Slumping Rays are down but definitely not out
Article By smcneal.tsn on 23rd June, 2010
In their first 12 seasons, the Rays owned the majors' best record for just more than a month. Total. Those losing ways are history, of course. Tampa Bay has been one of the majors' top teams for going on three seasons.
Wade Davis hasn't won a game in June. This season, in fact, the Rays had the majors' best record for more than two months. Behind a strong rotation and the majors' most athletic lineup, the Rays soared to 20 games over .500 on May 23 while building their lead to six games in baseball's toughest division.
A month later, the Rays have been grounded. They have been caught not only by the Yankees but also by those other bullies in Boston. What's going on? Glad you asked.
The pitching
The Rays own the AL's best ERA but they won't for much longer if the rotation continues to falter. Tampa Bay's starters have posted a 5.76 ERA during the club's 10-16 skid, after posting a major league-best 2.72 ERA through 44 games.
Rookie Wade Davis has led the struggles. Unable to locate his fastball, he walked five Padres and fell to 0-4 in four June starts in a 2-1 loss Tuesday night.
"Four and a third (innings) and 103 pitches," Rays manager Joe Maddon pointed out. "We have to do better than that. He's got to reign in command of his fastball. We've talked about it all year."
Davis has had company. James Shields, the senior member of the rotation at 28, has lost five consecutive starts (he earned a win in relief Saturday), and Matt Garza has allowed 15 runs in his past three starts.
Only David Price and Jeff Niemann have managed to avoid a rough stretch.
The hitting
Theirs has been an erratic attack all season. Carlos Pena, the primary cleanup hitter, has a .198 batting average but 15 homers. B.J. Upton still is underachieving at .226/.316/.391. An All-Star last year, Jason Bartlett is at .232. The club hit .299 with runners in scoring positi...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Wade Davis hasn't won a game in June. This season, in fact, the Rays had the majors' best record for more than two months. Behind a strong rotation and the majors' most athletic lineup, the Rays soared to 20 games over .500 on May 23 while building their lead to six games in baseball's toughest division.
A month later, the Rays have been grounded. They have been caught not only by the Yankees but also by those other bullies in Boston. What's going on? Glad you asked.
The pitching
The Rays own the AL's best ERA but they won't for much longer if the rotation continues to falter. Tampa Bay's starters have posted a 5.76 ERA during the club's 10-16 skid, after posting a major league-best 2.72 ERA through 44 games.
Rookie Wade Davis has led the struggles. Unable to locate his fastball, he walked five Padres and fell to 0-4 in four June starts in a 2-1 loss Tuesday night.
"Four and a third (innings) and 103 pitches," Rays manager Joe Maddon pointed out. "We have to do better than that. He's got to reign in command of his fastball. We've talked about it all year."
Davis has had company. James Shields, the senior member of the rotation at 28, has lost five consecutive starts (he earned a win in relief Saturday), and Matt Garza has allowed 15 runs in his past three starts.
Only David Price and Jeff Niemann have managed to avoid a rough stretch.
The hitting
Theirs has been an erratic attack all season. Carlos Pena, the primary cleanup hitter, has a .198 batting average but 15 homers. B.J. Upton still is underachieving at .226/.316/.391. An All-Star last year, Jason Bartlett is at .232. The club hit .299 with runners in scoring positi...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
