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http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/news/ ... sp?c_id=tb

Friday, July 6 Kauffman Stadium | 8:10 PM ET
TB James Shields, RHP (6-4, 3.76)
Devil Rays (33-51) @ KC Odalis Perez, LHP (4-7, 5.56)
Royals (36-49)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Shields didn't get the win Sunday against the Indians, but he showed all the attributes that have made him successful. The right-hander demonstrated his toughness when he struck out three straight batters after loading the bases in the second inning, and he showed his stuff with the 10 strikeouts. Unfortunately for Shields, he surrendered three runs -- two of which were earned -- to take the loss. He is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two career starts against the Royals.

Royals: Perez tossed one of his best starts of the season on Saturday against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. He recieved a no-decision for his work -- something that has happened with frequency when he throws well. When Perez tosses a quality start this year, he is 2-2 with three no-decisions. This season, Perez has a 6.34 ERA at home, vs. a 4.82 mark on the road. He has faced the Rays once this season, earning the win after pitching five innings of four-run ball on June 2. In his career, Perez is 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.


Saturday, July 7 Kauffman Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
TB )Andy Sonnanstine, RHP (1-3, 5.63
Devil Rays (33-51) @ KC Gil Meche, RHP (5-6, 3.26)
Royals (36-49)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Sonnanstine allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings on Monday night against the Indians, getting tagged with the loss. The rookie right-hander walked two, which is an unfamiliar number on his line since throwing strikes is his calling card. Sonnanstine works fast and uses a variety of pitches delivered from different of arm angles.

Royals: Meche pitched what manager Buddy Bell called "a typical Gil game" on Monday night against the Mariners. He didn't get the decision but gave up just two runs (both in the first inning) and shut down the Mariners for the rest of his 6 1/3 innings. This was the 10th time in 18 starts that Meche had held the opposing club to less than three runs.


Sunday, July 8 Kauffman Stadium | 2:10 PM ET
TB Scott Kazmir, LHP (5-5, 4.28)
Devil Rays (33-51) @ KC Jorge De La Rosa, LHP (6-9, 5.27)
Royals (36-49)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Kazmir continued to struggle with having a high pitch count Tuesday against the Red Sox when he needed 113 pitches -- of which 75 were strikes -- to get through the sixth inning. The Rays left-hander allowed four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and struck out six while taking his fifth loss against five wins on the season. Kazmir's stuff remains electric, as personified by the times opposing hitters swing and miss, he just has not found a true comfort level on the mound this season.

Royals: Fortified with back-to-back victories, De La Rosa will make the last start before the All-Star break. Given a huge lead last Tuesday night (10-1 by the second inning), De La Rosa went seven innings against the Mariners. He had just one inning in which his control wavered, but he recovered nicely. A seventh victory would match his career total prior to this season (he was 7-11 in 7l games).

This is getting depressing.

Time to get a W.

Terrible series by the Rays.

Bullpen was as bad as a Class A spring team.

Crawford rests on Sunday? C'mon Joe.......

This team just blew it's season in less than 4 weeks.

Where is the aggressiveness on the field?

I think that you can take most of the bullpen and dump it. There is little or no hope for Fossum. Time to move on with him.

What bothers me is not just Maddon's demeanor rubbing off on our players, but the fact that our front office isn't making any moves.

Teams are interested in Dukes. Cantu has to have some value still. How about claiming some guys off waivers just to see if they can bring a spark?

The most frustrating thing for me is that in the past 10 years the Rays management, all of them, never made a push for anything. Granted, Kazmir was a steal, but that's old news. What have you done for us lately?

I'd rather see them put it all on the table & try to make a big move or a number of big moves & show that they are serious about competing!

I agree.

The gamble was to hope that some guys would step up, but that has not been the case.

Pitching = $$$

And the Rays still need a dependable bat in the middle of the lineup.

dependable bat = $$$

I guess the parking fees return next year.

I'm not sure how accurate this link is but here are a few of the bigger names that may be on the market if no contracts are negotiated before the end of the season.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/10/2 ... ree_a.html