CHEESE & WHINE: Bad Calls? No Problem.

RAYS: 4
O's: 3

CHEESE:

• Matt Garza. G-Man overcame a rough start (25 pitch 1st), and worked through 8; giving-up only 1 earned run on only 4 hits, while walking 2 and striking-out 9. It did cost him 114 pitches which I think is a bit high, but hey, its early.
• Evan Longoria. Dirt McGirt was 2 for 4 from the plate with a double, another solo homer, and 3 RBI. I'm not sure about this kid- I wonder if he'll make it at this level?
• Reid Brignac. His swing looks miles better than it did last season, and he's peppering the ball around the park as a result. In his 2010 debut he went 2 for 3 from the plate and scored a run.

WHINE:

• Bad calls. The Crawford strike-out/Brignac throw-out was a complete farce, and could've cost the Rays big. Then in the top of the ninth, in a save situation, Soriano was robbed of an obvious strike-out which resulted in a walk that later turned into a run.
• Pat Burrell. Is it too soon to start ragging on Patrick? Kevin Kennedy "loves what he's seen so far", really? You love a 2 game line of 1 for 7 with 3 K's and about a half a dozen left on base? Come on dude, earn your pay for at least a few months.

CRACKERS:

• I was all set to report a decent attendence number, but it turns out (according to MLB) that last night's attendence was only 15,220. I really foresaw a number more like 18 or 19K, but I guess 15K for a Wednesday against the O's is just the reality of Rays baseball- doesn't mean I have to like it.
• After 3 games the Sox are 1.5 games back (let's not point out that they played the champs while we played the O's- let's just enjoy the stat).

CAVIAR (Game Ball):

• Matt Garza. I'll take more of the same for the next 25-30 starts please.

CHEESE & WHINE: Upton for the Cycle

Rays: 13

Yankees: 4

CHEESE:

• BJ Upton. Bossman was at the top of his offensive game last night; becoming the first Rays' player ever to hit for the cycle, and it took only 5 innings to do it. Upton finished the night with ridiculous numbers; 5 for 5 with 6 RBI and 3 runs scored. What better way to wash away the stains of a cruddy year then to finish the season by working your way into the franchise history books. The beauty of being the first to do something is that no one can take that away or break that record- it's there to stay, and for the rest of his family's existence BJ's family will always be able to boast that their grandpa/daddy/uncle/brother/son was the first Rays player ever to hit for the cycle.
• David Price. Even without the copious amounts of run-support Price would've won this one, pitching a phenomenal game to wrap up his rookie season. King David lasted 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits while striking-out 5 and walking 2. Oh, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that pitch toward Teixeira's head in the first wasn't courtesy of Carlos Pena's broken finger. Price finishes the year with a record of 10-7 and an ERA of 4.42, not too bad. I guarantee it'll be better next year.
• Ben Zobrist. Here's a shocker, Zobrist had a nice offensive game... again. Hard to believe, I know. Last night Benny-Boo finished up 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.

WHINE:

• Dale Thayer. I know he came-in in a fairly meaningless position, but come on man. Thayer lasted 1 inning, giving-up 2 runs on 2 hits.
• Willy Aybar. 0 for 5 with a K, and get this; 8 men left on base, 8!

CRACKERS:

• Despite scoring 13 , only 2 of the Rays' runs came by way of the homer ( the 2-run homer by Upton in the 4th).

CAVIAR (game ball):

• BJ Upton. Obviously, hitting the team's first ever cycle earns you the Rays The Stakes caviar game ball every time.

CHEESE & WHINE: Losing Effort

Rays: 2
O's: 3

CHEESE:

• Ben Zobrist. Benny-Boo seems to be the only player still running on all cylinders. Last night Zobrist lead-off the Rays scoring with a solo-homer in the 4th, and started a 9th inning rally with a double, but one man a team does not make.

WHINE:

• Matt Garza. Although last night's performance was acceptable by any means, (6 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 4 K's, and 2 BB's) Garza's season can be viewed as nothing but a little disappointing. Coming into the 2009 campaign I (and many others) viewed Garza as the Rays' best pure pitcher, but 7 months later Garza finishes-up his sophomore season with the Rays with a record of 8-12. Garza had a nice ERA of 3.95, but a lack of consistency cost he and the team some W's and cost the bullpen some valuable innings. In his defense, his team didn't always do him a lot of favors through run support, but a good pitcher finds ways to win regardless. Hopefully next season we'll see a 15 win season.
• Evan Longoria. I find it nearly impossible to believe that he's in a natural slump right now, which means he's just not mentally there anymore. I know he's just a kid, but the heart of a true champion or leader never goes away- even when his team (and by team I mean bullpen, primarily) was wildly disappointing down the home-stretch. Longo was 0 for 4 again and is now 2 for 15 over the last 4 games.

