defense

Surprising Rays in first place despite defeat

May 23, 2015 general

Saturday, 8:53 p.m. This is a first place team? There are days, lots of them, when they cannot hit. Even against the worst team in the American League, the Oakland A’s, the Tampa Bay Rays did a lot of swinging and missing in a 5-0 defeat Saturday. The defense is usually top-notch. But not Saturday, […]

Tagged as: AL East, Archer, Cash, defense, First Place, Jaso, Jennings, pitching, Rays

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Did free agency fix what ails the Bucs’ defense?

April 17, 2015 general

Friday, 10:55 a.m. In the first round, they need a quarterback. You could say that about the Tampa Bay Bucs this year, and last year, and the year before that. Throughout the three-and-out history of the Bucs, you have always been able to say it. They’ve never had a quarterback. So this year, the top […]

Tagged as: Bucs, Carter, Conte, defense, Johnson, Melton, Moore

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Cash parties like he’s going to win another 99

April 8, 2015 general

Wednesday, 11:45 p.m. ST. PETERSBURG It was loud. It was wild. It was boisterous. Kevin Cash had heard about moments like this, how unbridled the Rays were when they had a victory to celebrate. And now, this was his celebration, and he was in the middle of it. It was dark. It was loose. It […]

Tagged as: celebration, defense, Odorizzi, pitching, Rays, walks

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Coburn wins them at hello by showing some fight

March 3, 2015 general

Tuesday, 11:56 p.m. TAMPA The sight was something out of the past, something warm and protective. Something fierce and determined. Something safe and physical. In the area that matters the most, number 55 stood in a crouch, his eyes seeking any threat. Nothing was going to get by him. No one was going to stroll […]

Tagged as: Brooks, Coburn, Cooper, defense, Hedman, Lightning, Stamkos, Vasilevskiy

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After trade, Lightning a more complete team

March 3, 2015 general

TAMPA Today, they are more complete. Today, they stand a better chance. Today, the Tampa Bay Lightning has more balance to their roster. And isn’t that what the NHL trading deadline is all about? “It makes everyone just a little bit taller,” is the way coach Jon Cooper puts it. Content beyond this point is […]

Tagged as: Coburn, Connolly, Cooper, defense, Garrison, Gudos, Hedman, NHL, Stamkos, Strahlman, Sydor, Yzerman

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Ask the Expert: Phil Esposito

February 26, 2015 general

Phil Esposito was a Hall of Fame forward for the Boston Bruins. Not only that, the Tampa Bay Lightning was his brainchild, and he was the team’s first owner. Even now, he works on the team’s radio crew. Each week, Esposito will answer questions from readers. To ask Phil a question, send it to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com. […]

Tagged as: Brooks, defense, Larionov, Lightning, playoffs, Red Wings, Stamkos, Tony Esposito

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