CHEESE & WHINE: Grey Clouds on a Sonny Day

RAYS: 5
O's: 7


CHEESE:

• Carl Crawford. CC had another productive day; 2 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.
• The Bullpen. The relief staff was exemplary with Balfour, Howell, Nelson, and Wheeler pitching for a total of 6 innings and allowing only 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. What else could you ever ask for from your bullpen? Unfortunately, for the second game in a row the bats went silent down the stretch.

WHINE:

• Andy Sonnanstine. Sonny has lost his touch. Somewhere in the middle of trying to either reduce his billion arm angles or in an attempt to actually add more Sonny has lost the strike zone. Sonnanstine has always been somewhat hittable, but now the problem has started to become chronic. I feel like Sonny's life as a starter is fading fast. Last night's numbers were as dismal as ever; giving up 7 runs on 9 hits in 2 innings of "work", moving his ERA to a staggering 7.27, and forcing me for the first time to wonder if EJax wouldn't have been a better choice.
• Melvin Upton. The player formerly known as Bossman is digging a hole that may be impossible to climb out of. Another night another "o-for". Upton was 0-4 from the plate, again.
• Ben Zobrist. Zobbie filled-in at 2nd for Aki who got the night off, and played a below-average game defensively and an Upton-esque performance from the plate going 0 for 4, striking out once.
• Pat Burrell. Pat the Patient didn't play due to a stiff neck, again... come on, man are you 45 years old? You've got countless trainers and medical staff members waiting to loosen you up, do you want to play or not? Ridiculous.

CRACKERS:

• For all the ground the Rays have made up vs. Boston so far this season (6-4) they've undone by playing down to Baltimore's level (2-4).