For the first time since the Tampa Bay Rays franchise came into existence someone other than the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox have been crowned the Champions of the toughest division in baseball – the AL East.  That team is our loveable group of blue collar grinders the Tampa Bay Rays! 

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a remarkable year to say the least.  At the end of last season the “Devil Rays” were in the cellar just begging for the season to come to an end.  Their record at that time was 66-96 and they stood 30 games behind the Beantown  Bullies.  The RFO made some changes including having the “devil” exorcised, changing the team colors and filling in a few pieces of the puzzle with guys that were considered “throw aways.”  It was clear beginning in spring training that the changes made would have a major impact on the approaching season.  The Rays showed an explosive offense and improved pitching potential from starters and relievers alike.  They also showed a changed culture that was evident when they literally ran over the Yankees.  They were now a team and they believed in each other.    

Then it began, the regular season.  The Rays broke out with a good April.  They finished in second place for that month with a record of 15-12.  They were only trailing the Boston Red Sox.  From there it just got better!  From the months of May through September the Tampa Bay Rays finished each month atop the AL East.  Many games won on walk off hits, defensive gems and outstanding pitching from the most improved bull pen in baseball history.  A bull pen who the previous year had given up 52 games in which the “Devil Rays” had a lead had now learned how to pitch effectively late in a game.  Some of that turnaround must go to the acquisition of veteran Troy Percival.  Percy had an outstanding first half of the year saving 19 out of 21 games.  But that is only half the story.  His veteran presence made him invaluable to others sitting next to him in the BP.  They watched, asked questions and took notes.  He made the BP better!

The Rays were bit by the injury bug all season long, Scott Kazmir, Troy Percival, Al Reyes, Gary Glover, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, BJ Upton and on and on.  The goods news is those “throw away” guys were able to call on their veteran leadership and step in to fill the needs of this team.  Eric Hinske, Cliff Floyd and Willy Aybar walked right between the lines and did the job beyond all expectations I think.  They flashed the leather, made the throws, stole the bases and got the hits.  Newcomers like Gabe Gross, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett also proved more valuable than anyone could have imagined when they were traded for.  When called upon our AAA players filled in for injured players like they had been here all season long.  Dioner Navarro was challenged by Manager Joe Maddon to step up his game, especially on the defensive side of the game.  Boy did he!  With a fielding percentage of .994 and having thrown out 28 attempted base stealers he earned his right to participate in the All Star game.  Oh and by the way, he has led the Rays in hitting most of the year! 

Enough cannot be said of the changes made by the Rays front office and Manager Joe Maddon.  They rid the clubhouse of negativity and brought in guys who wanted to win.  And that’s just what they have done!  Win, win, win!  These Rays are not satisfied with just making it to the playoffs.  Joe Maddon has made it clear this is just the first step of their ultimate goal.  Their sights are set on the World Series – not just playing in it but winning it!

I will be there at The Trop for every playoff game!  I would never miss an opportunity to enjoy such a precious gift the Rays have finally given their long suffering fans!   

Congratulations Tampa Bay Rays and we’re all behind you!

They did it!  For the first time in the franchise’s 11 year history the Tampa Bay Rays will play baseball in October!  Scott Kazmir seals the deal with a nice 6 inning outing.  Kaz scattered 5 hits over the 6 innings while allowing 1 free pass and compiling 5 strike outs.  Kaz did manage to work himself into trouble a few innings but was bailed out by stellar defense.  With bases loaded and no outs a Twin batter hit a pop fly to Fernando Perez in CF.  The throw was cutoff by Carlos Pena who had the play in front of him and caught Justin Morneau leaning too far off 2^nd base for a double play.  The runner on 3^rd did not tag and score. The last out in the inning was recorded with no runs scoring.  That was a great play by Pena to help bail out Kaz in that inning. 

The offense chipped away at Twin pitching to score their total of 7 runs in 4 innings.  Pena led off the scoring barrage with a 2 RBI double off the SP Slowey.  The big bangs came off the bats of Cliff Floyd and Perez, each sending solo blasts over the wall.  The Ray hitters showed a great deal of patience at the plate and took the Twin SP deep into counts.  This was a great overall offensive approach to the game! 

