Tampa Bay Rays Fanatics

"Contrary to the popular belief that the rest of baseball devoutly observes the high, holy occasions when the Yankees play the Red Sox, a full slate of games was scheduled for Friday night. That included one in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the defending American League East division champion and leading Rays were hosting the Orioles.

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Carl Crawford, who signed with the Red Sox this off-season, says he does not expect the Rays to fade in the division race.

In the borderline pretend world that extends from northern New England to a shifting border in central New Jersey, it is always 2003 and 2004, and the Yankees and the Red Sox are forever the center of the major league universe. Every game between the old rivals is as fierce as a collision between Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk. Every series presents an opportunity to create a 1978 atmosphere that, in the words of Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, “brings out the best in us” and allows them to live happily ever after.

It was with these fervent hopes that the scuffling Yankees began a three-game series by dropping a 5-4 decision to the struggling Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in an entertaining game that ended when Jonathan Papelbon got Mark Teixeira to pop out with the tying run on base. It was the usual clash of name-brand stars and heavyweight payrolls, roughly $360 million combined. And yet both teams began the night trailing a Tampa Bay team that took a machete to its comparatively modest $71.9 million 2010 budget, which was about a third of the Yankees’ last year.

Embarrassing as that should be, the season is barely past its sunrise, of course. But here was Boston’s Carl Crawford — now cast in the American League’s “West Side Story” after nine years as an other with the Rays — to explain that the Rays, stripped down as they are, “still have that pitching staff and everyone knows what pitching will do for you in this game.”

Far-fetched as it may seem that a team with Kyle Farnsworth as its closer could actually make another run at a division it won two of the last three seasons, Crawford said he detected a familiar tone, an air of defiance, in recent texts with B. J. Upton and other ex-teammates.

“We always understood that the Red Sox and the Yankees were going to get all the attention,” Crawford said. “We just had the attitude of going about our business, go under the radar and do our thing. We used that to our advantage a little bit.

He added: “I’m pretty sure they want to show everybody they can still win. I don’t know who would be sleeping on them.”

Imagine that. The Red Sox reeled in Crawford, the Rays’ All-Star left fielder, as a free agent for $142 million over seven years. The Yankees helped themselves to the Rays’ breakout closer, Rafael Soriano, and made him their setup man for Mariano Rivera. The Rays also let Carlos Pena’s 28 home runs walk out the door and traded the 15-game winner Matt Garza to the Cubs and starting shortstop Jason Bartlett to the Padres.

After all that, Crawford stood in the visitors’ clubhouse Friday night and said that he was of the educated opinion (one seconded by Girardi, in fact) that the Rays would not necessarily fade and leave the division to the Northeast aristocrats, no matter how much they paid for the privilege.

Even as he played out his contract, Crawford said he was aware of the Rays’ replacements coming along from what has been a fruitful minor league system.

“The minor league side is right next to you down there,” he said. “You see everybody. I knew they had a lot of young talent.”

It makes perfect sense that the Red Sox, after starting 0-6, will eventually surge over .500, kiss the bottom of the division goodbye and get within elbowing range of the Rays and the Yankees. In addition to Crawford, who did not hit his weight in April and was dropped in the lineup, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis started slow but all figure to join Adrian Gonzalez in a potent lineup. On Friday, Youkilis’s two-run homer in the seventh off Joba Chamberlain was the key blow for the Red Sox.

Like the Yankees, the Red Sox have rotation issues. Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have pitched well. Clay Buchholz had a quality start Friday but he and Daisuke Matsuzaka have otherwise been average. John Lackey, an expensive free-agent abomination, has an 8.01 earned run average.

The Yankees’ rotation has probably overachieved, given the absence of the dead-armed Phil Hughes and the burden placed on the reclamation projects Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.

Though he took a tough-luck loss, Colon threw crisply again Friday night, under the microscope following a report in The New York Times that disclosed a mysterious treatment he underwent in the Dominican Republic last year. The performing doctors say it is responsible for restoring the lightning in Colon’s shoulder — he was throwing 96 miles an hour in the first inning — but Red Sox Manager Terry Francona recalled Colon also throwing pretty well for him for a spell in 2008.

Withholding judgment on the effectiveness and the authenticity of the treatment would probably be a good idea, for a whole lot of reasons.

The same could be said of the Rays — who will await the Yankees on Monday in St. Petersburg after their weekend Armageddon with the Red Sox — but the mere suggestion that this might again be a three-team race is enough to make us believe in a stem-cell miracle. Or of Kyle Farnsworth as a big-game closer.


(from the New York Times HARVEY ARATON)

Category: MLB

I love the moves of bringing in Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. I can swallow just about everything the Rays have done this off-season, although seeing Matt Garza go is still something that flat out stinks. That being said, the Rays are pretty well set up for the future and they may get a future stud if Chris Archer (centerpeice of the Garza trade) can live up to his potential.

As for Manny Ramirez. . . .

Some might not know that just last year he was making $22 million and this year he is making just $2 million to play for the Rays. Much has been made about Maddon's constant changing of the lineup card, but Manny's signing allows the Rays to know they at least have the DH spot locked in. Manny will provide some much needed protection behind Evan Longoria and even an aging, sup-par Manny is capable of 30 HR - 100 RBI. Those numbers will be good enough to supplant Pena's production when you add in the similar OBP and Manny's +.300 batting average. But Manny's signing STILL goes beyond all this. . .

I think his return is going to be greater than what we signed him for. Manny will use the Rays as a launching pad to a bigger contract next year with another team and the Rays will use him as a bargaining chip come the trade deadline. If Manny is performing and the Rays are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, I wouldn't be surprised to see the rays move him for a package of possibly more prospects or maybe one or two players that can fill some voids that pop up during the season. He'd likely go to a contender looking to make that last minute push for a playoff spot.

The addition of Manny by the Rays also allows them control over Manny in the sense that the Yankees or Red Sox couldn't be major players in adding him mid-season. Just for the sake of argument, let's say that Manny is having a terrific first half and looks much like the productive Manny of old - er..young. Many will be interested in him and at $2 million dollars, teams will not get sucked into a big contract.

Manny's signing is a win win situation. Should it not work out due to injury or simply age, Manny is only a $2 million dollar loss on a team not expected to do much this year anyway.


Category: MLB

So, it sucked how it ended. Rays all the way would have been better. Next year is uncertain regarding a few of our players. It will be interesting to see what happens. The Tropicana should be knocked down and the Rays deserve a better place to play! This would bring in more revenue!

Anyways, ALL you Rays fans become my favorites and lets communicate.

Category: MLB

Dan Johnson is putting together one hell of a clutch resume and I think Derek Jeter may owe him a few thanks for taking the win (and the heat) away from the Yankees Captain. I wonder if Johnson is indeed the starting 1B next eyar if Carlos Pena departs. Adding Minors and Majors stats, Johnson is pushing 40 homers and well over 100 RBIs this year. Cutting down on the strikeouts and walking like the street-walkers in  Phil Collins Another Day In Paradise.

DJ is becoming a villian in Boston (well he already was after 08) and now adding the Yankees. Go DJ!


Category: MLB

PUMP ME UP! I AM A FEW POINTS AWAY FROM ALL STAR STATUS. COME ON FELLOW Rays FANS!!

BY THE WAY, IS HELLICKSON DOOMED TO THE BULLPEN THE REST OF THE YEAR?


Category: MLB