CRACKERS:

• Garza surpassed the 200 innings pitched mark last night for the first time in his career, and finished the season having pitched 203 innings.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Ben Zobrist. This may end-up just being called the "Ben Zobrist Player of The Game Award" next year instead of "Caviar".
  

CHEESE & WHINE: 4 In A Row

*Wade Davis' shoe in the dugout during the 7th inning of last night's game (courtesy of Matt Garza).

Rays: 5

O's: 3

CHEESE:

• James Shields. Big Game looked sharp last night; lasting 8 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, striking-out 8 and walking.... 0. That's more like it. Save that for next season would ya. Shields finishes the '09 campaign with a disappointing record of 11-12 and an ERA 4.14
• Ben Zobrist. Zorilla did his best Zorilla impression and finished the night 2 for 4 with 3 RBI ( a 3-run homer in the 3rd).
• Akinori Iwamura. Aki was 2 for 3 with a walk. It's good to see Aki back to mid-season form.

WHINE:

• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag went 0 for 3 last night and is 1 for 11 over the past 3 games. Mailed it in, have ya?

CRACKERS:

• Four straight wins, and wins in 9 of the last 12 just serves to make the crappy stretches that much more painful.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• James Shields. Shieldsy was that close to his first complete game of the season. Eight K's and 0 walks is more indicative of the Shields we've known in the past.

CHEESE & WHINE: Wade-ing In Victory

Rays: 3
O's: 1

CHEESE:

• Wade Davis. Davis pitched 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking-out 3. Despite the poor K to BB ratio Davis looked good. I'm excited for next season with Davis in the rotation (presumably).
• Willy Aybar. Say 'ello to my lil friend. Aybar is on fire over the last several weeks, and last night was no exception. Willy was 3 for 4 from the plate with 1 RBI.
• Reid Brignac. The ragin' Cajun looked fairly comfortable at he plate last night going 2 for 3 with a triple and scoring a run. Brignac has also started to show how solid a fielder he can be as well, I'm just not sure where he fits into the Rays' short-term (2010-2011) plans.
• The Laugh Staff. Amazingly, the troop of Springer, Cormier, Wheeler, Choate, and Balfour managed to pitch a total of 2 innings and did not allow a run, and some people say there's no God.

WHINE:

• AL Wildcard. It was inevitable, but seeing Boston clinch the AL Wildcard stings nearly as much as watching the sad shell of a show that SNL has become, but I digress.

CRACKERS:

• Carl Crawford recorded his 60th steal of the season and set a new franchise record.
• The Rays now stand at 81-76 which ensures at least a .500 season. If they can dig-out 4 wins in their final 5 games they'll be able to hang their hats on an 85 win season in the AL East which, all things considered, is quite an accomplishment.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Wade Davis. The kid has good stuff, and I dream of a 15 win season next year and officially deem 2010 Wade Davis' coming-out party.
  

CHEESE & WHINE: Zo, Zo, Zorilla

Rays: 7
O's: 6

CHEESE:

• Ben Zobrist. Benny-Boo is officially ridiculous. He has played every position but homeplate ump this season and is good at them all. Last night Zo played some firstbase before moving to more familiar territory in the OF late (where he made a great catch to record the 2nd out in the 9th inning). Zobrist finished the game 2 for 4 with a double and a homer (his 25th).
• Willy Aybar. Aybar came in as a pinch-hitter and delivered a 3-run homer to tie the game in the seventh. It was reminiscent of last season's magic.

WHINE:

• Jeff Niemann. How can I vote for you for AL R.O.Y. if you have foolish outings like that? Niemann was bad from the start last night, going only 3 and 1/3, surrendering 4 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking-out 3. Its an understatement to say that the Rays won in spite of Niemann last night.
• Andy Sonnanstine. To me it's official; Sonny is done. I always thought he'd be a good reliever, and so far he has done all he can to prove me wrong. Hopefully he's just not mentally adjusted to being in the 'pen, but I'm pretty close to being done making excuses.
• Fernando Perez. Perez is obviously not a major league hitter... yet.

CRACKERS:

• Holy Homers. Last night's 4 home run performance gave the Rays a season total of 193 which is a new team single-season record. Imagine if Pena were still in the lineup throughout the last 6 weeks- they would've had a chance at 210.
• Don't forget to enter to win a Jason Bartlett autographed card from Rays the Stakes and Sports Memorabilia. Enter Here to win.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Ben Zobrist. Zobrist is the definition of a utility player.
  

