What a great night. 

The season might be over, but nobody should tell our Boys in Blue.  The Rays have found themselves on quite a tear as of late, dominating the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the week and then opening the weekend with a demolition of the hated Yanks.

13-4.

And it wasn't even THAT close.

Of course, the big news was BJ Upton's cycle, something that we can all get excited about for two reasons:

1--BJ does little to excite us anymore.

2--It was the first cycle in Rays history.

I found it especially rewarding to see BJ do so well because I am somebody who is really down on the guy.  I think he underperforms horribly, thinks he's too good, and let's us down in clutch situations (disregarding his huge homer earlier in the year and his playoff performance last year).

I am sure he's looking to get paid this offseason, but he just doesn't deserve it.  Not at all. 

But I don't want to get bogged down in contract talk--not yet.  That's a future post.

Right now this Rays fan is basking in the glow of a complete blowout of the Evil Empire--the group of guys to whom the playoffs is a right. 

It's always nice to bring them down to size. 

Especially when it is all you are playing for.

    VS   

While not entirely rested from the debacle that was Wednesday night's trip to see the Charlotte Stone Crabs play in the FSL championship game (post forthcoming), I still ventured forth to the ol' Trop to catch some big league action Saturday night. 

It was worth it.

It was Matt Garza figurine night, and, strangely, the real Garza was on the mound pitching. 

(I believe it to be much more fun to watch Matty on the mound in person than on the tv primarily because you see far less spit emitting from his mouth when you are sitting 30 rows away.)

I've never done a post where I include pics of a trip to a ballgame, so I hope that this is effective.  I have seen many of your posts so I'll be pretty much imitating the mix of pic and story.

It was Hispanic Heritage night at the Trop and there were all things latino in attendance from mariachi bands to maraccas to beautiful Latin Ladies parading around the stadium. 

Throughout the game players were announced alternatively in English and Spanish, which was different and, therefore, kind of neat.

I bought a few things at the team store (lots of clearance stuff): a World Series hoodie--yeah, we need those alot down here in Florida--and a Jonny Gomes t-shirt.  Still love the guy.  Still miss the guy.

Pedro Guerrero was there signing autographs.  I wasn't terribly enthused as I can recall his days in St. Louis haunting the Cubbies. 

I was there early with some friends and was sporting an ensemble of Evan Longoria jersey and Charlotte Stone Crabs hat.  I love that hat.  Very cool.

There were some strange sights at the stadium.  This guy must have thought it was '70s night instead of Hispanic Heritage night.  He was decked out in brown suit, butterfly collared shirt, and...mutton chops.  Weird.

Eventually it was game time and we made our way to our seats on the third base line.  The crowd was amped up and the first inning provided lots of fireworks. 

Longo got a hit (that's him at first).

Ben Zobrist came through too.

The Rays plated player after player after player after player, with Akinori Iwamura ending the inning after 4 runs had scored and the Rays had batted around.

We certainly gave Matty a nice margin of error to work with.

He wouldn't need any but one of those runs.

Garza was dominant throughout the night, striking out batter after batter and helping the crowed to get coupons for a free pizza the next day when he hit the 10 strikeout mark. 

The crowd was raucous every time Garza set down a Blue Jay, and I found my own voice strained before the night was over.

Joe Maddon eventually lifted Garza in the 8th inning

--nobody knows why, really--and the bullpen made it hold up with Russ Springer getting a nice strikeout,

Randy Choate ending the 8th, and Dan Wheeler locking it down in the 9th.

The result?  A nice 4-0 Rays win. 

Of course, the game was peppered throughout by the usual stuff that just makes me laugh:

Raymond being Raymond

(Raymond is on top of the dugout in the Lucho Libre outfit)

The Chik-Fil-A "Find the Cow" contest

and the Pepsi race (Aquafina won).

I love that stuff...

The Rays win was memorialized, of course, by the Trop's roof being lit orange, and that was that.

It was a perfect night for a less than perfect team in a not even perfect season.  But no matter what, it was fun.

Fun.

And much more so because I could get home BEFORE 2:30 AM!

The only downfall of the night?

Garza's arm was missing!!! 

Luckily, the real Garza's arm was on display all Saturday night at the Trop, and the Rays were able to ride it to a needed victory.

