Exclusive Rays coverage by Gary Shelton Sports

Base-running gaffe leads to Rays defeat

May 9, 2019 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. They struck out 23 times. They left 11 men on base. They struck out 10 times with runners in scoring position. They were one-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Yet, when the smoke had cleared from Tampa Bay’s 3-2, 13-inning loss to the Arizona Diamond back, there was one memory that resonated. […]

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Is Cash playing it too safe with Blake Snell?

May 7, 2019 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. On the grand scale of all things wonderful in baseball, which do you value more? A pitcher getting a bit of history with a no-hitter? Or a pitcher leaving the game with a low pitch count to save wear on his arm? You can argue it. You can discuss it. You can […]

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Rays out of line in loss to the Orioles

May 5, 2019 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t spend a lot of time running the bases Saturday. Perhaps that’s why they were so bad at it. Wayward Willy Adames, the Rays’ starting shortstop, had a chance to ignite a late-inning rally in the eighth inning, but was called out for being — far — out […]

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Random thoughts: bolts trophies a sad reminder

May 5, 2019 general

Sunday, 3 a.m. Elsewhere, a nice little individual award might be of some comfort to fans. Around here, not so much. So when you see that Nikita Kucherov is a finalist for the Hart Trophy, and John Cooper for the Jack Adams, and Victor Hedman for the Norris, and Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Vezina, you […]

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Ask Gary: Another look at overspending in baseball

May 4, 2019 general

Each week, the readers take over GarySheltonsports.com and play Ask Gary. They send in a question, or a couple, on Thursday night or Friday morning and we all talk about the world of sports. Think of it as a radio show where you don’t have to be on hold. Join us and ask a question, […]

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Glasnow is dominating again to lead Rays

May 4, 2019 general

Saturday, 3 a.m. How old do you have to be before you can be an ace? How many hitters have to walk away shaking their heads? How many curve balls have to snap by them? How many times do you  have to walk away in victory? With the Tampa Bay Rays and pitcher Tyler Glasnow, […]

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Lowe’s late home run lifts Rays over Royals

May 3, 2019 general

Friday, 4 a.m. For a while, it looked like another close game that might slip away. Though a successful start, that has been sore spot for the Tampa Bay Rays. They are just 1-5 in one-run games this year, and here they were, tied with Kansas City at 1-1 in the ninth inning. And then […]

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Snell slammed again as Rays lose doubleheader

May 2, 2019 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. What in the hell is wrong with Blake Snell? Snell, the best of the Rays last year in a Cy Young award-winning season, was clobbered for the second time in eight days,,leaving some to wonder if his broken right toe has healed properly. He lost 8-2 in the second game of a […]

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Lowe makes his debut in big win for Rays

April 30, 2019 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. Some nights, the pitching is good enough. Some nights, the offense is good enough. And some nights, the storylines are even better. Take Monday night, when a fast start and a strong finish led the Rays to an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Angels. Stuck in the middle of all the […]

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Glasnow is red-hot now for the Tampa Bay Rays

April 29, 2019 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Inside the Tampa Bay Rays’ deck of cards, there is a new ace. No, not Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. No, not free agent signee Charlie Morton. It’s Tyler Glasnow, who was 1-5 as a starting pitcher with the Rays a year ago. Now? Now, he’s 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA. […]

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