It was awesome to see the Rays celebrate on the field at the end of this game!  Actually it was unbelievable!  At the beginning of the season it was clear this Ray team would improve on past performances.  But no on had any idea by how much.  I was going to be thrilled to see the team go .500 as I’m sure most Ray fans would have been.  But this…..this is beyond all belief!   Joe Maddon and the RFO deserve a ton of credit for GREAT talent evaluations and GREAT management of such!  They took some veterans who were cast off from other teams and infused their leadership into the youth of this team.  They made a GREAT trade for Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza.  They rid the clubhouse of any negativity.  They brought up the young AAA talent and put them in positions to be successful.  And the players themselves…..they never gave up.  No matter the circumstance they fought every game until the end.  Enough cannot be said about the chemistry of this team.  This is a special group enjoying a very special year.

The year isn’t over yet though.  The Rays have their sights set on the AL East pennant.  They gained a game on Boston with Boston losing to Toronto.  I expect to see the Rays play as they have all season long Sunday and take the series from the Twins.   

Congratulations Tampa Bay Rays!

It was an old fashioned butt kicking by the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. In the first game of a huge three game series against the Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays did not come to play and were hammered by the score of 13-5. This is not the way the Rays wanted to kick off the big series.

Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was rocked as gave up four home runs, six hits, and nine runs in just three innings of action. It was one of those outings that Kazmir will just have to forget as it was simply bad. Mitch Talbot wasn’t much better after he came in for Kazmit. Talbot gave up two more runs and and four runs. In total the Red Sox hit six home runs off of the Rays pitching staff.

The Rays hit home runs of their own, however it was just three compared to the Red Sox six. Justin Ruggiano and Dan Johnson both hit two-run home runs late in the game while Akinori Iwamura hit a solo home run in the third inning. There just wasn’t any other offense besides those three home runs.

The Rays now need to bounce back and pick up a victory on Tuesday to regain their lead in the division.

Rays Blog

Wahoo, what an awesome come from behind win for the Tampa Bay Rays as they scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4. After giving up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Rays came back with a solo home run from Dan Johnson to tie the game, and then Dioner Navarro doubled in the go ahead and winning run. The Rays are now up 1.5 games on the Red Sox in the division.

Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir didn’t last very long as he pitched six innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Kazmir ended up with the no decision while Dan Wheeler grabbed the win to improve his record to 4-5. Wheeler did blow the save but was lucky enough to get the win. Troy Percival pitched the ninth inning to record his 28th save of the season as he shut down the Red Sox in the ninth inning.

The Rays and Red Sox will play once again on Wednesday night as the Rays look to take two out of three on the road against the Sox. They will then be off on Thursday before heading to New York for a weekend series with the Yankees. Let’s go get em Rays!

The Tampa Bay Rays convincingly took game one of the 3 game set with the Chicago White Sox using outstanding pitching and offense.  Edwin Jackson gave a very strong 6 inning performance giving up only 2 runs to the powerful White Sox lineup.  E-Jax scattered 7 hits and 5 free passes within his 6 innings.  Clearly he ran into trouble more than once during his time on the bump, the impressive thing was he did not break.  He managed to get the outs when he needed them including 5 Ks.  E-Jax had some help from the bench and his catcher, Dioner Navarro. The bench called for 2 pitch outs that led to outs at 2^nd base. It was as if Joe Maddon knew something the rest of us did not.   Nice job!

The offense came alive in this game in bug fashion!  The Rays banged out a total of 14 hits – 9 of them for extra bases!  The home run parade included Carlos Pena (26), Ben Zobrist (6) and Rocco Baldelli (1).  That’s right folks!  Rocco’s first dinger since May 3, 2007!  Congrats Rocco!  The hit parade did not stop here.  Akinori Iwamura banged out a run scoring 3B to put the Rays ahead.  And the 2B were many – Willy Aybar had 2 doubles.   Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett and Pena also added to the 2B total.   

The only negative in this game was the top of 2^nd inning.  There were 2 major base running mistakes that ended in 2 outs at home plate – never a good idea.  Rocco decided to run on a dribbler in front of the plate – there were runners on 1^st and 3^rd with no outs at this point.  It was clear it was his own decision and was not sent by Foley, but – bad idea.  The SP Danks grabbed the ball and barely tagged Rocco out but he did.  The next flub came with 1 out and runners on 2^nd and 3^rd.  On a short line drive to LF Willy opted to tag and attempt to score.  Once again, not a good idea.  Willy was thrown out by a mile. 

