Did you ever need more proof that a new day is dawning on the Tampa Bay Rays? Well, tonight, there was nothing less than a “Yankees Suck” chant ringing through the Trop. That’s right - the Trop was alive with the sound of cheering Rays fans.
Matt Garza Is Better Than You: And, quite frankly, better than a whole lot of pitchers in baseball right now. That trade to get him and Jason Bartlett is looking better and better every day, isn’t it?
The most amazing thing about Garza is that he is able to do it essentially using just one pitch, a really sick fastball that moves something fierce. He puts it where he wants, mixes up the speed, and opposing teams don’t stand a chance. Mix in that ridiculous curveball that he throws, and you’ve got a guy who is virtually unhittable. He made the star-studded Yankee lineup look like a bunch of amateurs tonight.
That marks the third straight great outing for Garza, and though he’s not striking people out (14 Ks:14 BB in 32.2 IP), he’s getting some really big outs and causing some really weak swings. The strikeouts will probably come, especially with his stuff. It’s perhaps even MORE impressive that he’s been able to do what he’s been doing without having the strikeout in his repertoire. If he keeps throwing like this, is there any doubt that Kazmir-Shields-Garza is the top trio in the division, and, perhaps, the league?
*Subliminal Message: VOTE*
Jonny B. Very Goode: I love Jonny Gomes. Let’s get that out of the way right now. I love watching him play. I love knowing he’s in the lineup. I love when he steals bases and knocks in runs and brings the kind of energy that only Jonny Gomes can bring to the park.
And, oh yeah, he was really good tonight.
*Subliminal Message: VOTE*
Do the Bartlett: Looks like Jason is finally snapping out of his offensive funk, but it’s his defense that wows me each and every night. He goes into the hole so well, turns a double play so well, and has the kind of range you can only dream of from a shortstop. He might be the single biggest reason why the Rays’ pitching staff is so greatly improved.
*Subliminal Message: VOTE*
It’s Our House: Yeah, there were still a lot of really loud Yankee fans in the house, but as the Rays jumped out to the lead early on, the carpet-baggers got quiet and the Rays fans took back their house. Though the stadium wasn’t anywhere near full, it actually sounded like there were more Rays fans than Yankee fans there for a change. As the Rays keep winning games, this trend will only improve.
*Subliminal Message: VOTE*
Going Streaking: 2 more hits, and Akinori Iwamura somehow has a 10-game hitting streak going on. It might be the quietest 10-game streak ever, since I cannot remember him being good for that long. But what do I know?
*Subliminal Message: VOTE*
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers: Courtesy of Marc Lancaster,
At 22-16, the Rays have their best record ever after 38 games and are six games over .500 for the first time The Rays are now just a half-game back of the Red Sox The Rays are now 3 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, their largest lead ever over New York Their five-game winning streak is the longest active run in baseball Their 10-game home winning streak is a club record and the longest in MLB this season by two games All 10 of those wins have come against teams that finished with a winning record last season The Rays have won 14 of their last 19 At 16-11 against the AL East, they are the only team in the division with a winning record in the division Rays starters have a 1.29 ERA (six earned runs in 41 2/3 innings) over the last six games And finally, Andy Pettitte’s last (and only other) loss at the Trop came on Sept. 16, 1998. Check out the box score from that bad boy for some blasts from the past.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Yankees Suck…Yankees Suck…Yankees Suck…
Wow it was fun to hear that grace the outlaying sounds of my TV last night… Just a fun game to grin at last night… no drama, just a thorough butt-whoopin. =)
May 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I absolutely enjoyed watching last night’s game on TV. I am working on getting a babysitter for Thursday so I can go to the game, but not working out for me so far. Quick question for everyone- does anyone else find themselves checking out the scores of the Red Sox games now, to see if we are gaining ground in the standings? I know I did last night. During commercial breaks, I was switching over to ESPN to watch the Twins beat up on the Red Sox. It’s a lot of fun right now, and I know it won’t last forever, but I can’t help but be excited. I have been cautiously optimistic all year, but now I am getting truly worked up about this team. We have done all of this winning without Pena swinging the bat with any kind of consistency, Crawford hasn’t exploded to hit .500 during a week, Upton hasn’t hit with much power, half of our contributors on the DL, Al Reyes throwing the ball not-so-well, and Kazmir has only pitched 2 games this season. So, tell me why I shouldn’t be excited about our chances at a playoff run this season. I’m not saying we need to just hold pat if we’re still in it when the All Star Break rolls around, but we’re not far from having a truly dominant team right now. I have been saying that we might need to acquire another veteran starter, but I’m not married to the idea. I will say that if Reyes comes back and still isn’t throwing well, that we might want to consider going after a reliever to help take the heat off Wheeler and Percival. I will think of some names in a little while and will post something later. Anyways, the bottom line is that this team is playing with a ton of confidence, and I don’t see a reason as to why we can’t make a legitimate run at the playoffs this year. The Yankees have no pitching after Wang and Pettitte, who we beat last night. The Blue Jays can’t hit, and just lost possibly their biggest bat for 6-8 weeks. The Angels will probably take the West, and I think the A’s will eventually fall off the wagon. So I think our toughest opponent will be the challenger from the Central. It is not too tough to think that we have a real shot this year.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I withdraw my request for wild card standings from last week. AL East standings look plenty fine.
