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Great win on Saturday morning at 3 am, and kind of a flat effort on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm.

I still cannot believe they played that game from Friday night.

Rays win again 11-3.

Offensively, the Rays have scored the most runs in MLB since April 17, and have the second highest team BA as well since then.

The starters ERA is in the bottom third, and bullpen ERA is second to last.

If and when the rotation gets better ... and I believe the bullpen will get much stronger .... this team, if it continues to be productive at the plate, will be ready to make some noise.

I think there's still room for improvement on Offense. Let's take a look at everyone who is worse than our catchers at the plate so far.

Scott's got a 29% SO/AB ratio... as a DH. One trick pony is not performing his trick very well. Lucky for him he's had a good eye for walks to keep him in the rotation. Regardless, a DH that can't hit needs to be moved to give someone else a chance.

Fuld has the worst OPS of the regulars, but is a defensive specialist. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt there.

Zobrist is clearly in a slump, but he'll battle out like he always does. Pulling walks well. Smart way to play the hitting slump. Being able to play so many positions so well will keep him in the lineup every day.

Roberts. I don't know what to say here. He's just not getting it done at the plate. He doesn't have the utility of Zobrist or the defense of Fuld. Not many excuses to keep him on the field other than a lack of options at his position.

So Fuld and Zobrist have excuses. Scott and Roberts do not (that I can think of). I don't see them starting for us next year. Hopefully sooner.

Moore lasts 2 innings. Loads the bases up in the 3rd with 0 outs for Torres. He takes care of it. Blanks the 4th too. Gets pulled for... Farnsworth? He comes in, gets smoked by Infante.

Torres is our long relief pitcher. Let him pitch! In a game where the starter lasts 2 IP, Torres should have went for 3 or 4 innings.

craig01 wrote:Rays win again 11-3.

Offensively, the Rays have scored the most runs in MLB since April 17, and have the second highest team BA as well since then.

The starters ERA is in the bottom third, and bullpen ERA is second to last.

If and when the rotation gets better ... and I believe the bullpen will get much stronger .... this team, if it continues to be productive at the plate, will be ready to make some noise.

Honestly that's shocking about the offense. I am skeptical they can keep that up.

Great win tonight guys. Cobb was insane, shutting out one of the league's hottest offenses. Some well placed intentional walks. Peralta was money on Fielder. Even though Rodney gave up a walk and a hit, I thought they were good pitches. All around amazing job on the pitching side tonight.

Let's take the series tomorrow!

MagicRays wrote:Great win tonight guys. Cobb was insane, shutting out one of the league's hottest offenses. Some well placed intentional walks. Peralta was money on Fielder. Even though Rodney gave up a walk and a hit, I thought they were good pitches. All around amazing job on the pitching side tonight.

Let's take the series tomorrow!

Similar situation tonight. Archer comes out and completely dominates a great offense. Peralta and Rodney looked great. Peralta got robbed of a 1-2-3 inning with a poorly called walk, but that didn't matter. Rodney was 1 strike away from an "immaculate inning" for the save.

Offense needs to pick it back up. We're getting hits and walks, but can't turn them into runs. Hope to see that come alive today, as I don't expect to keep the O's quiet for long.

The draft has been interesting for us. Picked up a great prospect Catcher Ciuffo with the 21st pick. Everyone thought RHP Stanek was a top-10 pick, got him with the 29th. Grabbed SS Unroe in the 2nd round to address another need. I'm excited to see these guys progress!

MagicRays wrote:Great win tonight guys. Cobb was insane, shutting out one of the league's hottest offenses. Some well placed intentional walks. Peralta was money on Fielder. Even though Rodney gave up a walk and a hit, I thought they were good pitches. All around amazing job on the pitching side tonight.

Let's take the series tomorrow!

Cobb continues to be impressive.

His location and sequence of pitches has been masterful.

MagicRays wrote:

MagicRays wrote:Great win tonight guys. Cobb was insane, shutting out one of the league's hottest offenses. Some well placed intentional walks. Peralta was money on Fielder. Even though Rodney gave up a walk and a hit, I thought they were good pitches. All around amazing job on the pitching side tonight.