CHEESE & WHINE: Texas Toast

Rays: 3
Rangers: 8


CHEESE:

• No one got hurt.

WHINE:

• BJ Upton. Upton was 2 for 3 from the plate, but made 2 base running blunders that were costly. Bossman was picked-off at first and was caught taking a big turn around third on a hit that he presumably thought had gotten past Texas' SS Andrus... it hadn't.
• Grant Balfour. Balfour came-in in the 8th and managed to walk 2 before giving-up a 3-run homer to Ian Kinsler. Well done Grant, well done indeed. Apparently Shouse and Springer are contagious.

CRACKERS:

• Kinsler's 3-run dinger off of Balfour put him in the 30/30 club (30 homerS and 30 steals). Congrats to Kinsler.

CHEESE & WHINE: 10 to Go

Rays: 5
Mariners: 4

CHEESE:

• BJ Upton. Bossman's 2-run single in the 8th put the Rays in the lead for good. Upton was 2 for 3 from the plate with 3 RBI and a walk, add-in the amazing game-ending catch in CF and BJ was at his best last night.
• Ben Zobrist. Zobrist was only 1 for 3 from the plate and left 3 on base, but his defensive efforts made up for his lack of offense; Zorilla made a tough straight-at-ya catch in RF in the 6th, and kept the Rays within 1 after cutting-down Saunders at home to end the seventh.
• Shouse, Springer, and Choate. The "laugh staff" found a way to actually not lose the game. I'm thoroughly impressed.

WHINE:

• The Top. Bartlett and Crawford were a combined 0 for 7. Pretty sure the top o' the lineup is supposed to do a wee-bit more than that.
• Dioner Navarro. What a shame that last year was the exception and not the rule in terms of Navi's hitting prowess. Last night, 0 for 4. Again. Moving his average to an abysmal .219 (the lowest among the starters).

CRACKERS:

• The Rays are sitting at 78-74 with 10 to play, which is good enough for 8th best in the American League (1 game behind both Minnesota and Seattle (79-73)).
• Wade Davis was fairly good last night, pitching 5 and 2/3 innings (96 pitches- 64 for strikes), allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits, while striking-out 6 and walking 1.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• BJ Upton. Bossman came through in the clutch... twice.

CHEESE & WHINE: Losing My Religion

Rays: 5
O's: 10

CHEESE:

• Pat Burrell. The Bat had a nice night, going 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer and 4 RBI total. Where was that all season?
• Ben Zobrist. Benny-Boo was 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI. Well played, sir.
• Low-K. The team, as a whole, only struck-out twice. That's quite the improvement from the team average which hovers somewhere around 672 per nine innings (or so it seems).

WHINE:

• Jeff Niemann. The Rays' most consistent starter and AL R.O.Y. candidate didn't do himself any favors last night; lasting only 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 11 hits. However, he did manage to strike-out 6 while only walking 1.
• Brian Shouse. I consider myself a good Christian man, but if I ever see Brian Shouse on the street I'm going to walk up and punch him in his lip. He comes in as a lefty specialist v. Scott and promptly surrenders a solo homer followed by a 4-pitch walk. Ridiculous amounts of anger.
• Russ Springer. The same punching possibility applies.

CRACKERS:

• The Rays are now only 1 game over .500 for the season, which is an absolute travesty considering where they stood just 3 short weeks ago (69-56).

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Pat Burrell. The Bat came through with some serious run-production.

CHEESE & WHINE: Thank Heaven For Small Miracles

Rays: 8
O's: 4

CHEESE:

• The Law of Averages said that it had to happen eventually. The O's were just the salve the Rays needed for their weeping wounds.
• David Price. After a bad start, giving-up 4 runs in the 1st (3 earned), David settled-in and shut 'em down. Price lasted 7 innings, recording 4 K's and walking 2.
• Reid Brignac. 4 for 4 with a homer, a steal, and 3 RBI. That's more like it young man.
• Carl Crawford. 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and his 57th steal.

WHINE:

• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag was 0 for 5 from the plate with 3 K's and leaving 5 runners on-base, oh and he had a throwing error from the field. It was not one of his better days.

CRACKERS:

• The losing streak ended at 11... thank God.
• The Rays are now 73-71 and will have to go on a real tear in order to reach 90 wins. Perhaps they should aim for 80.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Reid Brignac. Great performance.

CHEESE & WHINE: Rain Delay... Postponed

That sums it up.

