Thank you Tampa Bay!

[Thedatch]

:banana: :banana:

beat the yanks 7-6 today!!

[Chisox73]

Nice to know that the eventual winning run came in on a wild pitch in the 8th. :clap:

[Timberwolf]

This Twins fan here also says Thank you because the Twins are starting to inch closer to the Wild Card race. Hard to believe.

Yankees are the biggest threat in the W.C. race IMO.

I know one dedicated Yankee hater at this board is thrilled for sure (No not me!) :)

[I Are Baboon]

The Yankee struggles against Tampa Bay are very odd...not that I mind it all that much. I think those losses to Tampa are going to come back to bite them in the ass.

[Thedatch]

the rays really arent such an aweful team...i mean, their record sucks, but i think it may have something to do with Pinella there...now i know he's a great coach and all but he's an ass, and I dont think the players are responding to him very well.

they have the talent to play much better than they have if they just get some decent pitching.

[I Are Baboon]

BAD pitching combined with a mediocre offense adds up to a hell of a lot of losses. I don't think any manager could do much better with that team. Their pitching isn't just bad, it is downright horrible.

[yagsy]

The Rays have had bad luck with their pitching early on. But Doug Waechter and Seth McClung are coming around. McClung in particular had it so rough at the beginning that he hit the AAA train. Waechter was out for awhile on injuries and then there's Brazelton who was their opening day starter, their "ace" and he's been pitiful. They got rid of Nomo who was also horrible.

But with McClung pitching well, Waechter is getting there, Fossum is usually pretty good, Kazmir is really turning it around (must get that ERA down and IP up), they can afford Hendrickson to be a little bit inconsistent.

Their bullpen though, yikes at times! If Lou can get 6 innings out of his starters, then the bullpen is fine. But again, early in the season, the bullpen was over worked and what happened, the bullpen was SHELLED! Colome was hurt and on the DL for quite awhile, Harper & Miller were overworked. Baez is just wonderful ... when he gets to pitch.

DRays hitting is good. They have definitely got talent. Toby Hall, their catcher is really very good. Crawford is Crawfod. :clap: Huff is Huff :clap: What has been a really nice surprise has been Cantu & Hollins. Cantu plays both SS and 2nd and him and Lugo have really helped with knocking in runs that was not an expected role for them to play. Hollins has been inconsistent but does seem to have some power. With Baldelli coming back next season, they'll have a very nice outfield.

Gathright & Gomes are also really good - both on the AAA train to the majors and back this season. Gomes showing power, Gathright good defensively.

This is a good team, they've got the foundation. Give them some time to play together more, add a real starting pitching (not Nomo), maybe another reliever and get Baldelli back, this team will be a nice surprise next year. :clap:

[Timberwolf]

Great post, yagsy. You hit everything in the head on the D-Rays. They got lot of good young talent especially offensively. Now if they can get a good rotation. Kazmir is legit. Who knows about the rest? McClung has been hot, but is he going to be good long term. Brazelton is a lost cause and you really had to wonder if the Rays really wanted this kid. I heard they wanted Texiera, but Boras did not want his client in that organization.

Cantu is fun to watch.

I just hope Lou will be around, but I think he wrote his ticket out of town being outspoken on the Rays ownership and all. Look for a new manager and likely a new GM once Stuart Sternberg becomes approved as the owner.