:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69427273/1322601380.5.jpg)
The Rays knocked off the Nats 3-1 last night in a game where they walked 69 times and left 420 runners on base. But a win is a win, right? Combined with the Red Sox loss, the Rays are now a game and a half in front of Boston in the AL East. They finish off the Washington miniseries tonight at 7.
Also in Team Champa Bay news, the Lightning knocked off the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the semifinals, where they will face either the Bruins or the Islanders.
ON TO THE NEXT ONE! @tblightning with a 2-0 shutout victory in Game 5! The Bolts take the series 4-1! #GoBolts #NHLPlayoffs #TBLvsCAR pic.twitter.com/wdnw7rRu5s
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) June 9, 2021
In yet more Team Champa Bay news, the USF Bulls baseball team moves on to the College World Series Super Regionals for the first time.
— USF Baseball (@USFBaseball) June 8, 2021
https://t.co/jtTkaVkosN#HornsUp #CarryTheBoat
Brian Kenny on why the Rays are good.
What exactly is @RaysBaseball's winning formula?
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) June 7, 2021
BK dissects their success to try and find out. pic.twitter.com/KAqac8DRJU
Rays are returning to the tank! Along with the Touch Experience!
IMPORTANT #RAYS NEWS -- June 9 the Ray Tank will welcome back stingrays for the remainder of 2021 season; the Touch Experience will open to fans on June 22.
— Danny Russell (@d_russ) June 7, 2021
DRB Contributor Andrea Arcadipane has a new gig with NBC Sports EDGE Baseball. Here she is talking with Matt Williams about Vladdy Jr., wherein she is right and he is wrong.
Is Vladdy Jr. already the best hitter in baseball? @MattWi77iams suggests he could be, but @scoutgirlreport isn't so sure.
— NBC Sports EDGE Baseball (@NBCSEdgeBB) June 7, 2021
https://t.co/UqE4WWtI4v
https://t.co/KvGL53SyFP pic.twitter.com/xcjqzeVZdu
Willy Adames and Tyler Glasnow talk with Chris Rose.
Willy Adames was able to be himself right away after joining the Brewers
— The Chris Rose Rotation (@RoseRotation) June 7, 2021
• Every game is a road game (which is good)
• First hit was a home run off Chris Sale
• None of the Rays believed Willy was really traded
WATCH: https://t.co/dOJps4keto
LISTEN: https://t.co/QjT5grpRiG pic.twitter.com/mpg6fo5dRE
A fun piece on the Rays other uber prospect, Vidal Bruján.
Evan Longoria is going to miss some serious time with a shoulder injury, which is a shame because he’s been having a nice rebound season. Also, that is one sweet rainbow sleeve he was rocking for Pride month.
A Collision Has Derailed Evan Longoria’s Resurgence https://t.co/WvQEnNBdPW
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) June 7, 2021
Former first round pick (4th overall) Riley Pint is retiring at 23 after battling injuries and inconsistency.
Riley Pint, the Rockies' first-round (No. 4 overall) pick in 2016, has retired.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 8, 2021
More from @harding_at_mlb: https://t.co/f0221DQVOR pic.twitter.com/GThV1XRcg5
A cautionary tale for those of us champing at the bit for a Wander promotion.
The Mariners have demoted struggling rookie Jarred Kelenic to Class AAA Tacoma. (via @ryandivish) https://t.co/43u8HwYpuY
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) June 7, 2021
That was properly struck.
4⃣7⃣0⃣ FEET.
— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2021
OMG, SHOHEI. pic.twitter.com/o3Fs3jBQ39
Well, this is embarrassing.
Something you don't see every day!
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) June 8, 2021
Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a home run for the Pirates, but missed first base. The #Dodgers challenged and won. Hayes is out! pic.twitter.com/RsAqyLRCoS
On the other hand, it sure looks like Bobby Witt Jr. touches home here.
Well...
— NW Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) June 9, 2021
Bobby Witt Jr. mashes one 430 feet to left field but the home plate umpire says he didn’t touch home plate after circling the bases...
So this goes down as a really, really long triple. pic.twitter.com/mrYKnRSnGh
More drip drip in the Astros cheating scandal.
The Seattle Mariners covered several GoPro camera around their dugout at Minute Maid Park with towels, Martino reports. The Tampa Bay Rays asked MLB to be on the lookout for Houston players wearing vibrating Band-Aids during their 2019 playoff series against the Astros.
Until this week, following the release of a new book by Andy Martino, we'd mostly assumed that the Astros stopped cheating after the 2017 World Series. But, as reported in 'Cheated,' Houston's sign-stealing scheme continued through the 2019 playoffs. https://t.co/IuaXnu2P4O
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) June 8, 2021
A primer on the sticky stuff scandal.
Here is an enormous primer on MLB's sticky stuff situation. This explains the value of spin on a pitch, how it's generated, the difference between the way pitchers have always used substances and how it's used now, and more. https://t.co/5DaItLt3Sq
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) June 9, 2021
How are you gonna come out here for a press conference about the sticky stuff scandal, and give that answer when you are asked point blank if you use it? Customs! Passed down through generations! Like Spider Tack is a freaking heirloom.
Gerrit Cole on if he ever used Spider Tack while pitching:
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 8, 2021
"I don't quite know how to answer that, to be honest...If MLB wants to legislate some more stuff, that's a conversation that we can have" pic.twitter.com/2fR1AUeOQX
Eno Saris with the correct take regarding the sticky stuff scandal.
1) It makes sense to police the crazier tacky substances to maybe reduce spin on some of the crazier breaking balls & perhaps reduce strikeout rate.
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) June 8, 2021
2) It doesn’t make sense to vilify players that never saw this rule enforced broadly & never told that some substances were “worse”
An interesting reading on sticky stuff.
The media returned to the field yesterday.
Today was a good day.
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) June 9, 2021
It finally felt normal.
Field access returned for all media. Did my first “normal” in-person postgame interview since 2019.
You don’t realize how much you miss looking someone in the eye during an interview, rather than a lifeless Zoom camera. Grateful pic.twitter.com/7qM9tvJsID
Lastly, some puppies. Which one is Willy Adames?
This friendship deserves endless Retweets ♥️ pic.twitter.com/1Vjfj52tO2
— Puppies (@POPULARPUPPlES) June 9, 2021