We are already 81 games through the 162–game MLB schedule — at least the Rays are, and they currently sit in first place at 49–32, by far their best record ever at the halfway point of the season.  This is a team that won 66 games all of last season, and a dismal 61 the year before.  This is a team that received very little respect before the season, a trend that continues in some circles.  This is the first team since the 1903 Chicago Cubs to have this good a record at this point of the season after finishing with the worst record the previous year.  And once again, they are in first place in the American League East division.  The Rays: We Are One Team.

After they narrowly pulled out a 4–3 victory over the Pirates to win that series, the Tampa Bay Rays are in front of the Red Sox by ½ a game as they get ready for a huge showdown this week at Tropicana Field, where the Rays swept Boston back in April and have held a surprising home field advantage this season.  Baseball Tonight placed the perennially disappointing Blue Jays ahead of the Rays on multiple occasions, and they still get our name wrong occasionally.  (Peter Gammons probably owes us $100.)  Nobody thinks the Rays can hold it up this long.  But now it's time to throw it in their faces, which has basically been the main goal of this team this season: proving people wrong.  We've been underestimated too much for too long, and it's time to sweep the Red Sox back to ancient history.  After two World Series wins and the uprising of a newfound arrogance, the Red Sox have run out of sympathy.  And this does not mean that those New York dinosaurs should come back either.  It's our time now.  Keep up the pace in the second half, which would amount to 98 wins, and show the baseball world that we really are the new 1991 Braves.  It's the attitude that the Rays need to keep winning.

It's time to shove it to the Boston Bandwagon and force people to jump off onto our side.  And with Shields, Garza and Kazmir on the mound, I like the chances.  Until it is accomplished, go Rays.

Hello all interested parties, I have taken a brief pause on my vacation to return here and celebrate the Tampa Bay Rays' sweep of the Florida Marlins at Dolphins Stadium.  The Rays dominated the entire series, winning 6–4, 15–3 and 6–1.  Some news, notes and highlights from the sweep:

–The Rays have completed their sixth sweep of the season, surpassing last year's grand total of five.  They are also, at 47–31, a franchise record 16 games over .500, and now only ½ game behind the Boston Red Sucks — ERR, Red Sox.

–Evan Longoria had an amazing series, hitting two long home runs and two doubles.  He has 14 home runs, and Steve Levy said on today's SportsCenter that he “looks like he's for real.”  We have known this, but now at least there is a little nationwide respect for him.  Not to mention he saved the game on Tuesday night with a two–run double in the top of the ninth inning and a diving stop with the bases loaded in the bottom half.  He is a machine on every side of the ball he sees.

–Carl Crawford actually hit two home runs in one game, the 15–3 beating, as he tries to surpass last year's reduced total of 11.  He currently has seven.

–Speaking of home runs, Ben Zobrist filled in for Jason Bartlett and hit two, one in each game he played.  We can't even drag one out of Bartlett, yet this guy can hit two home runs in as many days.  Great job by him to do this for the first, and probably only, time in his career.

–Matt Garza wins on the road?  Not only wins, but dominates?  He only gave up one walk and one hit, a seventh inning home run by soon to be All Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez.  He struck out ten of the 28 Marlins hitters he faced, as Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez stated that he knew early on that Garza would be having a very strong performance.  Apparently, so did everyone else.  Garza came off the heels of a good outing from James Shields to pitch the best game Rays catcher Shawn Riggans says he has ever caught.  Great job of holding the brain and arm together in this game.

That just about does it for me, and I will continue to monitor my beloved Rays, as well as the rehab stint of Rocco Baldelli at Vero Beach and David Price's progression through AA Montgomery.  We get the Pirates next, and until we destroy them, go Rays.

Well, during my time away from basic luxuries like the Internet, cable TV and cell phone reception, the Rays won two very close games against the Cubs, two managers got fired, and the Rays signed first overall Draft pick Tim Beckham.  And they played on ESPN, which I conveniently did not have on my grandparents' farm.  Turns out I did have some good catching up to do upon my return.  Thankfully, the news was mostly positive.  We'll just omit the Yankees going on a seven–game winning streak and stealing the headlines.  Those people missed the show in Florida.