90 minute drive there.

2 1/2 hour rain delay.

3 hour game.

90 minute drive home.

Home by 2:30 AM.

Leave for work at 6 AM.

So tired...

Will post about Charlotte's 5-2 loss tomorrow.  Many pics. 

Fun....

The Rays' Single-A team, the Charlotte Stone Crabs, are in the final game of their championship series.  They beat the Tampa Yankees 3-1 tonight to force a decisive Game 5.

Ok, ok, I know it isn't MLB.  But right now this is the most compelling story in the Rays organization, so deal.

A win Wednesday night would mean that the Rays franchise would get another championship under its belt (to go with those from Durham and the AL Championship last season with the MLB club) and maybe give Rays fans something to be proud of.

Not that we are disappointed with our Big Show guys, but, well...

I am sure that one guy who will be rooting hard for a Stone Crabs win tomorrow night is this one right here.

After all, he IS the owner! 

No doubt Mr. Ripken will be ecstatic to see his club win it all in its inaugural season.

Game 5 will take place at 7:05 at picturesque Charlotte Sports Park--a great place to catch a ballgame. 

And imagine this, tickets are still available! 

Ok, that is a little tongue-in-cheek but I did a search and was tantalized by Row 1 tickets directly behind home plate for the game.  Hmmmm...do I have the guts to buy 'em?

90 minutes each way.

Work on Thursday.

Decisions, decisions...

Either way, tomorrow night will be fun.

Be sure to tune in on the Stone Crabs' website for free online radio streaming.  That's how I've been keeping up with the team.

They have some serious talent there.  One guy I'm sure we'll see in a Rays uni soon is a pitcher named David Newman.  He has logged 2 wins in the playoffs against no losses and has thrown some serious baseball.  He got the win tonight in a must-win game.  Those are the kinds of kids we need with the big club.  He won't be there for a while, but it'll be cool when he arrives.

So if you need a break from $20 million dollar men (and who doesn't?), tune in to the game.

Good stuff...

Go Ra--er--Stone Crabs!

I got a haircut this morning.

Nothing special, just a trim on the sides and a straightening up on the top.  It was pretty run-of-the-mill.

As I sat in the chair, though, a dose of reality was thrown my way via my barber-ess and those around her. 

She wanted to know if I was watching the big game today. 

You know, the Bucs vs. Cowboys game. 

I also heard others in the shop being asked the same question, to which the response was pretty much a resounding "Yes."

I responded to my hair cutter that I would be watching, but with 3/4 of an eye on the Rays game.

Luckily, she had put down the hair shears before I threw out that little nugget because her response was one of disbelief.  She assured me that she loved the Rays, but that they had fallen out of it; that it was time to see if we could get a winner on the gridiron intstead of the Trop field turf.

My first reponse was going to be one of frustration, that the fans would not want to watch a double header with one of our biggest rivals while also keeping an eye on the football game.

But then, I thought....(this was pretty much during the time when I had to close my eyes while she trimmed the front).

And I came to a realization:

I don't blame her.

Before you get all disgusted and self-righteous, bear with me...

Why should we watch the Rays right now?  No doubt, die-hard fandom rules dictate that putting your hometown baseball team on the tube whenever they play is a no-brainer until the season comes to a halt.  That simply watching your guys play is always a good time.

But I would argue that that time came and went weeks ago.

Don't me wrong, I love the Rays.  Always have, always will.  But the last few weeks have been a display of brutal baseball followed by worse baseball. 

I know that people get on fans--especially baseball fans in this area--all the time for lack of committment.  It is kind of en vogue--for fans of other teams AND for fans of the Rays.   

When do the fans get to get on the team for lack of committment?

Not doing so should lead many to be committed, but not in the good way!

I "kept an eye on" the first game of the double header today against Boston only to see the bullpen blow another game and the offense sputter again.  We scored 1 run for the 2nd game in a row against Bawston and for the 4th time during this now 10-game losing streak.

Yep, that's right, we have scored 1 run 4 times in the last 10 games.

Isn't this supposed to be a playoff push? 

Aren't we supposed to be contending with spirited efforts and dramatic play?

If we are, our guys have missed the memo.

