Hellickson looks to pay offense back vs. Blue Jays

Source: MLB.com by Quinn Roberts

Jeremy Hellickson recently allowed the most earned runs by a winning pitcher since Yankee Andy Pettitte in 2007. He hopes for a better showing Wednesday against Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays.

Rays-Blue Jays Preview (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

It took nearly a month for the Tampa Bay Rays to win five road games, but they're on the verge of winning that many in less than a week as part of a hot stretch.

Rodney comes through, saves Rays' win over Jays (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

TORONTO - This has not been the best of starts for Tampa Bay Rays closer Fernando Rodney.

Rays: Dress rehearsal for Memorial Day

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Rays at Blue Jays When/where: 4:37 today; Rogers Centre, Toronto

Rays hang on to beat Blue Jays

Source: Tampa Bay Times

The Rays manage to hang on after getting off to a fast start.

Rays' Maddon now defending Escobar's gesture

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TORONTO — Upon further review, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he had no problem with SS Yunel Escobar's post-home run gesture Monday and took issue with anyone who did, as well as the Toronto fans for booing ex-Blue Jays players.

McLouth rewards manager's faith with walk-off homer (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter considered pinch-hitting for Nate McLouth when the New York Yankees brought in left-hander Vidal Nuno to pitch in the 10th inning. The skipper decided against it, and that proved to be the best move Showalter didn't make all night.

Rays hold on after Cobb's solid start

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

Tampa Bay used some early offense to back Alex Cobb and achieve a 4-3 win over Toronto on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre in front of 15,802.

Rays top Jays, lock up winning road trip

Source: Tampa Bay Online

The Rays endured more tense moments in the late innings Tuesday, but held on for a 4-3 victory.

Johnson, Jennings homer as Rays beat Blue Jays (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

TORONTO (AP) -- Kelly Johnson and Desmond Jennings homered, Alex Cobb won for the first time in three starts and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Rays 4, Blue Jays 3 (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

TORONTO -- Kelly Johnson and Desmond Jennings hit home runs, and right-hander Alex Cobb pitched 6 1/3 innings as the Tampa Bay Rays hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Tuesday.

Rays vs. Jays, game 2: Rodney, Lobaton frame their way out of a bind

Source: DRaysBay by Ian Malinowski

The beginning of the game was highlighted by excellent play from the Rays outfield both offensively and defensively. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Edwin Encarnacion hit a hard line drive that landed on the left field warning track and bounced against the wall. Kelly Johnson fielded it off the wall like he had been playing outfield his whole career and fired a (one hop) strike to second base to get EE3 at second. Then, in the next half inning, Johnson blasted his eighth home run of the season to straight center field.

Joyce leaves game with hamstring tightness

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

Matt Joyce left Tuesday night's game with the Blue Jays because of right hamstring tightness. The Rays are calling the move precautionary.

Wright's heart with tornado-ravaged Moore

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

Jamey Wright hails from Oklahoma City, where his parents and sister live near tornado-ravaged Moore.

Maddon backtracks on celebration critique

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

After Monday's game, Joe Maddon remarked that he planned to talk to shortstop Yunel Escobar about the way Escobar gave a safe signal after hitting a two-run homer. Maddon did talk to Escobar, but he did not tell him to stop making the sign.

Maddon admits error but wants rule changed

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

Rays manager Joe Maddon allowed that he was wrong in his interpretation of the home run rules where reviews are concerned, but he voiced a strong sentiment that the rule needed to be modified.

Original Roberto Hernandez to represent Rays at Draft

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

Roberto Hernandez, the former Rays relief pitcher -- not the current Rays stater -- will represent Tampa Bay at the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Fernando Rodney Added A New Twist To His Shoot-The-Moon Save Celebration

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

After all the commotion caused by Yunel Escobar’s home run celebration on Monday, Fernando Rodney showed that he had Escobar’s back by adding the home run celebration to his own save celebration. The bit of irony here is that Rodney used the non-Blue Jays version of Escobar’s celebration which is more of an over the head arm motion…

© The Professor for Rays Index, 2013. |

Orioles 3, Yankees 2 (10 innings) (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

BALTIMORE -- Nate McLouth led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run off Vidal Nuno, and the Baltimore Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees,.