I don't know much about the first two Rays–Cubs games, other than that the Cubs obviously didn't watch any Rays games earlier this season, because they had no knowledge of a basic rule of smallball: Don't bunt on Evan Longoria.  He makes that bare–handed play from third base as well as I have seen anyone in recent years do it.  He has made that play a few times this year with complete success.  Even with the game on the line, he makes that big defensive stop to save his pitching staff.  And he hit a home run in that first game, too.  And so did former Cub and lifelong Cubs fan Cliff Floyd.  Great job by those guys.

The Rays entered game three looking for their sweep, returning James Shields from suspension to start against young Sean Gallagher.  Shields went up 1–0 early, and it remained that way until the seventh inning decided the game.  He ended up surrendering three earned runs in that inning, in which the Rays used three pitchers to escape trailing by two runs.  In the bottom half, things looked grim when lights out setup man Carlos Marmol took the mound.  The flamethrower who was so lethal against the Braves was going up against the bottom of the Rays order.  However, he began to lose control early — and often.  Marmol walked Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro, then hit Gabe Gross to load the bases.  Akinori Iwamura stepped up, and Marmol beaned him too, scoring a run.  With the Cubs in trouble, Lou Piniella brought in left hander Scott Eyre to face one of his former players, Carl Crawford.  After taking a ball, Crawford connected on an inside hanging pitch and changed the course of the game.  Fly ball… deep to right field… Derosa back… grand slam!  Rays lead, 6–3.  Marmol: 0 IP, 0 H, 4 ER.  The Rays scored two more off Eyre and went on to an 8–3 victory and a sweep of the Cubs. Their 43–29 record means that, with 43 wins, these 2008 Rays have already set a franchise record with 43 victories before the All Star break.

Congratulations Rays for sweeping the best team in baseball at home and keeping momentum alive.  The Cubs definitely made it interesting, and I would like nothing more than to see this as a World Series matchup sooner than later.  These teams know drama better than TNT.  I knew I should have placed a “friendly wager” on this series with one Cubs blogger before the series started.  Maybe I should take up sports gambling.  Now the Rays get the Astros, who besides Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada are just asking to get rolled right out of town.  So let's do it.  Until next time, go Rays.

I am leaving Tampa for a vacation this morning, and will be gone for about two weeks.  I'll only be without Internet access until Thursday night, which means I'll be missing the big Cubs series.  I'll get to New Smyrna Beach on Thursday, but until then I'll have to get my updates over the phone from others with access to information.  I'll have no Internet or cable TV until then.

In other news that more people should be reporting, Rocco Baldelli played designated hitter in a minor league game last night, going 1–3 with 2 RBI as he works back up towards the Major Leagues.  He has been recovering from a rare mitochondrial condition that has probably been a source of his recurring injuries in recent years.  He's still only 26 years old, which gives him a little time to become productive.  Just ask Rick Ankiel and Josh Hamilton.

I'll be out soon, so until I get back to the blog, go Rays.

To quote Howard Wolowitz of CBS' Big Bang Theory, “That's a negatory.”  The Rays didn't even look like they came in looking for a sweep, and the Marlins came away with a 9–3 victory.  The game ended when Jason Bartlett, who had the big two–run single last night, popped out with the bases loaded after one run had already scored.  On the plus side, Akinori Iwamura stole his fourth base of the season, something we need to see more of out of the leadoff spot.  Eric Hinske took over the team lead with his 12th home run.  Other than that, not a game to write home about.  (Yet I'm writing about it anyway.  Somebody please give me directions to a social life.)  B.J. Upton was 0–for–4 with three strikeouts, and the team struck out 12 times with only one walk.  So much for that patience and getting on base idea.  Ricky Nolasco picked up the win for Florida, throwing his curveball as well as he has ever done it and throwing off the timing of the young Rays lineup.

In terms of pitching, Edwin Jackson noticeably lacked command early.  Though he picked off Jeremy Hermida in the first inning, the second inning turned against him.  He allowed back–to–back walks before serving up a home run to spot starter Wes Helms.  Five innings, six earned runs, one strikeout.  Those are 2007 Jackson totals.  He just needs to find good consistency and show that he can win a few starts consecutively.  The bullpen was below its season averages except for Grant Balfour, who struck out four Marlins with one walk and no hits in two innings of work.  This game was meant to be lost.  It happens sometimes in a league where 162 games are played every season.