Aside from our mistakes in the 2^nd inning this was a well played game on all sides of the ball.  The pitching showed great poise and determination on the mound.  The offense was patient and picked good pitches to hit and did so!  The defense was exceptional as always!  Nice way to begin this tough series.   

Today the Rays get some much deserved national attention as the FOX game of the week!  Scott Kazmir rides the bump and should show continued improvement on previous starts.  Go Rays!    

A day after a masterful performance by Matt Garza in a shut out of the Texas Rangers, Rangers pitchers exchange the favor shutting out the Rays 3-0.  Ranger pitcher Matt Harrison looked equally impressive shutting down the Rays bats for 8 innings.  Their closer, Guardado, held the shut out intact while gaining the save in the 9^th.

The only offense the Rays could muster was a HR distance shot by Ben Zobrist that would have tied the game.  The ball was brought back in the park engulfed in leather worn by former Devil Ray Josh Hamilton.  Other than that the Rays were held silent collecting only 3 hits and 1 walk while giving up 8 K’s. 

Shame too because Edwin Jackson really pitched well.  He gave up a lead off HR to Ian Kinsler on the first pitch he threw but other than that he scattered 4 additional hits over 6 innings.  When E-Jax left the game the score was 1-0.  JP Howell followed E-Jax and allowed 2 additional runs on 3 hits. 

And no, I do not believe the score would have been any different had BJ Upton played the game.  His absence made no difference in this outcome.  The difference was Matt Harrison for the Rangers.  Just as Matt Garza had been the difference the previous night.  Good pitching beats good hitting and that was the difference tonight plain and simple.  The rubber game of this series has the Rays sending Scott Kazmir to toe the rubber with aim at securing another series victory.

Base path mistakes cost Rays a victory and 1 game in the standings as they lost to the Oakland A’s 2-1.   A failed safety squeeze bunt, a pick off and forgetting how many were out were a few of the mental errors committed by the Rays.  These errors are nothing more than a lack of focus.  The Rays have had several of these games through out the year but seem to shake them off and move forward the next game.  We can only hope that tradition continues.  There isn’t much wiggle room atop the AL East and giving away games like last night’s will come back to haunt this team.

Scott Kazmir looked much better last night.  Although his pitch count was higher than you’d like for having pitched only 5 innings (97), Kaz surrendered only 2 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB while striking out 6.    

Not much good to talk about on the offensive side of the ball.  Aki knocked in Zobrist for the only Rays score of the night.  Oakland offered up many opportunities for the Rays to add to their score but the Rays gave them right back.

The Rays need to come back strong tonight and hush all the naysayers!   

It is the only word that can adequately start to describe the Rays and their amazing comeback today!  The Rays take the series from the Tribe in walk off fashion!  WOW…..I still can’t catch my breath!

The offense was clicking on all cylinders in the bottom of the 9^th inning!  Going into the bottom of the 9^th the Rays were down 7-4.  Up steps our DH Jason Bartlett – yes, this is not a typo.  JB was not able to throw the ball due to his injured finger but was able to hit.   JB lines a shot to the wall in left for his second 2B of the game.  Next comes Eric Hinske.  Hinske struggled this series going hitless to this point.  BUT, he comes through when it counts drilling a ball fair right over the first base bag for a 2B scoring JB, score 7-5.   Then comes Mr. Clutch, Gabe Gross.  For as many clutch, late game hits this guy has produced for us could he possibly do it again?  One swing of the bat answered that with a resounding smash of the ball off the scoreboard in right field!  Game Tied, 7-7!  OMGoodness, can you believe this?! Still no outs have been recorded! 

The top of the order, Akinori Iwamura, strides to the plate.  He hits a ground ball to the 1^st baseman forcing the pitcher to cover.  Aki hustles down the line and is SAFE!  WOW – could it be?  Batting 2^nd is out CF, Ben Zobrist – again not a typo; Upton was benched for not hustling in last night’s game.  Zobi works the Indian reliever for a BB.  Batting 3^rd for us 1^st baseman Carlos Pena with 0 outs and the winning run standing on 2nd.  With one swing of his mighty bat it is over!!  A LONG BLAST over the CF fence ends the game!  Rays win, the Rays win, 10-7! WOW!!!!  The celebration begins at the plate and all over the Tampa Bay area!

