The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the San Diego Padres to Tropicana Field Friday night for a three game set, following a pair of big wins against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday and Thursday. The Rays are again just a couple of games under .500, and look primed to change that this weekend against a suddenly hot Padres team.
Category Archives: The New What Next
The New What Next: Rays vs. Jays, A Series Preview of Sorts
The Rays come home from their most recent road trip, to take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a four game series at the Trop, starting Monday. This could be a big series for the Rays who went 4-5 on the road, and could walk into a weekend series against a struggling San Diego Padres with a plus .500 record for the first time this season. Both the 11-21 Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres have struggled handily this season. And though the Rays have struggled as well, Tampa Bay seems primed to use the up coming series as a spring board of sorts to right the ship, especially from the pitching perspective. In short, if ever there was an opportunity to take advantage of a pair of struggling teams, it is now.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The “Another Start, Another Loss” Edition
Well, that certainly didn’t go as planned. Neither David Price nor the Rays could build on their respective previous starts Saturday night, as Tampa Bay got drilled by the Colorado Rockies, losing handily by a score of 9-3. The redundant plot line was the same: Rays take lead, Rays give up lead, Rays lose the game. And though David Price gave up a career worst nine runs — raising his ERA 6.25 — I’d be hesitant to place the blame on he and he alone; sloppy fielding and a quiet offense certainly didn’t help the cause.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Take Game One to the Rockies, 7-4
Four home runs were hit Friday night: A pair by Nolan Arenado and Michael Cuddyer for the Rockies, and a pair by Desmond Jennings and Kelly Johnson. And though all four were well struck, none of them looked like homers off the bat. At the same time, there were other well struck fly-balls that seemed to be carrying, but stayed in the park. Confusing and somewhat disorienting? You betcha!
The New What Next: Rays vs Rockies, A Series Preview of Sorts
The Rays left one winter wonderland yesterday for another, landing in a cold Denver for a three game set against the Colorado Rockies. Some have espoused the thought that Thursday’s rain-out/snow-out may have been the best outcome for the Rays who struggled mightily in Kansas City. Look at the bright side: The game was postponed in the fourth inning, so nothing counted, including Tampa Bay’s one run deficit going into the Royals half of the inning.