7 game losing streak and a rookie all star
Your Weekly Rays Update
Overall: 57-40
Last Week: @ NYY (0-2), @CLE (0-4)
This Week: All Star Game
That was ugly. After winning six straight games the Rays dropped their last seven before the All Star break, falling a half game behind the Sawx for first place in the AL East. The Rays have struggled on the road this season (19-25), but the last week was especially bad as the Rays managed to score only 9 runs in 6 road games. Things have gotten so bad Rays of Light is on strike until the Rays quit playing like a minor league team.
Boston………….57—40 __ .588
Tampa Bay…55—39 __ .585
New York……..50—45 __ .526
Toronto……….47—48 __ .495
Baltimore…….45—48 __ .484
Despite the addition of Evan Longoria and the outstanding performance from Dioneer Navaro, the Rays offense is not as productive as last season. Last season, the Rays averaged 4.8 runs per game. This year they are averaging 4.6. Some decline was expected considering the loss of Delmon Young and Carlos Pena’s struggles with injury, but Carl Crawford’s Batting Average and On Base Percentage are both down considerably this season. Crawford has blamed his occasional move to center field as the reason for his struggles, a statement which would carry more weight if CC didn’t already play left field full time. Crawford is the leader of this young team and needs to put aside his differences with Joe Maddon for what is best for the team.
EVAN LONGORIA’s WEEK
Losing aside, last week was a good one for the Dirtbag as he was voted into the last spot on the AL All Star team and named the most valuable player in baseball. That last honor is given to Longoria by the blog Fangraphs and is based on the Dirtbag’s offensive performance, defensive ability and payroll friendly contract. Longoria is also in the home run derby tonight.
PLAYOFF ODDS
The Rays currently have a 55% chance of making the playoffs according to one website. This seems somewhat low considering that only one team (Boston) has had the best record in baseball by July 4th and not made the playoffs. I still think the Rays lose the division but win the wild card spot.
DICKY V
Dick Vitale may be the most famous Rays fans but that doesn’t mean he is the best Rays fan. A week after supporting Longoria’s All Star campaign Dicky V was spotted at the Red Sox-O’s game trying to get some love from a Red Sox player. I saw the original video on ESPN on Saturday and have looked all over the place for it but in the video Vitale reaches out his fist to a Red Sox player walking back to the dugout for a fist bump and the Red Sox player ignores Vitale and fist bumps the fan next to Vitale. I really wish I could find the video of this ’cause my description does not capture one tenth the awesomeness contained in the clip.
UPDATE: As a commenter points out, it was likely an O’s player not Sawx player Vitale tried to get a high five/fist bump from. Without the video I honestly am not sure. Again, let me repeat that my description does not come close to describing the sheer comedy of Dick Vitale being turned denied. I am forever indebted to anyone who can find the video of this.
Tags: all star game, losing streak, rays, recap, Tampa Bay Rays
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July 14th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Dickie V. was sitting by the Orioles dugout, not the Sox’s — and was rebuffed by an O’s player.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Come on, the guy’s been a season ticket holder since day one and he’s been at the Trop and sat through some truly godawful baseball. I think he’s proven his loyalty. And if Bill is correct and he was rooting for the Orioles against the Red Sox, as far as I’m concerned that’s further proof.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
my mistake on the sawx/O’s mixup, i could have sworn it was a Boston player. (really wish i could find the video).
July 15th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I am 99% sure the player was Ramon Hernandez of the O’s — returning to the dugout after his homer. It was indeed pretty funny — especially as Hernandez gave a fist bump to a dugout attendant just after he passed by Dickie V.
Don’t know why Vitale was in Boston, but he was seen chatting with UConn coach Jim Calhoun before the game. He had family (grandkids) with him in the stands.