Tampa Bay Rays 2014 Season time to "Rays Up!"

[Tobywan]

Amazing, the Rays took 2 from the Yanks in the Bronx, Erik Bedard actually pitched 6 innings.

Wil Myers turned on the speed for an inside the park home run...........SWEET!

[Tobywan]

Let's hope the current themed road trip gives them better luck.

Swept by the O's and losing 2 of 3 from the Indians, now they go to the west coast.




Longo




SRod with kiddies in tow




Maddon and his wife Jaye




Price and his current flame Tiffany





Matty J and his current gal pal Brittany Svendgard




Peralta, equipment manager Chris Westmoreland and Oviedo





Assistant hitting coach Jamie Nelson

[Tobywan]

Forgot this one of Ben Zobrist, love the t-shirt.



Put down the drugs and come get a hug.

[Tobywan]

Theme worked this time, Rays finally won a series, but lose Ben Zobrist with a dislocated thumb.

[Tobywan]

After a brief bit of winning in Seattle, they sunk further by losing 3 of 4 from the Angels. They called up Cole Figueroa series to replace Ben Zobrist. Good news when Alex Cobb started a rehab assignment in Charlotte, he came back and started on Thursday night, pitching very well, the Rays got a much needed boost from a walk off win, after losing the first 2 games to Oakland. The Rays optioned Kevin Kiermaier back to Durham to make room. He had a nice game last Sunday when he filled in while Desmond Jennings left the team due to a death in his family. Brandon Gomes was sent to Durham to make room for him when he returned.

The Rays also signed Jason Nix to a minor league deal last weekend.

Ryan Hanigan had been nursing a sore hamstring and was determined he was not going end up on the DL, so far he has gotten his wish. He was evaluated on Tuesday and came into the game late in defense and back in the line up on Wednesday.



Hopefully, the win last night and Cobb's return can spark something, in fact tonight the game was scoreless until the Rays finally won on a double from Cole Figueroa to score Desmond Jennings. Good pitching, Lackey for the Sawx, went 7, giving up 5 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Archer went 6 innings with 4 hits, 4 walks and 22 strike outs. Good defense as well, both sides got out of a few jams. 2 walks offs in a row, woo hoo!

This is the worst start for the Rays since 2007.

[Tobywan]

Another marathon.....................15 flippin' innings! Rays pull another one out of their bums, we officially have a winning streak folks at 3.

6-5 is the final, great turn around since Price didn't pitch so well. We needed this series, maybe a sweep!

[Tobywan]

Well, there were fireworks at the Trop tonight, but not for Memorial Day. I understand the frustration the Sawx have lost 10 in a row, things haven't been a lot of fun for TB until they came to town. The Rays were up 8-3 in the seventh when Yunel Escobar took 3rd base after hitting a double, umpire ruled indifference and someone started chirping from the Sox dugout, looked like Cody Ross, Yuney chirped back, things got heated, Foley holding him back, dugout clears. Gomes runs in from the OF to shove Escobar and everybody gathered. In the end Yuney and Jonny Gomes were tossed, no surprise, not sure why Sean Rodriguez was run for yelling when Ross (if he was one that was baiting) didn't go, too.


Maybe this will light a spark for Boston, but they did score two runs in the 9th so it ended 8-5. I am kind sick of this "unwritten rule" crap, games can turn on a dime ALL players on ALL teams should be playing on ALL cylinders at ALL times, PERIOD!

[Tobywan]

So, we get our asses kicked by getting swept by the Blue Birds. Tensions have settled between the Rays and Sox, and bone head David Price goes throwing at Papi, then throws at Matt Carp and half the Sox coaching staff gets run??????

The Sox got a walk off this time, good for them, the Rays didn't deserve it.

[Tobywan]

Ryan Hanigan could no longer avoid the DL, Rays brought up Roman Ali Solis. Molina was to have the day off on Sunday, but during his first at bat ball ricochet
off home plate hitting him square in the middle of his face, so Molina had to play.

Kevin Kiermaier was recalled and Cole Figueroa was optioned back to Durham. Ben Zobrist was also activated for Sunday's game, though the thumb is still sore.
Wil Myers was placed on the DL with an injured wrist from the collision he had in the outfield with Desmond Jennings in last Friday's game
, though he hasn't exactly been tearing it up. Jerry Sands contract was purchased from Durham to take his place.


Down on the farm another Tim Beckham was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Sands on the 40 man roster. He had another set back to his career when he needed right knee surgery last December.

Rays were swept two series in a row by the angry Boston Red Sox. We start a 4 game series against the Miami Marlins tonight.

[Tobywan]

Horrible week for the Rays, grief stricken at the loss of their mentor and good luck charm Zim and the losing streak is now at 10.

[Tobywan]

The Rays only managed to win one of the 4 games against the Seattle Mariners, they called up Kirby Yates (brother of Tyler Kirby) before the game on Saturday, he made his debut on Sunday pitched 1.1 innings striking 2 and giving up no hits.

Josh Lueke was designated for assignment, accepted and was out-righted to Durham, I hope this is the beginning of the end for him. Jeremy Hellickson ans Ryan Hanigan were sent to the Charlotte Stone crabs for rehab assignments.

They have signed some of their new draft picks, C Mac James, RHP Mike Franco, 3B Daniel Miles (HA! Good luck with that.) , RHP Chris Pike and 1B Casey Gillaspie.


In another one of his stunts to liven up the team Joe MADdon invited a Seminole tribal elder/medicine man to the Trop last night, he did his walk around the venue with his beads and things and while the Rays still lost it did rain heavily last night especially in St Pete. I think we need another exorcism.

[Tobywan]

Another loss tonight, another franchise record................no runs scored in 28 innings, surpassing the 2002 team mark of 26 innings, they lost 106 games that year.

[Tobywan]

Ryan Hanigan was activated and back in the line-up, Roman Ali Solis was optioned to Durham.

After 31 innings the Rays finally score a run thanks to Desmond Jennings' 2-run single in the fourth. Rays defeat Cardinals 6-3.

I am falling in love with Kevin Kiermaier.

[Tobywan]

Managed to win a series taking 2 of three from the our bottom dwelling pals the Houston Astros. Jerry Sands has been the hero two nights in a row with the game winning runs.

Maddon had a little chat with Yunel Escobar about his philosophy on hustling after he showed a lack of it in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Astros.

Helickson will make his third rehab start in Charlotte and it will be determined if he needs one more. Brandon Guyer has been sent to Durham for a rehab assignment.

They signed more draft picks, RHP Cameron Varga, LHP Ryan Pennell, RHP Bradley Wallace and SS Alec Sole. They claimed RHP Angel Sanchez off waivers from the Miami Marlins and assigned him to the Montgomery Biscuits.

[Tobywan]

I almost forgot....the Rays put a knothole in left center field, so cool!

I loved the one at the Giants park!