Smith’s wobbly play leads to Rays’ defeat

June 2, 2018 general

Saturday, 3 a.m. In the on-again, off-again season of Mallex Smith, count Friday night among the more forgettable performances of his young career. Smith tried twice to dive for fly balls in the fourth inning of a 4-3, 13-inning loss to Seattle. Both times he missed, and the batters ended ups with a triple and […]

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Home runs help A’s snap Rays’ winning streak

June 1, 2018 general

Friday, 4 a.m. For a day, the Tampa Bay Rays were no longer one of the surprise teams of the American League. For a day, the “Bullpen Day” blue print no longer worked. For a day, the Oakland A’s defended their home turf. After three straight wins over the A’s, and five overall, the Rays […]

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Bucs trying to get used to new helmet rule

June 1, 2018 general

Friday, 3 a.m. At the moment, it isn’t really like the Bucs are at practice. It’s more like they’re practicing to practice. Oh, they can catch and they can chase, but there are no pads, and no one will ever remember the score. But their are officials, and there are the wobbly first steps of […]

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Eovaldi’s effort is worth the wait for the Rays

May 31, 2018 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. For a long time, he was a memory. A piece of yesterday. A guy who used to be a pitcher. For 657 days, an eternity on the baseball field,Nathan Eovaldi sweated on side fields, working with a night such as this one in mind. For two years, he waited, and he healed. […]

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Who do you root against in college football?

May 31, 2018 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. You want your team to win all right. Boolah-boolah, and all of that. You want to hear your fight song, and you want to smile at your mascot, and you want to applaud the band. You want to cheer for your quarterback, and your tailback, and your head coach. That’s what college […]

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Rays power their way to a winning record

May 30, 2018 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. For just the second time this season, the Tampa Bay Rays are winners. The Rays, who lost eight of their first nine games the season, finished the night on the right side of .500 at 27-26. They got there with a 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s. The Rays have won four […]

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Winston still hopes to grow into a weapon for Bucs

May 30, 2018 general

Wednesday, 3 a.m. He is old enough to be a father. He is old enough to be a husband. He is old enough to be a millionaire. Ah, but when will Jameis Winston become a grown-up? It takes time, you know, for all of us. For the most part, we fight adulthood with both fists. […]

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Rays reach .500 behind Smith’s extra-inning single

May 29, 2018 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. He can bring you to your feet. And he can bring your hands to your head. He is Mallex Smith, a baseball player who should be sponsored by Tums. No one goes from first to third the way Smith does, and no one goes from a routine fly to an adventure as […]

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Who’s better: The ’17 Rays, or the ’18 edition?

May 29, 2018 general

Tuesday, 3 a.m. On Memorial Day, do you remember? The Tampa Bay Rays were for sale, piece by piece, and how did you feel? Evan Longoria was gone, and Logan Morrison, and Steven Souza? Alex Cobb was gone, and Corey Dickerson, and Jake Odorizzi. And it felt empty. Last year’s MVP was gone, and last […]

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Rays win as they watch Pruitt do it to Orioles

May 28, 2018 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Over the course of a season, a man can rediscover himself. He can be lost, and suddenly, he is found. He can be wobbly, and suddenly, he is steady. He can scattered, and suddenly, he is stable. And so goes Austin Pruitt, the long relief pitcher of the Tampa Bay Rays, who […]

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