The Red Sox torched the Reds and the Yankees killed off the Astros, but at least Pittsburgh finally beat Baltimore and the Cubs took their series with Toronto.  Now it's time for those same Cubs to bring their beastly lineup and phenomenal bullpen to Tropicana Field.  Get the bats ready, this could be a home run derby.  And if the Cubs happen to beat us once or twice, there's always next weekend's Astros series to get the wins back.  They just got bulldozed at home in three straight games by the Yankees.  Hopefully this isn't yet another Yankee renaissance.  I can see it now: “The Rays win their fifth straight game at home… in other news, Joba Chamberlain just had dinner with Hank Steinbrenner.  For more on this shocking development, here's Buster Olney.”  Until next time, go Rays.

Our Tampa Bay Rays have once again defeated the Florida Marlins at Tropicana Field, riding a strong start from Matt Garza to win 4–1.  Once he got home, Garza decided to stop acting like a raging 14–year–old and start pitching like he should, allowing one run on three hits in seven solid innings.  Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla were a combined 0–for–7.  The Rays only got five hits, but took enough advantage to score four times.  Former Tampa Bay starter Mark Hendrickson gave up Jonny Gomes' fifth home run of the season in the second inning to open up the scoring.  Hendrickson was later relieved by Doug Waechter, which had me believing I was in a time warp back to 2005.  Another former Ray, Waechter surrendered their last run without a single hit.  Three walks can do that sometimes.  That's probably why he's a Marlin now and not with us.  The Rays took six walks with their five hits in a nice display of patience and getting on base (though they did have 10 strikeouts).  And, sure enough, my guarantee of 30,000 people proved correct, as 31,195 dedicated fans cheered the home team on to victory.  The Rays guaranteed a series win here, and we can easily earn the sweep tomorrow with Edwin Jackson on the mound.

And now a follow–up to my earlier anti–ESPN rant: it appears that someone at the FOX network has jumped on the Rays haters bandwagon.  Jeanne Zelasko, the in–studio host for their game coverage, was asking Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy about where Ken Griffey, Jr. could be traded to this season.  Dibble said that Rays management was high on him and that he owns a house in Orlando, so they would be a good fit for him.  (More on that rumor if and when anything more develops.)  So Zelasko immediately chimed in, “So he's going to a non–contender?”  Obviously she's oblivious to the Rays' talent.  I never thought she was a great studio host, and now this is another new low.  Jeanne Zelasko can go hide in a cave with the rest of the doubters.  At least Dibble jumped to the Rays' defense, insisting that they are a contender.  Thank you Rob Dibble for saving the segment.

People around baseball are being proven wrong daily, and it happened again tonight with the Rays defeating the Florida Marlins for the second game in a row.  This team is now 40–28 and still in a comfortable second place in the division.  Jonathan Papelbon also got tagged today, allowing a game–tying home run to the Reds' Edwin Encarnacion with two outs and two strikes.  The Red Sox won, but I naturally found humor in that.  So until next time, keep proving people wrong and go Rays.

These networks know how to drive me up the wall sometimes.  And now they have done it again, wrongfully and unjustly, by bashing Rays fans where it wasn't warranted.

I was on the phone with my dad, and he told me that this morning's edition of “SportsCenter” angered him so much he turned it off.  Apparently, an anchor (Josh Elliott?) on the Saturday morning show stated, flat–out, that the Rays' crowd in the Friday night win over the Marlins was “pathetic.”  You think that's really pathetic?  Well, here are the facts.  The attendance totaled 19,312, which is actually slightly above the season average to this point.  Sure, it was Friday night, but the key to the smaller crowd was that it was severely storming in Pinellas County for several hours before and during the game.  There were funnel clouds off the coast of St. Petersburg Beach and some areas were hit with three inches of rain per hour.  Lightning strikes were also being reported in droves.  Who wants to leave their homes to do anything in those storms?  19,312 loyal fans did, and they should be respected, not buried.  Read a freaking weather forecast before speaking on national TV.  Wrongly and intentionally humiliating Rays Nation in front of the entire country was a horrible thing to do from a PR standpoint and from an objective broadcasting position.  Now that's pathetic.

ESPN is wrong, the anchor who said this is wrong, and the worst part is that the Rays get cheapshotted all the time.  This was only the latest incident.  We recently had John Kruk openly defending the Boston Red Sox in their fight with the Rays, saying Tampa Bay was in the wrong.  Sorry John, but we don't need anyone from the 1993 Phillies telling us who's right and wrong.

Now I guarantee you that, barring more severe weather, 30,000 fans will show up for Latino Heritage Night tonight at Tropicana Field.  Show your support, Rays fans, and prove those Northeast-centric networks wrong again.  Until next time, go Rays.

