general

Sloppy play dooms Rays vs. Orioles

August 1, 2020 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. The defense continued to play in its funk, and the old ace continued in his slump, which meant that the team continued on its slide. Pick an adjective. Pick any adjective, but the lackluster play of the Tampa Bay Rays continued Friday night in Baltimore. The Rays lost a 6-3 decision to […]

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Late comeback fizzles as Rays lose again

July 31, 2020 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. What’s the old line? You can’t come back to win them all? Oh, the Tampa Bay Rays are trying. This season, they’ve trailed in six of their seven games. But sometimes, the hole is just too deep — or the other guys make a key play, too — and a losing streak […]

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Rays lose second game as bullpen wobbles

July 30, 2020 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. Are we certain — absolutely certain — that the Tampa Bay Rays team that left Tropicana Field Wednesday is the one that arrived in Atlanta? There were so many odd sights, from Kevin Kiermaier misplaying a fly ball to Willy Adames making a wide throw, that a 7-4 bonking from the Atlanta […]

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Rays win fourth straight behind Churns

July 29, 2020 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. When the discussion turns to a big inning, fans think about offense. They think about runners crossing the plate, and drives into the gap. They think about big hits and changing scoreboards. But for the Tampa Bay Rays, the big inning in Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over Atlanta wasn’t the five-run bottom […]

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Rays bats wake up in big win over Atlanta

July 28, 2020 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. There for a while, it appeared the bats of the Tampa Bay Rays were trying to keep their social distance away from the baseball. Despite winning two of their first three games against Toronto, the Rays simply didn’t hit enough to inspire a lot of confidence. They led after only five of […]

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Kiermaier’s late triple gives the Rays a comeback

July 27, 2020 general

Monday, 4 a.m. I would have bunted him. You would have bunted him. Put it on the ballot and most of America would have bunted Kevin Kiermaier in the bottom of the 10th inning of Sunday’s game against Toronto. And why not? Kiermaier hadn’t had a hit all season (in 11 at-bats), and the Rays […]

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Lowe’s triple gives Rays their first victory of year

July 26, 2020 general

Monday, 4 a.m. In the land of quiet bats, there is Brandon Lowe. Finally, someone from the Tampa Bay Rays made a little noise on offense. Perhaps you have forgotten about Lowe, who made the All-Star team as a reserve last year, who was a bright enough prospect to get a six-year contract extension from […]

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Rays’ offense scuffles in Opening Day loss

July 25, 2020 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. There were even fewer fans in the stands than normal. The manager (and everyone else on the bench) wore a mask. Charlie Morton was mortal. And so the Tampa Bay Rays entered the oddest season in baseball history Friday night, losing a 6-4 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays. Granted, an Opening […]

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Rays search for answers as season begins

July 24, 2020 general

Friday, 4 a.m. It’s the latest Opening Day ever. It will be the quickest season ever. There will be more playoff teams than ever. And as the players play, they will attempt to ignore the fact that disease is in the air. And off we go, into the strangest baseball season of them all. Baseball […]

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Debating a heroes’ hall for sports

July 19, 2020 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. The game was a simple one, a driving game to gnaw away at the traffic in front of us. You know the sort: A idle subject to pass the miles. We were talking about heroes, my wife and I. We were talking about the proposal to form an American Hall of Heroes. […]

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