Rising From the Ashes tag:,2008-03-29:/1347 2008-09-01T03:06:24Z The young, exciting Tampa Bay Rays from the perspective of a long–time fan. Movable Type 4.14-en-trunk--20080321 Rays Sweep Baltimore To Go 33 Games Over .500 tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.457511 2008-09-01T03:04:08Z 2008-09-01T03:06:24Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
The big game gave Rays fans several heart attacks, beginning with Jay Payton's first inning home run.  Then Aubrey Huff stole a 3–2 lead with a three run home run, his 30th of the season and seemingly his 30th against the Rays.  The score was 7–3 Orioles through the top of the fifth inning when the Rays cut the lead in half, then proceeded to take an 8–7 lead in the next inning, fueled by Carlos Pena's two run double.  Tied 8–8 later on, Rocco Baldelli was hit by a pitch to drive in another go–ahead run.  The Rays led by one run, and in stepped Dan Wheeler to face the top of the order and get the save.  He struck out Brian Roberts and Payton, bringing up Nick Markakis.  Wheeler served up a beach ball that Markakis promptly hit to the moon, angering some Rays by stopping to watch the orbit.  Tie game yet again.  This set up some bottom of the ninth inning heroics once again from the team that already had nine walk off wins.  Pena reached base with a one out walk, bringing up Baldelli.  With 34,805 fans watching him live, he promptly hit a 1–0 pitch right down the third base line into the corner.  Left fielder Lou Montanez took a slightly roundabout path to the ball, then fired to Huff as Pena rounded third base.  Huff basket caught the throw and took forever in relaying to the plate, allowing Pena to slide in safely with the winning run.  The Rays won 10–9, and Wheeler was spared.  Iwamura had one of five multi–hit games for the host Rays, leading the way with three of the team's 13 hits.  It looked like a dropoff was inevitable.

But, of course, the offense picked up right where it ended the previous game.  They completed the sweep behind James Shields, winning easily in front of another strong crowd of 32,379.  Baldelli had three hits, the first two doubles into that same left field corner, and a walk.  But one offensive moment of glory trumped all others in this landslide win…

Jason Bartlett hit a home run.

Yes, Rays fans, it is possible, and now it has been accomplished.  Bartlett took a 1–0 pitch from Jamie Walker into the first rows of the left center field seats for his first home run in Tampa Bay, only taking 370 at–bats to do it.  Jim Johnson beaned him on the very first pitch of his next plate appearance with a high fastball, which both Joe Magrane and I (and probably many more) thought was deliberate.  Bartlett was 4–for–4 with three singles and a perfect way to top them off.  Congratulations — with everything else you have done this year, this was a nice finishing touch.  Now please do it again.  At least before the season is over.

The expansion to the 40–man roster begins tomorrow, with a few players likely coming in immediately.  Joe Maddon says he will probably want a catcher (most likely 1998 Devil Ray Mike DiFelice), an outfielder (Fernando Perez?) and a utility player (Elliot Johnson?).  Durham is going into the International League playoffs, so some of their players will finish out the season there before coming up to Tampa Bay.  David Price may start one of those playoff games, but it shouldn't be too much longer before he joins the Rays.  Hopefully he handles all the expectations and lives up to the hype.

The Rays get the New York Yankees, currently 12½ games out of first place (Boston is 5½ games back), Tuesday to start a three game series at Tropicana Field.  Every Rays fan who can possibly get to these games needs to get tickets to jack up the Yankee hatred and support this team.  There will be large crowds, but we need large Rays crowds.  This is Tampa Bay, and it needs to look and sound like it.  Until the Yankees are vanquished, go Rays.
]]> Rays Fans: Can You Blame Them? tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.453981 2008-08-30T16:57:20Z 2008-08-30T17:04:56Z As the Rays win yet another series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, then smash the Baltimore Orioles to smithereens, the dismal crowds at recent home games have drawn the attention of local newscasts and radio shows, and... Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 As the Rays win yet another series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, then smash the Baltimore Orioles to smithereens, the dismal crowds at recent home games have drawn the attention of local newscasts and radio shows, and even ESPN.  With attendance still in the bottom five in Major League Baseball and the Rays playing as well as they have, some criticism is certainly justified.  But which excuses can and can't be validated?  We have heard them all, and now it's time to examine them to see where the main problems lie and how to correct them.  I have assembled cases for both sides of every argument, and will now present my exhibits to the court of public opinion.

The Stadium Is In A Bad Location?

Yes – The prevailing argument from many fans across the bridges in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, as well as others around the area, is that Tropicana Field is too far away to be able to get to games on time.  Situated about 15–20 minutes off Interstate 275 just off of 4th Street North, it takes a drive through large traffic volume in rush hour across one of a few bridges to finally arrive at the stadium.  Working fans claim there is no time to get ready and go out there to see games.  Fans in areas such as Polk County certainly have a point, having to drive to the very far west of the state and take at least 30 more minutes than it would take to go to games in Tampa.  It's being situated on a series of off roads doesn't help in terms of locating it.  Drivers on 4th Street North basically have to drive looking 90° to the right just to find Tropicana Field.  With very few signs indicating exactly where it is, it can be easy to pass for inexperienced drivers.  To top that off, the guys on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show talked about how it “couldn't be any more in the hood.”  It doesn't look like a horrible neighborhood to me, though it is just off the local Martin Luther King Street and that might be just enough to scare some of the older people who populate St. Petersburg.