I've just finished watching the latest Rays victory, a 7–3 trouncing of the in–state rival Florida Marlins at Tropicana Field.  Andy Sonnanstine picked up his seventh victory of the season as the offense picked him up early and often after going down 2–0 in the first inning.  It was an aggressive running night for the Rays that, for the most part, worked out.  Cliff Floyd stole his first base since July 14, 2006, when he was with the Mets.  He had been through two teams (he was a 2007 Cub) between steals.  But it paid off huge, as he advanced to third base on a throwing error and later scored.  Jason Bartlett stole two bases in a game for the third time this season, reaching a total of 14.  He had three hits and a sacrifice fly, marking his best offensive output since coming to Tampa Bay.  Akinori Iwamura, his double play partner in crime, had two hits and an amazing diving stop and throw reminiscent of Ozzie Smith.  Eric Hinske kept it going with a big two–RBI night. Even with Carl Crawford out suspended, they hit and ran effectively enough to put up a seven spot against inexperienced pitchers.  To top it all off, with Al Reyes going to the disabled list today (shoulder injury), Troy Percival was reactivated for this series.  And the shutdown closer made it count, striking out Dan Uggla on three pitches, then retiring Luis Gonzalez on strikes before Cody Ross grounded out to end it.  Congratulations Troy and the Rays for getting eight of the starting nine on base and killing Marlin momentum early.

In other news… Jonathan Papelbon is a dillweed.  That is all.

The series continues tomorrow on Latino night, which unfortunately will not be televised.  Sunday's game will only be seen with Marlins coverage and commentary, so I'll have to sit through that for three long hours or so.  Hopefully there is no “His name is DAN… UGGLA!” in that one.  There certainly wasn't tonight.  The Red Sox lost to the Reds — yes, the Cincinnati Reds — meaning that the Rays gain one big game in the divisional standings.  There's a reason to celebrate.  Until next time, go Rays.

Thankfully, James Shields and Scott Kazmir are not injured.  Though Shields will miss a start due to suspension.  They both lost to the Angels on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  At least they won Edwin Jackson's start against Joe Saunders, but they finished the roadtrip a dismal 3–6.  They lost Shields' start early and Kazmir's late, so it's not a specific recurring problem.  It's just that the Rays don't do well in Anaheim, and don't play quite as well in any hostile environment.  Joe Maddon has admitted that they have to improve in that department, and he's as right as he's ever been.  But now it's time to come back home and face the other Florida surprise, the Marlins.

The Rays come back to Tropicana Field to start that long stretch of interleague play.  They'll be trekking to a series of National League stadiums following a home series with the Cubs next week.  I've been watching the Cubs the last few days during their series with the Braves, and I must warn the Rays to put on their A–game and get ready for a war.  They are dangerous.  But first, the Marlins, who have shocked the state of Florida right alongside the Rays.  They have a great collection of infielders who can burn pitchers if they show up unprepared.  Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez lead the offensive charge, both hitting and running.  But they are a little lackluster in pitching and more than a little down on defense, so I see the Rays having the advantage throughout most of this series.  Hopefully they can take two out of the three games, which I see them doing.  Sonnanstine, Garza and Jackson will be on the mound, and I like their chances.  Plus we'll be seeing the grand returns of former Rays second baseman Jorge Cantu, now Florida's third baseman, and pitcher Mark Hendrickson to Tropicana Field.  Bring your boos and cowbells, and keep Marlins infiltrators back.  Let's take them down a peg and stay in our divisional race.

On a high note, my Waterfront Stadium speech, which I mentioned in a previous post, went down well last night.  Hopefully I convinced people to hop on the Rays' bandwagon.  At least I know I got an A both on the speech and in the class.  And my college quarter is officially over.  I'm off for over a month and due for a long vacation, so celebrate with me.  Let's start with a Rays win over the hated National Leaguers tomorrow night and go from there.  So in hopes of sending the Marlins back out to sea, go Rays.

