Rays News

Rays search for silver lining as New York Yankees parade another World Series trophy
Comment
November 6
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Today's Yankees championship parade runs almost a mile through the Canyon of Heroes, from Battery Park to City Hall. But how long will it really last? For all the reasons having the Yankees on top again is good for baseball, excuse the Rays and other teams that now have to try to dethrone them for not necessarily seeing it that way. "Order," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg observed Thursday, "has been restored to the baseball universe." When the Yankees missed the playoffs last season - a direct result of the Rays making it - they reacted the way only the Yankees can, with a free-agent frenzy costing them more than $420 million that restructured the team for this season and years to ..."
Bay Rays keep Akinori Iwamura's interpreter as a scout
Comment
November 6
St. Petersburg Times
 
"With infielder Akinori Iwamura traded to the Pirates, Tateki Uchibori wasn't going to have anybody to talk for. But the Rays decided to keep Uchibori, Iwamura's interpreter the past two years, and gave him a job as a scout in his native Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The Rays announced several other assignments Thursday as they added three minor-league coordinators for a system that now includes nine teams and nearly 300 players. "We feel these additions will ensure that every player receives the attention he deserves," farm director Mitch Lukevics said."
Rays search for silver lining as New York Yankees parade
Comment
November 6
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Today's Yankees championship parade runs almost a mile through the Canyon of Heroes, from Battery Park to City Hall. But how long will it really last? For all the reasons having the Yankees on top again is good for baseball, excuse the Rays and other teams that now have to try to dethrone them for not necessarily seeing it that way. "Order," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg observed Thursday, "has been restored to the baseball universe." When the Yankees missed the playoffs last season - a direct result of the Rays making it - they reacted the way only the Yankees can, with a free-agent frenzy costing them more than $420 million that restructured the team for this season and years ..."
Evers changes position
Comment
November 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"Veteran baseball man Bill Evers is moving back to the field as co-minor-league field coordinator with Jim Hoff in one of several minor-league staff moves the Rays announced Thursday. Evers has spent 14 years in the Rays organization, including eight (1998-2005) as the manager at Triple-A Durham and two (2006-07) as the major-league bench coach. He was a professional scout in 2008-09. Former Astros pitching coach Dewey Robinson has been hired to join Dick Bosman as minor-league pitching coordinator, and Matt Quatraro, who managed at Single-A Bowling Green and Columbus the past two years, will join Steve Livesey as hitting coordinator. Matt Arnold was promoted to the new position of director ..."
Yankees victory reverberates through Bay area
Comment
November 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"When the New York Yankees won the World Series by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night in New York, the victory had a special meaning in Tampa. Tampa is the home of the team's legendary owner George Steinbrenner and the place where the Yankees' run to the Series began in the spring. Outside the Yankees spring training complex on North Dale Mabry, workers updated the signs, proclaiming the Yankees as winners of 27 world championships. They also added the year 2009 to the list of championship teams, the firstin nine years. Bronx native Tom Miano owns the company hired by the Yankees to redo the signs. "This is a dream come true," he said. "It doesn't get any better than this.""
Pirates' acquisition of Iwamura aimed at present
Comment
November 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"In Neal Huntington's first major transaction prioritizing the present above the future, the Pirates' general manager last night acquired veteran infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for rookie reliever Jesse Chavez. Yes, a veteran for a rookie. A player making close to $5 million for one making less than a tenth of that. A pending free agent for someone whose rights can be controlled five more years. Not exactly the blueprint this management team had been following. "Our goal for 2010 is to be a better team," Huntington said. "We've made a lot out of having years of control, and our hope is that this is more than a one-year fit for us and for Akinori. But our expectation in ..."
Pirates' acquisition of Iwamura aimed at present
Comment
November 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"In Neal Huntington's first major transaction prioritizing the present above the future, the Pirates' general manager last night acquired veteran infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for rookie reliever Jesse Chavez. Yes, a veteran for a rookie. A player making close to $5 million for one making less than a tenth of that. A pending free agent for someone whose rights can be controlled five more years. Not exactly the blueprint this management team had been following. "Our goal for 2010 is to be a better team," Huntington said. "We've made a lot out of having years of control, and our hope is that this is more than a one-year fit for us and for Akinori. But our expectation in ..."
Rays' chemistry takes another hit with Aki trade
Comment
November 4
Tampa Tribune
 
