Reds win ‘Balk-off’ with call in extra innings

July 9, 2022 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. It was a tap, Matt Wisler said. Nothing more than a tap, a move he has done a lot in his career, to call for a different pitch. It was a flinch, home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso said. A balk. It was a loss, Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Kevin Cash said. He […]

Read the full article →

Could Bucs be seeking more leadership?

July 8, 2022 general

Friday, 4 a.m. Random Thoughts: — Maybe it’s because I’m old, but the planet-gobbling conferences of college football are out of hand. Pretty soon, there will be a conference that consists of every team in America but one. That’s right, USF will still be left out. — For all of you who are still looking […]

Read the full article →

Kluber tames Sox in bounceback win

July 7, 2022 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. He is not what he was, but the old man still has something in his right arm. Even at the age of 36, Corey Kluber seems to have something left. No, he isn’t the same pitcher as the guy who won two Cy Young Awards. But he’s better than the pitcher who […]

Read the full article →

How long will strong hitting last for Rays?

July 6, 2022 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. The bats returned Tuesday night. Once again, there was electricity to the offense of the Tampa Bay Rays. Once again, they had a little firepower in their lineup. But will it last? The Rays had a good night against the Boston Red Sox in Tuesday night’s 8-4 victory over Boston. But a […]

Read the full article →

Rays hot streak ends in loss to Boston

July 5, 2022 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. Hot streaks don’t last. Everyone knows that. Seldom, however, do they screech to a halt as quickly as the Tampa Bay Rays did on Monday afternoon. The Rays reminded you of what sort of funk they have been in through the last few weeks in a 4-0 loss to the Boston Red […]

Read the full article →

Rays’ bats stay hot in win over Toronto

July 4, 2022 general

Monday, 4 a.m. When they are hitting — and as you know, it doesn’t always happen — there is a completely different look to the Tampa Bay Rays. They look bigger. Stronger. More dangerous. On afternoons such as those, you can picture them in the post-season. They look … legit. The Rays continued their rebound […]

Read the full article →

Rays’ offense (really) leads to Sweep of Jays

July 3, 2022 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Of all the teams in the major leagues, who would have picked this one to bring the fireworks to the picnic? The Tampa Bay Rays, previously known as the Hitless Wonders, as the Black Hole of the American League, turned into hitting creatures in sweeping a doubleheader from the Toronto Blue Jays […]

Read the full article →

Rays clobbered as their slide continues

July 2, 2022 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. Corey Kluber got clobbered. Kevin Kiermaier’s gold glove turned to rust. And the runners in scoring position stayed there. The nosedive by the Tampa Bay Rays continued on Friday in a 9-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. It was the Rays’ fourth straight loss, and their 15th loss in their last […]

Read the full article →

Rays’ slide continues in loss to Toronto

July 1, 2022 general

Friday, 4 a.m. They didn’t hit. They didn’t stop throwing gopher balls. They didn’t win. And so the midsummer swoon of the Tampa Bay Rays continues. The Rays’ losing streak reached three games Thursday night in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, a defeat that left the Rays 15 games out of first […]

Read the full article →

Brewers’ homers too much for Rays

June 30, 2022 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. Perhaps the Tampa Bay Rays made a tactical error in Wednesday afternoon’s game. Perhaps they should have played their outfielders on the other side of the fence. After all, that’s where the opposing Milwaukee Brewers kept hitting the ball. The Brewers homered four times — and twice more the night before — […]

Read the full article →