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Evan getting shaving cream after walk off

SRQman — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:16:25 -0000

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/ebman89/IMG_0327.jpg Evan getting shaving cream after walk off

Shields after his great game.

SRQman — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:47:56 -0000

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/ebman89/IMG_0326.jpg Shields after his great game.

Bill Simmons: I really like the Rays and particularly love the Percival signing - he's been light...

R.J. Anderson — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:42:44 -0000

Bill Simmons: I really like the Rays and particularly love the Percival signing - he's been lights-out for them (and my 2 roto teams). There's definitely a different "vibe" from them. The old vibe was more like, "We might be the first team to have a bench-clearing brawl that only involves 1 team." Simmons' Chat

Finally, an offensive explosion and a see-saw battle as the Rays win, 8-5. Carl Crawford hit a three-run homer in the sixth. J.P. Howell held the line for three innings after Sonny coughed up the lead after some questionable infield antics. A great fight back.

Orlando Rays — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:16:47 -0000

http://www.floridafreeways.org/ct-051108.jpg Finally, an offensive explosion and a see-saw battle as the Rays win, 8-5. Carl Crawford hit a three-run homer in the sixth. J.P. Howell held the line for three innings after Sonny coughed up the lead after some questionable infield antics. A great fight back.

Scott Kazmir was much better last night, with a line of 6 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K. But Carlos Pena was the hero, getting a crucial defensive knockdown and going 0-for-1 with 2 walks and the ultimately game-winning sac fly RBI. 2-0 Rays, and we're 4 games over yet again.

Orlando Rays — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:35:58 -0000

Scott Kazmir was much better last night, with a line of 6 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K. But Carlos Pena was the hero, getting a crucial defensive knockdown and going 0-for-1 with 2 walks and the ultimately game-winning sac fly RBI. 2-0 Rays, and we're 4 games over yet again.

"Hi, I'm Troy Percival. Can you teach me your changeup?"

R.J. Anderson — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:07:15 -0000

"Hi, I'm Troy Percival. Can you teach me your changeup?" First Sonnanstine, now Percival, Shields = teacher of change.

Buster Posey v. Tim Beckham

R.J. Anderson — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:14:56 -0000

Taking a look at all the factors, including those damn statistics. http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/5/10/507281/posey-v-beckham

Haynes DFA, Floyd Back

R.J. Anderson — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:27:45 -0000

Good to get Big Cliff back. http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2008/05/haynes-gone-flo.html

The game wasn't a pitchers' duel; it was a match to see which offense could out-suck the other. Until Evan Longoria hit a walk-off 2-run homer to left in the 9th to end it, 2-0. He wasn't about to let James Shields' 1-hit CGSO go to waste.

Orlando Rays — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:34:48 -0000

The game wasn't a pitchers' duel; it was a match to see which offense could out-suck the other. Until Evan Longoria hit a walk-off 2-run homer to left in the 9th to end it, 2-0. He wasn't about to let James Shields' 1-hit CGSO go to waste.

After a long game and several late jams, Dioner Navarro hits a clutch grand slam to put it away, 8-3 in 13 innings. Howell gets the win. Edwin Jackson was superb, and deserved the win badly if not for Percy deciding to take this opportunity to blow his first save.

Orlando Rays — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:17:33 -0000

After a long game and several late jams, Dioner Navarro hits a clutch grand slam to put it away, 8-3 in 13 innings. Howell gets the win. Edwin Jackson was superb, and deserved the win badly if not for Percy deciding to take this opportunity to blow his first save.

"This was one of those change-of-scenery deals," said one scout, "because both clubs had about h...

R.J. Anderson — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:00:41 -0000

"This was one of those change-of-scenery deals," said one scout, "because both clubs had about had it with the makeup issues of both guys. Right now, Garza looks like he's going to be a big rotation piece for that team as they go forward. But I'm not so sure about Delmon anymore. He swings at everything. And he's not a very good breaking-ball hitter. You spin it, and he can't lay off it. And if he hits it, he doesn't do much with it." Stark

Rays Schedule

SRQman — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:24 -0000

Check out May 22nd.... I love mlb.com http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=tb

Colter Bean Signed as Ryu Hits the DL

Patrick L. Kennedy — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:08:52 -0000

Marc Lancaster of the Tribune reports that Bulls RHP Jae Kuk Ryu has been placed on the 7 Day DL due to elbow soreness. To replace Ryu in the interim, the Rays have signed former Yankees farmhand Colter Bean. Also, RHP Evan Meek has cleared waivers and will be offered back to the Rays for $25,000 unless the Pittsburgh works out a deal in a 72 hour window to acquire his rights. http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/ryu-to-dl-bean-signed/

Price is Back

Matt Bishoff — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:45:15 -0000

David Price started an extended spring training game against the Phillies today. He allowed two hits (both opposite-field singles, we’re told) and a run in three innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. He threw 47 pitches. http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/price-gets-it-going/

And we get back on the winning track, overcoming crooked umps to win, 5-4. Should've been 5-2. At worst.

Orlando Rays — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:07:26 -0000

http://www.floridafreeways.org/ct-050608.jpg And we get back on the winning track, overcoming crooked umps to win, 5-4. Should've been 5-2. At worst.

Nate McLouth has seen the most pitches in MLB, roughly 630 of em with Mark Ellis is second with 6...

R.J. Anderson — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:48:03 -0000

Nate McLouth has seen the most pitches in MLB, roughly 630 of em with Mark Ellis is second with 612. On the other end of players with at least 140 PAs sits Carl Crawford with only 452 pitches seen, and only 37.6% strikes. BTB Notebook

None

R.J. Anderson — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:02:11 -0000

Per a press release by the Montgomery Biscuits pitcher James Houser has been suspended for three games after hitting Huntsville OFer Matt LaPorta with a pitch. Houser began serving the suspension on Sunday, so his next start will go on as planned. http://www.draysbay.com

BP Radio

R.J. Anderson — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:28:37 -0000

R.J. Harrison on BP Radio http://www.baseballprospectus.com/radio

Evan Meek was designated for assignment today by the Pirates, could he return to the Rays?

R.J. Anderson — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:54:20 -0000

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/12/06/7f45vtPi.jpg Evan Meek was designated for assignment today by the Pirates, could he return to the Rays?

Giving up base on balls was something that nagged at Andy Sonnanstine, anyway, and in spring trai...

R.J. Anderson — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:51:14 -0000

Giving up base on balls was something that nagged at Andy Sonnanstine, anyway, and in spring training, the Rays' right-hander began having conversations about the mentality of hitters with a couple of teammates -- veteran Eric Hinske and first-base coach George Hendrick, who accumulated 1,980 hits and 267 homers during his career. What those lengthy conversations reinforced to Sonnanstine was the peril of pitching into ball-strike counts that greatly favor the hitter, of two balls and no strikes or 3-1. "I was telling [Hinske] of how much better I felt if I threw a first-pitch strike," said Sonnanstine, from Fenway Park, "and he was letting me know how amped he's getting when there's a 2-0 count, or 3-1. He gets excited because he knows that statistically, the chances are he's going to get a base knock." With those conversations echoing in his head, Sonnanstine has aggressively attacked the strike zone this year, and according to Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other pitchers -- Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds and Carlos Silva of the Mariners -- have done better than Sonnanstine to avoid the counts of 2-0 or 3-1. Olney on Sonny