Edwin Jackson’s ERA is under 3 in his last six games. Coming after a really bad start, he’s got reason to feel good about himself. After a 3-0 shutout in Texas… here’s to hoping he can keep it up. If so, the Rays could have three pretty good starting pitchers… with several promising prospects still working their way through the minors.
With an offense that’s already pretty good, I think the Rays (as a whole) could be really good next year.
I read an article from the Orlando Sentinel recently (around the time the Rays were playing a series against the Texas Rangers in Orlando), which pointed to the lack of attendence at Rays games as evidence that Tampa Bay was “overextended” as a region with professional sports franchises.
Then I noticed that the Marlins drew a whopping 11,525 for today’s game against the Rays.
So then I decided to see how well the Rays attendance figures were when the Marlins were in town. I couldn’t find the numbers, but I did find something else that was interesting…
In 2003 the Marlins won the World Series… and they averaged 16,290 in attendance per game. In 2006 the Rays finished with the worst overall record in baseball, qualifying them for the first overall pick in the recent amateur draft… and they averaged 16,901 in attendance per game.
I could really tear into the Sentinel column, but I’m too tired right now.
The Rays game was on in the background as I fiddled with the trusty PowerBook. The Rays were down their customary 3-4 runs after 3 innings when I was finishing up the last entry.
Then I looked up and saw Greg Norton smack one over the fence, and my brain said, “that’s got ‘you’re such a big, strong bat… and I deserve a spanking’ written all over it. And that’s no small feat, considering baseballs are pretty small, and there isn’t a whole lot of room for a lot of dialog.”
I’ll bet you had no idea you were going to be reading an R rated post about baseball this evening, did you?
Must be the Vicodin again.
P.S. It’s hard to believe I hadn’t taught my spell check dictionary the spelling for “Vicodin” by now.
P.P.S. Has there ever been a rookie gold glove winner; and if so, does fieldwork not directly related to catching (arm strength, accuracy, and assists) qualify you for one?
I make this entry at considerable risk. I’m going to put something in print that runs the considerable risk of jinxing the Rays’ prospects for success this season. Still, I’m positively giddy over James Shields’ performance so far this year.
No, it hasn’t been perfect. Yes, the season is only a few weeks old. Yes, he wasn’t nearly as good near the end of last season as when he started it (when he was called up). All the same, to this amateur viewer, Shields has shown flashes of being a pretty darn good pitcher. His twelve strikeouts should have been good enough for a win last Sunday (against the Indians). His performance last night apparently was good enough too (although I only read about it – I didn’t stay up to watch). I may have it all wrong, but I’d swear his velocity is up compared to last year. I thought I remembered seeing his fastball top out at 88-89 mph last year. This year it seems like it’s more often in the low 90’s. His changeup was already REALLY effective, but if his velocity is up on his fastball – it could become devastating.
Mostly, I’m just relieved they got a W on the road. It looked like the Angels made them really familiar with the woodshed.
Apparently there is some good in the world. The Rays win and sweep a short series at home against the dreaded Yankees.
The grizzled veteran of the bullpen is in the game.
Please, if there is a baseball god – don’t let the evil empire pull it out.
You are the New York Yankees. You are playing the Rays and you’re up by one in the seventh inning with runners in scoring position (2nd and 3rd). You’re pitching to Roco Baldelli (a right handed hitter), currently hitting .263 (.456 with men in scoring position) – and you intentionally walk him to load the bases – so you can pitch to Brendan Harris (another right handed hitter), currently hitting .324 (.600 with men in scoring position). Huh?
It worked out for NY (sort of). Harris got all of a line drive – that the Yankee SS made a diving play on, getting the out.
Too bad the next batter was Carl Crawford – who has been on a tear tonight – who hit a grand slam.
Go RAYS!
I spent nearly all day in a wretched state of exhaustion. Naturally I’m wide awake at a quarter to midnight. Personally, I’d like to blame it all on Brian Stokes. James Shields pitches eight innings, allows two runs, strikes out TWELVE, and leaves the Rays with a two run lead going into the ninth. Naturally, the Rays lost by two (six to four) after allowing four runs in the top of the ninth.
What a way to ruin a perfectly good day out with my daughter.
On this, the opening day of baseball season (for the Rays anyway), talk of hope, expectation, and payroll makes the rounds. Once again, many are questioning the spending habits of Rays’ ownership – particularly in light of the revenue sharing money ($35 million?) coming in, and the Rays’ payroll ($25-26 million?).
Here’s the thing (that occured to me only just now): when the good folks running the Rays talk of spending wisely for the future, I believe them. When you consider how much mediocre/old pitching goes for nowadays, how much do you suppose it’s going to cost to keep the services of a promising young south-paw in a couple of years? (Kazmir’s a left-hander, right? Some fan I am.) If the current trends hold, that could be the annual revenue sharing money right there – all by itself.
There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought Jorge was going to be a part of the glory Rays. Now it looks like he’s destined to play for someone else. I’m forced to face the fact that he wasn’t going to be the guy at second base for the Rays. When BJ Upton beats you out because his defense is BETTER, you know you’ve got a problem.
I understand it came down to a choice between Cantu – an infielder by trade, and Johnny Gomes – yet another outfielder. Neither one of them is tearing up the world in the field, and the Rays need another outfielder like they need more seats at the Trop. However, I was talking with someone last Friday who summed it up perfectly… who’s bat would you rather have in the DH spot? Cantu struggled all year last year, but he was just a year removed from being the Rays RBI machine. Gomes has the ability to change a game with a swing of the bat. Sure, it’s more likely that swing will result in a third strike than an RBI, but he may turn out to be the kind of power hitter most AL teams have in their line-up. Who do you see as an AL DH? A solid line drive hitter, or a guy with more pop than a Coca-Cola bottler? I just don’t see Cantu as a DH, and it’s a shame because I was really pulling for him.
Knowing the Rays, they’ll turn the DH duties over to Greg Norton… a guy that may be less suited to the DH than either Cantu or Gomes.
Lord help us.
The Rays had to pick someone, and I can’t fault them for picking Gomes. Well, not now anyway. I’ll reserve the right to change my mind in August.