Rays:

Red Sox:

Postponed

CHEESE:

• The Rays didn't lose.
• No one got hurt.
• There's nothing I'd rather do on the NFL's opening Sunday than to try to navigate through 14 NFL games... and 2 Rays games.
• Boston fans got all wet. What a shame.

WHINE:

• Knowing that God is against your favorite team. Having the bases loaded in the top of the 1st in Boston with one out just to have the game postponed due to rain. Thanks a lot Big Guy! If I find out you're a Sox fan I may just have to switch to Buddhism.
• I really wanted to watch the game.
• Did I mention the Sunday doubleheader vs. NFL thing?

CRACKERS:

• Wade Davis will get his scheduled start today with Garza pitching the first game Sunday and Shields pitching the second half of the double header according to Marc Topkin over at The Heater.

CHEESE & WHINE: It Hurts.

Rays: 2
Yankees: 4

CHEESE:

• Jeff Niemann. Niemann continues to prove why he belongs at the top of the rotation, and has quickly become the Rays' most consistent pitcher. Last night Jeff pitched a great game and was rewarded by his bullpen with a no-decision. Niemann lasted 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 8 hits while walking 1 and striking-out 8, several of which were swinging K's thanks to the addition of his new toy, the splitter.
• Jason Bartlett. His lead-off homer would've been enough for the win if the Rays had anything that remotely resembled a major league bullpen. JB is hitting .331 for the season.
• Watching History. Even if it is Yankees' history. Seeing Jeter tie Gehrig as the all-time Yankees' hits leader was a treat. When you see Jeter at the top of a list that includes Mantle, Ruth, and Gehrig it puts how good he really is into perspective. Jeter represents all that is good in baseball (except for the fact that he plays for the Yankees, of course).
  

WHINE:

• Grant Balfour. Balfour allowed a 3-run pinch-hit homer (Posada) which allowed the Yanks to complete the comeback win. This was Balfour's third blown-save in a week.

CRACKERS:

• Congrats to our friend Prof (aka Cork) over at Rays Index. Who welcomes a new Rays' fan to the world.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Derek Jeter. Well done.

CHEESE & WHINE: And Yet Again...

*a picture truly is worth a thousand words:Rays: 2
Yankees: 3

CHEESE:

• David Price. King David looked solid, pitching 6 innings allowing 2 runs on only 3 hits while walking 2 and striking-out 6. Price looked like we expected him to look all season, and hopefully he can finish strong and head into next season with all the confidence he lost when he was sent down to Durham to start this season.
• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag is ridiculous. Another day, another homer. Dirtbag now has 30 homers.
• Chris Richard. Richard played a solid 1st base, making some nice stops on tough hops, and also managed to record his first major league hit in 6 and a half years.

WHINE:

• RISP. Team RISP 0 for 5.
• Beating Dead Horses. I'm tired of complaining about the bullpen. Every day its a new scapegoat, this time it was Wheeler who surrendered the walk-off homer. A little offensive help would've been appreciated though. When your bully has been struggling the guys in the dugout should work extra hard to put runs on the board to make certain that no matter how bad the relievers are- they'll still have a shot at the W.
• Tailspin. The fall into the abyss continues as this is the Rays' 7th straight loss- their longest skid since their pre-all-star break meltdown last season.

CRACKERS:

• Evan Longoria is just the ninth player in MLB history to finish a season with 30 homers, 40 doubles, and 100 RBI while under the age of 25.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• David Price. Quality start under pressure in the Bronx. Dirty, rotten shame his team couldn't get him the win.
  

CHEESE & WHINE: Hold the Cheese... Double Duty

Game 1
Rays: 1
Yankees: 4

Game 2
Rays: 1
Yankees: 11

Whine:

• Carlos Pena. El Gato is gone for the season thanks to a pitch that broke two of his fingers. Ouch. Its a darn good thing for the Rays that they're not playoff bound because they'd be lost without Pena's big bat.
• The Unnamed Feeling. I borrow a term form Metallica (the best song on their St Anger Album) when I call the sadness and frustration and anger that I feel from watching the Rays over the last 2 weeks the "Unnamed Feeling". The bullpen literally makes me ill. If you were a Rays fan waaaaay back in 2006 and 2007 you're very very familiar with the sinking feeling you get every single time a starting pitcher gets the hook. Its a foregone conclusion that no matter what the scoreboard reads when the call goes out to the laugh staff, the Rays are headed toward a loss. Suddenly, as of late, the names Stokes, Corcoran, Lugo, Fossum, Ryu, Seo, and Camp have come back from the dead to haunt me. They're laughing at the frauds currently hiding in the bullpen on a supposed contending team; Springer, Cormier, Shouse, Bennett... they whisper their names into my ear while I sleep and every day I wake to find that its actually true; they really are on the Rays active roster and the Rays really are no longer in contention in large part because of these clowns- and a little piece of my heart breaks off and floats slowly down to the depths of my blackened soul, and the unnamed feeling comes again.
• Andy Sonnanstine. 2.2 innings, 6 hits, 8 runs, 3 walks... whatever dude.

