Rays of Light

It’s Dice - K VS. James Shields ALCS Game 1 Thread

The Trop has so much anticipation you can cut it with a knife or hopefully a 98 mile an hour fastball that blows by Big Papi for strike three!

It’s crazy in Tampa Bay with Evan Longoria shirts flying off the shelves!

It’s crazy in Tampa Bay when Yankee fans are routing for the Rays to stuff the Red Sox!

It’s crazy when BASEBALL in Tampa Bay is hotter then Hockey OR Football!

The lights are ready, the Rays are ready, hopefully your quality adult beverage of choice is ready and let’s get ready to PLAY BALL!

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread, General | 18 Comments »

Is it just a Matt - er of time?

It’s up to Matt Garza, the second half ace for the Rays, to help the good guys take the battle to the south side of Chicago today. The North Side Cubs have already been eliminated from post season play by the Dodgers. Now, the speedy Rays can take care of the White Sox. But the good guys can’t underestimate the WhiteSox, After all the Brewers are still in it! Last time around, Aki and Kid K helped the Rays get the job done. Who will step up to the plate today to help the Rays win their FIRST ever ALDS?

Here are “just the facts” from MLB.com:

Rays starter: RHP Matt Garza

2008: 11-9, 3.70 ERA

2008 on road: 4-6, 4.53 ERA
2008 vs. White Sox: Did not face White Sox in 2008
Career vs. White Sox: 1-1, 4.97 ERA
Career postseason: First appearance
White Sox starter: LHP John Danks
2008: 12-9, 3.32 ERA
2008 at home: 5-6, 3.66 ERA
2008 vs. Rays: 2-1, 1.86 ERA
Career vs. Rays: 3-1, 2.96 ERA
Career postseason: First appearance

Rays lead series, 2-0. Twenty-seven of the 31 teams to take a 2-0 lead in the Division Series have advanced.

Game 1: Rays 6, White Sox 4
Game 2: Rays 6, White Sox 2
Did You Know? Danks generally had better stats on the road this season (7-3, 2.92) than at U.S. Cellular Field (5-6, 3.66). However, opponents hit just .238 against him at home, 18 points lower than his road average.

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread | 2 Comments »

ALDS Game 2 - Can Kid K Get His Groove Back?

The Rays get the all important first game win.  Can Scott Kazmir get it together? Is Carlos Pena all right? Who will be the hero for the Rays tonight?

“Just The Facts” from MLB.com

Game 2: Just the facts
Tropicana Field, 6:07 p.m. ET

White Sox starter: LHP Mark Buehrle
2008: 15-12, 3.79 ERA
2008 on road: 4-9, 5.05 ERA
2008 vs. Rays: 0-1, 4.58 ERA
Career vs. Rays: 6-2, 4.24 ERA
Career postseason: 2-0, 3.42 ERA, 1 save (two relief appearances)
Rays starter: LHP Scott Kazmir
2008: 12-8, 3.49 ERA
2008 at home: 8-2, 2.90 ERA
2008 vs. White Sox: 1-0, 2.08 ERA
Career vs. White Sox: 3-1, 3.34 ERA
Career postseason: First appearance
Rays lead series, 1-0. The team that has won Game 1 of an ALDS is 12-14 in those series.
Game 1: Rays 6, White Sox 4
Did You Know? The White Sox are now 4-17 on artificial turf this year, including Thursday’s loss. They’ve lost 12 of those games by two runs or fewer.

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread, General | 8 Comments »

Rays Up 1 - 0, Evan Almighty Has 2 HR’s

Evan Longoria ripped the very first pitch from Vazquez and launched the fast ball. First ever postseason at bat? No sweat for Evan Almighty. Navarro hustled for a double but Gabe Gross stuck out to end the 2nd. Longoria’s home run gave the Rays the all important early lead. Aybar coming in for Pena is cause for worry but we can always hope that Carlos Pena is okay for game 2. Wise gets a three run bomb so the White Sox took the lead 3 - 1 in the Top of the 3rd. The Rays escape the top of the 3rd with only 3 runs damage. It could have been worse.  Bottom 3rd. Bartlett gets on board with a single. Iwamura blasts the ball to straightaway center. Bartlett scores and Iwamura gets to third after Uribe drops a well thrown ball by Griffey. 3 - 2 Rays cut the lead to one. Aybar gets a good fly ball that lets Iwamura score tying the game. Longoira then launches ANOTHER home run that is the go ahead RBI. Rays lead the WhiteSox 4 - 3.  The Rays get a good chance to add a run with Gross’s base stealing but the Rays leave him stranded to end the 4th. Bottom 5th Iwamura, already having a great day, gets a leadoff base hit. Upton gets a grounder to go to first after Ramirez can’t get a DP but the White Sox retire Iwamura. Aybar gets a single, Longoira gets single allowing Upton to score and make it a two run Rays lead. Vazquez gets yanked but Richard doesn’t fare much better. Crawford scores Aybar with a single to get the Rays a three run lead. That’s all the damage the Rays can do and now it is a 6 - 3 Rays game.  Konerko gets a Home Run in the 9th but the Rays escape and take game one of the ALDS and now lead 1 - 0 going into tonight’s 6pm game 2.

