The Oakland Athletics were 12-4 when they walked into the Trop on Friday, while the Rays were 5-10 following an atrocious 2-7 road trip. The insanely hot Athletics were largely considered to be one of the best teams in baseball, while the Rays were a sub .500 team struggling to keep their collective heads above water. The Athletics had the best run differential (at 33+) in the AL, and though the Rays offense showed a spark of life on the tail end of their 10-game road trip, the Tampa Bay clubhouse was in shambles by all accounts. What a difference a week makes.
Category Archives: Looking Backward While Moving Forward
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Take the Front Two From the A’s, Look For a Sweep Sunday
One run on six hits ain’t pretty, but Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 3.55 ERA), Joel Peralta (H), and Fernando Rodney’s (S) shutout certainly was! The Rays were able to hold a very dangerous —- and potent — A’s team to only three hits and a walk Saturday night at Tropicana Field, in front of 25,611 fans.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Snag First Game From A’s
Did the meeting have anything to do with their 8-3 win over the Athletics? Should the win be attributed to the Rays fourth consecutive strong offensive showing? Whatever the case, the Rays seem to be breaking out of their offensive slump, and none too soon.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The “This Is Getting Rather Annoying” Edition
Let’s be clear. We absolutely cannot blame Thursday night’s loss on the Rays hitters. Sure, there were some missed opportunities; They went 0-6 wRISP, and they’re now 0 for their last 12 (0-14 extending back to last season) with the bases loaded. But for a team that is built on pitching and defense, six runs should have been enough for the Rays to walk out of Baltimore with a series win, not a loss.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Snap Four Game Skid
Matt Moore continued to be impressive after a slow (and frankly worrisome) spring. Posting a 6-2/3 IP/5 H/2 R/2 ER/3 BB/7 K/1 HR slash line Wednesday, Moore continued to show growth from his previous outing. What’s scary — at least what should be to his opponents, that is — is that Moore, though good in his last three starts, hasn’t fully shown what he’s capable of. Think about how dangerous he will be if he continues down this path.