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 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.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The “This Is Getting Rather Annoying” Edition

Let’s be clear. We absolutely cannot blame Thursday night’s loss on the Rays hitters. Sure, there were some missed opportunities; They went 0-6 wRISP, and they’re now 0 for their last 12 (0-14 extending back to last season) with the bases loaded. But for a team that is built on pitching and defense, six runs should have been enough for the Rays to walk out of Baltimore with a series win, not a loss.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Red Sox

The Tampa Bay Rays make their way into Boston for a four game wrap-around series against the Red Sox, following a series salvaging 2-0, five hit, shutout of the Texas Rangers Wednesday, in Arlington. Matt Moore did not have the most sparkling of outings, posting a 5.1 IP/1 H/0 R/0 ER/6 BB/5 K slash line …

Rays Drop Another, Look to Right the Ship

There isn’t much that can be said following Tuesday night’s disappointing loss to the Rangers. Too bad there wasn’t a controversial call to blame the it on. I guess we’ll just have to go back to the old standard of blaming things on an anemic offense that couldn’t, again, get the job done. From a …