Don't give me the crap that we have lost Carlos Pena for the season or that BJ Upton's sprained ankle has pushed us into the doldrums.  I don't buy it.  While those two guys have been a big part of our success the last two years, the fact is that their production could have been mimicked by any number of players in the short term who have had to step up in the last few weeks.  That's what good teams are able to do.

Yet, none have stepped up.

And that is not just offensively.  Our pitching has fallen apart--especially at the end of games--to complement the extreme lack of hitting.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with voicing a concern about the team you love so much.  How could there be?  That is what being a REAL fan is about. 

Accountability.

To simply accept with a wink and a smile the garbage that the Rays have spewed on the field the last 10 games would be asinine--an exercise in insanity.

We don't have to turn our backs on the team, of course.  But it is the responsiblity of the fans to keep our boys in check.  To let them know that their effort as of late has been unacceptable.

Going through a small losing streak that might cause you to fall out of contention in the last month of the season is one thing.  It happens all the time.  You drop 3 or 4 in a row and find yourself outside looking in.

But losing 10 games?

Seriously?

Something far more grievous is going on here, though I'm not smart enough to figure it out.  The Rays have--gulp--seemingly quit on the season and are enduring the punishment that comes to all quitters. 

Last season was wonderful.  A time that all Rays fans will never forget. 

There was a run a little more than a month ago that was just as memorable; a run that made this year fun and restored hope to the masses.

But this last month has shown that the magical mix that we have loved for the last two seasons is a little out of whack.  That something has been added too much or too little.

This offseason things might change a little bit.

This offseason, get ready for a trim.  And it ain't gonna be pretty.

I wanted to put up something that is at least a little baseball related.

Sure, it isn't about my beloved Rays (yes, still BELOVED despite their recent travails). 

I'm not giving up on them, but right now I have something else that has grabbed my attention.

And, no, it is NOT football.

It is the Rays' Single-A baseball team, the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

I have been paying a little more attention to these guys when I realized they played just 1 and 1/2 hours from my house and that they were on the verge of getting into the playoffs.

Well, they made the playoffs and are currently battling the Fort Meyers Miracle for the right to get into the championship series.

Apparently there are only two rounds in the Single-A minor leagues in Florida.  Round 1 is only 3 games.  Round 2, I believe, is either 5 or 7 games.

I had planned on visiting the Stone Crabs last weekend for fun, but ended up going to a Clearwater Threshers/Daytona Cubs game instead. 

Not bad (a post dedicated to this game is coming).

I love minor league baseball.  I used to go to the South Bend (IN) Silverhawks games all the time when I was a kid.  There is something so innocent about watching youngsters playing baseball with only two umpires on the field.  You can get a seat two rows behind home plate for $9 and a dog and a drink for $7. 

Not bad.

The Stone Crabs are tied 1-1 right now with the Miracle in their series, and have taken a 3-0 lead (just now) over the Miracle in the decisive Game 3.  Very exciting.

I'm enjoying the game on MLB online radio.  Apparently, minor league baseball is free online to listen to.

Not bad.

I'm hoping that Charlotte will be able to jump into the championship agains the Yankees for three reasons:

1--I hate the Yankees

2--I'll be heading to Game 3 with a buddy on Sunday.

3--I will have a good reason to buy another hat! (I bought a Threshers hat last weekend--I'm addicted!)

So even though the big club might not be able to muster a trip to October this year, there is always a team that Rays fans can find in the postseason.

We might not get the championship in Tampa Bay, but Port Charlotte might just become our Championship Town--until the Rays get their act together.

Not bad at all.....

GOOD ADVICE!

I want to start out by apologizing to everybody. 

I'm not conceited enough to believe that people have actually noticed my absence from my blog this week. 

I'm not Jane Heller for goodness' sakes!

This has been a tough week for a few reasons--nothing terribly dire--and that has caused me to miss some time on my computer. 

It has nothing to do with the tanking of my guys in the MLB, though that hasn't exactly inspired my inner author.

I'll do a better job in the coming week of visiting everybody's blog (I have alot to catch up on) and holding up my end of the blogging bargain.

Thanks for being patient with me!

We are now through the first week of Septemeber!  The season is quickly approaching its final end.