Let's take the series tomorrow!

Similar situation tonight. Archer comes out and completely dominates a great offense. Peralta and Rodney looked great. Peralta got robbed of a 1-2-3 inning with a poorly called walk, but that didn't matter. Rodney was 1 strike away from an "immaculate inning" for the save.

Offense needs to pick it back up. We're getting hits and walks, but can't turn them into runs. Hope to see that come alive today, as I don't expect to keep the O's quiet for long.

The draft has been interesting for us. Picked up a great prospect Catcher Ciuffo with the 21st pick. Everyone thought RHP Stanek was a top-10 pick, got him with the 29th. Grabbed SS Unroe in the 2nd round to address another need. I'm excited to see these guys progress!

Cuiffo looks like a nice investment.....but of course, every year and every pick do too....LOL

Rodney had his best outing of the year of Friday night, Farnsworth looked very good yesterday too.

With Peralta being solid and the hopeful consistency of the other two ..... suddenly the Rays are nearing a "lockdown" from the bullpen from the 7th inning on. If so, the Rays become very dangerous.

Matt Moore with another awful start today

Ugh

craig01 wrote:Rodney had his best outing of the year of Friday night, Farnsworth looked very good yesterday too.

With Peralta being solid and the hopeful consistency of the other two ..... suddenly the Rays are nearing a "lockdown" from the bullpen from the 7th inning on. If so, the Rays become very dangerous.

That would be huge. With Price's return, and the addition of Archer and Torres to the mix.. we could have starters coming in throwing 4 innings of relief every game! haha.

Price/Archer
Moore/Torres
Cobb/Colome
Helli/Odorizzi
Hernandez

Rays had a golden opportunity last night. Bases loaded and no outs in a tie game. UGH

Rodney should have never come out for his second inning. That was a Mad "dumb" move

Yea we had many opportunities last night that we did not take advantage of. But coming back from a 6 run deficit right off the bat was fun to watch. Boston couldnt miss in the 1st and it wasnt Cobbs fault. Cobb looked great every inning he pitched. unfortunately that first one hit his pitch count too hard. Torres should have pitched a 3rd inning. Not sure why they limit him to 2 innings when he only pitches once a week. McGee brought some heat. Rodney did too, but Maddon really messed up taking him out of his groove making him go 2 innings. Peralta showed his passion making Pedroia duck from his first pitch after the brawl. I fell asleep after the 9th

Kelly Johnson has been disappointing lately, but Zobrist has really come alive again. Zobrist needs to be leading off at this point. Get someone on base before Joyce cracks his homer. Loney can get on base too. Maybe a Zobrist/Loney/Joyce/Longo top 4 would work. Scott was just as bad as Kelly, and he doesn't even have to play D! Lobaton's offense has been great but I don't think he knows how to throw a baseball...

Luke Scott needs to step up.

Scott's out tonight. Joyce at DH just knocked a long ball past the last row of the stands. He usually sits vs LHP but this one was from Lester and it actually sent the starter packing. This could be a step towards a Scott demotion.

Maddon's finally coming to his senses with the lineup. Tonight is:

Joyce
Zobrist
Johnson (3B)
Longo (DH)
Loney
Jennings
Fuld
Molina
Escobar

I would switch Joyce with Zobrist, and Escobar with Fuld. But overall it's not bad. I would say it has to be better by just leaving Scott out, but Fuld is starting so I'm not sure we improved there. Eventually I think we'll see Myers in there every day, Fuld back on the bench as a 4th outfielder, Johnson DHing and Scott on the bench.

The Johnson at 3B experiment failed miserably. That alone gave up at least 4 runs. Helly looked good until the 6th inning.

Wow same line up tonight. KC bats will be pointed at the 3B line all night.

Longo dealing with plantar fascitis (sp?), so that's the reason for Johnson at 3B. Unfortunately, Kelly's June has been so bad, I would almost prefer Roberts or SRod there. Man these guys are streaky.

Side note, JP Howell got suspended 2 games for participating in a huge brawl.