CHEESE & WHINE: Paging the Real JP Howell

Rays: 3
Tigers: 4


CHEESE:

• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag is a stud. Two more doubles brings his season total to 40. That certainly helps detract attention away from his league-leading double play numbers. Last night Longo was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
• Carlos Pena. El Gato was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
• Jeff Niemann. Niemann was good again (which makes me wonder why I'm still pleasently surprised everytime he turns in a good performance), lasting 7 and 1/3 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking-out 6 and walking 2.

WHINE:

• JP Howell. 2/3 of an inning. 2 walks. 2 K's. 1 hit. 3 runs. Unacceptable.
• Randy Choate. 1 batter- 1 hit. Again.
• If there was any hope left for a playoff run last night closed the door. A win last night would've made-up a game on Boston who lost v. the ChiSox (and the dying dream may have stayed alive), but as has been the case all season, when it mattered most it just didn't happen.

CRACKERS:

• Happy Labor Day weekend.
• I'm not going to complain about Tom Foley, neither should you.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Jeff Niemann. Another start, another solid performance.
  

CHEESE & WHINE: I'm Calling It

I'm calling it:

Rays time of death, September 3, 2009 @ 10:23 pm.

Rays: 3

Red Sox: 6

CHEESE:

• Gregg Zaun. Zaun is a great addition to this team. I really hope they keep him around through 2010, so he can, at the least, mentor the young guys behind the plate. Zaun has also been a force from beside the plate, last night he finished just 1 for 4, but his 1 hit was a nice RBI double.
• Evan Longoria. Longo has been on fire from the plate again. This time he went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
• Young Guys. The sadness of knowing that the postseason is just not gonna happen is somewhat off-set by the excitement of getting to see what some of the top minor league prospects have to offer over the next several weeks. Wade Davis makes his major league debut on Sunday, and several other players are on their way soon. I'd love to see the Rays find a way to make room for Desmond Jennings also.

WHINE:

• Flippin' Bullpen. Springer, Bennett, Shouse... you can have 'em. I'm done with 'em. Russ Springer is completely useless and Shouse makes even him look good.

CRACKERS:

• The Rays are now 6 games behind Boston in what I call an already-over playoff race. But I do believe in miracles, so there's that. Its gonna take God's help to make it happen, because these guys sure aren't going to do it themselves.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Longoria. 2 more doubles (37,38) and an RBI (94)

CHEESE & WHINE: They're Alive... Barely.

Rays: 8
Red Sox: 5

CHEESE:

• Resiliency. The Rays struck early, but Boston crept back into the game. Despite a complete momentum shift the Rays battled back to take the lead for good in the 8th.
• Gregg Zaun. Zaun finished the night 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
• Evan Longoria. Longo was 2 for 4 with 3 runs and a 2-run homer that was absolutely crushed into deep left field.
• Not waving the White Flag. Despite knowing that their playoff chances are slim at best the Rays came out ready to play, and it seems as if they still think there's hope. I don't think they have a prayer, but what do I know- I'd love to be wrong.

WHINE:

• Ben Zobrist. Zo was 0-4 on the night and left 3 men on base.
• The 'pen. Even if the Rays find a way into the post season these guys will sink the ship. How confident do you feel when you hear these names; Bennett, Springer, Shouse, Balfour, Choate? And as of late Howell seems to have lost his feel a bit as well. I was actually happy to see Wheeler yesterday... file that under "signs of the apocalypse".
• Staats & Kennedy. Every flippin' time Joe West is the home plate ump we have to listen to these two go on, and on, and on about how Joe West is still a National League ump who won't expand his strike-zone, but isn't afraid to ring people up. Yawn.

CRACKERS:

• JP Howell was tagged with the blown-save and the win. Pretty sure that doesn't happen often. $1 to anyone who can site the last time.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Longoria. 3 runs and a monster homer when it mattered.

CHEESE & WHINE: Whatever

Rays: 2

Tigers: 6

CHEESE:

• Nope.

WHINE:

• Matt Garza.

CRACKERS:

• Grab hold of the towel and prepare to throw it in.

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!".