It feels like a good time to get away from what the Rays might be doing on the field these days (especially since it could be better) and take a look at the guys who have been recently added to the expanded Rays roster.

Ginny at The Watercooler and Bob at More Cowbell are doing another co-post. 

This time the duo will be analyzing the September callups of the Rays and deciding whether each player's promotion to the big club should be designated a

GOOD CALL or a BAD CALL.

Remember, just because a guy is moved to the MLB roster does not always spell good things for the team.  Or does it?

Let the debate begin!

After reading Bob's analysis, click here to See what Ginny thinks!

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Reid Brignac

.282 AVE    24 2B    8 HR    44 RBI    5 SB

This is the third time Brignac has been moved from Durham to St. Pete.  Over the course of the season it seems that the guy has logged more air miles than a pelican!  He has had so much promise, yet has yet to break Spring Training with the club and become a regular starter.  All that aside, Joe Maddon has said that having Brignac is a good thing because when starter Jason Bartlett needs a day off he can avoid putting Ben Zobrist in a position he has rarely played this year and simply plug in Brignac.  I like that idea.  It allows Zorilla to concentrate on 2B or RF and keep his bat steady.

GOOD CALL

See what Ginny thinks!

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Wade Davis

10-9    3.40 ERA    1.25 WHIP    158 IP    140 K

I get chills when I think about what this guy can do on the mound.

This 24-year-old righty has been seen as the next big thing in the Rays system.  How amazing is it that the Rays can continually put out the "next big thing" for their fans year after year? (see: Evan Longoria, Jeff Nieman, David Price, Wade Davis)  He will make his first start Sunday for the Rays against the Detroit Tigers, and I think that the entire Republic will have its eyes glued on the screen (or in person, hopefully) to see just what the kid can do. 

Having him on the roster now gets him a few major league starts before Spring Training next year.  He just might have a shot at cracking the rotation next year, especially with the move of Scott Kazmir out west.

See what Ginny thinks!

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Shawn Riggins

 .200 AVE    2 2B    1 HR    5 RBI    (11 Games)

The call on this move is kind of tricky.  I think that the addition of Gregg Zaun was a godsend for a club whose catcher play was inconsistent offensively at best.  Seeing Zaun from the left side and Dioner Navarro from the right side has really helped the offense click a little more from the backstop position and the results have been pretty solid (who can forget Zaun's grand slam!?).  Adding Riggs might be a mistake, though.  He will not log much playing time with the big club because of the reasons mentioned above and whatever playing time he does get will take away--and disrupt--the smooth flow that has been established by the Zaun/Navi platoon.  It can't hurt having Riggs on the bench, but if he gets some playing time I think the results will be less than desirable.

See what Ginny thinks!

-----------------------------------------------

Andy Sonnanstine

Last start:  4 IP    8 H    3 R    4 BB 

Sonny is kind of a strange situation in that he was brought up September 1st because of the departure of one Scott Kazmir.  His first start did not go much better than the previous 15 before it.  This is a great chance for Sonny to earn a spot in next year's rotation, but he did not impress in his first game back.  He'll be moved back one day to allow Davis to start at the Trop on Sunday and to get Sonny into the double header against the Yankees Monday.  I am losing some faith in Sonnanstine's ability to get batters out, and he may be ticketed for a long relief spot if he's not careful.

NECESSARY CALL!

See what Ginny thinks!

------------------------------------------

Fernando Perez

.278 AVE    3 2B    0 HR    2 RBI    8 SB    (13 games) 

(This is Davey Lopes...but the 'stache is the same--I can't find a good pic of Perez's stache!)

If the mustache doesn't get you excited, then you must be dead!

This is one of my favorite players.  The "Columbia Kid" was impressive in his stint with the Rays last season, culminating with a 2008 playoffs to remember.  He is exciting on the basepaths and plays above average defense in center or right field.  His bad is adequate, but he is also young (26) and will get better.  His switch hitting ability is another plus.

He comes along at the right time, for BJ Upton's ankle injury will sideline him for a few days.  I think that this is a perfect chance for Perez to show the front office that he and BJ are the same age, possess the same skill set (minus the power for Fernando), but totally different salary situations.  Hmmmmm....

