CHEESE & WHINE: The Rays Can't Get Out of Their Own Way

Rays: 2
Jays: 3

CHEESE:

• Scott Kazmir. Kaz delivered his second consecutive solid start (with Zaun behind the plate). Kaz threw 6 solid innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking-out 10 and walking just 1. Do you remember those days when Kazmir was capable of striking-out 10 every time out- wouldn't that be nice if he could be that guy again? I think in the case of Scott Kazmir, Gregg Zaun is just what the doctor ordered. If Kaz continues to pitch this well with Z-man behind the plate Mr. Zaun may just get resigned specifically for his ability to keep Kaz under control.

WHINE:

• JP Howell. Howell is still the man, but last night's performance was unacceptable, especially in a game in which the Rays could have made up a game on Texas who had just lost to NY earlier in the night. JP retired 1 in the 8th, but came back in the 9th and was not sharp, to say the least. Howell pitched 1 inning, giving-up 2 earned runs on 1 hit (a homer) and 3 walks. Howell spiked the last pitch of the night into the ground so far in front of the plate that it got away from Zaun and led to the final run strolling across the plate for the literal walk-off win.
• Star-Making. This Rays team has a propensity for making mediocre pitchers look like super stars. Once again the Rays made Mark Rzepczynski look like Pedro Martinez. They allowed Rzepczynski to pitch a no-hitter into the 6th before finally doing some damage (a Gabe Kapler, 2-run homer).
• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag grounded into yet another double play and leads all of baseball in hitting into double plays with an astounding 28.

CRACKERS:

• Tonight is an off-night for the Rays who resume play tomorrow in Detroit.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Scott Kazmir. Another solid start from the former ace. If he can keep it up it will go a long way in helping the Rays make the postseason.... Zaun gets the assist.
  

CHEESE & WHINE: That Cat Can Hit

Rays: 7
Jays: 3

CHEESE:

• Carlos Pena. El Gato is about as hot as a hitter can be right now, and he belted 2 more homers last night; finishing the game 2 for 5 with 4 RBI. He did strike-out twice but if he maintains the ratio of 1 homerun for every K I'll be okay with that.
• Jason Bartlett. Who could ask for a better lead-off hitter? JB is batting .346, has an OBP of .397, and a slugging percentage of... wait for it... .530! Last night JB was 3 for 5 and scored a run.
• The 'Pen. Choate, Bradford, Shouse, and Wheeler combined to pitch 2 and 1/3 innings allowing 2 hits (both on Bradford) while combining to strike-out 4, issuing 0 walks and allowing 0 runs.

WHINE:

• Treading Water. Its seems as if whenever the Rays lose Texas and Boston win and whenever the Rays win Texas and Boston win. Infuriating.

CRACKERS:

• Not having the game televised was annoying, but being able to see Saturday's game in its stead will help mend the wound.

CAVIAR:

• Carlos Pena. This is the type of streak that helped invent the phrase, "He's on Fire!".
  

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.

Rays - Jays Part Deux

The Rays are coming off of an abysmal series in Texas in which they were swept- giving the Jays a breath of hope that the Rays aren't going to run away, leaving them mired in the AL East basement with Baltimore.

As it stands the Rays are holding-on to a 1.5 game lead over Toronto as they prepare for another 3 game set v. the Jays starting today in Tampa. The Rays have slipped back to 4.5 games behind New York and 5.5 behind Boston.

Here's the potential match-ups for the Toronto series (with some random thoughts added in for flavor):


GAME 1:
Tuesday, July 7th @ 7:08

Pitchers:
Marc Rzepczynski, LHP (0-0, -.--) vs. James Shields, RHP (6-6, 3.50)

Rzepczynski will make his major league debut tonight against the Rays' "ace" James Shields. Shields is coming off a loss against Toronto last week during which he allowed a career high 3 home runs. The Rays should be able to jump on this kid early, and put a few runs on the board to ensure that they end their current losing streak at 3. I'm thinking a final score of something like 8-2.


GAME 2:
Wednesday, July 8th @ 7:08

Pitchers:
Brian Tallet, LHP (5-6, 4.38) vs. Scott Kazmir, LHP (4-5, 6.79)

In this battle of the lefties we'll get to see Kazmir make his third start since being recalled, and with any luck we'll see him keep his pitch count in-check and make it out of the fifth inning (hey, a boy can dream). Tallet started the season in the bullpen, but has adjusted nicely to a starting role. He is 2-0 lifetime (as a reliever) against the Rays with an ERA of 1.72 . This should be a close game, but I can't help but believe that the Rays will find a way to win. Let's go with a 4-3 final, in favor of the Rays.


GAME 3:
Thursday, July 9th @ 12:08pm

Pitchers:
Roy Halladay, RHP (10-2, 2.79) vs. David Price, LHP (2-3, 5.21)

I can't seem to find a way to envision this one turning out well. My confidence in Price has been falling faster than GM stocks, and Halladay is about as good as it gets, so even if Price were at the top of his game I'd still be hard pressed to find it in me to go against Halladay. Halladay has struggled a bit since returning form the DL and Price struggled mightily in Texas having to be lifted after only 1 and 1/3 innings of work, so neither pitcher has been sharp as of late. Sadly, I think the Rays blow the opportunity for the sweep and lose big, lets say to the tune of 9-3.
Oh yeah, and if your listening Prof, this would be a great chance for the year's first Live Blog-a-Baloo over at Rays Index.
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All in all a series win is a series win, and that's all we can ask for. Make no mistake though, winning this series is just as important as winning any other series they've played to this point of the season. If the Rays stay locked in a battle for third place with the Jays all season then the Sox and Yanks will just run away with the division. The Rays must dominate the Jays' season series in order to climb the ladder back to their rightful place atop the AL East.