No – Tropicana Field can be driven to in decent time if you pick your spots and drive fast enough to arrive on time.  I once left my apartment in northwest Tampa, where I lived at the time, after 5:00, waited in line, bought tickets, and still got in during the pre–game.  It's not impossible, at least for those in western Hillsborough County, to drive across the Howard Frankland Bridge and be there for the entire game.  It has been proven before, with the NHL's Lightning and Arena Football's Storm drawing league record attendances while they played in the then–Thunderdome.  We know that the people in Pinellas County, who demanded the baseball team to begin with, can always make it out to the Rays games, but why don't they?  People in the immediate area should have no trouble finding the place.  And it's in a “bad neighborhood”?  So is Yankee Stadium.  And U.S. Cellular Field.  Look at the crowds they draw every night.  And I have heard no stories of crime in the vicinity of the stadium since it opened.  It's not as bad as it may appear.  Just get yourself, wife, kids, whoever is going ready earlier and get to the stadium as quickly as possible.  It can be done.

Tampa Bay Is Not A Baseball Town/Is A Fairweather Town?

Yes – The Rays have always played second fiddle in the Tampa Bay Area, often a very distant second, to the NFL's Buccaneers.  They have been around the longest time of any sports franchise around here, arriving in 1976.  They predated the NHL's Lightning by 16 years, and the (Devil) Rays by 22 years.  The Tampa Spartans college team was really all they had until the early 1970s.  Football is the number one sport in the area, year round.  From the preseason through the playoffs, then into free agency and the NFL Draft, the Bucs are always in the top headlines.  They have developed their loyal fan following and are established as a Tampa icon, unlike the other teams, particularly the Rays.  The Rays' locally televised games are shown on the obscure ION channel 66.  The Bucs' preseason games are shown on NBC channel 8.  That alone shows the disparity in coverage.  And on April 8 at the Rays home opener, the loudest standing ovation of the night went to Mike Alstott — a retired football player.  Between the Bucs and the surging South Florida Bulls, with whom they share Raymond James Stadium, football is frequently the talk of the Bay Area.  The lack of coverage/years of apathy have led to such incidents as the one Thursday morning on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show, when two out of three callers referred to the team as the “Devil Rays.&rdquo  Even Bubba himself was calling them that until a few weeks ago.  This team is clearly not a top draw in this market.

On the issue of Tampa being a “fairweather” city, that is basically a well–known fact.  When teams play badly, especially for long periods of time, the people of the area turn their attention to other things almost unlike any other place in America.  Bucs games used to never sell out.  Then they did when they became a perennial playoff team.  But even then, Tampa's teams have to actually win championships before everyone jumps on the bandwagon.  It stems from the mentality of all the transplanted Northerners who watched teams like the Yankees win for all those years.  Sure, the Bucs had a season ticket waiting list of tens of thousands for years.  But it took a Super Bowl victory to push that figure far above 100,000.  The Lightning were already a playoff team, but they had to win the Stanley Cup before they set the NHL record for consecutive sellouts.  The people just want proven winners and they fear disappointment.  Not that that should be an excuse for leaving a team in the dark, but it's very true of Tampa sports fans.  We need those hardcore fans like the Cowbell Kidd, who has been doing his gimmick and promoting the team since Devil was still in their name, and yours truly, who has been running this blog since before the team was any good.  I've only been to four games this season, but that beats two the previous three years combined.  So those who can go need to at every opportunity.

No – Tampa, not a baseball town?  It's been a Spring Training hotspot for over 90 years.  Baseball was here before 99% of the population was.  Granted, it was mostly low minor league teams and big teams from far away markets, but it has been around.  There certainly are people here with enough baseball interest to support the local MLB franchise.  If there isn't a Bucs game on, why not just watch the Rays during that downtime?  St. Petersburg was the city that demanded, and later received, their Major League team, but again, why don't those people go to the games?  Well, in another quote from the Bubba Army, “most of those people have died off,” referring to the elderly ex–Northerners who started the movement for a local team.  Between that and the fact that people won't split up their Yankees and Red Sox allegiances, that town is just screwing itself over and making itself look bad.  There are more interested people in Tampa, and once a study is concluded on the best spot to build a new stadium, it may be time to break the lease and move east.

If there really are that many hardcore Rays fans out there, why don't they fill the seats on a regular basis?  My reasoning is that I have little time (school) and little money (college student with bills to pay).  But for those who earn good wages and can afford to cheer on the team live and in person, why haven't they noticed that it's late August and the team is still winning?  In their defense, the 1991 Atlanta Braves only had a home crowd of 20,477 on the night of September 11, the famous combined no–hitter.  They, too, were in a heated playoff race, and they were still having trouble winning over fans who had sleepwalked through years of abysmal play.  So this has happened before, just not under this microscope.  But I would think that fans around here could be paying a little more attention and showing more appreciation for this turnaround season.  I'm making my plans to go to more Rays games as September hits, and so should thousands of other loyalists.


It's Too Expensive?

