Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Archer closes in on Rays single season Loss record

The Rays and Red Sox played a very long game, with very little offense. Unfortunately 2/3s of the runs scored were by the other guys, dropping the Rays to a league worst record in one-run games.

Chris Archer was saddled with the loss, his 17th of the season. This moves Archer to within one game of tying Tanyon Sturtze team record for 18 losses in a season. This is another prime example of how poor of a stat pitcher Wins and Losses are.

Late in the game, Tim Beckham was pulled, but it was unclear exactly what the reason was. Turns out it had to do with his hamstring.

Links:

• Jonah Keri writes about how Matt Joyce is doing his best to keep the vanishing art of the pinch hitter alive and well.
• Beyond the Box Score looks back 10 years at two particular trades from the 2006 trade deadline: one of which was the deal that brought the Rays one of the franchise’s best players.
• Is it defensive shifts that are hurting the popularity of baseball (as commissioner Rob Manfred has said), or is it the lack of focus on the players themselves what is lacking?
• Josh Hamilton was released by the Texas Rangers.

• Billy Hamilton made a catch that maybe even KK couldn’t get: