Jun 23
On Friday night, as the Rays broadcast came back from their commercial break to start the seventh inning, Dwayne Staats introduced one of those sponsored moments of the game as they zoomed in on the “energized fans of the game”.
The “winners”? Those two young ladies above with their special message to the Rays players.
We are not sure how that sign got on TV, but we have a feeling that somebody was in a little trouble after the game.
Of course, in the end…the real winners were the Rays players that answered the call. Ahhhh, the rough life of a big leaguer.
Jun 23
Last week’s Rays Confidence Graph results.
Below you will see two polls that ask about your confidence in the Tampa Bay Rays. Please take a moment to answer each question. We will present these same polls every Monday. The results will be presented in graphical form on Wednesday, and will be displayed permanently in the sidebar. The goal of the Confidence Graph is to get a feeling of how Rays fans feel about the team and the franchise and track how that level of confidence changes through time. Thanks!
Raysiverse events of the past week that could impact confidence levels…
- The Rays are 44-31, 1.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and and 3 games ahead of the A’s in the wild card race. In the past week the Rays swept 3 games from the Cubs and then lost 2 of 3 to the Astros.
- Stuart Sternberg made several telling comments about the Rays plans in ’08 and about the future of the Rays in Tropicana Field.
- Jeremy Hellickson was promoted to double-A. And David Price was also promoted.
- Tim Beckham signs a record deal and will begin the year at Princeton.
- POWW is using dirty tactics to try and discredit the Rays stadium proposal.
Jun 23
Aki Iwamura, Ben Zobrist, Carlos Lee, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett, Joe Maddon, Justin Ruggiano, New Stadium, Scott Kazmir, Stuart Sternberg Cork Gaines
THE GOOD:
Evan Longoria’s home run in the 2nd, his 12th. We don’t want to stretch this comparison too much, but Dirtbag’s stance and swing have always reminded us of
Alex Rodriguez and both hitters are very similar in that they both generate an immense amount of power despite having a very easy swing. Longoria just looks like he is flicking the bat at the ball and next thing we know the ball is flying over the center field wall.
THE BAD: All of the Astros’ runs came on home runs and both home runs were hit with 2 strikes. We would love to say that the Rays were 2 pitches from winning this game 2-0. And we would love to say that Scott Kazmir pitched great outside of those 2 pitches. Both are true, but neither means diddly. Hunter Pence’s solo home run in the 5th can be forgiven as the Rays still had the lead. But with Carlos Lee up with a runner on and 2 outs in the 6th. Kid K absolutely cannot give up a 2-run home run in that situation. That was the most important at bat of the game and Kaz failed.
THE TELLING: This was the first series loss at home for the Rays since April when they dropped 3 of their first 4 home series. They had won 9 series in a row at the Trop…The Rays now have a 3 game lead in the wild card over the A’s and 3.5 games over the Yankees.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- Don’t forget to VOTE for Carl Crawford to start the all-star game. If you haven’t voted yet today, go NOW! [MLB All-Star Voting]
- As expected, the Evan Longoria-as-the-backup-shortstop era did not last long. After yesterday’s game, Justin Ruggiano was demoted to Durham and Ben Zobrist will be called up to take his place. With Jason Bartlett’s wife about to give birth, Zobrist will fill in for a day or two. [Rays Report]
- The St. Pete Times has a still-image of the questionable slide by Carlos Lee in which Joe Maddon though Lee grabbed Aki Iwamura while trying to turn a double play. [St. Pete Times]
- Carlos Pena will participate in pregame drills on Tuesday in Miami and is expected to come off the DL either this weekend or the beginning of next week. [Tampa Tribune]
- Stuart Sternberg showed up for last night’s game (wearing a Rays jersey) and once again said that the Rays would be willing to add pieces down the stretch as long as it is “something that’s right.”…In other words, the Rays are not going to deviate very far from the plan that has gotten them to where they are. Keep in mind that the Rays are playing with “house money” in 2008. The team is at least a year ahead of schedule in terms of competing. The Rays are not about to get into a bidding war with other teams for high priced players, but they may be willing to add mid-level talent to fill in holes…And for those that believe CC Sabathia will never happen. Consider that the Rays could bring him in and then let him walk at the end of the year and take 2 compensatory draft picks. So the question then becomes: Are the prospects given up worth the two draft picks that will come later? [Bradenton Herald]
- Stuart Sternberg also noted that if the proposed waterfront stadium fails to pass, the Rays would remain in the Trop for “at least four years and not 14 at this point.” [The Heater]
- Finally, Stuart Sternberg made an interesting comment about the DH rule in the AL. Noting that it hurts a small-market club like the Rays because “We don’t have the cash to pay a guy who doesn’t field.” [The Heater]
- Her Rays recaps yesterday’s loss in a way that only they can. [Her Rays]
Jun 23
Durham 6, Norfolk 0. Jeff Niemann did not give up a run in 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits. But he did struggle with his control walking 5 batters and throwing a wild pitch. Of his 92 pitches, only 52 were strikes…Ben Zobrist and Reid Brignac each hit 2-run home runs for the Bulls. For Bignac, it was his 7th and he drove in 3, finishing 2-3. He is hitting .272. Fernando Perez stole his 23rd base.
Mississippi 6, Montgomery 2. Jake McGee gave up 2 runs in 2 innings on a hit and 3 walks. He was pulled with soreness in his forearm…Chris Nowak was 2-4 with a double and Sergio Pedroza hit a solo home run, his 4th.
Vero Beach 2, Clearwater 0. Jeremy Hellickson pitched a gem in his 14th and final start for Vero Beach. He worked 7 shutout innings, allowing only a 2nd inning double and retiring the final 17 batters he faced. He struck out 4 and walked none. He improved to 7-1 with a 2.00 ERA and an 83-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio…Mike Wlodarczyk pitched a perfect 8th and 9th for his first save…Ryan Royster was 2-4 and drove in both runs…Rocco Baldelli was 1-4 with a strike out and, wait for it…wait for it…Rocco stole a base?!?!? The guy can’t play the field because of his legs and he is stealing bases?
Columbus v Charleston (ppd).
Staten Island 3, Hudson Valley 0.
Bluefield 10, Princeton 9 (11).
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Jeremy Hellickson will join his former Vero Beach teammate David Price in the Montgomery rotation after being promoted yesterday. Price and Hellickson will join Wade Davis and Jake McGee to form probably the best rotation in the minors, at least based on prospect status. [MiLB]
- Jake McGee will miss a couple of starts with forearm soreness. [Biscuits' Batter]