Yes – With the rising gasoline prices we've seen this year, people are saving more gas — and money — by traveling less.  Those who would drive long distances to Tropicana Field are now saving that gas to extend their paychecks a few more days.  With less than four people in a car, parking costs $10, which non–carpoolers are reluctant to pay.  Tickets start at $9, better seats at $22, so the parking cost for families is offset by ticket prices.  Then food gets to be very highly priced ($8 for chicken fingers and fries?), running the tab off the charts.  An average family would spend probably at least $100 per game, all things considered.  In today's receding economy, many of these fans would prefer to save that cash for emergency purposes.

No – The Rays were recently named one of the most affordable major sports teams to go and watch.  Free parking for those with four or more people in one car and the ability to bring in your own food and drink (thanks Stuart) can ease the burden on the bank account significantly.  The team also runs special promotions, such as Dollar Hot Dog Night on Fridays, Party Deck College Night also on Fridays, and Family Fun Day on Sundays.  Try living in a place like Chicago, Los Angeles or New York and then see how much games cost.  It's much cheaper here, so please be grateful for the opportunity.


Tropicana Field Is A Subpar Facility?

Yes – A dome that has been unfavorably compared to a warehouse because of its seemingly bland architecture and atmosphere, Tropicana Field has also been known as one of the least loved stadiums in the league from day one.  The roof makes it difficult to see fly balls, we sit around and look at concrete while the real views are outside, the acoustics are horrible, some seats don't have great field views, there is nothing to do in the concession areas... those are just samples of what I've heard.  Some of it is true, especially to those who enjoy the Florida outdoor atmosphere.  Why trap yourself inside this plain building when all the fun is out on the beach?  They need a new, much better looking stadium soon.

No – Stuart Sternberg and the Rays have made over $10 million in renovations since taking over the team.  They now have the Ray Tank in center field, the video game lounge, an improved Centerfield Street, and multiple activities for people of all ages, especially during weekend games.  Not to mention the weather conditions: 72°, air conditioned.  Would you like fried skin and dehydration to go with that ticket?  I didn't think so.  Even in Spring Training, that's what you get sitting outside for hours on end.  This is a very comfortable dome with more than enough room.  Just enjoy the game and don't think about the outside.

I think that covers most of the main points of contention among Rays fans across the Tampa Bay Area.  I personally believe that the location is not a big issue in terms of where in St. Petersburg it is, because I know how to find Tropicana Field.  I think that a new stadium, however, should be much more accessible to most of the Rays' fanbase.  Tampa is a baseball area to some extent, shown by record TV and radio ratings for 2008 Rays games, but fans just need to put aside their worst fears and jump in the line.  If you play your cards right financially, the games won't bankrupt you, just live within your means.  And I don't think Tropicana Field is as terrible as critics claim it is, especially after the recent upgrades.  It's more comfortable than afternoon games under concrete and sun.

As far as your opinions go on this issue and all the questions pertaining to it… that can be for you to decide.  You can post them here if you would like to.  But I think that if fans only have one or two gripes about going to games, they should put them aside and enjoy what's happening with this team.  We may never see it again.  Until next time, go Rays.

]]> Rays' First Winning Season tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.456001 2008-08-30T15:59:12Z 2008-08-30T16:03:45Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 achieved their first winning season with last night's 14–3 destruction of the Orioles.  Coming off of two close victories against the Blue Jays, and under scrutiny once again for lack of attendance, the Rays needed a game like this to ease the burden.  Ben Zobrist's first career grand slam turned it into a landslide in the fourth inning, immediately followed by a home run from Gabe Gross, and later one from Shawn Riggans.  When three important roleplayers all hit home runs in one night, just about everything is going the right way.  With Scott Kazmir's 10th win, all five starters now have 10 or more wins this season, a feat unheard of in Tampa Bay baseball history until now.  I could go into much more detail about the week that was, including the possibly game–saving catch by Justin Ruggiano in the 1–0 win over Toronto, but I don't want to ramble on too long before the Rays host Baltimore and the FOX broadcasting crew this afternoon.

There is at least one more headline to call attention to.  Doug Eddings, the umpire who wrongly and unjustly awarded A.J. Pierzynski third base in last Sunday's loss in Chicago, has indeed publicly admitted that he made the wrong call.  Mike Port, MLB's Vice President of Umpiring, told the St. Petersburg Times, “Looking back at that occurrence, for the first and last time, it was a missed call.  And it was not because Doug Eddings, an umpire with 10 years experience, and 10 before that in the Minor Leagues, didn't know the application of the rule.  But just that in the moment in applying the rule, he saw something he thought was more than it turned out to be.”  That was quite obvious, but at least the higher–ups admitted to it.  Joe Maddon will now try to move on and away from that travesty, even going so far as to say he respects Eddings 100 times more than he previously did.  Now that the Rays have won three in a row, that call may not haunt them quite as much these days.

