Burrell goes deep against his former team, Bartlett extends his streak, Rays win! posted by Matt Hewitt

A day after the Rays do seemingly everything wrong, they come back and do nearly everything right in a 7-1 victory over the Phillies. The second game of the World Series rematch was much more eventful than the previous, with Garza throwing a gem, Burrell homering and Bartlett extending his hit streak to 18 games (ties a franchise record held by the long time Devil Ray great Quinton McCracken).

Matt Garza pitched 8 strong innings, giving up only 3 hits, striking out 7 and giving up 1 earned run. His only mistake was a ball Werth hit out of the ballpark for a solo shot. Equally as impressive, Joe Blanton matched Garza as best he could, going 7+ allowing 6 hits, striking out 10 and giving up 2 earned runs. He also only made one mistake the whole game, the only difference was Carlos Pena was on first base when he left a 0-1 fastball over the heart of the plate. Pat Burrell didn't miss it and launched it into the left field seats for just his second home run of the season.

Jason Bartlett continued his hit streak as part of a 5 run bottom of the eighth for the Rays. Bartlett led off the bottom of the seventh with a strikeout making him 0-3 on the night and it looked as though he wouldn't get another shot. Until the bottom of the eighth when Pat Burrell stepped up with bases loaded and 2 outs, Bartlett on deck. Burrell gets handcuffed on an inside fastball and hits a slow roller to Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, and due to the fantastic hustle of Ben Zobrist (who should be an All-Star, but thats for another blog) beats out the fielders choice at second, allowing the run to come in for insurance, and giving Jason Bartlett one last at-bat. And he would not blow his opportunity, she flared a sinking line drive into right field, just out of the outstretched glove of Chase Utley for a 2 rbi base hit.

Mistakes Made and Pitching Counts; Phillies falter to Rays, giving up 5 in the 8th posted by SportsPhanatic

Pat Burrell had hit 251 home runs up to this year, and obviously hadn't hit any against a team with "Philadelphia" tagged in front of its team name, since drafted 1st overall by the team in 1998. Up until now.

Burrell blasted a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning of the Phillies-Rays World Series rematch from last year, at Tropicana Field, scoring Carlos Pena and giving the Rays (not to be confused with the "Devil Rays" of extinction, formerly) an early lead that would bulster.  The wheels came off in the bottom of the 8th when middle reliever JC Romero gave up 4 hits, a walk & a hit batter in his outing.  

Jimmy Rollins continued to struggle with the bat. He went 0-4 tonight, lowering his average, to .211- barely over the mendoza line.  He'll look for another chance to pick his game up, tomorrow night vs. Andy Sonnanstine. 

INJURY UPDATE:  (All Caps are necessary)  Brad Lidge will return tomorrow and is expected to be called up. Is John Mayberry back down or do you think they will keep him on the ballclub, even with Lidge back and Rollins struggling? Lidge has been on the 15-day disabled list, as of June 7th.

On another note, Scott Eyre will be expected to return in 7-10 days, after being sidelined since June 12th with a strained left calf. Lidge is  and Eyre is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 25 appearences this year with the Phillies.

Tough Cookie- Joe Blanton came through with a tremendous outing tonight- going 7 innings, giving up 2 ERs & punching out 10 batters, getting little run support from his offense and going deep, despite getting the loss.  Previously, in 4 starts this month, Blanton posted a 1-0 record with a 3.58 ERA in that time span. 

Mile High Baseball posted by David

I’ve been in Denver all week and was able to attend two Rockies games at Coors Field.

Among the highlights:

I saw Evan Longoria hit home runs – his 15th and 16th - on back-to-back nights.  The first shot got the Rays on the board in the first inning on Tuesday en route to their 12-4 win over the Rockies, whose 11-game winning streak came to an end.

I watched Rays’ phenom David Price pitch against Aaron Cook, who in my opinion should have been the MVP of last year’s All-Star Game.  (People have a hard time voting for a player from the losing team, but Cook was more valuable to the N.L. than J.D. Drew was to the A.L.)  Price got knocked around for four runs in the second inning, but recovered to last seven innings while allowing five runs.  He was outpitched by Cook, however, who went seven innings and gave up just three runs.  Each surrendered two home runs, but the ones hit off Cook were both solo shots (including Longoria’s).  In addition to a solo homer, Price served up a three-run bomb.

How ‘bout that?

How about Luke Scott?  In just 170 at-bats, Scott has hit 14 home runs and is tied for 14th in long balls among American Leaguers.  Though he is not on the official list of league leaders because of a stint on the 15-day DL, Scott is slugging nearly .600 and if he had enough at-bats to be eligible, he would be ahead of the likes of Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, and Carlos Peña – among others - in the A.L.

How about the Nationals?  With a winning percentage of .281 (18-46), the Nats not only hold the worst record in the majors, but no other team is even close.  The Indians – the team with the next worst record – are 29-39, good for a .426 winning percentage.  Despite their awful record, Washington actually beat the Yankees the last two nights (including shutting them out on Thursday) to win the interleague series against the Bronx Bombers.