"I thought one of the key moments that led to the Tampa Bay Rays' demise came in late May, when Akinori Iwamura hurt his knee in a game at the Marlins. Although he came back late in the season, I thought a fair degree of toughness went out of the lineup that day, and it was noticeable. That same toughness was sent to Pittsburgh on Tuesday in a trade for a 26-year-old rookie reliever with what executive vice president Andrew Friedman has "real upside." That is baseball speak for "we don't have any idea if he can really help, but it's better than nothing." That's what the Rays would have gotten for Iwamura if the trade hadn't been made because they had long ago decided not to exercise the ..."
Rays send Aki to Pirates
Comment
November 4
Tampa Tribune
 
"Whenever discussing the Rays' worst-to-first transformation in 2008, executive vice president Andrew Friedman mentions Akinori Iwamura's selflessness in moving from third base to second. "Essentially, his comment was, 'whatever it takes to help the team win,'" Friedman recalled Tuesday night. "And I think all of his teammates saw that and really appreciated that, as did the organization." "Aki" did help the Rays win - he was the lead-off batter and second baseman for the 2008 American League champions - but his time in Tampa Bay is done. The Rays traded the popular native of Japan to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez, a right-handed reliever who was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA last year as a rookie. ..."
Pirates acquire Iwamura from Tampa Bay
Comment
November 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates tonight made the first move of what might be a busy offseason, acquiring veteran infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Jesse Chavez. Agreement on the trade was reached in the afternoon, but the teams waited until the evening to announce it because of the need to notify Iwamura in his native Japan. Iwamura, who will turn 31 in February, has a .281 career average since coming to North America in 2007, but he is coming off a season in which he played only 69 games because of surgery on his left knee. He returned in late August -- much earlier than expectations -- and finished with a .290 average, one home run, 16 doubles, two triples and nine steals in 10 ..."
Rays to trade Iwamura to Pirates
Comment
November 3
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The team the Rays are dealing Iwamura to is the Pirates. Still working on what they are going to get back, but the Pirates do have some young arms and some young catching. Will be interesting to see if the Rays are paying any money to upgrade the quality of the return - that's what they did in the Aubrey Huff deal, and that Ben Zobrist guy turned out okay. Expect an official announcement tonight, when it will be Wednesday morning in Japan and the Rays can talk to Aki."
Rays working on Iwamura deal
Comment
November 3
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Just got back to New York and heard from an industry source who's not with the Rays that they are on the verge of completing a trade of 2B Akinori Iwamura. The Rays were looking to do some kind of deal since they weren't planning to pick up the $4.85-million option to bring him back. What's interesting is that the source indicated the deal wasn't with the Cubs or the Dodgers as has been speculated on but to an unexpected team. Hmmm. The Rays are operating under something of a deadline since they have until one day after the end of the World Series to either pick up the option or pay a $550,000 buyout and allow Iwamura to become a free agent. They have been working on essentially a ..."
Tampa Bay Rays have method to prevent Johnny Damon's double steal for New York Yankees in World Series
Comment
November 3
St. Petersburg Times
 
"There was something the Phillies could have done to prevent Johnny Damon's stunning one-man double steal Sunday. Actually, there were several things. The Rays frequently run the same defensive shift against left-handed pull hitters the Phillies got in trouble with. But they haven't had a runner take advantage of them the way Damon did, stealing second then breaking for third when he saw the base was uncovered. Infield coach Tom Foley said by phone Monday they employ two strategies to prevent it: SS Jason Bartlett is told that if 3B Evan Longoria takes the throw at second to immediately break toward third; and C Dioner Navarro reminds the pitcher to cover the open base. "We think they know, ..."
Rangers might hire hitting coach today
Comment
November 3
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Four finalists to be the Texas Rangers' hitting coach were interviewed Monday in Arlington, and chances are good that one will be hired this afternoon to replace Rudy Jaramillo. General manager Jon Daniels led a group of five who conducted interviews with Rusty Greer, Clint Hurdle, Thad Bosley and Gerald Perry. All but Greer has been a big-league hitting coach during his career. But his lack of experience as an instructor at baseball's top level doesn't appear to be working against him. General manager Jon Daniels said all four candidates are a fit for the job, and a tough decision awaits Rangers brass. "Across the board, each of the guys is very qualified for the job," Daniels said. "From ..."
Gabe Kapler fits several needs for Tampa Bay Rays
Comment
November 1
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Rays moved quickly to re-sign OF Gabe Kapler because they could. The Rays liked how he hit (against left-handers), how he played defense, how he ran, how he prepared, how he hustled, how he set a good example for the young players. "We liked everything about him," manager Joe Maddon said from California. "We liked having him on our team." Kapler liked being there, so he was willing to bypass the free-agent market for the chance to stay and is already excited - "Really excited," he said - about getting back to work. The Rays also like having depth, options and versatility, and they feel Kapler gives them all of that, and at a decent price ($1,050,000). And clearly more so than ..."
Panel of experts again votes Tampa Bay Rays' Carl Crawford as baseball's best defensive leftfielder
Comment
October 31
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Rays star Carl Crawford hasn't won a Gold Glove yet, but he's in the book again as the game's top leftfielder. Crawford was voted best by the Fielding Bible's 10-man panel and was the first choice of nine, and second of the 10th, finishing with the highest vote total in the four-year history of the award. It is the third time Crawford has won. "This was no contest," author John Dewan wrote. "If Crawford doesn't win his first Gold Glove this year, I'm going to throw up." Other Fielding Bible winners: first base Albert Pujols, second base Aaron Hill, shortstop Jack Wilson, third base Ryan Zimmerman, centerfield Franklin Gutierrez, rightfield Ichiro Suzuki, catcher Yadier Molina, pitcher Mark ..."
Rollins belittles Burrell
Comment
October 30
New York Post
 