Rays' Maddon acknowledges error, knocks rule

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TORONTO — Rays manager Joe Maddon acknowledged Tuesday that he was wrong about MLB's replay rules, but he said the current procedure "makes no sense whatsoever" and opens a "Pandora's Box" for future issues.

Buck Showalter, Joe Maddon Both Argue Call as Replay Awards Home Run to Matt Joyce (Video)

Source: Yardbarker

While MLB grapples with the idea of expanding instant replay in the wake of a series of umpiring gaffes, the oddities in its current replay policy were thoroughly exposed on Sunday afternoon. During the top of the sixth inning, the Rays’ Matt Joyce hit what umpires initially ruled as a double to right field. After the ruling on the field, both Orioles manager Buck Showalter and his Tampa Bay counterpart, Joe Maddon, came out to argue the call. While Showalter argued that the ball was, in fact, foul, Maddon wanted a video replay to determine whether the ball was a home run. However, he didn’t want said review if there was a chance that the ball could be ruled foul, which makes the ruling on the field integral. What happens next is a little nutty. In effect, Showalter had to argue that the ruling should have been a home run against his own team, since fair-foul calls can’t be reviewed. Thus, Showalter would be hoping such a replay would determine the ball was actually foul. In the end...

Rays? Maddon backs off criticism of Escobar

Source: Tampa Bay Online

The Tampa Bay manager had been critical of Yunel Escobar�s home run celebration Monday, but apparently has reconsidered.

Maddon: Yunel Escobar did nothing wrong

Source: Yardbarker

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon says that after reviewing video from yesterday afternoon’s game and having a conversation with shortstop Yunel Escobar,  he doesn’t think that Escobar did anything wrong. “He did nothing wrong,” Maddon said. Escobar, made a gesture after hitting a home run Monday, slashing his arms in an exaggerated safe signal. After the game Maddon commented, “I love him on this team. I love him in the clubhouse. I love everything about this young man,” Maddon said (TBO.com), “but I still want to talk to him about the reaction after the home run, and I’m certain you’re not going to see that again.” Finally some semblance of common sense. Escobar’s celebrating after a home run  really isn’t all that different than say a closer Rafael Soriano ripping his shirt out after  recording the last out,  or yet another closer Fernando Rodney shooting an imaginary arrow after a save. Th Rays themselves have taken to shooting  imaginary arrows towards their dugout  after a

Maddon says he's OK with Escobar's celebration (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

TORONTO (AP) -- Rays manager Joe Maddon changed course Tuesday, saying he has no problem with the way shortstop Yunel Escobar celebrates home runs.

Tailgating With The Rays: Talking Hitting Streaks And Hitting Slumps For Game 45

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

Playing A Little Pepper…

The Rays are the only AL club and one of  to be .500 or better on this date in each of the last 6 years. In the NL, the Braves and the Cards have also been .500 or better on this date 6 years in a row…Evan Longoria’s 14-game hitting streak is a career-high…James Loney is still 4th in the majors in hitting, but is just 3 for his last 19, dropping his average down to .342…

Game Graph…

[Will be up at game time]

Source: FanGraphs

Lineup…

Flash

Today's MLB starting lineups: May 21

Source: MLB.com

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Cross-Sport Power Rankings: Miguel Cabrera Crowned

Source: ESPN YouTube

Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has his sights set on another Triple Crown and is our No. 1 after a 3 home run, 5 RBI outburst Sunday. Rays' pitcher Matt Moore is the runner-up, improving his record to 8-0. A hat trick for Penguin Sidney Crosby nets 4th place.

Baseball dignitaries will represent at '13 Draft

Source: MLB.com by Spencer Fordin

A star-studded cast of accomplished baseball legends will be on hand for the first day of the First-Year Player Draft on June 6, as the league welcomes its next crop of top prospects.

Moore shines as Rays sweep Orioles

Source: Yardbarker

Matt Moore pitched seven innings of five-hit ball to stay unbeaten, Luke Scott and Matt Joyce homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep. Moore (8-0) gave up one run, struck out three and walked one. The left-hander has won nine straight decisions, breaking the franchise record of eight set last year by David Price. The Rays' ninth win in 11 games put them a season-high three games over .500 (23-20) and lifted Tampa Bay into a third-place tie with skidding Baltimore in the AL East. The Rays had been in fourth since April 20. Adam Jones had two hits, stole two bases and drove in a run for the Orioles, who have dropped five straight - all at home. Chris Tillman (3-2) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He's 1-5 lifetime against the Rays. Tampa Bay led 2-1 in the sixth inning when Joyce hit a drive that appeared to bounce off the wall near the right-field foul pole. First base umpire Dan Iassogna called it a fair ball but not a home run.