Rockies return the favor, snap the Rays 6 game win streak posted by Matt Hewitt

The Rays put up a dozen runs in the first game of the series, but can only muster three in the second game, as the Rockies hand them their first loss in seven games.

 Apart from his 4 run second inning, which included back to back base hits and a three run homer, David Price's outing last night was decent. He was finally able to go deeper into the game, something he was determined to do after several of his previous starts fell short. He gave up 5 earned in 7 innings of work. Unfortunately for the Rays, the couldn't match that offensively. Solo blasts from Crawford and Longoria and a RBI single by Burrell was the only support Price got, giving him his first loss of the season.

 Aaron Cook performed extremely well, pitching exactly the way you need to at Coors field; with a hard sinker and ground outs upon ground outs. Cook went 7 innings, giving up 3 earned runs and striking out 3, putting up the best performance by a red-head since Kathy Griffin on "Celebrity Mole".

With Toronto putting a pounding on Jamie Moyer and the Phillies, the Rays fall back into fourth place in the AL East. However, its still early in the season, the Rays just got Burrell and Bartlett back, and are still waiting on Bradford and Kazmir to complete the team. So it won't be long before the Rays are once again at the top of the division.

Rays barely get by the leagues worst team posted by Matt Hewitt

It wasn't very pretty, but the Rays won the series opener against the Nationals, owners of the league's worst record. It was just the kind of game that the Rays won all last year but have failed to win so far this year. The Rays have been awful in one run games this year and it feels like a turning point.

 When Garza stepped on the hill to start the game, at home, against the Nationals, it felt like an automatic win, however when Garza stepped off the hill at the end of the top half of the first, it seemed like it would be a long night. With little control, he gave up 3 runs in the first while throwing over 30 pitches. But to Garza's credit, he battled through the next 4.2 innings and put up all zeros. And then the inconsistent bullpen followed and finished with 4.1 scoreless innings. So all they needed was 4 runs to pull out a victory.

 A Navarro single, a double steal with an error and a Gross double and the Rays had 3 runs of their own. Then the bottom of the eighth brought lefty Ron Villone pitching, posting a .50 ERA, against Gabe Kapler, pinch hitting for the left handed Gabe Gross. Kapler brought a .173 batting average and just one home run to the plate. Kapler pops up a pitch to the left side in foul territory, and the usually sure handed Nick Johnson over-runs the ball and lets it hit the turf, giving Gabe a second life. Right as he dropped the pop up, there is only one thing going through Nick Johnson's mind..."Wouldn't I feel awful if Kpler hit a home run the very next pitch." Sure enough Gabe throws the bat head down at a low pitch and hits the ball into the first row of seats in left field, Rays take the lead 4-3. That would be all the offense they needed as J.P. Howell finishes it out and picks up his second win of the year.

Yankee fans for Jesus, arise! Pray for your team! posted by Cesar Valverde

Ball players and their fans are very superstitious creatures. Ballplayers will do anything to get a hitting streak going. Pitchers will do anything to get a winning streak going. The fans will go anything to get a rally going if their team is behind during a game. They'll do everything from not washing their socks, to putting tar on their helmets. When a pitcher is throwing a perfect game, the rest of the players stay away from him, thinking that their mere presence is going to mess up his chances to make that milestone. New York Yankees SS Derek Jeter, our beloved captain is very superstitious. If he or his team is approaching some kind of milestone that he is not aware of, he will dog the media and say that they jinxed the team by bringing it to his attention. Case in point: during a post-game interview a couple of days before the Yankees beat the 2006 Boston Red Sox team record for most consecutive games played without committing an error, Kimberly Jones brought it his attention. The first thing that he tells her is, "Why did you tell me that, it's bad karma, " then he answers the questions. In a commercial on the MLB Network, they show fans showing up at the gate to their favorite teams ballparks some of them have face-paint on. Others are dressed like Shamans carrying Voodoo beads. Come on, people. Enough with the superstitions all ready! How about praying for your team? I do it! Whenever the Yankees are behind in a game and they're rallying, I lean forward in my chair and put in my hands together and bring them to my face in a praying position thinking, sometimes saying, "Come on!" I do this because I believe it will bring God into the situation and the Yankees will bring home runs. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Either way, I praise the Lord because ultimately the game is in His hands. Only He knows the outcome, but I believe prayer does more than just spark up a rally a bring in runs.

Pat Burrell hopes to make big impact in his return from the DL posted by Matt Hewitt

Pat Burrell will make one more start at AA Montgomery before making his long awaited return to the big leagues. Out since May 11 with a stiff neck, Burrell will look to make an impact when he again graces the line-up with his power right handed bat. Don't get me wrong, Gabe Gross and Joe Dillon have filled his shoes well at times, I'm sure the Rays are looking forward to seeing Pat in the DH position. Although Burrell hasn't been the big off-season signee so far, we should all be confident that he can turn around his dismal .315 slugging percentage and 1 hr into something that propels the Rays over .500 and to the top of the division. Because someone has to do it! Continue reading "Pat Burrell hopes to make big impact ..."

