I had it all planned out. Going into The Trop under the assumption the Rays would win the home finale and take the series from the White Sox, I scribed a rough draft on how the last game of the season is bitter sweet. Yet I left Tropicana Field yesterday feeling, well…just bitter. Watching Tampa Bay get no hit into the sixth inning — while also simultaneously getting pounded into submission — surely wasn’t what I envisioned en route to the ballpark. If anything, the final pitch of the game made me happy that the 36-45 nightmare, that was the Rays at home this season, was over.
In typical feast and/or famine fashion, Tampa Bay was no-hit from innings one-through-six, yet from innings six-through-nine they scored five runs on nine hits. Go figure. Meanwhile, both Nate Karns and Alex Colome were hammered for 10 runs — something I’m sure didn’t fare well in their hierarchical battle for rotational depth.
Eric Hahmann wrote a game recap which you can read over at DRaysBay. Otherwise, below are a few odds and ends on this, the Rays’ last off-day before the off-season.
Odds and Ends
- As the Rays embark on their season ending road trip taking them through Boston and Cleveland, Andrew Friedman, Joe Maddon, and every Rays blogger and amateur sabermetrician are readying themselves for the autopsy of the 2014 season. Jeff Zimmerman wrote on how a team could have made the playoffs composed entirely of the cheapest sort of free agent and spare part over at the Just A Bit Outside website.
- Nick Franklin watch: Franklin tacked on another extra base hit yesterday making him 6-15 with two doubles, a homer, three runs, and three RBI since joining the Rays. Hey SeanRod, are you keeping track of your replacement?
- With an overall record of 75-81 at the moment, the streak of winning seasons ends at six.
- As I’ve mentioned before, we here at X-Rays Spex headquarters are always seeking contributors. If you’re a fan of the Rays and have the desire to contribute some sort of material/article, get in touch at belowaverageraysfansite@gmail.com. Please include a sample of your work.
