Here Come the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays aren’t messing around. That much became clear when they signed free-agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82.5 million contract Monday, outbidding notable heavyweights in the Cubs and Dodgers in the process. The signing comes with its fair share...

Jarrod Saltalamacchia Is Surprisingly Valuable

I’ve never really been a big supporter of Jarrod Saltalamacchia. I thought he was a worthwhile gamble to acquire from the Rangers for next to nothing, and I liked the idea of grooming him behind Jason Varitek. I was patient through the yips and then through the long,...

Know Thine Enemy 2009: Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off their first successful season in the history of the franchise. Finally, they’re not considered doormats with no vision of the future. Now the Pirates stand alone there. (Even the Royals are much improved!) This club is scary in...

Know Thy Enemy: 2008 Tampa Bay Rays

When you’ve finished nine of the ten seasons in your franchise’s history in last place of your division and you’ve only cracked the 70 win mark once, maybe a change of name serves to help wipe that slate clean. At least the Tampa Bay Rays and their...

Red Sox come back from 7-run deficit

Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew combined for seven hits while everyone else in the lineup also had a hit contributing in the 16-10 come back win for the Boston Red Sox after being down 8-1 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Tim Wakefield who has historically shut down Tampa Bay...

No ninth inning rally this time

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Al Reyes did not allow this quote to ring true shutting down Boston’s second attempt at a ninth inning rally in back-to-back games closing the door in the ninth in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-5 win. Although...

No sweep for Sox in final game of series

Boston (64-41) was looking to sweep the series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (39-65), but Scott Kazmir stood in the way pitching 6 scoreless innings in the 5-2 win over the Red Sox. Kazmir did not earn the win, but kept his team in it long enough as Tampa scored...