general

Random thoughts: Is stability what the Bucs need?

March 31, 2019 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. So now we know. Joel Glazer says the reason the team brought back general manager Jason Licht was so the franchise could have “stability.” Well, all of us are in favor of stability over instability. But doesn’t the guy have to do better? His five-win team is pushing the cap, and he […]

Read the full article →

Glasnow, Perez lead Rays to another victory

March 31, 2019 general

Sunday, 3:30 a.m. Maybe there is something to this Tampa Bay Rays team, after all. The Rays won their second straight game Saturday night, beating a strong Houston Astros team, 3-1, in a game you might not have expected the Rays to win. For instance. They struck out 13 times … and won. They scored […]

Read the full article →

Sluggish Bolts lose to Caps, Ovechkin

March 31, 2019 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Perhaps this is why Lightning coach Jon Cooper is so reluctant to give his players too much time off. They don’t respond well to rest, it appears. Following a four-day break, the Bolts had a rare stumble Saturday night, losing their final regular-season home game, 6-3. The Bolts fell behind 4-0. Two […]

Read the full article →

Morton shuts down former teammates as Rays win

March 30, 2019 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. This is why they gave him the money. This is why they saved him a jersey. This is what they are hoping for every fifth day. The competitiveness. The stability. The curveball. The strikeouts. The leadership. The opportunity to form a 1-2 punch with Blake Snell at the top of the order. […]

Read the full article →

For openers, Verlander shuts down Rays

March 29, 2019 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. The folly of Opening Day, as wonderful as it may be, is the eternal search for clues for the season to come. A great pitcher is bad, and so you can talk yourself into believing that he is doomed to a terrible season. A team doesn’t hit against a great pitcher, and […]

Read the full article →

Sternberg thinks ’90-plus’ wins is possible

March 29, 2019 general

Friday, 3 a.m. From where he stands, he can see the age in the banners. It has been since 2013 the Rays hung their last one, and deep down, Stu Sternberg would like to think it is time for another. From where he stands, along the first-base line at Tropicana Field, Sternberg can envision another […]

Read the full article →

Can Kiermaier finally stay healthy enough for Rays?

March 28, 2019 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. There are black cats in the outfield. There are ladders above the dugout. In the clubhouse, there are broken mirrors. Once again, Keven Kiermaier will take on them all. He keeps breaking. The Rays’ centerfielder keeps turning aggressive plays into odd injuries, and in turn they keep removing him from the lineup. […]

Read the full article →

Is Cooper the best-ever coach of the Lightning?

March 27, 2019 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. At the time of his hiring, Terry Crisp was the perfect coach. He was patient, and he was smart, and he was a great way for a new coach to say hello. But Jon Cooper is better. When he came aboard, Guy Boucher was a good idea. He thought outside the box […]

Read the full article →

Bolts rally to beat Bruins in historic season

March 26, 2019 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. Are you tired of the record book lately? Are you weary of the assault on excellence by the Tampa Bay Lightning? Are you fatigued from reading, night after night, about the team or different players measuring up to the greats of the league? Well, no. Of course you aren’t. Once again, the […]

Read the full article →

Looking for a reason to believe in the Lightning?

March 25, 2019 general

Monday, 4 a.m. They have come close, but they have not come close enough. They have been near enough to the finish to sell tickets, but it has not been good enough. They have dwarfed much of the NHL, but in the end, they have not been big enough. Still, there are reasons to believe […]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →