Have things ever looked darker for the Rays?

July 8, 2016 general

Friday, 5:30 a.m. There was the season-opener in 1999 that left the Rays in a haze. That day, Mike Veeck had decided that fireworks would be a perfectly swell idea. But it filled the stadium with smoke. In the third innning, Randy Winn and Dave Martinez chased a fly ball, but neither could find it, […]

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Winston’s growth should begin in fourth quarter

July 7, 2016 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. The clock is ticking. In the huddle, you can hear labored breathing. There is blood on your jersey, and it isn’t yours. In year two, this is where Jameis Winston needs to be better. The game is still close, because most NFL games are. The team’s focus needs to be directed so […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Fourth quarter, Improvement, Winston

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Rays fall yet again as losing streak continues

July 7, 2016 general

Thursday, 5:30 a.m. Here’s a terrible thought: What if this isn’t a slump? What if this is a new reality? And if so, ouch. The Tampa Bay Rays lost for the 18th time in 21 games Wednesday night, following bad starting pitching (Drew Smyly’s 10th loss) and defense (three errors). For the Rays, the all-star […]

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Moore Should be an untradeable Ray

July 6, 2016 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. No. As other teams try to kick the tires on Matt Moore, as they consider how much of their farm system they would be willing to trade, as they envision how Moore would fit on their mound, the Rays’ response should be simple. No. You can’t have him. Moore has graduated from […]

Tagged as: Moore, Rays, Tigers, trade

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Is Tampa Bay’s Longoria deserving of being an all-star?

July 6, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Time was, he was an automatic. It was all-star time, and Evan Longoria would pack his bags. Other players might rest, but Longo always had somewhere to go. It was celebrity time, and Longoria always had some third base to play. It was that way in 2008. And 2009. And 2010. He […]

Tagged as: All-Star, Final Vote, Longoria, Third Base

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Isn’t it time someone on the Rays became angry?

July 4, 2016 general

Monday 6 a.m. The voices are soothing as they come out of the Tampa Bay Rays’ clubhouse. They are positive, affirming, and any minute, they might break into a chorus of Kumbaya. If there is disappointment, no one lets on. They come to praise whatever small parts of the game that can be praised. No […]

Tagged as: Anger, Archer, Rays, sweep, Tigers

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Random Thoughts: Nobodys get rich in NBA

July 3, 2016 general

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hello, I’m the last remaining Orlando Magic fan, and I entered free agency thinking about Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Chandler Parsons. I came away scratching my head at Jeff Green, Bismack Biyombo and D.J. Augustine. – For a day, Sam Querrey is Buster Douglas, the U.S. Men’s Hockey team, Rocky Balboa […]

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Ask Gary: Would Rays sell team to Jeff Vinik?

July 2, 2016 general

(Each week, the readers take over GarySheltonsports.com and play Ask Gary. They send in a question, or a couple, on Thursday night or Friday morning and we all talk about the world of sports.  Think of it as a radio show where you don’t have to be on hold. Join us and ask a question, make a comment […]

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Is the real MVP of the Lightning … Yzerman?

July 2, 2016 general

Saturday, 5:45 a.m. Suddenly, he looks smart. Suddenly, he looks efficient. Suddenly, Steve Yzerman looks hungry. By nature, he is a quiet man, not prone to beating his chest or proclaiming where he intends to guide his hockey team. Most nights, he sits in a booth, studying his team, absorbing, analyzing. He is the silent […]

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Losing continues as Rays bashed by Tigers again

July 2, 2016 general

Saturday, 5:30 a.m. Meet the new closer for the Tampa Bay Rays. Why, it’s infielder Taylor Motter. Not that things are going badly for the Rays’ bullpen — and the rest of the Rays, too — but the Rays turned to an infielder Friday night to finish things up in a 10-2 pounding by the […]

Tagged as: Losing, Motter, Rays, Tigers

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