With the division lead still at 4½ games, the Rays play on national (OK, regional) TV today, sending Andy Sonnanstine out to the mound to once again try for his franchise record 14th win.  Young left hander Chris Waters' start for the Orioles has been moved up one day due to the timely serving of a suspension by Daniel Cabrera, who is out six games for throwing at Alex Rodriguez.  I think they can beat a rookie, why not?  J.P. Howell will be introducing the lineup for the host Rays.  The team is expecting over 30,000 fans to showcase to a larger TV audience, which will be a little better exposure than they've had in recent days.  Until next time, go Rays.
]]> We've Been Robbed... Again tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.448511 2008-08-24T21:41:00Z 2008-08-25T00:58:23Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
With one out and a runner on second base, a ground ball was hit to shortstop when A.J. Pierzynski ran on a ball in front of him, making himself an easy second out.  Willy Aybar ran him down, then threw over to Jason Bartlett.  Aybar veered left to avoid contact, at which point Pierzynski shoved Aybar in the back and took the biggest intentional dive since Norm Macdonald at the Roast of Bob Saget.  Bartlett easily tagged out the fallen catcher, but Doug Eddings (the same umpire who called the dropped third strike in favor of Pierzynski during the 2005 playoffs — and the bench coach for the opposing Angels: Joe Maddon.  Coincidence, I think not) inexplicably called interference on Aybar and awarded Pierzynski third base.  Not only have the umpires started making things up to screw the Rays (see: Jerry Meals on B.J. Upton), but they have started letting opposing players make things up as well.  After a conference, they upheld the bullcrap ruling and charged Aybar with an error that Pierzynski actually made.  Never mind that he also stepped out of the baseline during the rundown.  An intentional walk and base hit later, the umpires had some explaining to do.  As of this writing, there has been no comment, but I will update with any statements that are released.

What has it been with umpires making ridiculous calls against the Rays?  Hunter Wendelstedt calling Upton out at third base in the home opener, a non–balk call on (current Ray) Chad Bradford in a one run game, awarding Chris Shelton a two out ninth inning walk despite a 75% swing, the atrocious “turn” call on Upton against the Angels, and now this latest case of highway robbery, this time possibly costing the Rays a game.  Well, as Todd Kalas said, at least with the TBS coverage many more people got to see this one.  I agree with a Tampabay.com blog commenter in saying that Stuart Sternberg and Rays management need to make the next step and take this to the league.  It has officially gotten out of hand now.  How do they continue to defend themselves, be defended at the highest levels, and get away with this?  No umpire can be trusted anymore.  The next guy to job out the Rays could be anybody.  I would really like to see what kind of phony defense they come up with now.

The Rays get the Toronto Blue Jays next and start a long homestand.  Their record should improve with the return home, especially against opponents like the Orioles.  I also won't forget that Riggans has a little explaining to do himself, as he was the one who sent it to extra innings to begin with.  Going 0–for–4 didn't help him either.  Until next time, go Rays.
]]> National Television tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.447301 2008-08-23T16:14:34Z 2008-08-23T16:15:13Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 defeated the White Sox 9–4 in Chicago to start this well–publicized weekend series.  Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist hit home runs, and between those was sandwiched a milestone: Rocco Baldelli took Octavio Dotel deep into the left field bullpen for his first MLB home run since May 3, 2007.  If he wasn't officially back before, he is now.  Congratulations on this achievement, Rocco.  Now please give us a few more like that one.

Now it's time to show the rest of America what the Tampa Bay Rays have been doing this season.  Their first FOX game of the season will be regionally broadcast today, followed by a national telecast tomorrow on TBS.  This will give the team much needed exposure and, hopefully, an adjustment to the national spotlight.  The FOX crews are also going out to Tropicana Field, I believe for the very first time, next week.  Now is the perfect time to keep on winning and display our skills to everyone else out there.  Andy Sonnanstine is about to go for his 14th win, which would tie the franchise record.  Pena has been hitting like it was August 2007 rather than 2008.  The bullpen has been holding up well too — when the guy with the highest ERA, Trever Miller, would have been the best reliever last season, it speaks volumes to the improvement of this team.  And until we show everyone else who doesn't watch ESPN games, go Rays.]]> How The West Was Beaten tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.442441 2008-08-19T16:26:43Z 2008-08-19T16:29:37Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
Matt Garza returned to Texas for the first time since he and Dioner Navarro almost turned MLB into MMA.  But, as Dr. Weird would say, “This time… should be different!”  Indeed it was — Garza threw a two–hit, two–walk, nine–strikeout shutout of the feared Rangers offense.  It was a well timed, much needed role reversal for him with run support behind it in droves.  Former Braves pitcher Kevin Millwood came back from injury and surrendered four home runs to Rays hitters in the 7–0 victory.  Willy Aybar hit a rare left handed home run down the right field line, trying hard to displace my opinion that he should give up switch hitting altogether.  Carlos Pena hit one out for the third straight game, Eric Hinske smashed a hanging curveball over the center field wall, and Gabe Gross took the very next pitch after that to the opposite power alley and gone.  Garza was about as great as I've ever seen him, and the team backed him up.

The teams unfortunately switched spots in Saturday's game, which the Rays lost 3–0 on an eight inning three hitter by virtual unknown Matt Harrison.  Two of those hits were in the first inning, but produced zero runs, which would be their final tally.  Edwin Jackson didn't pitch too badly other than Ian Kinsler's home run on his very first pitch of the game.  So after basically taking this day off, would the offense recover for Sunday night's rubber match?

