Exclusive Rays coverage by Gary Shelton Sports

Is Shelton the reason for Rays’ hitting woes?

July 9, 2015 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. Hang around the ballpark long enough, and old arguments become fresh again. It’s like a rerun, like a debate circling the bases until the same old points are worth repeating. For instance, there is the one about why so few fans go the Rays games. Heard that one? There is the one […]

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Is Shelton the reason for Rays’ hitting problems?

July 9, 2015 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. Every now and then, an old argument feels fresh. It is the cycle of baseball. Yesterday’s gripes because new all over again. There is the one about why so few fans go the Rays games. Heard that one? There is the one about the lack of power? Heard that one? There is […]

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Is Rays’ bullpen gassed after the heavy load?

July 8, 2015 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. What do you do when your greatest strength becomes a weakness? What do you do when the thing you trust the most turns on you? What happens when your exclamation point becomes a question mark? Well, you lose. That’s what. Look, there is much to worry about these days when it comes […]

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Why doesn’t America watch women’s sports?

July 7, 2015 general

They rarely test positive for steroids. They do not beat their spouses. They do not  go to strip clubs and make it rain. So why don’t we watch them more? They do not get caught with hookers. They do not punch their coaches. They do not play games with their own blood. So why aren’t […]

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Can the rest of Tampa Bay’s teams copy the Bolts?

July 6, 2015 general

Monday, 6 a.m. As a sport, it grew up a long way from Tampa Bay. As an entertainment value, it took some growing pains. As a team, there were moments when you wondered if it would ever mature. But here it is, 2015, and the Tampa Bay Lightning owns this town. It has arrived, and […]

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Sixty-two hotdogs? You want fries with that?

July 5, 2015 general

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hi. I’m Billy Joel. As a 66-year-old guy who just married a 33-year-old woman, I am here to a reprise of my old hit “Pressure.” — Do you think Aaron Hernandez was  disappointed to find out that when authorities said  “independence day,” they didn’t really mean it? — The Bucs haven’t been […]

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Ask Gary: Voting for Rose for Hall of Fame?

July 4, 2015 general

Saturday, 6 a.m. (Each week, the readers take over Ask Gary. They send in a question, or a couple, 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, make a comment or be funny. Send the […]

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Moore returns for Rays, but the slump deepens

July 2, 2015 general

Thursday, 4:35 p.m. For 14 months, he had waited. Forever, until he felt as if he used to be a pitcher, Matt Moore had bided his time. Finally, he was back. And could a little thing like a few runs seem that disappointing? Oh, here lately, the Rays give up plenty of runs, they come […]

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The Rays don’t use their bats very much

July 2, 2015 general

Thursday, 7:35 a.m. They didn’t hit much on Monday. They didn’t hit much on Tuesday. They didn’t hit much on Wednesday. And for goodness’ sakes, they may not hit much today. This, they don’t do. Some cleaning services do not do windows. The Tampa Bay Rays do not hit. As it turns out, it isn’t […]

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Rays nearly no-hit by the Indians’ Carrasco

July 1, 2015 general

Wednesday, 11:09 p.m. How are the Tampa Bay Rays near first place? How are the Cleveland Indians five games under .500? Two of the biggest mysteries in baseball left each other heading opposite directions Wednesday night. Led by pitcher Carlos Carrasco, the Indians smothered the Rays’ offense once again. Carrasco was one pitch away from […]

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