This game brought to light how well this team plays as a TEAM, no superstars.  SP Scott Kazmir struggled once again allowing 5 ER in 4 1/3 innings.  The BP did a good job holding the Indians at bay for the rest of the game and keeping the Rays within striking distance.  The lineup was questioned by a lot of you (based on reading the message board).  A lot of people playing out of position and one of your better players in Upton benched.  Every one of these guys has had their good days and their bad days.  The TEAM mentality of the Rays allows the guys who are having a good day (Barlett, Navi, Gross, Pena) to pick up those that are having a bad day (Kaz).   

This was another amazing win in an amazing season!  As a fan I cannot express my thanks to this team for giving us the amazing play they give us day in and day out.  This is a magical season.  We will see playing time in Oct!!!

Go Rays!  

Hey Rays fans!!  The Rays bats looked a bit livelier last night!  Good news on the horizon maybe????    The Rays banged out 9 hits in last night’s Tiger whoopin’, 6 of those hits were for extra bases!   That was great to see.  A lot of hustle around the base path, turning singles into doubles, swiping bags and even a bunt attempt put the pressure on the Tigers and they retreated to the safety of the den.

Carl Crawford led off the hit parade with his 5^th triple in his last week or so.  Jason Bartlett added another triple.  Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria belted solo blasts.  Akinori Iwamura and Cliff Floyd laced doubles.  The aggressors on the base path included BJ Upton, Eric Hinske and CC, and let me tell you, these guys had such good jumps it wasn’t even close!  Great to see these guys put the pressure on the defense.  It was clear they were in the head of the battery.  Keep it going! 

The pitching wasn’t as great but it was sufficient to hold the hard hitting Tigers to just 2 runs and preserve the victory.  Scott Kazmir struggled with his control mightily!  I really can’t remember the last time he pitched so poorly…that being said he get s break from me.  He has been our staff ace and through several years the only SP this team could count on.  He is having an off year (by his own comparison) but he’s a smart guy and I believe he’ll have it all figured out just in time for our PLAYOFF RUN!      

The bullpen faired well except for a couple of minor bumps.  Troy Percival somehow seems to keep getting it done.  He earned his 24^th save last night.  Overall this was the line of the pitching staff: 9 innings, 4 hits, 2 ER, 9 BB and 11 K’s.  They only negative in that line is the 9 BB – but 6 were by Kaz, that shows how much he struggled. 

This was a GREAT TEAM effort!  It seems like not making a deal by the deadline rejuvenated the Rays.  It showed them the confidence the RFO has in the players they have.  They certainly looked like a different team from that team of the past month.  It will be interesting to see if they come out with that same intensity tonight.   

See you at The Trop! 

The Tampa Bay Rays offense looked a bit healthier Saturday in defeating the Kansas City Royals 5-3.  The offensive heroes for the game were Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena.  CC hit his second triple of the game in the 8^th inning scoring 2 runs to break a 2-2 tie.  Pena added a solos blast, his 2^nd in as many games, in the 9^th to give the Rays some breathing room.  CC had a good night at the dish going 2 for 4 with 2 triples and 2 RBIs.  Pena was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR and, of course, what would the night be without that token K.

The pitching was average at best.  Scott Kazmir was the starter.  Kaz went 5 innings due to a rain delay in the middle of the 5^th.  Kazmir’s line wasn’t very impressive.  Kaz scattered 7 hits and allowed 2 ER while striking out 5.  Kaz went deep into counts again with many of the Royal hitters and had already reached the 91 pitch count mark by the end of the 5^th.  The bullpen did a nice job holding the Royals at bay.  A combined 4 relievers went 4 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB and 2 K’s.  Troy Percival entered in the 9^th inning and immediately gave up a triple and run scoring single.  Has he forgotten that the closer is supposed to close the door not give up hits and runs??!!  Not sure what the intentions of the Rays are BUT if this team makes the postseason Perci is the last guy I want to see on the mound with a 1 run lead in the 9^th inning of game 7!!!! 

All in all a better performance by the offense and Pena’s bat seems to be heating up.  This victory gives the Rays a 2 game advantage over the Red Legs and a 3 game advantage of those that wear pinstripes.  This weekend is a baseball lovers dream!  Is it on yet……

Go Rays!!