Well of course they would.  They broke out an early 7–1 lead, holding on to win 7–4.  Pena hit yet another home run (a three run shot deep into the seats), as did B.J. Upton, who showed his old power stroke with an opposite field line drive over the wall after having been benched the previous game for not running out a double play ball.  The ninth inning turned into Chinese water torture.  With Scott Kazmir having given up two runs in seven innings, the Rays had a five run lead.  Juan Salas, appearing for the first time since September 26, 2007, allowed a walk and a single.  So on came the dominant Grant Balfour.  However, with two outs, he walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run to bring up Josh Hamilton.  The most dangerous hitter in the lineup coming up with a chance to tie the game was enough for Joe Maddon to call for one of his most bold moves ever as a manager: intentional walk.  With two outs and the bases loaded?  This hadn't been done since Barry Bonds was walked by the Diamondbacks in 1998.  But, sure enough, the Rays agreed to do it, showing Hamilton the utmost respect and bringing up Marlon Byrd with the game on the line.  Dan Wheeler came in, despite Byrd being 4–for–8 with a home run against him.  The Rays continued to defy the odds as Byrd struck out swinging on a breaking pitch to end the game.  After that dramatic finish, it was time to return home.

The team came back to Tropicana Field with the threat of Tropical Storm Fay postponing a game.  It ended up turning south, enabling the series to be played in its entirety.  The opener saw Hinske and Cliff Floyd hit early home runs to put up a 5–1 advantage, which became 5–4 a few innings later.  Andy Sonnanstine pitched just over five innings and managed to pick up his 13th win of the season, aided by a comforting insurance run from Justin Ruggiano in the bottom of the eighth inning.  That run came after Jason Hammel made a rare late inning appearance and induced a double play with the go ahead run at the plate.  Upton caught himself in another controversy about running plays out when he was unsuspectingly tagged out by Mark Teixeira as he waltzed into second base with an apparent double.  This time it's slightly justified because there was nobody near the base and Teixeira made a heads up tag from behind him.  But he was still (rightfully) booed by the home fans as he stood out on second base.  They won anyway as Aybar had three hits against his brother's team, again batting left handed and proving me wrong.  Sonnanstine's win brought him within one of the franchise record, Rolando Arrojo's 14 wins in 1998.  Another day, another routine victory.

The Rays of St. Petersburg have two more games with the Angels of Anaheim before hitting the road again.  They'll be on national television three times in the next week: Wednesday night on ESPN2, Saturday afternoon on FOX and Sunday afternoon on TBS.  The next Saturday will feature the Rays in their first FOX home game as they host the Orioles.  So, Rays fans and all non–believers, you have your golden opportunity to watch the team in the spotlight.  They are now 76–48, ½ game behind the Angels for the best record in the league, and a new record 28 games over .500.  The Red Sox remain 4½ games behind, and the Yankees a full 10 games off the lead.  This is a real Major League team, regardless of what Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman continue to tell people.  Until that record is extended even further, go Rays.]]> Losing Crawford, Winning In Oakland tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.437051 2008-08-15T03:32:28Z 2008-08-15T03:38:42Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 undergoing hand surgery to repair the damaged tendon in his right middle finger.  He will now be out 6–8 weeks, which means he will miss most, if not all, of the remainder of the regular season.  The team will now be making more use of Rocco Baldelli, Ben Zobrist and Justin Ruggiano to help cover for his absence.  So far, it has been working.

The new rotation of outfielders did not prove detrimental in Oakland, where the Rays beat the A's 3–2 and 7–6 in their last two games to take yet another series.  In a week in which the Red Sox are putting up nine or ten run innings on a nightly basis, Tampa Bay has had to fight to keep its precious spot in the division standings.  But they have indeed risen up to this challenge, once again displaying different heroes of the game every night.  Gabe Gross drove in Zobrist for the winning run last night, then yet another Carlos Pena home run combined with Dioner Navarro bringing home Cliff Floyd finished off the A's today.  Floyd walked four times in that game, something he says he hadn't done since Little League (which is probably true).  Pena now has 23 home runs, four of them in the last 10 games.  At the end of each day, the Rays run on a full team effort.  They needed that chemistry to become winners, and this year they finally created it.  This is why they're up three games right now.

Possibly making things even better, the Rays get the Rangers next.  They are fresh off of three consecutive beatings at the hands of Boston, so it appears that the Rays offense should be able to destroy their substandard pitching.  Either that or they're just trying to give Boston the division title.  There is a more difficult schedule in the weeks ahead, but it is there to mold the Rays into a playoff team down the stretch.  Those games will almost certainly decide the season.  Until next time and the next series win, go Rays.
]]> I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.433911 2008-08-12T22:50:19Z 2008-08-13T05:23:39Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
The more difficult void to fill is the one Longoria left at third base.  He got a second opinion from the team's hand specialist, and it revealed a fractured wrist.  While he may avoid any further injury later on, there is a difficult challenge that the team has to overcome for about the next three weeks: playing without him for the first time since April.  Willy Aybar can be good at times (case in point, his two home run game Sunday), and with the ability to move Hinske up to third base sometimes with different players in the corner outfield spots, this loss can be managed and its effects minimized.  They won't be replacing his Gold Glove–p;caliber defense and his power in its entirety, but Longoria should be healed in a few weeks and good to go for the September playoff run.  He says his wrist already feels about 50 percent better than it did initially, so there are already signs of progress and not a David Ortiz extended absence.

