Thursday, 4 a.m. I like talking about the draft more than watching it. I like how every team is shocked, absolutely shocked to find their athlete still on the board. I like how “analysts” who have never talked to a living scout declare themselves to be experts because they can Xerox Mel Kiper’s picks. I […]

Wednesday, 4 a.m. In an odd way, it kind of figures that when the Rays’ offense finally woke up, it would be a light-hitting outfielder who served as the alarm clock. Why, hello, Brett Phillips. Giant-slayer. Phillips, the Rays’ seldom used outfielder, hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s 4-3 […]

Tuesday, 4 a.m. A year ago, the Rays were dreaming about really going somewhere. Like the World Series, perhaps. This year, they’re also dreaming about a grand journey. To home plate. Recently, that’s a far-enough ambition for these Rays. The Rays lost their second straight game, and their fourth in the last five games, in […]

Sunday, 4 a.m. If you follow the Tampa Bay Rays, you are aware that they don’t hit enough, particularly in the late stages of a game. And the resounding response this morning is “so what?” The Rays managed to score two eighth-inning runs without a hit Saturday night, coming from behind to beat the Toronto […]