Tag Archives: MLB

The New What Next: Rays vs Dodgers, A Series Preview of Sorts

The Rays continue their five-game road trip in Los Angeles Friday, where they’ll take on the NL West leading Dodgers. Tampa Bay is coming off a pair of losses to the Diamondbacks, including a disappointing 9-8 loss Wednesday night — in a game where the bullpen royally crapped the bed, giving up a combined eight runs on 10 hits and four walks.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Second Straight Game, 9-8

If I may be so frank, the pitching staff was less than stellar or sharp in last night’s 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks. To add insult to injury, Chris Archer was pulled after only 30 pitches, suffering what has been called a minor injury — right forearm tightness. Though he’s not expected to miss much — if any — time, the thought that an injury could hamper an already short handed staff is nerve wracking, to say the least.

And even though the Rays hitters ground into five double plays, I’d be hesitant to place any of the blame on them — they did their part, scoring eight runs on 16 hits, including four doubles. No, the loss can and should be firmly blamed on the pitching staff.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The Nibbler Returns, More on the Stadium Saga, Etc

Ever heard the saying SSDD? No? Hmm… How about Déjà vu? Think back to last Wednesday when Wade Miley and the Diamondbacks handcuffed Jeremy Hellickson and the Rays in a 7-0 loss, at the Trop. Helly couldn’t command any pitches in that game and Arizona made him pay. The Diamondbacks tagged Helly for four runs on seven hits in 4-1/3 innings of work, while Miley shutdown the Rays, holding Tampa Bay to two hits and no runs over 6-1/3 innings of work.