James Shields threw a 1 hitter against the Angels today and the Rays got a game winning home run in the 9th by Evan Longoria to take a 2-0 win against the Angels. Shields was magnificent, facing 28 batters and not even giving up a single walk. The Rays pitching has been great this year, one of the best pitching staffs in the league, if their hitting can turn around they could be playing for something come September.
just think we have Wade Davis, Jake McGee, David Price and Jeff Niemann in the minors still.....im thinking this is going to be a pretty stout staff for the forseeable future...great to see Evan Longoria hit the walkoff...and what play by Carl Crawford in the third....i still laugh at all the Red Sox and Yankees fans who seem to think the Rays are just going to fade away because they are the rays......this team is way better than people want to give them credit for....and that includes the media.....the lead is down to 2 1/2.....
I agree that the Rays pitching staff is great and one of the best in the league so far. It also can be a for years to come with all the great young talent in the minors as well. But, lets not dog the hitting for just a second here. Let me throw some knowledge to you, including last nights game the Rays have scored 5 runs or more in 8 of the last 10 games. Also, the Rays rank in the top 10 in all offensive categories. So, I would not fret about the Rays offense just yet.
In addition, the Rays have the best young staff around what with Scott Kazmir, Jamie Shields, Andy Sonnastine, Edwin Jackson and the rest. Great minor league arms as well.
I am sick to death of the Red Sox and the Yankees, so every day I will cheer for the Rays, unless of course, they are playing the Twins.
And thank you for Brendan Harris and Delmon Young, I cannot help but think we got the better of that deal. The amazing thing is - you guys didn't skip a beat. And who is the Gross character? So far, so good.
Question Rays fans. I picked up Sonnanstine on my fantasy team to replace a start I had that got hurt. He'll be coming off the DL shortly and I'll have to rid myself of a pitcher. So far I've been very happy with Sonnanstine. Do you Rays fans think Sonnanstine has reached his peak yet, or are his past performances more of a flash in the pan.
Btw, I also have Shields on my team, and Lordy, he did me good yesterday...Yes!!!
sonnanstine was let down by the Rays defense alot last season and suffered because of it......this season he had one bad outing and his numbers are still recovering from it....he wont ever be a big strikeout guy but he doesnt walk alot of guys....he will keep the rays in games even when he doesnt have his best stuff....if your looking for a guy that can eat innings without a terrible era or whip and pick up some wins you could do alot worse then Andy Sonnanstine.......he will probably end up with 12 to 15 wins this season.....and if the bats heat up maybe more.....
redsox fan here and no i don't think the Rays are just going to fade away like the "old rays". i see them hanging around for a while and maing some noise. that said i do not see them winning the AL east or even competing for the wildcard just yet. they simply don't have the horses at this time. this is no knock as i view the rays as a respectable up and coming team and perhaps i will be singing a different tune in the very near future. perhaps rays mamnagement can use a couple of their prospects in the minors now and make a move to acquire a big consistent bat or arm to hurry up the process. this ofcourse would require taking on salary which they budged a little on this year, but has yet to committ to.
ehhhhhh wrong knievel...they just didnt spend 50 million on players that arent very good or past thier prime...the spent thier money on resigning thier own plyers.....you know the longorias and shields of the world....i know we could have dropped 60 million on Kei Igawa...or maybe 75 on Andruw Jones...but they just had better things to do with the money....dont forget vince naimoli doesnt run this show anymore.......kepp sleeping on em...i dont mind.
the Rays have a boatload of young talent in their sysyem. i'm sure if they wanted they could acquire someone a little better than igawa or andrew jones. i'm gald you don't mind that i don't forsee them winning the division. talk to me in september.