I'm not as scared for the team's well being as most others are or that I probably should be, because the Rays are a well–p;rounded team with a very strong pitching staff all holding up as August drags on.  They can find sufficient replacements until these guys come back, well rested and stronger than before.  I sound like I'm toting the company line here, but I think it's just the truth.  They won't have everything Crawford and Longoria bring to the table every night, but it's not as if there's nobody else on this team.  They can, and will, remain strong, and it all starts when three of our best pitchers take on the Oakland A's.  Until next time, go Rays.]]> The Single Season Mark Is 71 tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.430971 2008-08-11T04:12:07Z 2008-08-11T04:14:30Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 won their franchise record 71st game of the season, doing so on August 10, defeating the Seattle Mariners 11–3 to take three out of four games at Safeco Field and improve to an all–time best 25 games over .500.  This was a game of several steps in the right direction, and the Rays are now 4½ games ahead of the Red Sox for the division lead.

As I just mentioned, the Tampa Bay franchise record of 71 wins was officially set at the conclusion of this series.  Not only did they reach this win total for the first time ever, they did it with 45 games left on the schedule.  They have topped their 70–91 record set in 2004, and are set to destroy it by the end of the year.

Rocco Baldelli returned to action in the Major Leagues for the first time in 15 months, hitting an RBI single in his second at–bat and making a diving catch in right field.  He played 5½ innings, which is about as long as he went in rehab games.  He says that with his treatment combination of heavy medication, a new diet and more rest, he can get more active by the end of the season.  For a man with a mitochondrial disorder at the point in which it can zap almost every particle of energy from the body, it's amazing he can even play the game.  He'll be needed as a right handed hitter off the bench, especially with Jonny Gomes in AAA for the time being.  It's great news to every Rays fan that he is now contributing to the playoff push.

Willy Aybar hit two home runs in the series–winning game, both down the left field line and over the high wall.  Interestingly, he hit them batting right handed against right handed pitcher R.A. Dickey, a rare feat for a switch hitter.  It turned out to be the perfect move to implement that strategy against a guy who throws knuckleballs and otherwise mostly breaking pitches.  Shawn Riggans also homered to the same area of the stadium.  For guys making spot starts for Evan Longoria and Dioner Navarro, they did everything the regular starters could have done, which is more than what was asked of them and shows potential ability to be major roleplayers late in the season.

David Price has been promoted to AAA Durham.  7–0 with a 1.89 ERA at Montgomery, Price pitched 57 innings in which he walked 16 hitters and struck out 55.  He is still undefeated in professional baseball at 11–0, and the Rays believe he can be in a Major League uniform next month.  The way he's pitching, why not?  The only question is where he would fit in the Rays' pitching rotation.  They're afraid to remove Sonnanstine (their winningest pitcher) from his starting role, and even though Jackson is a former reliever, he has been improving and they don't want him to lose his rhythm.  They also fear screwing with Price's mechanics by moving him to the bullpen.  Hopefully they don't pull the Joba Chamberlain with this guy and force him to make too many adjustments in a short time span.  I'm not sure what they should do yet, but maybe the decision will become more obvious by the time it has to be made.

Carl Crawford is on the 15 day disabled list with a tendon injury to his right middle finger.  Maybe he gave the Red Sox the bird once too often.  Actually, it happened on a check swing of all things.  It should be known very soon what the nature and severity of the injury is, but he is already said to be out at least 2–3 weeks.  Perfect time to bring back Baldelli.  Maybe during this time Crawford can regain his full hitting and running strength and return to play like he did in previous seasons.

Rays color commentator Joe Magrane called his last games for the next few weeks in Seattle, as he is now on his way to Beijing, China to do color commentary for NBC's Olympic baseball coverage. This is his third Olympic Games doing this prestigious duty, and hopefully he does the Rays, the United States, and the rest of the world proud, which I believe he can do. I'll be watching, Joe.

The Rays begin a three game series with the Oakland A's, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games, tomorrow in Oakland.  Scott Kazmir pitches the opening game, followed by Sonnanstine and Shields.  Every team in the division except the Rays lost their last games, making a perfect 5–for–5 for us.  Until next time, go Rays.]]> Epic Victory Over Cleveland tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.424961 2008-08-07T02:13:31Z 2008-08-07T02:15:08Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 win 10–7.  It looked as if Cleveland would rock once again, hammering Scott Kazmir and going for their second upset victory behind Jeremy Sowers (1–6) this season.  They were up 6–4 going into the ninth inning, where a wild pitch by Troy Percival got trapped in the backstop wall, allowing the seventh run to score.  However, the Rays struck quickly in the bottom half, as Jason Bartlett — he of no home runs this season — hit a double to the left center field wall despite still being unable to throw a baseball due to his recent index finger injury.  Eric Hinske followed with his own double, a line drive right down the first base line past Sal Fasano, who is usually a catcher.  OK, it's 7–5 now.  Not quite panic mode for the Indians yet.  But wait — Mr. Walk Off, Gabe Gross, came up next against a right handed pitcher (Edward Mujica).  You know what this means.  The second 2–2 pitch was rocket launched to the very back of the right field seats, another mammoth late inning home run.  Game tied.

Panic time.

Cleveland summoned reliever Masa Kobayashi, a recent import from his native Japan.  His first batter was his own countryman, Akinori Iwamura, who along with Fasano and Kobayashi proceeded to recreate the Don Denkinger debacle from 1985.  Iwamura hit it slowly to the right side, where Kobayashi took the feed from Fasano and appeared to beat Iwamura by almost a full step.  But over questions that, maybe, his foot never touched the base, the runner was called safe.  Replays were somewhat inconclusive, but the Rays took their breaks any way they could get them.  Ben Zobrist, in for B.J. Upton (benched for not running out a ground ball — that's how you teach them, Joe), then walked on four pitches after a 3–0 pitch was right over the plate but missed low.  Following the rare Zobrist walk, Carlos Pena stepped up with the golden opportunity to win the game.  Even a single scored Iwamura.  But it's Pena, the game is on the line, and he's up against a right handed relief pitcher.

