Bolts win sixth straight opener, but was it enough?

October 4, 2019 general

Friday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Lightning upwrapped a new season Thursday night. Were you thrilled? They won their sixth straight opener and their ninth of their last 10. Were you satisfied? They pulled away in the third period against the Florida Panthers to win 5-3. Were you captivated? Probably no. And no. And no. […]

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Rays hope Glasnow can measure up to Verlander

October 4, 2019 general

Friday, 3 a.m. He just got back. The bandages are barely off. The strength is just starting to return. But today, Tyler Glasnow has to try to match pitches with the terrific Justin Verlander. It hardly sounds fair, does it? Verlander has won 15 games or more 10 times in his career. He’s won the […]

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Barrett has even impressed himself so far

October 4, 2019 general

Friday, 2 a.m. So far, Shaq Barrett has spent a quarter of a season impressing outsiders. And Shaq Barrett, too. How can he not be impressed, even if he is the one taking over the game tapes? Barrett has become the go-to player on the Bucs’ defense. He has nine sacks, and an interception, and […]

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Rays homer their way to Wild Card title

October 3, 2019 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. Perhaps you thought the A’s power would get them. After all, the subject of the Oakland muscle was a top of conversation for days. Tampa Bay was not supposed to be able to keep up. But they did. Perhaps you thought the distance might wear on them. After all, the Rays had […]

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Saints will tell the Bucs how good they are

October 3, 2019 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. As the Tampa Bay Bucs continue to grow, it was inevitable that they would be measured against the New Orleans Saints. After all, aren’t the Saints the usual measuring stick in the NFC South? Atlanta is good, then bad. Carolina rises and falls. But the Saints have won two straight division titles, […]

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The Rays won 96 by doing the little things well

October 2, 2019 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. This year, they got 15 fewer wins from Blake Snell. This year, they got 30 fewer home runs from C.J. Cron. This year, they got 69 fewer points on the batting average from Joey Wendle. So how. exactly, did the Tampa Bay Rays make the post-season? This year, they started fast with […]

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Looking back on the Bucs’ win over the Rams

October 1, 2019 general

5 Thoughts At this point of last season, the Bucs were also 2-2, and they had also won a wild shootout (a 48-40 win over New Orleans) on the road. Still, this feels better. Jameis Winston is playing better. Shaq Barrett is a star. And no receivers are pouting. 2. Is it too early to […]

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Bucs finally outlast Rams in offensive explosion

September 30, 2019 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Fireworks. There should have been fireworks. And a marching band. And a laser show. And trained monkeys and jugglers and a tight rope act. After all, Sunday’s game by the Tampa Bay Bucs had everything else. Great plays. Huge yardage. Dumb penalties. Great quarterbacking. Clutch drives and big plays and Ndamukong Suh […]

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Do the Rays have enough pitching for the playoffs?

September 30, 2019 general

Monday, 3 a.m. It’s never too late for questions. It’s never to soon for doubts. And so, as the Tampa Bay Rays wrap up their regular season, there is plenty of room for skepticism amid the excitement. For instance, do the Rays have enough pitching? And do they have enough healthy pitching? Content beyond this […]

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After celebration, Rays flat in losing to Jays

September 29, 2019 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Maybe it wasn’t the effects of the post-game party. Maybe it wasn’t a matter of relaxing after a tough pennant race. Maybe it wasn’t a day game after a long night. But for one of the few times lately, the Rays didn’t look like a playoff team Saturday. The Rays had the […]

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