortable with.  He eventually ended the game when Youkilis flew out to deep CF but it was not pretty.

First series victory in the books and a HUGE start to the season.  Now off to Baltimore where the Orioles are playing some tight baseball.  Should be a very exciting series!

See you in Camden Yards!

Wow – nice turn around from the previous evening!  Rays SP Scott Kazmir was awesome on the mound!  Kaz had a shaky first inning but came out firing in the 2^nd inning and through the rest of his 6 complete innings of work.  In the first he got ahead of a few batters then looked like he was pecking away at the corners rather than going after them.  He lost them and issued free passes.  He recovered to end the first inning unscathed.  He come out in the 2^nd inning and looking much more aggressive and confident.  In his 6 innings he only allowed 5 hits, 1 ER and 4 K’s while allowing 3 free passes (2 in the first inning).  Kaz had a lot of late movement on his pitches and was using his breaking ball to off set his fast ball!  His pitch speed was varying from 92 down to 78.  He locked the knees of many Red Sox hitters.  Kaz was the difference in this game – period!

The offense had a nice day at the dish as well.  Nice to see the first home runs of the season by Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria!  Carlos went dead center with his monster blast and Evan went down to drive his shot over the Green Monster.  

Here is the play of the game, a patent Maddon safety squeeze!  This took a few guys executing perfectly for this exciting play to work.  Gabe Kapler led off with a walk.  Next to the dish, Akinori Iwamura.  With Kapler running Aki slapped a single into the vacated #6 hole allowing Kapler to head to 3^rd.  That was a nice piece of opposite field hitting!  Jason Bartlett, probably the best bat handler on the team, then laid down a beautiful bunt to the first base side allowing Kapler to score form 3^rd.  These 3 guys executed everything perfectly in this entire sequence – it was beautiful!

I love this “NL” style of play – love to see the Rays burning up the base paths and laying down the safety squeeze – outstanding!

Aside from Kaz being the star of the game let me mention someone else who was quietly impressive in my mind, Gabe Kapler.  Gabe didn’t tear the cover off the ball, hit a HR, steal a base but he had a very nice game both offensively and defensively.  At the dish he was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a free pass.  He was the lead cog in the wheel that manufactured the run on the safety squeeze.  Defensively he played CF.  He made a few nice running catches on balls that were hit well over his head and to me that was most impressive.  I watched him just turn around and sprint for the fence then make a difficult play look easy.  He also had an assist by throwing out Youkilis at 2^nd base.  Nice job Gabe!

The Ray bullpen was outstanding expect for a little hiccup from JP Howell.  Grant Balfour earned the save by being an intense beast on the mound.  In the 9^th inning he threw 10 pitches -9 were fast balls.  He was pacing all around talking to himself – it was awesome!

Good to see the Rays play with some intensity and desire.  They wanted this game and it was obvious.  Today the Rays send the always hyper, intense Matt Garza to toe the rubber.  Matt will probably be hurdling the ball at about 200mph the first inning he’ll be so pumped!  Cannot wait until game time!

The Rays bull pen failed to hold the Phillies at bay in the bottom of the 9^th inning during Game 3 of the World Series.  The Rays fought back to tie the Phils in the top of the 8^th thanks to BJ Upton tying a World Series record.  BJ led off the inning with an infield single, stole 2^nd, stole 3^rd and scored on a throwing error by Phillie catcher Ruiz.  The only other player in World Series history to do this was Honus Wagner in 1909 – nice company to keep!  Overall BJ swiped 3 bags in this game and Carl Crawford added a steal of his own.  The Rays are having a great deal of success on the base path.  Great to see they have gone back to the “small ball” game since their bats have been held relatively silent so far in this World Series.