Again, you know what this means.

On the very first pitch, Pena golfed one high and deep to center field, where Franklin Gutierrez could only watch it fly over the wall and land in front of Centerfield Street.  Walk-off home run, Rays win 10–7.  So the Rays' dramatic late inning heroics continued, as did Cleveland's bullpen troubles.  And in the end, the call at first base barely meant anything, as the Rays still won quite easily.  Well, at least they made it look easy.  Six runs without an out in the ninth inning is much easier said than done.  Everyone from the stars to bit players shared integral roles in this comeback, which could officially mark a turning point in Pena's season.  His five home runs during the last four series have already been signs of things to come.  This one ranks right up there with the 10 inning win over the Tigers that capped off that sweep as the single most exciting Rays game this season.  They are now 68–45, eclipsing last year's win total of 66 and staying 3½ games ahead of the Red Sox in the division.

The Rays are now going to Seattle, which is a road city, but probably still an easy place in which to steal some wins.  Everybody else in the league is doing it.  So we have to make sure this team doesn't knock us out of first place.  And until next time, America, go Rays.]]> R.I.P. Skip Caray tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.420111 2008-08-04T17:34:48Z 2008-08-04T17:35:01Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
He was the sportscaster I always emulated at home as a kid.  Skip Caray was one of my favorite commentators of all time in any sport.  Nobody will ever forget his "SAFE!  BRAVES WIN!" call from the end of the 1992 National League Championship Series, in my opinion maybe the greatest play in baseball history.  He had his sense of humor, shown in such instances as the time he said, during a long losing streak, "And like lambs to slaughter, the Braves take the field."  More recently, he said after a ball off Carl Everett's bat hit Keith Olbermann's picture, "He just did something a lot of people in sports have wanted to do for a long time — hit Keith Olbermann in the face with a line drive."  And don't forget this gem: "The bases are loaded just like Jack McKeon wishes he was!"  Skip also had a great sense of timing for those dramatic game moments.  His loud calls of "Braves lead!" and "Braves win!" were heard by multiple generations of baseball fans on TBS, and Braves fans through both television and radio.  Like I said before, I was one of those fans.  I was inspired as a kid to become a Braves fan, in no small way thanks to Skip Caray.  He cheered his team on right along with the fans while calling the game, learning this art from his father Harry, among others.  And I never thought I would see the day that he would no longer be available to call Braves baseball, but it is now here.  In my book, he was and forever is a Hall of Famer.

Chip Caray is now the last man standing in the family, and I know he already does a great job covering baseball for TBS and Braves TV.  He will carry on the legacy just like he and Skip did after Harry's 1998 death.  But never forgotten in all of this is a cornerstone of Braves history, Skip Caray.

Skip Caray
August 12, 1939 – August 3, 2008
]]> Series Win Guaranteed Over Tigers tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.418331 2008-08-03T04:21:37Z 2008-08-03T04:30:51Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 5–2 Friday night victory and subsequent 9–3 beating in front of a sellout crowd, they continue to show the baseball world that the expected downfall is not happening.  Longoria has homered in consecutive games, Crawford is running for the first time in weeks, and pitching continues to be a strong point.  Kazmir and Sonnanstine, the team's best and winningest pitchers, both survived one of the greatest lineups in the league.  Though Kazmir ran up a high pitch count and probably would have walked the bat boy on five pitches, he kept runs off the scoreboard enough for the long–dormant offense to come out and save him.  Timely pitching — not giving up those mistimed home runs we were accustomed to in previous years — and a much stronger defense have become the team's core.  And love it or hate it, big markets, it is not falling apart.

The Rays look for the sweep today at a time in which they can really use it.  They have already won their 14th out of their last 15 home series, which is an amazing stat.  So is their 42–16 home record, which already beats the 41–win record set by the 2004 and 2006 teams.  Most of the games for the rest of the season, however, are played on the road.  So they need to channel the spirit of the 4–3 roadtrip they took last week and just think about winning regardless of venue.  I think, with the offense turning around, it's very possible.  Until next time, grab your brooms and go Rays.]]> Trade Deadline: Rays Don't Move tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.415871 2008-08-01T17:56:34Z 2008-08-01T17:54:43Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
I think that, with the way this team has been built towards years of success, trading multiple prospects for anyone who would have only been here for two months trying to impress the big markets would have probably been a front office failure.  Boston's acquisition of Bay while casting off Manny Ramirez (finally) along with Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen, while ridding the locker room of Reggie Jackson, Jr., won't make them worlds better as a team.  The Yankees' steal of Nady and Damaso Marte, combined with the trade of Kyle Farnsworth for a past–his–prime Ivan Rodriguez, most likely didn't set the Bronx on fire either.  Maybe they got better, but it may not be a hole that they can escape from.  The Rays staying with what got them here to begin with looks like a smart move.  Carlos Pena has hit three home runs this past week, all on the road, increasing his home run productivity by 20% for the entire season.  Carl Crawford is finally starting to get some big hits, Longoria is still doing very well, and Navarro is still hitting over .310.  The pitchers are as good as they have been all season.  It's looking like our time is now as all the pieces are merging into the winning puzzle.  Where the trade market didn't fit, people are starting to fill in.  Coming back home tonight from a winning roadtrip gives even more immediate hope to extending this division lead.