See what Ginny thinks!

-------------------------------------------

The September callups for the Rays used to mean that the year was over.  That it was time to figure out what to do next year. 

I don't think that is the case just yet, though things don't look so great.

The guys above are all guys who could/should break Spring Training on the Rays major league roster.  They should all be contributers to next year's team as well.

This opportunity, though, comes with alot riding on it.  Not only do they get to audition for the team for next season, but they can help get the team to the playoffs if they do well.

I'm hoping for some great baseball from these guys over the next few weeks!

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR NEXT CO-POST, COMING SOON!

Go Rays!

    VS   

Nice finish, guys.

After a game that had Rays fans doubting the sincerity of their team, and others doubting the sincerity of the team's fans, the Rays came out and blasted/shouted/ran/dove/gutted their way to a big victory.

The outcome was in doubt late, but, as usual, the Rays were able to put on the finishing touch with a flurry in the 8th that helped restore faith across the republic.

------------------------------------------------------

Garza Guts

He was not sharp tonight.  His off speed junk was weak and his fastball was spotty.  He threw near 30 pitches in two separate innings and went to a full count 4 TIMES in the 4th inning alone.

But he kept his team in it by slowing down one of the best teams in the league.

Can't ask much more.

Matt Garza gave his team 6 strong innings, throwing 119 pitches, before being pulled in the 7th.  He left with a 5-3 lead and had a chance to be the victor in another big game against the Red Sox.

He didn't get the win, as the 'pen was not a strongpoint tonight, but he did get greater respect than ever for being a big-game pitcher and being able to shut down teams when his own team needs it.

Without Garza's gutty performance, the Rays do not win tonight.

-------------------------------------------------

Key Inning: The 8th

The 8th was crazy.

The entire game was a battle.  No team could really pull safely ahead. 

Rays were up by 3, then up by 2, then 3, then 2, then 1.

The the top of the 8th came and the bullpen decided it had had enough.  Randy Choate walked Ortiz, Grant Balfour walked two guys to load 'em, and JP Howell--what has happened to our splendid JP?--threw another wild pitch to tie up the game.

Jeez! I yelled at the plasma!  (Actually, I had some other words of choice but I don't like to print that stuff)

Game tied at 5. 

The Rays fans were keeping the faith, though. 

In the bottom of the frame Carlos Pena--the only reliable guy these days--knocked a double. 

Ah, that NEVER QUIT Rays spirit.

Boston's Ramon Ramirez seemed rattled at that point as he struggled to keep the game tied. 

The cowbells were ringing, the fans were cheering, I was screaming at the tv.  I could see fans banging the too-many-empty seats in front of them. Anything to make some noise!

It worked.

Pat "The Bat" Burrell lined a single to right to score Pena and give the Rays a 1-run lead.  It was nice to see Pat contribute.  He's got that average up to a ******** .240 now. 

In all seriousness, though, Pat homered early in the game and then drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run.  I'll take that.

But it wasn't over.

Evan Longoria, batting 6th in the lineup (and I hate it, by the way), launched a long ball over the wall to increase the Rays lead to 8-5.

And the Republic rejoiced.

----------------------------------------------------------

3 Keys to the Game   

1-- Don't chase Beckett's junk.  NOPE  The first two Rays hitters of the game chased off speed stuff that either bounced or was in the dirt to strike out.  Beckett got touched up, but his stuff was not that bad.

2--Garza's gotta show that savvy.  YEP!!!  Matty showed that he is the real "big game" pitcher on this team.

3--The 'pen must stop the Sox hitters.   YEP/NOPE  The bullpen did allow the Sox to tie it, but when they had to shut the door to end the game they were able to do so.  Not terribly impressive, though.

1 1/2 OUT OF 3 "YEP" = RAYS WIN!? 

OK!

-----------------------------------------------------

The Rays' pitching staff was far from dominant tonight.  Garza did well, but even he had to leave the game under duress.  The bullpen bent heavily, but it did not break.

The offense was a big hero tonight.  We kind of had to outscore the Sox. 

Ok, sometimes you have to do that.

The end result is that the Rays got back to being 5 games out of the wild card and have given them a chance to win the series, something they desperately have to pull off.

Tomorrow's going to be a big one. 