The Rays are losing the match up of bull pens however.  The bottom of the 9^th began in an ominous manner.  JP Howell hit PH Bruntlett sending the winning run to 1^st base with no effort on his part.  Next in, Grant Balfour.  Balfour was facing Shane Victarino with a runner on 1^st and 0 out when he threw the ball to the back stop.  Bruntlett easily advanced to 2^nd then took 3^rd on the throw from Dioner Navarro that sailed into CF.  Now Balfour is facing the winning run standing just 90 ft away and still having made no effort on his part.  We gave him a free pass all the way to 3^rd base.  After intentionally walking the bases loaded catcher Carlos Ruiz hit a bouncing infield ball down the 3^rd base line.  Evan Longoria charged it but was unable to make the play allowing the walk off run to score.   

So the bull pen failed to hold the Phillies down BUT the starter did not help much either.  Matt Garza did not show us the “Garzilla” form we’ve all come to know and love.  He gave up 4 ER – 3 by solo HR!  Garza lasted only 6 innings which, by his standards, is a short outing. 

The offense was ridiculous against Phils SP Moyer.  They all looked off balance at the plate.  They looked tired and like they had no idea what Moyer could possibly be throwing at them.  I mean really – Moyer is like 152 yrs old, he’s been in this league for about 100 of those years.  This team has seen pitchers that pitch with little to no speed – name Wakefield sound familiar?  No excuse for this poor performance at the plate.  Our 3 & 4 hitters have been non-existent in this series so far.  Evan looks lost at the plate and Carlos Pena looks like he is not seeing the ball again.   

So, this is what I see tonight.  The Rays have placed themselves in a must win situation.  The reason Game 4 has now become a must win – Cole Hamels will pitch Game 5.  The offense must gain a win and some confidence tonight against Phils starter Joe Blanton.  The offense MUST get on track – period.  I expect Andy Sonnanstine to come out of the gate with a good game plan.   We’ll watch him execute his pitches and watch the offense to come out fired up!  I expect a victory tonight!

Go Rays!!! 

The Tampa Bay rays are the 2008 American League Champions!!!  WOW, doesn’t that sound great?!

I cannot hear it enough!  ALCS series MVP Matt Garza pitched an amazing game yesterday!  Garza pitched beyond what anyone could have imagined.  He shut down the Red Sox in a 7 inning pitching clinic.  He left one bad pitch up that Pedroia made him pay for by placing it over the LF wall.  Beyond that he gave up only 1 other hit, allowing 3 free passes while striking out 9.  Joe Maddon then employed hitter to pitcher strategy and used 5 pitchers in the 8^th inning to keep the mighty red Sox bats quiet.  David Price came in with bases loaded and 2 outs in the 8^th to dash the Red Sox hopes by striking out JD Drew.  Price earned the save in the game by pitching a solid 9^th inning as well.    

The Ray bats were able to provide just the amount of scoring necessary to catapult the Rays to the top of the American League.  The scoring began with a 2 out double by Evan Longoria to score Carlos Pena all the way from 1^st base to tie the score.  Next came a double by Willy Aybar and a nice at bat by Rocco Baldelli to single him home.  The final bit of scoring would be an Aybar blast to LF off SP Lester late in the game.  Due to the outstanding pitching turned in by the Rays staff that was more than needed to push the Rays over the top.  

This was an amazing all around performance by both teams really.  But the Rays were too much for the Red Sox to handle.  The Rays outplayed the Red Sox in all facets of the game.  Enough cannot be said about the pitching performance in this ALCS by Matt Garza.  He beat the seemingly unbeatable John Lester twice and shut down the Red Sox bats both times as well!   

Being at The Trop last night was absolutely amazing!  That place was electric!  I don’t care what any national reporters or anyone else says – the Rays have a very devoted fan base.  It was evident in the eyes of those holding big crocodile tears after the victory, the years of sitting in the cellar and hoping for something better next year finally paid off.  I’m emotionally and physically exhausted and need to go lie down now!  LOL – would not have missed it for anything!

Next, bring on the Phils!  See you at The Trop Wednesday evening for Game 1 of the WORLD SERIES!