I will be joining Sean Duade on “The Sports Cafe” radio show tomorrow at 3:20pm on 1220 WSRQ. Tune in on your radio or listen live by going to their website.
C’mon, you guys knew this was coming eventually…There is a general sense amongst some of our readers that all we do is bash the Rays media coverage. The truth is we actually admire most of the working media and respect most of their work. We just get a sense that the Rays media coverage can at times be lazy. Just because the Rays were a second-class team for many years doesn’t mean we as fans deserved second-class coverage. So while our frustration can manifest itself at times on this site, we want to know what you guys think of various members of the Rays media coverage. Next up…Rays pregame host and in-game reporter Todd Kalas…
Kalas is the son of hall-of-fame broadcaster Harry Kalas, who worked for the Phillies for many years. In addition to being the Rays token sideline blonde, Kalas also hosts the pregame show and “Inside the Rays” on FSN. He comes off to us as a bit of a homer. His choice of a suit often looks grossly out of place in the stands and yet he looks a bit uncomfortable when he wears a polo (only during afternoon games?). Maybe he should get some wardrobe advice from Erin Andrews next time she is in town.
For us he seems likeable, but he spends a bit too much time catering to signs made by 5th graders and a little too little time getting the viewers relevant information about the game.
So: Do you like Todd Kalas? And let’s hear your reasons in the comments…
THE BAD: Matt Garza. The Garza Complex, who seemed to have turned his season around, walked 4 and did not strike a batter out. A pitcher with Garza’s stuff, should be able to strike out at least 3 batters in 5 innings based on chance alone. His 4 walks matched his season-high and was the first time he had more than 2 since May 23.
THE TELLING: Can we stop with the “struggles versus lefties” nonsense. This team is in an offensive funk, no matter who is on the mound…Jason Bartlett returned to the lineup and went 3-3.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
“You don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Maddon said. “It’s possible, but I don’t know when. He’s still going through this process. I don’t want to say we’re going to hang our hat on that quite yet. But it’s possible.”…Maddon said it was important that Baldelli felt good the day after, but also that he felt good about it in a conversation with head trainer Ron Porterfield…”He spoke really well, he spoke in a very encouraging, positive way,” Maddon said. “It was the kind of script we haven’t heard, so it’s good.”
Durham 6, Lehigh Valley 5 (gm 1;9). This was the completion of the game from the day before. Mitch Talbot who had pitched 1 inning on Wednesday, did not pitch yesterday. Nick DeBarr pitched the next 3 innings for the win, allowing only a solo home run, and striking out 2…Juan Salas also pitched 2 innings, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 3…Elliot Johnson finished 5-5 (all singles)…Reid Brignac was 1-6 with 2 strikeouts…Fernando Perez was 2-6 with 2 RBI and his 33rd stolen base…Justin Ruggiano was 2-5 with a double, an RBI and his 20th steal.
Lehigh Valley 2, Durham 0 (gm 2). Jeff Niemann dropped to 7-4, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) in 6 innings. He struck out 5 and walked none…Justin Ruggiano and Dan Johnson were each 1-3 with a double.
Montgomery 5, Tennessee 4. Jeremy Hellickson picked up his first double-A win despite giving up a grand slam in his 5.2 innings of work. In all he gave up 8 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 6…Neal Frontz picked up his first double-A save, although he made it interesting, walking the first batter of the inning and then giving up a single, one out later. He got the final two batters for the save…Ryan Reid walked 2 and gave up a hit in 1.1 innings. He struck out 2…Gabby Martinez drove in 2…Rocco Baldelli was 1-3 with an RBI as the DH.
Daytona 3, Vero Beach 1. Wilton Noel gave up 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings and dropped to 1-4…Vero Beach had only 3 hits.
Columbus (off-day)
Williamsport 4, Hudson Valley 3 (gm 1).
Williamsport 2, Hudson Valley 0 (gm 2).
Kingsport 4, Princeton 3 (11). Tim Beckham went 2-5 with a double and an RBI. He struck out twice.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