A chance to get to within 4.

I'd like an easier win tomorrow night, but I have to admit...

This is just too much fun!

Last night was not pretty.  Not at all. 

I have never been so "up" for a game, only to have it stink so much.

In the end, Boston won 8-4 and the Rays fell another game out of the wild card lead.  It was the start to the biggest series of the season for Tampa Bay that no Rays fan wanted to see.

Let's hope our guys can put it behind them and get "up" for tonight!

--------------------------------------------------------

Quick Recap of Last Night

The Pitching

Andy Sonnanstine was NOT the answer last night.  Did anybody think he would be?

I know that Sonny came into last night's game fresh off the plane from Durham.  I know that he had a 5.06 ERA at the Trop this year.  I know he was facing one of the best teams in the league in one of the Rays' biggest games of the year.

I know he blew it.

Sonnanstine went only 4 innings, and while errors might have dampened his start, he did little to pick his guys "up." 

Sonny was knocked around more than a pinata, and Boston endured an 8th inning bases loaded scare from the Rays to hold on to the win.

I yelled, I screamed, I cried.

None of it did any good.  Boston was better last night.  And the Rays left their "A game" somewhere they couldn't find it.

----------------

3 Keys to Last Night's Game   

1--Lester is get-able.  NOPE  He wasn't even close.  He torched the Rays' K-susceptible lineup and dominated throughout. 

2--The crowd must step up.  YEP  Despite what others might think, the Trop was rolling for the Rays.  The intense moments felt intense, and the cowbells were out.  The problem was that Boston did what good teams do on the road--TAKE THE CROWD OUT OF THE GAME EARLY.

3--The bullpen must pitch well. NOPE  The 'pen came in and gave up 3 runs in its 5 innings of work.  Before you argue that that ain't bad, remember we lost 8-4.  Who knows how the Rays' hitters--and the crowd--responds if it is a 1-run game in the 9th.

2 OF 3 "NOPE" = LOSS

--------------------------------------------------------

The Pitching

What a great matchup tonight.  The Rays put Matt Garza on the hill to face off against a guy who is a little epicureal, Josh Beckett.

Garza owns the Sox.  He is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA against them.  Unlike Sonny last night, though, he also has decent numbers at the Trop.  I am hoping that those two factors come together to give the Rays a nice start in a big game for a change.

Beckett is as "get-able" as Lester is. 

I said that last night, too. 

And look what that got us. 

But apparently Beckett has been slumping lately (as read on raysbaseball.com) and is more vulnerable than ever.  But he is the Sox big game pitcher, and while tonight is not as big for Boston as it is for the Rays, I expect to see nothing less than his best.

The Boston hitters should be susceptible to Garza's mixing of pitches--if he is able to get his fastball over for strike 1.  If not, then his off speed stuff won't be as enticing--as is the case with most pitchers--and he WILL get rocked.

-----------------------------------------------------

3 Keys to the Game   

1-- Don't chase Beckett's junk.  Sounds weird, but the Rays chased all of John Lester's lesser offerings last night to the tune of 14 Ks.  Can't win with totals like that.

2--Garza's gotta show that savvy.  We need Matty to go out and dominate the Sox as he usually does.  His numbers against Boston need to hold up tonight.

3--The 'pen must stop the Sox hitters.  If we are behind or if we are ahead, whenever the bullpen gets the nod from skipper Joe Maddon it has to be ready to shut things down.  They have been far from trustworthy.  This is a night we might need them. 

------------------------------------------------

Final Thoughts...

 I don't know what to expect tonight.  I thought that the Rays would have a real shot last night, and they did.  They loaded the bases multiple times last night against the Sox, but they were unable to punch through.

The Rays sit 6 games out. 

That does not sit well with me.

Dropping another game tonight to Boston might well put the Rays into a hole they can't dig their way out of. 

A win tonight will catapult them into a huge rubber game Thursday that could spell the return of the Big Rays Mo and help them to a series win.

It starts tonight, though.  We've got to forget the foibles of last night. 

I'd love to see a complete performance from our Boys in Blue. 

I'd love to see some passion from the players and the fans. 

I'd love to see a W-I-N.

Who knows, with a win tonight things could really start looking "up."