Rays Spring Training Update, Day 35: Rays Fall 9-6 to Boston, Injured Pitchers, Etc

I’ve frequented the idea that win or lose, this is only Spring Training and these games are meaningless in the scheme of things. However, maintaining that perspective takes a little more effort in certain instances. Case in point, Saturday’s 9-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Under no circumstances do I find a loss to the dreaded Red Sox acceptable. I know, I know — this was a meaningless Spring Training game. Yet the Red Sox are composed of some pretty unlikable players — I’m looking at you Mike Napoli and David Ortiz — and there is nothing I like more than watching them fail, regardless of when. Oh well, at least Tampa Bay will get another shot at the worst team in the AL East, circa 2014, on Sunday.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 33: Rays Win 6-5, Archer Named Starter, Etc

The Tampa Bay Rays walked away with their 11th win of the spring Thursday, edging out the New York Yankees by a score of 6-5. The game had everything one could ever want in a game: solo homers by Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, quality base running by Kevin Kiermaier, timely hitting but the likes of Asdrubal Cabrera and Brandon Guyer, and so much bullpen action that the only reasonable question left in the wake should be, “How much bullpen can you take?”

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 30: Franklin Suffers Oblique Injury, On Other Rays’ Injuries and Roster Moves

The Tampa Bay Rays were met with another round of injury news Monday. Just a few hours after Nick Franklin was told he would platoon second base with Logan Forsythe, the infielder suffered what he called a “severe” left oblique strain on the last swing of batting practice prior to the game. It is uncertain if Franklin underwent an MRI, or if he was diagnosed by Ron Porterfield, so the extent of the injury is unknown at the time of press.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 29: Cash Close to Naming the Starting Rotation, Names Cabrera as the Starting SS

Despite the outcome of the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 blanking of the Tampa Bay Rays, the team ended the week with a 9-8-1 Grapefruit League record after winning five of their last seven — averaging five runs per game over a seven game stretch. The Rays will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates, Monday in Port Charlotte, ahead of their last off-day of the spring Tuesday.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 27; Rays Thumped 11-5, Smith Optioned, Souza Receives Precautionary MRI

Let me turn back the clock to Wednesday afternoon, when the Tampa Bay Rays crushed the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 9-3? With the loss fresh in their memory, the Jays returned the favor Friday, pounding the Rays 11-5 in an error laden, and home run filled loss.