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Losing six games in a row is not fun.
Last time Rays did that, it was 2011 and it was the first six games of the season. Then, the Rays proceeded to win 23 of their next 32 games. Wouldn't mind for that kind of winning to finish out the season.
Before the 9th-inning two-run-rally, the team was only 2-40 this season when trailing after eight innings, while the Mariners were 49-4 when leading after 8 innings. In 10 of the Rays last 12 games, when the starter went seven innings, the Rays won; and are now 30-8 with that stat.
Jason Bourgeois' walk off was oddly reminiscent of another underdog player who made a name for himself during an intense August and September. (Great Pumpkin shoutout. CC: Dan Johnson.)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Much needed win tonight! Thank God I came threw. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23keeponpushin&src=hash">#keeponpushin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23rays&src=hash">#rays</a></p>— Jason Bourgeois (@jbourgeois11) <a href="https://twitter.com/jbourgeois11/statuses/367857911013576705">August 15, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Evan Longoria agreed...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Longo: "A win like this has a majestic feel of '08 w/ the guy coming off the bench that nobody has really heard of.. coming up w/ a big hit"</p>— Kelly Nash (@KNashSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/KNashSports/statuses/367848474001166336">August 15, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Okay, so DJ was a 2011, not 2008, and Game 162 particularly, but the otherwise-unknown moment of glory cannot help but bring back Great Pumpkin reminiscing.
For the full glorious details devoted to an inspirational win, seek Gareth's postgame recap.
Oh, injuries
Quite a few updates on key players were provided on Tuesday...
- Alex Cobb takes the mound tonight, two months to the day (crazy) that he was injured via a line drive to the skull. A lot has happened with the Rays since his departure, and his return is certainly appreciated.
"I'm going out there to help this team win," Cobb said. "If I felt like I wasn't at that point, then I would have let them know I needed more time."
- Matt Moore unfortunately will not be returning to the mound this week as formerly predicted, and is currently shut down until Sunday. This being said, Jeremy Hellickson will start Sunday and Roberto Hernandez will pitch Saturday.
Moore felt good on Sunday, but Wednesday was a different story:
"I felt good, but good isn't great, and good isn't 100 percent, and I think that that's what we're really aiming for is to get back out there and be 100 perce nt right," Moore said. "There's still a few things in doubt that we're not comfortable with so we're just going to give it a couple more days of no throwing and see where we're at."
"It doesn't feel right from the aspect of throwing 30-40 pitches into my bullpen, I'm not at a place I would normally be 30-40 pitches in my bullpen," Moore said. "It's kind of like picking a scab. It's good until I pick that scab once. I should say it's great until I pick that scab once, then it kind of just turns into, 'Okay, this is just good, my arm doesn't feel 100 percent right now.' "
- Will Jesse Crain join the team when roster's expand? Fingers crossed, but as of now:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rays&src=hash">#Rays</a> Maddon said no timetable yet for Crain but he's "progressing well."</p>— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/statuses/367749094074089472">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Desmond Jennings is eligible to return from the disabled list on Monday, and as of yesterday, it appears as if he will do so. Jennings took 10 swings or so from a tee on Wednesday and Joe Maddon thinks, "It's looking pretty good actually."
Links:
- In the Fantasy Baseball world, the Rays got chosen as one of the teams to have the "most favorable hitting schedules," for their remaining games, providing insight into their schedule for the rest of the season. To note: the Yankees and the Dodgers were both listed as well.
- Alex Rodriguez wants to fight Bud Selig. Or sue Major League Baseball. Same thing.
- Fangraphs: Finding Value in Pitcher Inconsistency
- Miguel Cabrera? Still good at baseball.
- LaTroy Hawkins?"DIRECT HIT"
- Time to rethink baseball's postseason format?
- Definitely time to rethink baseball's replay use. (Easier said than done.)
- Neil Weinberg looked into the best No. 3 starters ever. (No Rays yet, sorry.)