Today I take some blog space to congratulate Cincinnati's Ken Griffey, Jr. on becoming the sixth player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs.  I'm not sure Sammy Sosa really belongs on there, and there will always be questions about Barry Bonds.  But with all that he's been through, all the second–generation, first overall Draft pick hype, then the injuries and inquiries about what he had left, and the way he has always gone about playing the game, Griffey forever deserves to be on that elite list of players.  He truly is one of the all time greats of this game.  A five–tool superstar in his earlier years, and one of the most exciting players in my lifetime (since 1987, the year he was drafted), the younger Griffey could have been at 700 home runs by now had his health remained steady.  Even so, 600 is quite an accomplishment.  So once again, congratulations Ken Griffey, Jr.

The series opener against the Angels was a great one to watch, regardless of how late it was in Florida.  In the second inning, the Rays made team history when Evan Longoria, Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro became the first Rays to ever hit back–to–back–to–back home runs in a regular season game, doing so against Joe Saunders.  Edwin Jackson let the lead get away to 4–3 in the fourth inning, but the Rays responded with a five–run inning their next time up and they never turned back.  Jackson picked up the victory as the Rays beat the Angels 13–4 to give Joe Maddon, who worked in the Angels organization for 31 years, his first road win at Angels Stadium.  Saunders is now 9–3, and 0–2 against the Rays.  There are just some pitchers that this team owns.  Jackson is 4–5 after overcoming a few winless starts.  Longoria hit two home runs in the presence of friends and family in his native California.  Speaking of Californians, the pride of Newhall, James Shields, goes up against Jered Weaver in a battle of young aces tonight.  Shields already has a one–hit shutout of the Angels on his record this season.

As the Rays continue to wage battles with a very good team in their house, I'll briefly pause to thank Stephanie of the Marmol–ade Cubs blog for giving me my first plug from another MLBlogger.  Well, I plugged hers first, but it was nice of her to return the favor.  So thank you again.  I am now a Cubs fan.  Well, after the Braves and Rays are finished with them next week, then we'll talk.  It would make my mom's family proud — it is my grandma's birthday today and she does need a gift.  So where are everyone else's plugs?  I'll get another one about a year from now.

I am giving a speech, the “final project,” in my Principles of Communication class tomorrow night.  I have decided to make it about the Rays' new Waterfront Stadium, which is on its way onto the St. Petersburg ballots.  I'll be telling people what benefits the stadium brings to the team and the city, where the money is coming from, and that they're fascists if they vote against it.  Maybe not the last part, but I could give that message a bit more indirectly.

You know what I haven't had in a while?  Big League Chew.

I'll be back soon as the Rays hopefully continue to average 13 runs per game.  They really do need to win by a little more than nine every game, the bullpen without Percival scares me just a bit.  [/sarcasm]  I write early in the morning and end up publishing random comedy.  Maybe I should do it more often.  Let's just say, until next time, go Rays.

You're the next contestant on The Blue Is Wrong.  James Hoye's home plate umpiring was nothing short of abysmal and a miscarriage of justice in today's 6–3 Rays loss to the Rangers.  I mean, we're talking Bob Davidson/Hunter Wendelstedt bad here.  He made an embarrassingly bad call on a sixth inning 2–2 pitch to Eric Hinske that was at least six inches outside.  Hinske flew into a fit of rage, and that call was so bad Hinske should have gotten himself run from the game (which he did), yet he still almost didn't do enough.  That call was horrendous, and the Rays commentators lit into him for it.  Hoye, according to Joe Magrane, is “nowhere near the top of the umpires in ratings.”  The next inning proved just as fatal for the Rays.  Akinori Iwamura was up in a 4–2 game, two outs and runners at second and third bases.  A 3–2 pitch went low and outside… strike three, says the incompetent one.  Magrane immediately said “that's terrible,” and believe me, he was right.  A little low and a little outside.  The bases should have been loaded for Carl Crawford.  Instead, the Rangers caught a break.

James Hoye, I sincerely hope I never see you behind home plate in a Major League game ever again.  Those two calls were a disgrace to the game and to the Rays and could have affected the momentum of a close game, and even the outcome.  Apparently, you have a reputation for these bad calls.  (Just search for James Hoye and bad call on Google.)  It's time for baseball to just blackball you before you screw some team out of a championship.  Wait a minute, that will never happen.  You're not good enough to work the playoffs.  You suck as an umpire, so please find another career, and make it quick.  You can take up the side work of Joe West, a much better umpire than you, and become a country singer.  Texas already loves you.