Escobar Says He Uses Same Gesture After Every Home Run, But We Have Video In 2013 And It Suggests Otherwise

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

Yesterday, Yunel Escobar hit a home run and then made a gesture towards the crowd that caused a mini-fire storm in some circles.

Joe Maddon said he would talk to Escobar and that we won’t see it again. Escobar claimed he uses the same gesture after every home run. But does he? Not quite.

But before we look at the video, here is that gesture once again…

Prior to that home run, Escobar had hit

Rays To Wear Camo On Memorial Day

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

Via Uni-Watch.com, all Major League teams will be wearing camo caps and jerseys with camo logos and lettering on Memorial Day. This is what the Rays’ version will look like (click on image for a larger version)…

© The Professor for Rays Index, 2013. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to

Alex Torres Shows Stuff in Prolonged Outing

Source: The Process Report by R.J. Anderson

Before Jake Odorrizi’s Monday start, another member of the well-regarded Durham rotation made a notable appearance for the Rays over the weekend.

Alex Torres’ second outing for the Rays this season lasted longer and burned brighter than his first—a five-pitch, one-out clean-up job against the Red Sox nights earlier. On Saturday Torres pitched four innings of no-hit ball, keeping the Rays in the game and enabling their eventual come-from-behind victory. The prolonged appearance gave Torres the chance to show off the tweaks in his game he worked on last year during his exile to the Gulf Coast League.

One of the noticeable changes is a quickened pace on the mound—Torres seemed to hop back on the rubber after

Correction: Rays-Orioles story (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) -- In a story May 19 about the Tampa Bay Rays' 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, The Associated Press, using information from the Orioles' game notes, reported erroneously that 23-year-old Matt Moore is the youngest lefty to start the season 8-0 since Babe Ruth in 1917. Moore is the youngest left-handed American League pitcher used exclusively as a starter to start 8-0 since Ruth in 1917.

Now Booking For This Weekend’s Yankees Series — Catch The Rays In Style For Only $9.95

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

Tampa Rays fans can head to Tampa Lee Roy Selmon’s locations and get on board a chauffeured luxury bus to Tropicana Field. It’s only $9.95 roundtrip!!!

The hated Yankees are in town Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is a stunning deal! Why waste money on parking and gas, especially when you can ride in style with an adult beverage in hand on a Paradise Worldwide Transportation luxury bus?

Click on through below to learn more about the best deal in Tampa Bay sports, the No Excuses Tour to Tropicana Field. Find out how nearly 1,000 fans have enjoyed Rays games since 2011.

©

2013 Draft preview: Pitchers, part one

Source: DRaysBay by Scott Grauer

In 16 days, the 2013 draft will begin on June 6th and run through the 8th. It'll be the second draft since the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement changed the game, but even this year's draft will be a little different from last year's. In addition to the assigned pick values being 8.2% higher, the new compensation system will be fully implemented instead of Bud Selig determining comp picks on the fly like 2012.

Unlike last year, the Rays will have an extra pick. In addition to their own first rounder at 21st overall, they have Atlanta's first rounder at 29th overall as compensation for losing B.J.

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Odorizzi’s Inconsistencies, Lueke’s Big Chance, And Briggy In A Yankees Uniform

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

Blue Jays 7, RAYS 5 (boxscore)

THE GOOD: Jake Odorizzi. Overall, not a bad first outing. Not great, but not bad either. The big thing I noticed is he lacked consistency with his pitches. For example, he had fastballs anywhere from 87 to 95 mph. And the movement on his pitches, which is likely related to the speed, was also over the place. Sometimes there was a lot of movement and sometimes the pitch was straight. When a pitcher lacks consistency, it is hard for them to command

Rays' Maddon takes issue with Escobar gesture

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Yunel Escobar’s "safe sign" celebration after hitting a late home run in a loss didn’t sit well with his manager, but the former Blue Jay says he does it after every homer.