2009 Isn't As Great As 2008: Tampa Bay Rays' Bullpen Isn't the Same posted by Dexter Jones

After their improbable World Series run in 2008, many fans and analysts expected the 2009 Tampa Bay Rays club to be as good or better.

They’re not.

Since the Stuart Sternberg ownership era began in 2006, Cool Hand Stu could do no wrong.  Free parking at home games.  Fans were allowed to bring their own food to games, and tailgating in the parking lot on game day was encouraged.  Ballpark attractions on Left, Center, and Right Field Streets beyond the outfield stands really enhanced the stadium experience for casual fans.  There aren’t many ballparks that let you play baseball video games in a lounge area that looks like the Formans’ basement on “That 70’s Show.” 

More importantly, the personnel decisions all made sense for a team that was trying to build a winning culture over time.  Though the Rays had stockpiled a small village of top-5 1st round draft picks through their history, the trade strategy in 2006 was to continue to get younger.  Aubrey Huff brought Ben Zobrist and Mitch Talbot.  Danys Baez brought Edwin Jackson.  Mark Hendrickson brought Dioner Navarro.  Joey Gathright brought JP Howell.  There was a perceivable difference between losing with young talent and losing with established veterans, which had been the hallmark of the Rays for the first 8 years or so. 

Eventually those draft picks would blossom.  David Price made the majors a year after being drafted.  Evan Longoria is the reigning Rookie of the Year.  Jeff Niemann is in the starting rotation and leads the team in wins. Delmon Young was the centerpiece of the trade that brought Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett from the Twins.  Garza’s a legit ace, and Bartlett’s hitting over .370 right now.  B.J. Upton has played superstar defense in centerfield and hit 7 home runs in the playoffs last year.  The only exceptions to the rule were Dewon Brazelton, who just could not make it in the majors, and Josh Hamilton, whose drug and alcohol problems nearly took his own life before rejuvenating his career and his life with Cincinnati and then Texas. 

Carl Pavano and the Indians win the game played by Cleveland's other team tonight. posted by Brad VanFossan

Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Indians

May 26, 2009

Matt Garza vs. Carl Pavano

Progressive Field

Cleveland, Ohio

Its game two of the series, or better known as the night of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Indians are looking to build momentum after last night’s incredible comeback. I don’t remember ESPN covering even a Tribe playoff game in ‘07 as intently as they did last night’s game. Opposing hitters are only hitting .199 against Matt Garza, which leads the league, and he picked up a victory over the Tribe a little over a week ago. That being said, Carl Pavano has been the best Indians pitcher not named Cliff Lee. I like Cleveland to win their 15th straight at home vs. Tampa Bay 5-2. I also like the Cavs tonight in a tight one 97-94. We will definitely see what the guys not named Lebron are made of tonight.

Some things I liked tonight, heard through the day, or came to mind as I was writing:

-Kudos to STO for incorporating a new player highlight clip going into the break before the Indians came up in the bottom of the first. I thought the Asdrubal Cabrera one to start the game off was very well done.

-I’m surprised that Eric Wedge stuck with Ryan Garko’s hot bat, but it paid off early as Garko blasted a solo home run in the 2nd.

-Garko will probably homer again later then have the next four games off to make room for a combination of Dellucci or Crowe in the lineup.

-I’m not even a huge fan of Garko, but it’s more of a way to show my frustration of Wedge to use his use of Garko as an example of one of many ways in which the skipper lacks the ability to draw up a consistent lineup.

The Celtics Lose Game 7 and Boston Officially Loses it's TrophyTown Title posted by Hank Hill

This is just not the Celtics' year. Last night's game 7 looked like a game 4 in a 3-0 series. The Celtics came out without their energy, all out of sync. Clearly, they missed KG. Ray Allen, who we needed to step up, finally did, but he was the only one who showed up to play. Meanwhile, Orlando 21-13 from three point land, was just too much to handle and every shot they took led to me biting my nails off and praying for a comeback that never came. This game was a tough one for Boston to handle; we were losing all game and never made the run that they usually can.

And they just kept adding the pressure and smoking us making MIT, The Professor, Jr, G, Rach, Ro, Dato, KC, Jon, me, and even Murray, wanting to change the channel. But we didn't. We knew that we needed a miracle that just wasn't in the cards. The final score of 101-82 adds to the devastating losses in all of Boston sports. The Pats lost to the NYG in the superbowl; Sox lost to Tampa Bay in game 7; Bruins had an awesome season but just lost game seven last week in the same building as the Celts.

Back to the Celts, they had a good year but losing Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe pretty much ended the Cs season even though we still had a good run.  I believe we should have/could have won last night, as everyone says, but that's the pain of being a sports' fan. But we learned a lot this year--now we have some free agents the Cs need to sign: Big Baby Davis was impressive as was House, Powe, and even Marbury. So this year may be over, but next year you don't want to have the Celtics on your schedule. Off to the Sox.