Posted in Discussion, Game Recap | No Comments »

Monday Virtual Water Cooler

The number of miracle games the Rays had this year was amazing. August was the Rays best month, with May followed by June. Here is the full break down from baseball reference:

Month by Month

Split           W   L      RS      RA     WP
March           1   0       6       2   1.000
April          14  12     124     107    .538
May            19  10     123     116    .655
June           16  10     134     106    .615
July           13  12      87     102    .520
August         21   7     163     106    .750
September      12  14     129     125    .462

The second half was slightly better then the first half:

By Season Half

Split           W   L      RS      RA     WP
First Half     55  39     433     387    .585
Second Half    41  26     333     277    .612

And lastly the season summary:

Season Summary   96-65 , Final Rank: 1, GB: up 1.5

Days in First:                  97 (last on September 27,)

(counts the days a team played and was in first at the end of the day)

Most Games over  .500:          34 (last on September 24)
Most Games under .500:           3 (last on April 20)

Biggest Lead:                  5.5 (last on August 31)
Farthest Behind Leader:        5.0 (last on April 22)

Longest Winning Streak:          7 (June 29 to July 6)
Longest Losing Streak:           7 (July 7 to July 13)

Most Runs Allowed:              13 (July 10 and September 15)
Most Runs Scored:               15 (June 25)

Longest Game:                   14 innings (September 10)

Times Shutout by Opponent:       7
Times Opponent Shutout:         12

My question for the MVWC today is: what was your favorite moment/game from this incredible 2008 regular season?

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The Dom Is Still On Ice

Ben Zobrist got things going for the Rays with a 1^st inning solo home run blast to get the Rays out to an early 1 – 0 lead. Detroit answered in kind with a solo home run blast of their own and just like that it was 1 all. Kazmir then helped the Tigers get things going with a walk but the Rays defense saved the day with a double play. While the Rays didn’t score again until seventh, the Tigers scored one RBI in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th innings. The Tigers lead 4 – 1. Santiago of the Tigers seemed to really have Kazmir’s number, knocking in solo dingers in the first and in the third. Evan Longoria helped with another home run to cut the lead deficit 4 – 2. Detroit then had a 3 run 7^th and the score was 7 to 2. The Rays scored three more in the 8th that AGAIN to Ben Zobrist’s 3 run homer and the score was now 7 to 5 but that’s all the offense that the Rays could muster.

Scott Kazmir had been relieved after 5 innings, and was replaced by Jason Hammel. Scott Kazmir had a rough day again, 5 IP, 6 Hits, 4 Runs (all Earned 4 HOME runs), 2 Walks but on the good side Kaz did have 8 strikeouts. Hammel also gave up 2 earned runs, Bradford gave up another earned run but Troy “Cardiac” Percival only gave up one walk. The Bullpen looked tired (as did the entire Rays team from their road trip) and didn’t strikeout a single batter.

The Rays bats did fairly well behind Ben Zobrist’s 4 RBI day but couldn’t keep pace with the Tigers, Every time the Rays got close, the Tigers tacked on runs. When it comes down to it, the Rays do their best when pitching keeps the score low and the Rays only need one or two runs to take care of business. The champagne will have to be on ice yet again today, hopefully Andrew Sonnastine will pitch like he did both times he opposed Josh Beckett. The Red Sox won their game yesterday, which means the Rays magic number still remains at one.

Personally, though I did want the Rays to clinch the East yesterday (it was my birthday) I’m glad that they didn’t win it because another team lost it.

Here are the MLB.com Pitching Previews:

Pitching matchup
DET: RHP Justin Verlander (10-17, 4.87 ERA)
Verlander said after his last start that he had some of the best stuff he has had at this late stage of a season. The results haven’t caught up. Saturday’s loss at Cleveland, where he gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in four innings, was his fourth straight defeat since his last victory Aug. 22 at Kansas City. He moved into the Major League lead in losses by himself with the highest single-season total by a Tigers pitcher since the infamous 43-119 season of 2003. Much of those struggles, however, have been against AL Central teams, and he has a chance to close out on a high note in his first start against the Rays since Aug. 6, 2006.

TB: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (13-8, 4.27 ERA)
Sonnanstine is coming off Sunday afternoon’s loss in which the right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings. The 4-1 loss to Minnesota came just a night removed from the Rays’ playoff-clinching win and Sonnanstine was the hard-luck pitcher in the flat game. The right-hander fanned four and walked two in the performance, but remains winless since Aug. 18. He will be facing Detroit for the second time this season, winning Aug. 2, when he tossed six innings of two-run baseball.

Looks like the Rays will have to face Ramon Santiago again today (bet Kaz loved hearing Santiago’s name called over the PA when he was pitching yesterday…) according to MLB.com Tidbits’s

Tidbits
Ramon Santiago is expected to get another start at shortstop on Friday in place of Edgar Renteria, who missed Thursday’s game with a strained left pectoral muscle. Renteria was examined by the team’s medical staff after complaining of chest pains, but there was nothing serious. … Placido Polanco is expected to be back in the lineup after he was rested on Thursday with back soreness. … The Tigers will have their annual team photo taken on Friday. Owner Mike Ilitch is expected to appear at Comerica Park to take part in the photo.

