Exclusive Rays coverage by Gary Shelton Sports

Archer’s personal growth is higher than a mound

March 13, 2015 general

Friday, 6 a.m. PORT CHARLOTTE He is a young man. There are days he has not yet seen, and miles he has not yet traveled. There are a lot of outs for Chris Archer to record between now and when his time in baseball is done. Yet, Archer seems to get it. His eyes have […]

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How soon before Souza is ready for Rays?

March 12, 2015 general

Thursday, 11:42 a.m. PORT CHARLOTTE The bat is too young, too new. It is fresh wood, recently polished. It hasn’t had the hits that some of the others have had. It hasn’t come through in the clutch. It hasn’t driven enough runs home. And yet, you cannot help but look at it and hope. There […]

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Random Thoughts: Should Rays call Winston?

March 8, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Hello, I’m Harrison Ford. See what happens when you try to make the Kessel run in 11 parsecs? — So scuba divers had to go down to get Rory McElroy’s 3-iron. While they were down there, did they find Davey Jones’ locker. And last year’s Bucs’ season? — Would anyone else find it to be […]

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To All Fields: Could Winston be a smokescreen?

March 7, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Saturday, 1:07 p.m. At One Buc Place… Could it be smoke? Could it be misdirection? Or is Jameis, and full speed ahead? As a sportswriter, I have a face that is used to being lied into. I know a wild-goose chase. I can tell bluster from blarney. So it has to be asked. Are the […]

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Ask Gary: Is Winston the win-now option?

March 6, 2015 general

Friday, 9:40 p.m. (Each week, the readers send in a question, or a couple, and we all talk about the world of sports. Join us and ask a question, make a comment or be funny. Send the questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com.) In the playoffs, should the Lightning face either Detroit or Boston, or even Chicago in the finals, […]

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Stadium for Rent: My afterword to a fine book

March 6, 2015 general

Recently, I was flattered when Bob Andelman, a fine writer and one of the best guys around, asked me to write an updated afterword for an updated version of his essential book Stadium for Rent. Bob can throw heat with the best of them, and he’s crafty on the basepaths. Here is the afterward. You […]

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Cash looks ready for his screen test

March 5, 2015 general

Thursday, 4:29 p.m. PORT CHARLOTTE This is his place. These are his people. This is his moment. Kevin Cash, the new guy to blame, stood on a small platform behind the batting cage, trying to see tomorrow from his perch. This is his team now, for all that is and for all that it might […]

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Random thoughts: now Melvin is overpaid

March 1, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hello. I used to be known as B.J. Upton, but now I want to be called Melvin. In a related story, the Braves used to pay me in large stacks of “Benjamin Franklins.” From now on, they would prefer that be in “George Washingtons.” — Ronald Belisario shouldn’t worry. The hardest part […]

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Ask Gary: Talking about Tiger, Rays Stadium, Lovie

February 27, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Gary, I don’t know if you had to cover the PGA tour in your sportswriting career – I’m betting you did, though. That being said, and with the PGA Tour headed our way in Tampa Bay, Tiger Woods seems to have hit rock bottom with his golf game.  He seems to have developed something called […]

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Jepsen, Frieri hope to help rearm the Rays’ bullpen

February 26, 2015 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. PORT CHARLOTTE He never had Rafael Soriano’s death stare. He never had Fernando Rodney’s archery skills. He never had Jake McGee’s fastball. All that Joel Peralta had was the instructions on how to get hitters out. Now, in the effort to find pitching to come after the pitching, it is up the […]

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