A New Pitcher, A Blown Call, BA’s Sympathy Face, And Other Images From Last Night’s Game

Source: Rays Index by Cork Gaines

We’ve got the highlights you won’t see on SportsCenter…

Meet Jake Odorizzi, the Rays' 17th pitcher since 2008 ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 8

© The Professor for Rays Index, 2013.

The Rays Tank: Oh, Yunel

Source: DRaysBay by Allie Kranick

The Rays entered the ninth inning yesterday down 7-3 to the Blue Jays. Luke Scott bunted a single, then Yunel Escobar came to the plate and crushed a two-run homer out of Rogers Centre.

While rounding the bases, Escobar took quite the leisurely stroll, and as he crossed home plate proceeded to stop and make an exaggerated safe motion with his arms to the crowd. Escobar had received a roar of boos each time he was up to bat in his first appearance back in Toronto

Tampa Bay Rays Recall Jake Odorizzi, Option Jeff Beliveau

Source: Yardbarker

Right-handed starter Jake Odorizzi was recalled from Triple-A Durham by the Tampa Bay Rays today. To make room for him on the active roster, the organization has decided to option left-handed reliever Jeff Beliveau to the same minor league club. Expect Odorizzi to fill in for David Price Monday night and while he has had some fantastic numbers in the minors this season, the call up could be brief. He definitely has talent though and could make a great impression quickly. The post Tampa Bay Rays Recall Jake Odorizzi, Option Jeff Beliveau appeared first on FFLockerRoom | Fantasy Sports Advice | Sports News | Sports Talk |.

Down on the farm May 21: Josh Sale day

Source: DRaysBay by Scott Grauer

The 50th game on his suspension was completed in the morning. Had their game not been rained out, I wonder if Charlotte would have been able to activate him later that day.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (26-18)

Durham was off.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (22-22)

A day after shutting out Huntsville 3-0, the tables were turned on Montgomery as they fell 3-0 to the Stars. Enny Romero was mostly effective, getting out of any trouble he got himself into without allowing a run. He finished with six strikeouts

Showalter may think twice arguing call

Source: Yardbarker

A bit of posturing on the part of Orioles manager Buck Showalter cost his team two bases and a run Sunday, after Showalter argued that a double by Matt Joyce should have been called foul -- and it was instead ruled a home run after review. The play happened with one out in the top of the sixth inning, with the Rays leading 2-1. Joyce, a left-handed batter, hooked a line drive down the right-field line and strolled into second with a stand-up double after the ball, which appeared to hit near the top of the wall, was ruled fair. Showalter then emerged from the Orioles dugout to protest the call, which led Rays manager Joe Maddon to come out in his own defense. After a lengthy discussion with both managers, the umpiring crew decided to review the play -- which, by rule, means someone (probably Maddon) argued that the ball had actually cleared the fence. After checking the replay, the umpires determined that the ball was neither a double nor a foul ball, but actually, a home run that had hit a metal stanchion

Bucs notes: Spence, Zuttah liven up practice

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Rookie DT Akeem Spence hasn�t hesitated to show he�s out to make a statement to coaches and veterans alike.

Rays: Dickey provides bad omen before game starts

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Rays at Blue Jays When/where: 7:07 tonight; Rogers Centre, Toronto

Rays' Escobar irks Maddon with showboating after home run

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TORONTO — SS Yunel Escobar responded to constant booing in his return to Rogers Centre by hitting a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning that gave the Rays a late shot before they lost 7-5.

Rays notes: Maddon takes issue with Escobar gesture

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Yunel Escobar�s celebration after hitting a late home run Monday didn�t sit well with his manager.

Rays bullpen blows chance in Toronto

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Rookie starter Jake Odorizzi was solid overall, but a late three-run triple lifted the Blue Jays to a 7-5 win Monday.

Rays look to get back on track behind Cobb

Source: MLB.com by Andrew Simon

Ramon Ortiz will take the ball for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night as they play the second of a three-game series against the Rays at Rogers Centre. Alex Cobb will go for Tampa Bay, which dropped Monday's opener but still has won nine of 12.

Rays-Blue Jays Preview (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Evan Longoria has hit safely in every game since he saw the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month.

Escobar's revelry has new meaning in Toronto

Source: MLB.com by Bill Chastain

With the Rays trailing the Blue Jays, Yunel Escobar homered off his former team, going on to celebrate his fourth homer of the season. Rays manager Joe Maddon clearly did not care for Escobar's gesture.