Odorizzi struggles in Rays’ loss to Red Sox

July 8, 2017 general

Saturday, 1 a.m. Not long ago, he was the Tampa Bay Rays’ best pitcher. Now, two games short of the All-Star break, Jake Odorizzi may be struggling to remain in the Rays’ rotation. Odorizzi was hammered again Friday night in an 8-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Odorizzi pitched only four and one-third innings, […]

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Who would make a Rays’ Ring of Honor?

July 7, 2017 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. The thought occurred to me the other night when Evan Longoria walked toward the plate. How many times, I wondered, had Longo made that journey in his life? How many steps had he taken? And how far had he come? And, as fractured as the history of the Rays might be, how […]

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Buffalo breaks loose in Rays’ win over Red Sox

July 7, 2017 general

Friday, 2 p.m. It is no longer simply the place where Mallex Smith (or Kevin Kiermaier) runs. It isn’t the park where Logan Morrison slams, or where Chris Archer whiffs. It isn’t just the place where Corey Dickerson sprays, or where Evan Longoria grinds. As of now, it is also the place where the Buffalo […]

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Bad weather can’t dampen Rowdies’ celebration

July 7, 2017 general

Friday, 1 a.m. It had been a long time since the Tampa Bay Rowdies had won a match. No wonder it felt so good. The Rowdies, in a seven-game winless streak, overcame a weather delay of almost two hours Thursday night to beat Cincinnati FC, 2-0. Joe Cole and Martin Paterson scored goals for Tampa […]

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Ask the expert: Jerry Angelo

July 6, 2017 general

Jerry Angelo is a former personnel director for the Bucs and former general manager of the Bears. Each week, Angelo answers your questions regarding the NFL. Send your questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com with “ask the expert” in the subject line. The most interesting questions will be selected. Thursday, 4 a.m. I know it’s all on paper […]

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Bullpen blows game, chance to start a longer streak

July 6, 2017 general

Thursday, 1 a.m. Once again, the Tampa Bay Rays tried to start a roll. Once again, their bullpen stopped it. The Rays had a three-game winning streak Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The Rays, as has often been the case, were in command of the game until turning it over to […]

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Could any Bucs player be rookie of the year?

July 5, 2017 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Can any of them be good … right … now? Can any of the Bucs’ lauded draft class be good from the start? Can any of them have an instant impact? Can any of them be among the league’s pacesetters? Can any of the Bucs’ draft picks be among the best players […]

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Rays, Colome survive in team’s victory over Cubs

July 5, 2017 general

Wednesday, 1 a.m. Sitting in the other dugout, Joe Maddon must have recognized the ride. After all, he has seen it before. On the mound was a closer, struggling to hang on. Alex Colome of the Tampa Bay Rays was enduring his fifth straight rough outing — over the streak, he’s given up 10 runs, […]

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Remembering the success of Joe Maddon

July 4, 2017 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. The first time I met Joe Maddon, I tried to brace him for failure. Boy, was I wrong about him. A bunch of writers were gathered around Joe, then the new manager of the Rays, a job undertaking that had made strong men look mentally weak. The Rays, in those days, had […]

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Dear Vince, look in the mirror to find the guy to blame

July 3, 2017 general

Dear Vince, How are you? I hope the lucrative career in cooking chicken necks finds you well. I’m sorry about the tardiness of this letter. But I’ve been busy rolling on the floor laughing ever since I read your comments the other day. It was like watching Blazing Saddles all over again. Maybe Animal House. […]

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