OK, so that tangent may have been a bit overblown, but it was just my first instinct.  I erased my original harsher comments.  But, truth be told, this guy wasn't even the only reason the Rays lost the game.  Matt Garza was below average for the second consecutive start and couldn't hold himself together, even getting into shouting matches with Dioner Navarro, who only wanted to keep him in check.  Anyone who lets German Duran hit a home run is having an off day.  The Rays made two critical baserunning mistakes, with B.J. Upton getting caught stealing to end the first inning and Gabe Gross getting doubled up on a lineout a few innings later.  There was little production with runners in scoring position, with Upton's home run providing their only runs of the game.  Crawford struck out representing the tying run at the end of the game (on another borderline, at best, call).  Doug Mathis didn't have great pitches working, but the Rays offense was just inept.  Though, as Magrane said, two hitters were “punished for having good knowledge of the strike zone.”

We don't take losing or umpire injustice lightly anymore.  This is a new team that needs to fight these bad games off or face tumbling out of the divisional race.  Now it's time to go and face an Angels team that has been nothing short of en fuego lately, winning seven straight games before getting burned with a walk–off grand slam today by Oakland's Mark Ellis.  Maybe that will turn the momentum around.  I am not responsible for any damages this post may have caused, and until the next one — which I'm sure will be on a lighter note — go Rays.

The end of last night's Rays game was almost as difficult to sit through as the Belmont Stakes, but they pulled out a 5–4 victory over the Rangers to guarantee a series win.  Dan Wheeler, or “Cardiac Dan” as he has become known in Tampa Bay, almost let it get away in the ninth inning before he deflected a line drive by Milton Bradley, keeping it on the infield and allowing the final out to be made.  Today, they go for the sweep as Matt Garza takes the mound.

Last night's game definitely had its dramatics and saviors.  Bradley cut a 4–2 Rays lead in half with an eighth inning home run off Trever Miller.  The Rays, however, picked up an insurance run thanks to the heroics of Jason Bartlett.  After a single, he stole second and third bases while the next hitter walked, then scored on a wild pitch by Jamey Walker.  This kind of speed and baserunning can win more games than you might think.  Wheeler, who ended the eighth inning with an out, was now on to close it out.  After two hits and a “walk” that should have been a strikeout because Chris Shelton swung about ¾ of the way around, the bases were loaded with one out.  Josh Hamilton hit a laser beam towards the left side, which Bartlett quickly backhanded and threw over to second base for the force play.  A run scored, but without Bartlett's stop, the game would have undoubtedly been tied.  One close call later, and the Rays edged out a 5–4 victory.  Bartlett deserves the credit for saving last night's game.  Wheeler rightfully gave him his props after the game, and why not?  Even when Wheeler wasn't on his A–game, there was someone behind him to bail him out.  Say what you will about Bartlett's low hitting totals, but his acquisition was one of the best things the Rays got done during the offseason.

As Todd Kalas said on last night's postgame show, this schedule can be equated to a 26.2–mile marathon.  62 out of 162 games are completed, leaving exactly 100 games to go.  This is right around the 10–mile mark of the marathon, and at ½ game behind Boston, the Rays are just off the pace and ready to strike.  We're ready now to see a sweep of the Rangers before it's off to Anaheim to face a team that already got swept at Tropicana Field.  I'll be keeping tabs on that one — to what level, I don't know, as my last week of the college quarter is upon me now.  So until I can come back, go Rays.

Good evening Rays fans.  While the team is in Arlington playing the Rangers, I thought I would go ahead and discuss the Rays' first overall Draft pick for 2008, Griffin High School (Georgia) shortstop Tim Beckham.  While the Draft is gravitating increasingly towards the collegiate ranks, I don't mind seeing great high school players being taken at the top of the board.  As a matter of fact, I consider it an advantage.  Get a guy in the system when he's 18 years old, and if he takes five years to come up to the big team, he's still only 23 when he does it.  Just as long as you get the right personality (i.e. anybody other than Delmon Young), it works.  Tim Beckham fits the bill perfectly.

I looked at his stats and scouting reports (good, detailed pages can be found through the links), and I must say he looks like a great pick right now.  Beckham has very good speed and baserunning ability, stealing 16 bases in 24 games in his senior season with the Griffin Bears.  He also stole 32 bases in traveling competition with the best players of his age in the country.  He hit .409 during that time, as well as .500 in his senior high school year and .512 as a junior.  Out of 39 hits this season, nine were doubles, three triples, and five home runs.  He also had an amazing 22:5 walk–strikeout ratio, showcasing patience to go with his extra–base power and good speed.  The same speed, combined with quick hands, also makes for solid defense at a crucial position.  He has very good range in getting to the ball and throwing out runners.  He has huge five–tool potential and still has years to combine tools with baseball instinct, which he is already doing.  He does everything right on the field.  Perhaps the best part about him, however, is that he shows no character issues and comes off as a nice, team–first guy.  He has no ego and still has the mentality that baseball is fun.  He'll be a very exciting player.  We'll see him and love him in a few years.

