general

Rays play down to competition again

July 25, 2022 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Once again, they were less than the worst in baseball. Such is the dilemma of the Tampa Bay Rays. Facing a Kansas City team that has had a dismal record, and a pitcher who has often thrown batting practice, the Rays were dreadful again Sunday afternoon. They lost to the Royals, who […]

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Long ball dooms Rays in loss to Royals

July 23, 2022 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. For Ryan Yarbrough, the challenge is always the same. He has to keep the ball inside the park. Yarbrough was giving up souvenirs again Saturday night, throwing two gopher balls in the eighth inning of a 6-3 loss to Kansas City. This season, Yarbrough has given up seven homers in 10 games. […]

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Rays walk over Royals to start second half

July 23, 2022 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. All Brad Keller wanted was to stop the bleeding. On the mound. From the face. Alas, Keller could get no relief. Not from the bloody nose he suffered in the fourth inning, and not from his wild right arm. Together, the two ganged up on him in Friday night’s 7-3 loss to […]

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Should Gronk make the Bucs’ Ring of Honor?

July 22, 2022 general

Friday, 4 a.m. Now that he is done — if indeed he is done — then all that remains of the wonderful career of Rob Gronkowski is to measure him for immortality. The shadow he left is broad, and his footprints have been deep. For the attention his quirky personality drew, he was an impressive […]

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Should we care how much Fournette weighs?

July 21, 2022 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. A story I care about: Maybe former Bucs’ running back Ronald Jones didn’t leave in free agency, after all. Maybe Leonard Fournette just ate him. Okay, okay. I’m sorry, but I care about the reported weight gain by Bucs’ lead back Leonard Fournette. It’s a shame when any one in pro athletics […]

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McClanahan struggles in All-Star start

July 20, 2022 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. Tom Glavine once gave up seven consecutive hits in an All-Star game. Jim Palmer once surrendered three home runs. Atlee Hammaker once gave up seven earned runs, including a grand slam. In other words, , don’t feel sorry for Shane McClanahan, who was somewhat less than wonderful in his first All-Star game. […]

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McClanahan is the best the Rays have had

July 19, 2022 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. He is not the first young thrower of flame in the history of the Tampa Bay Rays. He is not the first all-star. He is not even the first all-star starter. Shane McClanahan is simply the best. The greatness of McClanahan, named to start tonight’s All-Star game for the American League, will […]

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Rays win, but lose Ramirez to a broken thumb

July 18, 2022 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Half a season gone. Half a roster hurt. And so goes the yin and yang of the Tampa Bay Rays’ season. Some games won; some games lost. Some fine performances here; some ugly ones there. And then there are the walking wounded that have defined the Rays pretty-good-but-not-special season. Content beyond this […]

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Rays waste advantages in loss to Orioles

July 17, 2022 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Luke Bard got a gift Saturday night. A get-out-of-jail-free card. A gimmie out to start the 11th inning. And then he blew up anyway. On a day the Rays refused to take advantage of their opportunities, Bard gave up a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to right field to allow the Baltimore Orioles […]

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Newcomers lead Rays past hot Orioles

July 16, 2022 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. Who is this Christian Bethancourt, and what is he doing circling the bases of the Tampa Bay Rays? Why, Bethancourt wouldn’t even be a Ray if Mike Zunino wasn’t hurt, or if the Rays had enough savvy at catching behind him. Yet, that was Bethancourt, hitting a fly ball that was barely […]

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