Rays of Light

Play Ball!

1:05 PM. Rays and Reds.

Carlos Hernandez on the hill. Charlotte Sports Park gets opened up.

Let’s play ball. Follow the game in this thread. And, in case you were wondering, Jonny Gomes made the trip with Cincinnati.

Tags: reds
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It really all comes down to this!

It’s game seven of the ALCS. Can Matt Garza and the offense step up? Can B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria erase games 5 and 6 from our minds and mash homers? Or will the Red Sox do the unthinkable? This is for all the marbles…this is Game Seven, ALCS 2008. Let’s play ball!

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Rays Ready To Rumble!

James Shields is ready to rumble. He was on the short end of the stick for game one, but he’s ready to roll.

From TBO.Com: “I wouldn’t have minded winning the other night,” Shields said Friday when asked if he was pleased to be the man on the spot. “But I’m ready to take the ball, if that’s what you mean.”

Upton and Longoria are ready to rumble. Both are tied at 6 home runs a piece. We could have easily seen Longoira with 6 blasts but B.J. Upton? Upton has been the surprise of the Rays 2008 1st ever postseason. Did I mention that Upton is batting .400?

Since everyone is throwing out all these stats about Boston miracle comebacks that and Boston miracle comebacks this…how about THIS stat: The Rays have hit 13 home runs in the ALCS. They have passed the record which was 12…set by the Red Sox. That says something. That says the Rays are here, not just to play…but to win. Everyone is going ga ga over game five…but how about games 2,3 and 4? The Rays got to Lester, pounded Wakefield and even got the best of Dice-K in his second ALCS start. The Red Sox are coming back to the Trop where the Rays went 57 – 24 during the regular season.

It’s also the year of the Rays. The Rays swept the Angels at home. The Rays swept the Cubs at home. The Rays won the regular season series against the Red Sox. The Rays won 27 5+ run blowout games this year. As the song says, “put them in coach, they are ready to play, today.”

It’s rumble time and time to finish off the Red Sox!

GO RAYS!

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ALCS GAME 4 (That was a MONSTER of a game 3…)

None of the Knights Of The Rays Table let the great green monster get the best of them. Sir BJ Upton got the biggest blast of the night with his 3 run home run. Sir Evan Longoria then came out and didn’t let the monster get the best of him there with another home run. Sir Carlos Pena was like, “if you can do that, then I can too” and Sir Pena had his blast. Sir Rocco Baldelli even got to beat the monster with a home run of his own. And Sir Matt Garza pitched a whale of a game. It wasn’t Fenway Park last night, it was a happy hunting ground for the Tampa Bay Rays.

One has to wonder how much of a factor that the road trip was for the Red Sox. How fortunate that the Rays are that they won the Division and did not have to go 3,000 miles to play the Angels.  Still, last night’s win was a bonus! I figured that tonight would have been the one game that the Rays could have won in Fenway from Wakefield. But after pulling off another miracle last night, can the Rays really take two up in Boston? Can the Rays slay the green monster up there in the heart of darkenss known as Fenway?

Tonight Andrew Sonnastine can help the Rays to increase their lead in this incredible 2008 ALCS. Who will be the hero tonight? Can the Red Sox come back to tie up the series or can the Rays take a step closer to the finals?

Posted in Discussion, Game Thread | 4 Comments »

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.

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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.

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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 »

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 V Orioles Daily Double

How about that for a week? Last Monday the Rays were on the receiving end of a BoSox beatdown that was horrible to watch. Tuesday had Andrew Sonnastine suprise everyone has he hung tot to toe with Red Sox pitcher John Beckett and Dioner Navarro had the walk off RBI single to win the game 2 – 1. Wednesday, the Rays had their revenge as rookie Fernando Perez, Willie Aybar and and Gabe Gross all homered off of Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. The Rays went on to slam Boston 10 – 3 and win the series 2 games to 1. Thursday saw the Twins come to town and not even Evan Longoria’s 3 home runs were enough to beat the Twins, who rallied with 5 runs in the 9^th to beat the Rays 11 – 8. Friday had history at the Trop with instant replay going the way of the Rays and Carlos Pena was awarded a home run after the reversal. The Rays move one game closer to clinching at least the playoffs and killed the Twins 11 – 1.

Saturday was the historic Rays playoff clinching game as Scott Kzamir erased the demons of his previous shelacking at the hands of the Red Sox and helped to pitch the Rays into their first ever post season appearance. Carlos Pena had a two run double plus Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez also had solo home runs in what had to be the clubs biggest win in the history of the Rays franchise.

Sunday saw Francisco Liriano get the best of the Rays as only Carlos Pena could get a single RBI for the whole team and the Rays lost to the Twins splitting the series 4 – 1.

Monday began the first of four games up at Camden Yards and the Rays bounced back as Jason Bartlett had two of the Rays three hits. Carlos Pena then had a bases loaded walk in the seventh as the Rays scored two unearned runs. The Rays ended up winning 4 – 2.

Tonight the Rays face a tough doubleheader. Pitching match ups are below. The magic number is 4 after a Rays win and a Red Sox defeat last night. The Red Sox fell at the hands of the Indians 4 – 3.

Mlb.com Probable Pitching Previews

Game 1:

TB: RHP James Shields (13-8, 3.61 ERA)
Shields earned his career-high 14th win of the season on Thursday night and was charged with six runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings on the hill against Minnesota. He has lasted at least six innings in 16 of his past 17 outings, dating back to a shortened stint in the June 5 fracas with the Red Sox. The Rays will look for another long appearance from their staff leader in wins. Shields will be facing Baltimore for the third time this season, and last faced the Birds in an Aug. 31 win. In that game, Shields tossed seven innings of one-run baseball.

BAL: LHP Garrett Olson (9-9, 6.75 ERA)
Olson has pitched relatively well in his last two starts, answering the challenge posed to him by manager Dave Trembley. The southpaw has worked erratically for most of the season, unable to secure a rotation slot for 2009. Trembley has said Olson needs to master the command of his fastball before he’ll have any big league success.

Game 2:
TB: RHP Mitch Talbot (0-0, 12.00 ERA)
The rookie right-hander made his Major League debut in relief of Scott Kazmir on Sept. 15, tossing three innings and allowing four runs. The 24-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sept. 13 after going 13-9 with a 2.86 ERA for the Bulls.

BAL: RHP Alfredo Simon (0-0, 8.10 ERA)
Simon, who was signed out of Mexico earlier in the season, will make this start in place of injured ace Jeremy Guthrie, who has been nursing a tired right shoulder for the past few weeks. Baltimore hasn’t closed the book on Guthrie yet, but Simon’s emergency start reflects the uncertainty in the rotation over the season’s last few weeks.

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