Now it's time to do something I have not yet done before.  Until now, that is.  It's time that I go ahead and plug some other blogs and bloggers here at MLBlogs who can use attention for their skills and observations.  Sure, maybe two or three people read this blog, but I would be eternally grateful for any return plugs that I may receive.

http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com Rays Renegade views from Rightfield – This guy is on the Fan Wall of Fame for the Rays, so he's certainly worth listening to.

http://the6–4–3.mlblogs.com The 6–4–3 – Here's another Rays blogger who has his own unique way of writing about our team.

http://englandrays.mlblogs.com Rays From Across The Pond – A British Rays supporter — this team is now going global.  This blogger should start his own fan club.

http://corre.mlblogs.com Corre from Tampa Bay – A die–hard local Rays fan who needs support for his support of the team.

http://yourenotagolfer.mlblogs.com Obviously, You're Not a Golfer – Probably the funniest blog name I've ever seen.  It comes from an enthusiastic Cardinals fan.

http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com Red State, Blue State – A Cardinals fan and a Tigers fan talk about their teams, and often debate each other.  I think it's an interesting idea.

http://steponme.mlblogs.com Marmol–ade – One of the more creative blog names I've seen here, and a recently featured blog on the home page.  A teenage Cubs girl knows more than her male contemporaries.  Don't you just love it when girls get into baseball?  I know I do.

http://alyssa.mlblogs.com *touch* 'em all – My favorite celebrity blog, that of Dodgers fan and talented actress Alyssa Milano.  She has very well written and thought out opinions on her team, not to mention a strong desire for all things baseball.

OK, so now that my mandatory plug session is over, I'll be back for more next year.  Before that much time passes, however, I will return for more of Rays–Rangers and its aftermath.  Until then, go Rays.

Well, that Rays–Red Sox series went… about as well as the last one.  Would you like a sweep to go with the beatdown?  The whole fight scene was interesting, to say the least.  And definitely multi–faceted as well.  Firstly, the Rays saw that Coco Crisp was in the wrong and, much like they did with the Yankees in Spring Training, acted upon it.  Crisp thought that Jason Bartlett blocking second base was wrong — news flash, it's not.  When Adrian Beltre blocked third base in this year's home opener, did B.J. Upton crucify him?  Absolutely not, it's a good baseball play to block the base.  Catchers do it all the time as part of their game.  Then Crisp, like (to quote Rays radio broadcasters) “the idiot that he is,” took out Akinori Iwamura, the other middle infielder, later that same game.  Joe Maddon used several expletives to call out Coco B. Ware, who responded in kind from the dugout.  Everyone basically knew that there would be a fight in the series finale.  So James Shields got the tension out of the way early, aiming low and hitting Crisp in the leg in the second inning.  Rather than accepting just retaliation, he went cuckoo for Coco Puffs and charged the mound.  The fight broke out immediately, with Navarro taking Crisp down and Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes getting in their shots.  Maybe that new Elite XC series on CBS can use these guys.  The Rays took the positives out of this — they strengthened already good team unity and stood up for themselves in someone else's house.  I think they handled the situation well.  Shields threw low enough not to endanger Crisp.  He just sent his message.  Apparently it had insufficient postage.

The worst part about this whole fiasco is the suspensions.  The Rays had several players get the hammer from the front office.  James Shields got six games and Gomes got five; both are appealing.  Edwin Jackson got five games, Crawford four, and Akinori Iwamura three.  Jon Lester, for throwing at a Rays hitter later in the game, got five games.  Even Sean Casey, perhaps the nicest guy in baseball, got three.  And finally, antagonist Coco Crisp got… seven games.  That's fair enough, but how does he get seven when Gomes and Jackson, who were not instigators, got five?  Gomes should have his reduced upon appeal, but if not, it makes little sense and is not fair to the Rays.  Either Rays suspensions get reduced, or Crisp should get the Japanese punishment for charging the mound, a full ten games.  Kyle Farnsworth ended up missing only one game for aiming at Manny Ramirez's head.  What's the difference?  Just because Farnsworth hasn't hit his spot in three years (and hasn't won a fight in five years) and Shields has doesn't mean Shields should be punished more for it.  The suspensions from this fight should be balanced out to fit each man's role in the incident.

