All the News Fit to Print on a Slow News Day, Part II

Here are a handful of updates ahead of the start of the symbolic second half of the season.

All the News Fit to Print on a Slow News Day

There isn’t much to write about today. Sure, I’m sure I could whip up something on the All-Star Game, though I cannot help but feel that there is a far greater narrative embedded within the Rays’ battle to stay relevant going into the symbolic second half of the season. That is, I’m more concerned with my team making it to the playoffs in the first place, than I am with which league will receive home field advantage in the World Series. Nevertheless, I was able to cull together a few Rays-centric, newsworthy items bulleted below.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Blank Jays 3-0, Take Series

Know what I’m annoyed by? The constant trade rumors surrounding David Price. Know who else is? David Price. I get it, he’s been hugging people often — including an extended “hug session” following his excellent outing at The Trop yesterday — which, somehow, leads people to believe he’s saying goodbye. I really don’t read much into it. After all, he regularly hugs his teammates after something good happens in a game. This might be a radical line of thinking, but perhaps he’s just being a good teammate?

Looking Backward While Moving forward: Kiermaier and Odorizzi Lead the Rays to 10-3 Win

The Tampa Bay Rays once again found themselves with a tally in the win column, after they blasted the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 10-3, Saturday. Led by Kevin Kiermaier’s hitting and Jake Odorizzi’s solid pitching, the Rays reclaimed fourth place from the Red Sox (who lost to Houston), and start the day just 5-1/2 games behind the third place New York Yankees. Odorizzi got the start in place of scheduled starter David Price, who was feeling ill. Price will take the mound this afternoon, opposite of RA Dickey, in series finale.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Ouch Balfour, Ouch!

Less is more today. An 8-5, late inning loss surely wasn’t the most operable way to start an important three-game series against an AL East foe.