Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat the Yankees 5-1, ESPN Opens Mouth Only to Insert Foot

We here at X-Rays Spex headquarters would like to send a huge fuck you to Dick Vitale, Rick Sutcliffe, and the rest of the jackals at ESPN for espousing their opinions regarding the Stadium Saga. To be clear, I fully support the building of a new facility… But only if the terms are right. That is to say, if a suitable location can be decided upon and if the local tax payers are not left on the hook to pay the lot share, build and build away. I’d imagine that most people in this area feel the same.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Sweep the A’s, Bring On the Evil Empire

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.

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.