A new batch of “Raymones” shirts arrived Monday — just in time for Opening Day! Want one? They’re currently available at our Big Cartel powered merch store. You can also snag one from Star Booty, conveniently located a short walk from the Trop, on the 600 Block portion of Central Ave.
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The New What Next: Goodbye Blue Jays, Hello Rangers — A Series Preview of Sorts
Despite crossing the plate only twice in the 18 innings of what I like to call the losing sandwich (Wednesday and Thursday) — going 1-for-17 (.059) w/RISP — the Tampa Bay Rays offense came back to life Thursday night, tagging the Blue Jays for seven runs on 11 hits and five walks. The Trop dwellers were mightily productive, mashing three doubles, a triple, and their first homer of this very young season — a seventh inning three-run shot off the bat of Evan Longoria (career homer number 163, tying Carlos Pena for the franchise record). Chris Archer looked good in his first start of the season, slashing 6 IP/4 H/2 ER/2 BB/7 K on 98 pitches (60 for strikes). And though they didn’t win the first home series of the season, the Rays salvaged the four game set.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Buerhle, Blue Jays Shutout the Rays, 3-0
Let me take you back to Thursday, July 23, 2009 — a day when Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. In that game, Buehrle struck out six, and induced 11 ground-outs and 10 pop-outs. The Rays have owned Buehrle since that embarrassing, fateful day, posting a healthy .280 OBA/.327 OBP/.369 SLG/.695 OPS slash line, with a 6.67 ERA in five starts. Suffice it to say, you never know exactly what you’re going to get with the Blue Jays’ lefty on the mound. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay faced the former Buehrle Wednesday night, not the latter. The Rays slogged away from the Trop, having dropped their second consecutive game to Toronto, this time by a score of 3-0.
Rays, Archer Agree to Six Year, $25MM Contract
We can put the speculation to rest, the Rays and Chris Archer have agreed to a six-year contract worth around $25 million, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.The deal is worth $25.5 million, and will begin this season. Archer’s contract will run through 2019, and it will include team options for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Cobb, Rays Fall to Blue Jays, 4-2
Baseball can teach a valuable lesson every now and then. No matter the immense expectations placed on the Rays 2014 season, or the obvious advantage Alex Cobb had over Drew Hutchinson, you’re inevitably going to lose some games. And it just so happened that Tampa Bay’s first loss of the year came in the second game of the season, by a score of 4-2. Alex Cobb followed David Price’s outstanding 7-1/3 inning outing Monday, with a buggy 5 IP/4 H/4 ER/4 BB/3 K/1 HR affair Tuesday evening. But oh, did they ever make it exciting in the bottom of the ninth.