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Rays Tank: They're doing it again, aren't they?

Just when you think we're out, they pull us back in.

By John Ford
Getty Images/Getty Images

Welcome to the Rays Tanks, where our favorite team just keeps messing with us. Hey, it's a new month, and weirder things have happened in September than the possibility that this team might finally have its act together. How weird? How 'bout this.

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It's 2012 in Toronto, and the Rays are up 5-4, with two outs, and the tying run on second. Fernando Rodney is on, and he's been just about unhittable all year. Should have no problem washing the bad taste of how the game ended just the day before.

You need a reminder?

That's the kind of play that crushes your season, right? So maybe the Jays have us right where they want us, with Vizquel dancing off second and Colby Rasmus at the plate.

Nuh-uh. See, while one of the many knocks on Molina was that he couldn't move, the converse was also true: you just couldn't move him. And the call from Rodney is such a nice touch.

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Next up, we go to 2009 for our ex-Ray highlight, as Brad Hawpe leaves a chalk outline on the wall in right center.

I'm still not sure the ball went into his glove. I think he just absorbed it.

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Two plays often cited in the "most exciting plays in baseball" are the triple and the inside the park homer. Personally, I'm partial to this hybrid from Ryan Braun in 2011.

It's the second fall followed by the "screw it" that really sells it.

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Can a five-time all-star, with .316 lifetime average, 369 homers, 592 doubles, 2519 hits be underrated? Maybe it's all those years in Colorado, but I think he can. Here's hit #2500 from this day in 2013.

Is Helton a Hall of Famer? I dunno. I don't care. I just know that I could watch him hit all day long.

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Here's some other September 1sts:

  • 1890: In Washington Park in Brooklyn, the Bridegrooms (Dodgers) sweep the Alleghenys (Pirates) in the first ever triple header.
  • 1906: The Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-1 in 24 innings. It is the longest AL game ever played. Both starters go the distance.
  • 1931: Lou Gehrig hits a grand slam for the third time in four days.
  • 1953: The Cardinals tie a record by hitting five solo home runs in a 12-5 loss to Brooklyn.
  • 1961: The Cubs Cuno Barragan goes yard in his first first major league at-bat in a 4-3 loss to the Giants. It will be his only major league homer. Over three season, Barragan will play 69 games for Chicago.
  • 1963: During a 7-3 Cardinals win over the Phils, Curt Simmons becomes the last pitcher to steal home. The steal comes on a second inning busted squeeze play.
  • 1971: Playing against the Expos, the Pittsburgh Pirates field the first all-black starting nine: Al Oliver (1b), Rennie Stennett (2b), Jackie Hernandez (ss), Dave Cash (3b), Willie Stargell (lf), Gene Clines (cf), Roberto Clemente (rf), Dock Ellis (p), and Manny Sanguillen (c).
  • 1998: Mark McGuire homers twice against the Marlins to break Hack Wilson's National League home run mark of 56.
  • 2007: Clay Buchholz becomes the 20th rookie to pitch a no-hitter, beating the Orioles 10-0.

Well, that's quite enough ancient history. On to the Link Dump!

  • It's callup time. From Bill Chastain, the Rays are calling up six players. Luke Maile is not on the 40-man roster, and the Rays roster already stands at 40. That means a move will need to be made, but that move will almost certainly just be moving Jake McGee and his torn meniscus to the 60-day DL.
  • The Rays also signed Jose Costanza from the York Revolution in the Atlantic League. He's headed to Durham on a minor league contract, but the 40-man roster situation means that unlike the article states, he is probably not going to be called up without something else happening.
  • From Topkin's article, Kevin Cash and several Rays players met with Joe Torre to talk about replay issues.
  • Law stuff, if you're into that.
  • Neil Weinberg dissecting the 3-0 and the 3-1 count. Very good stuff.
  • And finally, congrats, Biscuites:

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