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

[Tobywan]

Signed more draft picks

LHP Steve Ascher
LHP Kyle Bird
1B Nic Wilson
LHP Greg Maisto
RHP Tomas Michelson
C Blake Grant-Parks.
3B Carter Burgess
LHP Trevor Lubking
RHP Brent Honeywell


Oh and they lost tonight 7-5 to the Orioles.

[Tobywan]

Nice all around win tonight, Archer bounced back from his last outing. Kermie with a huge 2-run homer and a Longo (gawd his hair is awful). 5-0!!!!!

David DeJesus went to the DL with a broken hand, actually is a ligament attached to his finger was pulled loose from the bone...........OUCH! Sounds as painful as a broken penis. Brandon Guyer was activated to take his place.

[Tobywan]

Lost again last night, but Price did collect his 1,000 strike out.

Astros won 3-1.

Hellickson has been getting shelled in rehab so it is unclear when he will be ready, he is being sent to Durham for his next start on Sunday and will be on a pitch count.

Rays signed RHP Kyle McKenzie, RHP Tommy Lawrence, P Bret Dahlson, 2B Matt Reida and 2B Oscar Sanay.

[Tobywan]

The week in Tampa Bay .......well, the Rays did actually pull out a series win over the Astros taking three of four, that was fun until the Pirates got here, lost 2 of three to them.

OF Jerry Sands has been sent to the 15-day DL with a strained left wrist. Cole Figueroa was recalled.

Ryan Hanigan has a stiff neck and Yunel Escobar a sore right shoulder both are hopefully going to be back Friday for a double header against the Orioles, they brought up Alex Colome to start the first game of the DH.


Signed RHP Justin McCalvin.

The rumors and speculations are really heating up that today was David Price's last game as a Ray, I understand the press is just doing their job, but as a silly female that gets emotional about this game and my team I am drained watching this kid choke up and tear up everyday, it's obvious he doesn't want to leave.

[Tobywan]

The Rays played a double-header on Friday, they split winning the first (5-2), losing the second(1-4). They won Saturday (5-4) and then the Sunday home run derby.

Matt Joyce had a huge game on Sunday, becoming the 5th Ray to get 5 hits in a game (last one to do it was BJ Upton in 2009) and the third Ray to hit 12 total bases in a game (last one was Longoria in 2008), the Rays hit
five home runs an six doubles in the 12-7 win in the final game of the series.

Alex Colome was optioned back to Durham, the Rays signed a couple more picks, RHP Blake Bivens and RHP Trevor Dunlap.

[Tobywan]

All clean now, the Tampa Bay Rays just !

[Tobywan]

The Rays finally put Yunel Escobar on the DL with his sore right shoulder and recalled LHP Jeff Beliveau from Durham Bulls for the Yanks series. Then optioned him back today and recalled Vince Belnome who is scheduled to start tonight in the DH spot.

The Rays signed LHP Brock Burke and the Chicago White Sox claimed RHP Angel Sanchez off waivers from the Rays.

The Rays face the Tigers tonight with Max Scherzer on the mound, James Loney is the only Ray who's batting average is above .200 against him. Erik Bedard goes for the Rays, he actually last 7 inning sin his last start. The is the first series this season between the Rays and Tigers, last season they split 3-3.

[Tobywan]

The Rays lost the opening game of the series 1-8, then game back to win Friday 6-3 and today 7-2. Tomorrow's game was originally set for a 1:08 start but got moved to be the 8:00 ESPN game. Maddon was ejected Friday when he took exception to both teams being warned after three hit batsmen.

Jeff Beliveau has re-joined the Rays just 24 hours after being optioned as Cesar Ramos went on paternity leave.

Joel Peralta now holds the new record for most games pitched in franchise history (267), passing Estaban Yan.

Jeremy Hellickson is expected to return on Tuesday.

[Tobywan]

The Rays took 3 of 4 from the Detroit Tigers, they have won 8 of their last 9 games to get themselves out of the cellar, at least for the moment.

They start a three game series at home against the KC Royals.

Yunel Escobar has been sent on a rehab assignment to GCL Rays.

Vince Belnome and Jeff Beliveau were optioned to Durham Bulls as Jeremy Hellickson was activated and Cesar Ramos is back from paternity leave.


Cesar and his wife Melanie welcomed their first child Saturday, Adison Lynn Ramos weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces. This is especially great news as this time last year Melanie had just been cleared after completing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma and were initially told it might take several years before they could have children.


They signed a 16 year old from the Dominican SS Adrian Rondon for $2.95M.

[Tobywan]

We got Shielded last night 6-0.

Traded RHP Matt Ramsey to the Marlins for their international signing bonus slots 2,3,and 4, worth about 1M.

Erik Bedard has been moved to the pen to free up the starting spot for Jeremy Hellickson who will make the start tonight.

[Tobywan]

Hellickson pitched 5 strong innings, gave up one run, Joe being cautious with him. Rays take second game 4-3.

[Tobywan]

Lost a close one tonight 5-4. Day off tomorrow before the Blue Birds come to town.

[Tobywan]

The Rays lost the final game of the Royals series 5-4, so they only won one of the 3 game set.

The Jays come in tonight and they bring my man Dan Johnson along with them.

With the day off yesterday I thought I'd pay homage to the what the Rays do quite a bit off the field during their time off, last month they hosted their 7th annual Rays on the Runway and yesterday Joe Maddon expanded his "Thanksmas" dinner
to Thanksmas in July.

Rays on the Runway was held this year at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.




Here's Longo dancing as wife Jamie laughs at him.





Alice Cobb gives his fiance Kelly Reynolds a little dip.






Kevin Kiermaier with one of the tiny "models".






Thanksmas in July held at Trinity Cafe.




Brandon Guyer discusses baseball with a "guest".




Joe Maddon serves.




Jake McGee is on paternity leave, he and his wife Morgan welcomed their first, daughter named Rowen Beth yesterday.

[Tobywan]

The Rays were able to take 2 of three from Toronto. After losing the first game Friday, they won decisively on Saturday 10-3. Today Price pitched 8 scoreless innings, new daddy McGee got the save in a 3-0 shut out.


Yunel Escobar was activated from the DL and to make room for McGee coming back from paternity leave Jeremy Hellickson was optioned to the Montgomery Biscuits, so he can still get starts since the Rays don't need the 5th starter due to the time off and figure out what move they want to make like a possible release.

[Tobywan]

The Rays picked right up where they left off easily taking the Twins in the first game after the break, 6-3. Cobb went 5,2 innings giving up 2 runs.Kyle Gibson went 6.1 innings giving up all of the Rays runs.

Rays purchased the contract of catcher Curt Casali as Ryan Hannigan goes to the DL with an oblique strain retroactive to July 9th. To make room o the 40-man roster Wil Myers was transferred to the 60 day DL, Casali made his debut Friday night in the eighth spot. In his first at bat he left off the top of the third with a single and would later score along with Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist on a bases clearing double from Longo.


David Price will face Kevin Correia for Saturday's match and slated for Sunday is Chris Archer Vs Phil Hughes.

As the draft signing deadline passed the Rays nabbed 37 of their 41 players selected, including their top 25 picks. Most notably Casey Gillaspie, the Rays' first pick and the 20th overall selection who is the younger brother of White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie. Casey is batting .271 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 30 games at Class A Short Season Hudson Valley.

The only players the not signed were LHP Tyler Wells (25th round), OF Joshua Davis (32nd round), RHP Matthew Plitt (37th round) and RHP Conor Harber (40th round).