Posted in Discussion, Game Recap, Game Thread, General | 2 Comments »

Thursday Virtual Water Cooler Question - Who Should Throw Out The First Pitch Of The ALDS?

Everyone has been suggested for throwing out the pitch for the first home game. Hulk Hogan, Dick Vitale amongst many candidates. So for this Thursday’s edition of The Rays Of Light Virtual Water Cooler, I ask my fellow readers, who should throw out the first pitch for the Rays first EVER ALDS Home game?

Posted in Discussion, General | 3 Comments »

2 Game Double Header SWEEP, Magic Number Down To 2 AND It’s Time To GIT-R-DONE 2 Night!

 Okay so maybe that last one was a bit of a stretch but who cares…the Rays can, quite possibly clinch the American League Eastern Division Crown tonight. Ahem. Let me say that again one more time. THE RAYS CAN CLINCH THE AL EAST TONIGHT! With a combination of a Rays win and a Red Sox loss, it’s in the bag, book it done, we”ll get the gusto… (takes a breath) well let’s just do it first, right?

And the Rays stand a good chance of clinching tonight. James Shields had seven good innings for the first game leading the Rays to a 2 – 1 win. For the second game the Rays came from behind thanks to Evan Longoira and Dioner Navarro and a six run eight and ended up winning 7 – 5.

Boston has so far split the series with Cleveland taking the middle game of the series (a Cliff Lee loss, no less!) setting up tonight’s game (Carmona for the Tribe and Byrd for the RedSox) as the rubber game for the series. As Richard mentioned, let’s hope that the Tribe plucks Byrd’s feathers tonight!

So let’s all think positive energy to EdWIN Jackson. For Jackson could very well help his team win the AL EAST tonight!

An interesting tidbit from MLB.com on the Orioles and doubleheaders:

Baltimore played its fourth doubleheader of the season on Tuesday. The O’s have been swept three times and have split once.

It looks like the O’s were in the right place in the schedule after the buzzsaw of AL Contenders that the Rays had to face earlier this month.

Probable Pitching Previews (Also From MLB.com)

BAL: RHP Radhames Liz (6-6, 6.69 ERA)
Liz achieved two milestones in his last two starts, marking the first time he’s completed six innings or thrown a quality start in back-to-back outings. The right-handed rookie appears to be coming along, mastering the use of his fastball and mixing in his offspeed stuff for the second and third times through the batting order.

TB: RHP Edwin Jackson (12-11, 4.19 ERA)
Jackson extended his career-high season win mark to 12 with a dominating 7 2/3-inning performance Friday night. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just one run to the Twins, retiring nine straight batters at one point. Jackson threw 78 of his 114 pitches for strikes, fanning five and walking just one. He is 1-1 in four starts against the Orioles, with a 7.50 ERA.

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread | 11 Comments »

Rays Of Light Role Playing – ALDS Pitching Rotations

You are going over the pitching rotation schedule for the next week in your hotel room after grabbing a nap. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. It’s Joe Maddon, your boss, so you get up from the chair and open the door. “Hi, Joe, what’s up?”

 “Hey (insert your name here)! Things are going great. Ready for the double header tonight?” Joe asks.

 “Yes, sir!” you reply, “I’ve got the coffee ready.”

“Great! I also wanted to ask you if you’ve completed the pitching rotation for the ALDS series,” Joe Maddon says. 

You blink, after all, that’s an acronym that usually isn’t connected with the Rays this time of year. “I’ve been thinking about it and here are some possible rotations, let me know what you think about them, Joe.” You hand over the folder to Joe Maddon and both of you start to talk up a storm.

So fellow Rays fans, what are YOUR ALDS pitching rotations?

Posted in Discussion, General | 1 Comment »

The David Price Show Orioles V Rays Round 1

Tonight, David Price makes his debut as an major league starter as the Rays begin a four game series on the road at Camden Yards. The Rays magic number is at six and they look to bounce back after yesterdays loss to the Twins. Can the pitching phenom from Durham take Baltimore by storm? Can the Rays get back on track? Can ESPN stop talking about Yankee Stadium for at least a few minutes? It’s your Monday night game discussion thread below! Play ball!

Mlb.com probable pitching previews:

TB: LHP David Price (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
The Rays announced on Sunday that Price will make his first Major League start on Monday in Baltimore. Price — the top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft — was recalled from Triple-A Durham following its postseason run on Sept. 13. The rookie lefty has appeared in two games out of the bullpen — posting a 3.00 ERA — and last worked two-thirds of an inning on Thursday night.

BAL: RHP Brian Bass (3-4, 5.15 ERA)
Making only his second Major League start on Wednesday, against the Blue Jays, Bass received a no-decision. His outing was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. Through his first four innings, he allowed a total of three baserunners. Then in the fifth inning, the right-hander allowed the first six batters he faced to reach base as the Jays eventually scored five runs. He finished the day having allowed a total of five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He threw just 55 pitches before being removed.

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread | 4 Comments »