I’d note this whole most recent streak of good fortune started at the hands of Shawn Camp. Andrew might have kept Camper over Josh Hamilton on the 40-man, but we appear to have completed our sentence for that afront of the baseball gods. Now the bloop hits are falling and the other guys best hitters are hurt. As Crash Davis once said, don’t question this, just “respect the streak”.
Outside of a medical cure for Rocco (or a sellout weeknight crowd) this is the best news a Rays franchise could hope to see.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I said earlier that I would post a list of guys who could potentially be on the Rays’ radar for relievers via trade. I have thought about it some more and looked at some other rosters and don’t see a whole lot out there that I would want on our team, or at least that would be available for us. There was only one guy who I thought would be able to help us this year, and could possibly be available when the deadline approaches. Sean Green from the Mariners is a pretty consistent reliever for the M’s, and would be under team control for a couple more years, I believe through 2011. He doesn’t throw up dominating numbers, but does seem to be in the upper echelon on relievers. One good thing about trading for relievers is that it usually doesn’t cost a ton of talent to get them. I do think it would take a pretty solid prospect to get Green away from the M’s, though. I was thinking it could possibly take Justin Ruggiano and maybe a lower-level pitching prospect. However, if Ruggiano keeps on hitting the cover off the ball in Durham, he might just be enough to get Green and another piece. The reason I guess I’m not overly impressed with other relievers on other teams is because I know we have 2 sure-handed relievers sitting in Durham awaiting their opportunity to come back up here and contribute-Balfour and Salas. Balfour might not be as sure-handed, but his K-rate is still ridiculous. Salas just still has a lot of potential, and could always be brought up to the big club whenever he’s ready. He showed me enough last year, even after the ‘roids, that he can be a pretty successful reliever in the majors. Heck, I think he had a job sewn up with us this year if he hadn’t had the visa problems. I am very comfortable with our bullpen right now, but it helps to know that you have at least a couple of guys in Durham who are ready at a moment’s notice to come up here and contribute at a fairly high level.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You know who would be a nice right handed bat at the deadline? Ken Griffey Jr. If they are out of it at the deadline I think we could get him pretty cheap by packaging Gomes and some prospects. He could play RF a little bit and split time with Floyd and DH.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
No to Griffey, sorry, not enough pop left in the bat for the money he is owed, and if Ruggiano keeps killing pitching at AAA, why on earth would you trade him, while the team still needs an everyday RF??? Ruggiano was a steal in the trade from the Dodgers, and is a viable prospect. Just because he was a 30-something plus rounder in the draft… You aren’t going to be able to convince me Gross and Hinske are better until Ruggiano gets his shot… the numbers don’t lie!!! We have plenty of good relievers @ AAA, not including Talbot and Niemann who could be converted in emergency purposes. Leave the roster alone, we can be our own conveyer belt of sick talent… We have enough of good young everything to stay good, don’t trade it all away. Dance with what gets you to the dance…
May 13th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Griffey bats from the left side, and is very unlikely to accept a trade to TB, especially if he does not get a guarantee that his 2009 option gets picked up.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Ruggiano will not get a chance this year, you can just about bet all your money on it. If they were going to give him a chance, they would have done it by now. I haven’t been able to confirm what his attitude is, but I don’t know anything to be negative about him. But the way I see it, there must be something wrong with the guy because if he is as good as you think, we wouldn’t have traded for Gabe Gross. I trust this organization’s thought process so far, and I don’t think Ruggiano will play for the Rays as a regular this year at all. I think if we are in the playoff hunt, we will be active in trying to acquire someone to help get us over the hump. Stu has already said that the checkbook is open if we feel the need to make a move for someone during the year. I agree that we shouldn’t go after Griffey though. I just don’t think he is worth as much money as his contract is paying right now. He just doesn’t have the power he did a couple years ago. I will say this though- if we are in the race, he would approve a trade because we’re more likely to be closer than the Reds have been in any of his years there.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I think the reason Ruggiano will not be up is not that the Rays do not like him but that they do. In TB, he would get few starts with Hinske, Gomes and Gross on hand. Although apparently not a bad fielder, he is not the plus defender that Gross is, and it would not make much sense to steal ABs from Hinske or Gomes right now. So playing in Durham, he starts every day and can work on his strikeout propensity and increase his value to TB in the near future or as a chit in a deal.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Anyone hear Maddon on Fox Sports Radio? The Rays are getting national attention…also Rome even mentioned the Rays in the opening segment of his radio show.