I'll keep close tabs on the Rays throughout the weekend as they face the Detroit Tigers, who are also pushing for a playoff spot.  Great news, Rays fans: Saturday night's game featuring LL Cool J has sold out in advance to the point where the tarped off seats will be opened for the first time in years.  This is something that will get the critics backtracking.  Rays fans are finally showing up to games.  Speaking of which, I need to get back to Tropicana Field sometime soon.  Until the capacity crowd drowns the Tigers in a deep blue sea, go Rays.]]> Rays Keeping Top Spot tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.390811 2008-07-22T16:00:28Z 2008-07-22T16:02:31Z After the Red Sox took a sweep at the hands of the Angels in Los Angeles and the Rays won their series over Toronto, Tampa Bay held on to first place with a 4–0 victory over the Oakland A's at... Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2 4–0 victory over the Oakland A's at Tropicana Field.  Scott Kazmir was back to his dominant form, only allowing two hits (with four walks) and no runs in seven innings, striking out nine.  It was his first performance of more than six innings since June 11th.  He threw 103 pitches, about 10 of them sliders, recording four of his strikeouts with his slider.  He mixed in a high amount of first pitch changeups, as even that pitch was working greatly for him.  The A's love to run up pitch counts, but there was no slowing down Kazmir last night.  This was a turning point to his season.  Every pitch was in command early and often, and it will be that Scott Kazmir that leads us into extra October baseball.  The Rays have started advertising postseason ticket packages, so please don't fail us now.

Evan Longoria hit a home run for the third straight game, so he is now up to a team–leading 19.  Had the Rays stuck with their initial option of keeping him in AAA for two months, I don't think they would be where they are right now.  He has started hitting the ball very well and, once his teammates produce more in front of him, may be in line for 100 RBI in his rookie season.  Willy Aybar also homered last night, hitting it high off the left field foul pole for his fourth home run and ninth RBI of the year.  It's about time he started doing something.  B.J. Upton had two hits and two walks as he may be catching fire at the right time.  If guys like Upton, Crawford and Pena start hitting more like they did under the radar last season, this team can possibly be a dominant force throughout the playoffs.

Yes, I just said playoffs.  Hopefully the Rays can use some of their loaded minor league talent to beat the Yankees to a right handed power hitter for the middle of the lineup.  That's just about the last piece of the puzzle they need to fill to get there.  They just beat a left handed starting pitcher last night, but overall that has been one of the weakest points of this team, which has the best record of any team against right handers and a losing record against left handers.  The latter will definitely need to change if the Rays want to succeed at this level.  I think they'll find a way to do it.  So until the A's are sent back to their bay, go Rays.
]]> All Star Game Aftermath tag:braverays.mlblogs.com,2008://1347.385681 2008-07-19T03:54:12Z 2008-07-19T03:55:36Z Brenton http://www.myspace.com/freedomrock2
Navarro was the first Rays player to appear, pinch hitting for Varitek (wisely) with a runner on base.  His strikeout and subsequent throwing error obviously didn't help his cause, but greater things were on the way.  Longoria pinch hit for designated hitter Milton Bradley and hit the game tying ground rule double, making it 3–3 in the eighth inning.  Navarro then threw out Cristian Guzman at second base to send the game to extra innings, and he probably should have scored the winning run in the 11th inning, but home plate umpire Derryl Cousins incorrectly called him out at the plate on what was a great throw from Nate McLouth.  It would have been irrelevant if Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler had been correctly called safe by umpire Tom Hallion on a steal of second base.  So after the umpires granted the game's eternal extension, Kazmir finally appeared in the 15th inning after every other pitcher had been exhausted.  Having thrown 104 pitches two days earlier, there was cause for concern, but Kazmir represented his team with pride by throwing a perfect 14–pitch inning to set up the American League's win in the bottom half.  So now if the Rays do pull off the 1969 Mets turnaround, they'll host four games of the World Series at Tropicana Field.  In the last 25 years, teams with home field advantage have gone 20–5 in the World Series.  So the cost of losing this game is very substantial.  At least the Rays helped their league win.

Speaking of the Rays and winning, they returned to action tonight at home against the Toronto Blue Jays and edged out an exciting 2–1 victory to snap that seven game losing streak.  James Shields allowed one run in seven innings, pitching well with no run support.  That is, until Ben Zobrist entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning down 1–0.  In a scene reminiscent of Akinori Iwamura teeing off Clay Buchholz, he took A.J. Burnett's inside pitch and launched it deep into the right field seats down the line to give the Rays their margin of victory.  J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour stranding that runner at third base in the next half inning definitely assisted them as well.  But tonight's victory was all about Zobrist, who has caught Navarro's sense of timing his home runs.  Shields deserved to win, and he did.

Now this whole winning concept that they had most of the first half has to keep resurfacing as the Red Sox don't ever seem to lose.  Not to mention those pesky ancient Yankees.  The Rays need to send the freefalling Blue Jays back to their country by broom and stay right up there with baseball's best teams.  They got off to a nice start tonight.  Until this task is completed, go Rays.]]>