general

Can Meadows repeat last season’s success?

February 27, 2020 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. For a year, he was a star. For a year, he was the finest offensive threat that the Tampa Bay Rays had. Now, the question for Austin Meadows is basic: Can he do it again? A year ago, Meadows wasn’t just good. He was splendid. He hit .291. He had 33 homers. […]

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Bolts lose third straight as special teams struggle

February 26, 2020 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. The new guys were supposed to be the cavalry. They were supposed to push the Tampa Bay Lightning over the top. So far, however, it has been a bad chemistry experiment. And the reinforcements — Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow and Zach Bogosian — haven’t tasted victory since joining the Bolts. Tampa Bay […]

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Should Rays invest in the future with Adames?

February 25, 2020 general

You run the Tampa Bay Rays, and the heavy lifting is over. The off-season is complete, and the roster is assembled. Once again, your team is prepared to be the mongoose to the cobra that is the New York Yankees in the AL East.The power has been imported. The arms have been retained. So what […]

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Bucs would like better odds of making playoffs

February 24, 2020 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Bucs didn’t get any closer to the playoffs this weekend. But they might soon. I will pause for a minute while you chuckle. Got it out yet. I’ll wait another few seconds. Go ahead. Get one lass snicker in. After all, the playoffs are a land out of reach […]

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Vipers fall to 0-3 with loss in home opener

February 23, 2020 general

Sunday, 3 a.m. They scored some points. They held a lead. Is that enough for the Tampa Bay Vipers? Probably not. The Vipers lost again, falling to 0-3 in the young XFL season after a 34 -27 loss to the undefeated Houston Roughnecks. The Vipers held a 27-26 lead in the fourth quarter until Houston […]

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Bolts staggered again by Arizona’s offense

February 23, 2020 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. It has happened as quickly as falling off a cliff. The Tampa Bay Lightning are officially in a slump. Only yesterday (actually, it was three days ago), the Lightning was riding an 11-game winning streak, and it seemed as if they would coast down the stretch of the NHL season. They had […]

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Kiffin fits in well in Bucs’ Ring of Honor

February 22, 2020 general

Saturday, 4 am. Even now, he is imagining how the salt and pepper shakers could blitz the dining room chair. He squints, and he imagines the coffee table coming hard around the edge and blitzing the television set. The way he has it drawn up, the flower pot in the corner is about to come […]

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Lightning streak ends with third period fail

February 21, 2020 general

Friday, 4 a.m. What? They lost? Is that even possible? Is it under league rules? Can the Tampa Bay Lightning really finish second in a game? A streak in which the Lightning seemed invincible came to a thudding halt Thursday night with a 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. After 11 straight wins, and […]

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Will Anderson end up as the Rays’ closer?

February 20, 2020 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. One-run lead. Bases loaded. No one out. Ninth inning. The noise rises. The intensity builds. Jose Altuve stands at the plate, and no one has any idea if he’s still stealing signs. Palms sweat. Throats are dry. Every second seems to take a minute and a half. Think for a second: If […]

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How will the Lightning use new acquisition?

February 19, 2020 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. Now that they have the Pickleman,what do they do with him? Blake Coleman, the latest addition to the Tampa Bay Lightning, joins his new team Thursday night in a game against Vegas.For Jon Cooper, Coleman is a new toy, a new weapon, a new reason for his sizzling team to remain hot. […]

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