YAYYYYY the Rays won 4-1 at Texas last night, buoyed by a strong showing by starter James Shields.  Our complete game man didn’t toss another CG, but he pitched eight innings of quality ball.  Shields allowed four hits, zero runs and walked one with seven strikeouts.

Tonight, Tampa Bay’s big man, Jeff Niemann will take on super-tweeter CJ Wilson.  The Rangers will look for a boost from Adrian Beltre in this evening’s game.  The third baseman is expected to return to the lineup for the first time since he landed on the DL with a strained hamstring on July 23.

-The roster expands to 40 men today.  The Rays are set to bring outfielders Brandon Guyer and Justin Ruggiano into the fold.  When the team returns home tomorrow, they’ll bring long reliever Andy Sonnanstine back to the bullpen.  Catcher Jose Lobaton is expected to rejoin the team this weekend, as long as his left knee sprain continues to heal. [St. Petersburg Times]

-The Sun Sports team had a little fun with file photos of broadcaster Brian Anderson last night.  Here’s my favorite (original screenshot courtesy of @BRaysballTalk):

How would you caption this?

-The Rays went 18-10 in the month of August.  I’d be up for feeling a little déjà vu this month, and that’s just what Tampa Bay needs to hang on to playoff hopes.  [Rays Index]

-I love Kyle Farnsworth.  Don’t tell my parents, but I think it has something to do with his “bad boy” image.  The tats and the famous tackle, plus this season’s saves, are things of beauty.  The “closer” has 22 saves on the year with a 1.94 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.  And that is why I don’t want to see him hurt.  Farnsworth suffered from tenderness in his right elbow last week.

The MLB veteran said his elbow is fine, but he wasn’t as spot-on as usual during his inning of work last night.  Farnsworth allowed three hits and one run.  I have to hope it was just a fluke, and that his elbow really is okay, because the Rays need him in this final month of the regular season.  It’s much more fun to watch Farnsworth tackle Paul Wilson than worry about his elbow:

Tonight’s game against the Tigers is still in progress as I type.  We’re currently knotted at two apiece heading to the top of the 10th.  If we’ve learned anything from the first two games of this series, it is that this game will cause Rays fans some anxiety.

Wade Davis stayed on the hill through the ninth, with Joel Peralta coming in to begin the bonus baseball. The Rays have turned into a complete game, or nearly complete game, machine.

Max Scherzer lasted five innings for the Tigers.  Daniel Schlereth pitched an inning and a third of relief before being replaced by Ryan Perry.

To be completely honest, I prefer Daniel’s father, former NFL star and current football analyst Mark Schlereth, when it comes to the looks department.  I choose to ignore the fact that the senior Schlereth’s nickname was Stink. But I’ve already said on this site that I like ‘em a little older. Ya know? Like Johnny Damon. But I digress.

I tried to distract myself from the tension of the game with a glass of wine over dinner, but I felt the need to address the Andrew Friedman situation.

We know, you (you being Cubs and Astros) want the Rays’ GM.

Because it’s hump day, the FOX Sports broadcast team is conducting another Website Wednesday so you can ask questions through Game Connect.  One fan asked a question about the rumors swirling regarding Andrew Friedman’s future.  Here’s what broadcaster Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson had to say:

Staats: First, I think that is a compliment.

Anderson: I took it as one.

Then Staats elaborated:

“The Andrew Friedman story has been obviously the topic of conversation in a couple markets. the answer is that for one, he’s a loyal guy and they’ve had some great things Going here. obviously that’s  why you hear those stories and of why other clubs would naturally have an interest. I wouldn’t think every team in baseball would have an interest. other teams have an interest.

He doesn’t look for the limelight, really he’s uncomfortable hearing these things, but it’s hard to find a guy who has done a better job than Andrew Friedman.

Number one he’s a very bright guy and number two he’s willing to work hard. And I don’t care what you do, if you have those two combinations, you’ve got a pretty fair chance to succeed.”

Because of Friedman’s traits and the successful club he has built in Tampa Bay, most Rays fans love the guy.  He worked from a hospital room after having his appendix removed just prior to this year’s trade deadline.  The guy’s for real. » Continue reading “Pleeee-ease Don’t Leave Me”

I don’t believe that all good things must come to an end, but that five-game win streak the Rays were riding was snapped last night.  Tampa Bay scored two runs on eight hits (two of those hits were from Sam Fuld) but the Twins won their first game of the series with four runs on nine hits.

Final Score: Twins 4, Rays 2 [Box Score]

Jeremy Hellickson lasted seven innings, but as announcer Brian Anderson repeatedly said during the broadcast, he was wild within the strike zone.  Pitchf/x data does not lie.  [DRaysBay]

Hellickson, who is 1-2 on this young season, is expected to fill in the gap left by this summer’s Matt Garza trade.  (FYI: Garza is 0-2 on the year with a 6.27 ERA while Hellboy has a 4.50 ERA.  At this point, I think Julie DiCaro over at LOHO is ready to send Garza back south.)

A little more bad news for the Rays: Johnny Damon injured his finger during a bunt attempt in the third inning.  Damon left the game after the fourth.  During the live broadcast, Todd Kalas announced that Damon will be day-to-day. [The Heater]

Florida’s “snowbirds” may be young at heart…but most of them aren’t young.  The Rays are bringing a bit of a youth movement to the Sunshine State, especially with their pitching staff. [Wall Street Journal]

The Rays begin a four-game series against the White Sox at the Trop today.  Former Tampa Bay pitcher Edwin Jackson will get the start for the Sox.  Jackson has had success against the Rays and picked up the win all three times he’s faced them.  David Price, who will start for the Rays, has never won against the White Sox.  [St. Pete Times]