Pepper

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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Boston Red Sox

  October 10, 2008 at 2:44 pm 17 comments

  FIRST INNING (A look back)…Both the Rays and Red Sox dominated the season series in their home parks. The Rays won 8 of 9 at home against the Sox, sweeping two series. On the other hand, Boston was 7-2 at Fenway, also sweeping two series…Will this trend continue in the [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Chicago White Sox

  October 2, 2008 at 11:05 am 2 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…Troy Percival, who helped solidify the Rays bullpen, will not be on the roster for the ALDS…Who will close games for the Rays? Four of the six pitchers that will be in the bullpen have postseason experience. In the postseason, when bullpens reign supreme, that will give [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Detroit Tigers

  September 25, 2008 at 11:02 am 3 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…Last night the Orioles, hit 3 batters and even slammed Aki Iwamura to the ground during a tag out between first and second base…Just “playing the game” or dirty baseball? We actually didn’t have much of a problem with Ramon Hernandez taking out Iwamura. He did go [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Baltimore Orioles

  September 22, 2008 at 3:30 pm 4 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…On Sunday the Rays came out and played a very sluggish game losing to the Twins one day after clinching the franchise’s first-ever playoff spot…In hindsight, do you have a problem with the celebration? This is a tough one. We have no problem with the players celebrating. [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Minnesota Twins

  September 18, 2008 at 4:30 pm 3 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…Every time the Rays lose just a single game to the Red Sox, the so-called experts predict inevitable doom for the Rays. And yet the Rays have now won the season series against the Red Sox (10-8) and have won 4 of the last 5 including the [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Boston Red Sox

  September 15, 2008 at 3:22 pm 3 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…Last week Joe Maddon, with the off-day, switched James Shields and Matt Garza in the rotation. Garza was to pitch on Friday on normal rest, with Shields going on Saturday with 6 days rest. However, because of the rain-out on Friday, both pitched on Saturday. Now, Garza [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: New York Yankees Roadkills

  September 12, 2008 at 2:20 pm 1 comment

  FIRST INNINGA look back…On Tuesday night in the 9th inning, the Rays had just blown a 1-run lead and were down to their final 3 outs against one of the top closers in baseball and on the verge of losing their 5th straight and relinquishing first place for the first [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: New York Yankees

  September 2, 2008 at 2:15 pm 0 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…The Rays called up Fernando Perez and John Jaso now that the rosters can be expanded…Where is David Price? Right now, Price is getting ready to pitch the opening game of the IL playoffs for the Bulls. But more importantly, the Rays do not have an immediate [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Baltimore Orioles

  August 29, 2008 at 4:53 pm 2 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…Last night Edwin Jackson improved to 7-2 with a 2.98 ERA in his last 10 starts…Has Jackson solidified his spot in the rotation for 2009? It was pointed out in the comments this morning that Jackson’s strikeout to walk ratio over that span is not great and [...]

   
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  [SHOWER-SHOE FUNGUS] Playing A Little Pepper: Chicago White Sox

  August 22, 2008 at 3:04 pm 12 comments

  FIRST INNINGA look back…13 players on the Rays current roster were acquired via trade, most of whom are role players, and 2 players were signed as veterans to minor league deals…Have the Rays become the masters of finding hidden talent? Carlos Pena and Eric Hinske are obvious, but take a [...]