CHEESE & WHINE: Losing ground

Rays: 2
Blue Jays: 5


CHEESE:

• Carl Crawford. CC was 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 6 total bases.
• BJ Upton. Bossman managed to go 2 for 3 and seemed just a smidge more comfortable at the plate. He still made a poor base running decision, but babysteps are all I'm asking for.

WHINE:

• Losing. For years everytime we'd turn on the Rays game we expected a solid start to each game but fully expected a loss each time out. A win was a welcomed surprise. Then around the middle of 2007 things started to look a little more promising- we dared to believe that the Rays actually could win any given game. 2008 was pure euphoria, and by the all-star break even if the Rays were behind in the 7th inning we still had this confidence that we knew the Rays were still going to win. This season started with the same confidence; convinced that the Rays could match-up with anyone and with the general knowledge that the Rays would win in the end even if they started slowly. It was an amazing feeling. Its gone. I just can't fool myself into believing that the Rays are going to win a game once they fall behind now. A team which was once at the top of the league in patience at the plate is now reckless at the plate, and they're making the opposing teams' pitching duties very easy. How can I put this in proper literary terminology?... This sucks.

CRACKERS:

• The Rays have now lost 5 straight, 6 of the last 7, and find themselves a mere 11.5 games behind NY and 5 games behind Boston.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Carl Crawford. CC is doing all he's able.