The Rays did move on quite well tonight, going to Arlington and hammering the Rangers 12–4 in the series opener.  They hit four home runs, off the bats of Evan Longoria (8), B.J. Upton (4), Dioner Navarro (2) and Eric Hinske (11).  Scott Kazmir became the first Rays starting pitcher ever to win six consecutive starts, allowing two runs and zero walks over a full eight innings.  He threw strikes all night long and had his fastball working greatly.  He was, as Joe Magrane loves to say, “playing an elevated game of catch” tonight.  I know he missed the first month of the season, but please send him to New York for the All Star Game.  He deserves it the way he's been pitching since his return.  The fight ramifications will slowly affect the team over the next few weeks, as the suspensions will be spread out over time to keep most of the Rays' starters out there at all times.  The team did very well tonight from the fifth inning on, hitting as if they possessed aluminum bats and Popeye's spinach.  Great job in rebounding, and the best part is that the Seattle Mariners shut out Boston 8–0 behind Felix Hernandez to put the Rays back within a half game of first place.  And the Royals beat the Yankees 2–1.  I just thought I would rub that one in.

The Rays continue to face the Rangers through the weekend, and maybe we'll take first place right back from the overpaid Red Sox.  I may speak more on this one later, but the Rays selected high school shortstop Tim Beckham first overall in the 2008 MLB Draft.  Looking at his stats and abilities, I think he's a great pick and he'll be a phenomenal professional player.  And they even selected his brother Jeremy in the 17th round.  That's quite a way to top it off.  More on the (Bend It Like) Beckhams later, but until then, go Rays.

On this Rays off day — very rare these days — I'll be telling you, Rays fans and otherwise, about some interesting upcoming events.

First, the All Star Game takes place at Yankee Stadium on July 15.  I think it's time to vote for some Rays, or at least erase some of the excessive big market influence that has infiltrated this baseball tradition.  Some very deserving players are being shortchanged in the voting for this game (B.J. Upton, anyone?) and they need fan support.  We should start giving them this support.  I've already started, and hopefully others join me in this cause.  Vote today, and vote Ray.  And by the way, if Chipper Jones doesn't start, I'm starting a riot.

Another major event in progress is the legal process with the city of St. Petersburg to approve the deal on the impending Waterfront Stadium project.  Go to http://www.fansforwaterfrontstadium.com for more information on the project and how to support it.  I'm entirely behind it, and I think there is no reason not to be.  As a matter of fact, no offense to any other Rays fans, I believe that at this point, anyone who doesn't support Waterfront Stadium is an idiot.  The funding is right there in place, the land is available, and there is a growing demand for this new, sustainably built, fan–friendly stadium to be constructed and opened.  Who wouldn't want to see it open and continue to watch the team and its fanbase grow?  The Rays can use this new ballpark, as it should be very comfortable for an open–air Florida stadium, and in many ways an upgrade over their current home.  So get behind it, urge on the city council and vote for it (if you live in St. Petersburg), and and watch the excitement unfold.

I just thought I would get these opinion pieces/fan requests out of the way before the series in Boston starts.  I should be back soon with more on that battle for supremacy, and until then, go Rays.

This Rays team has continued winning at home and setting new records by the week.  After this weekend's series victory over the White Sox, they finished this ten game homestand at 8-2, the best three series homestand record in franchise history.  Now it's up to Boston on Tuesday night to begin a critical three game series with the Red Sox.  The Rays have done a great job holding on to first place, but to cement their status, they'll have to beat the enemy in their house.  After seeing the great pitching of James Shields and Scott Kazmir, along with the walk-off home runs from Cliff Floyd and now Gabe Gross, I think it's an attainable goal.  The Red Sox have played very well too, so it's just a matter of who runs out of energy first.  Boston plays in Baltimore tomorrow, while the Rays have a travel day.  Advantage: Rays.

One Boston player should be congratulated here: Manny Ramirez, on his 500th home run.  He hit it in Baltimore off Chad Bradford deep into the right center field seats.  He hit number 501 today, but I think he's due for a cold streak.  Through the Boston series and beyond, go first place Rays.