"Jimmy Rollins still loves a microphone, even if it means airing a little of the Phillies' dirty laundry in the process. The opinionated Phillies shortstop, who already put a target on his back by predicting a five-game win over the Yankees coming into this World Series, made it clear before the Yankees' 3-1 victory last night in Game 2 at the Stadium that all was not well with Philadelphia during last year's run to the title. Rollins didn't mention the player by name, but it was obvious from his dig that he and his teammates are a lot happier with Raul Ibanez in left field rather than the since-departed Pat Burrell. Asked how much of an impact Ibanez has had on the Phillies' bid to repeat ..."
Rays hike ticket prices for Yanks, Red Sox games
Comment
October 30
Tampa Tribune
 
"It will cost more to attend the Rays' most attractive games next season at Tropicana Field. But in announcing their 2009 ticket pricing Thursday, the Rays emphasized that nearly 40 percent of the games will be at or below ticket prices for 2009, when the Rays where named by ESPN the Magazine "the most affordable team in professional sports. "Although some prices are increasing this year, and there are more nuances to the pricing schedule, we aim to maintain that title, or come in close to first," team president Matt Silverman said. The Rays will have five categories of games rather than last year's three: Diamond (nine games), Platinum (20), Gold (20), Silver (27) and Bronze (5). Diamond ..."
Tampa Bay Rays adviser Don Zimmer disputes Pedro Martinez's account of 2003 ALCS incident
Comment
October 29
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer said Pedro Martinez is the one who is wrong this time, disputing the version Martinez shared Wednesday of their 2003 ALCS Fenway Park throwdown. The Phillies' Game 2 starter said when Zimmer, then a Yankees coach, charged at him, he expected a lecture. Instead, Martinez, saying this is the first time he has discussed what really happened, claimed the then 72-year-old "was trying to punch my mouth and told me a couple of bad words about my mom." Speaking from his Seminole home, Zimmer said that was definitely not the case. "Pedro is full of crap," Zimmer said, adding he was trying to take down Martinez, then a Red Sox star, by putting his head in his chest ..."
With Series upon us, one has to wonder if Rays can make it back
Comment
October 28
Tampa Tribune
 
"Today, the Orlando Tuskers of the fledgling United Football League will work out at Tropicana Field in preparation for Friday's game there against the Las Vegas Locomotives. In other news, the World Series begins tonight at Yankee Stadium. Has it really only been a year since the Rays shocked planet baseball and made the Series? It was like men on Mars. Just think, it was against mostly the same Phillies who'll face the Yankees in Game 1, give or take a Cliff Lee, Raul Ibanez, oh, and Pat Burrell Pat Burrell the Rays got - oh, did they got. All I'm reading now is how the Yankees are back after a whole year's absence from the postseason, though it has been six years since they last made the ..."
Tampa has lots of connections to this year's World Series
Comment
October 28
Tampa Tribune
 
"Sure, the Tampa Bay Rays missed out on the World Series this year, but with all local connections to the Yankees and Phillies, we at least can feel like we're in on the action. Can't we? With the series launching tonight , consider the ties that bind the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies to the Bay area. The biggest connections, of course, are in spring training: the Yankees train at Legends Field in Tampa, while the Phillies crack bats at Bright House Field in Clearwater. Both teams also operate minor league clubs in each city. Less obvious, though, are the significant number of ballplayers who make their homes in the Bay area, Alex Rodriguez's local business interests and - ..."
Rays re-sign outfielder Gabe Kapler
Comment
October 28
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Rays made the first move toward shaping their 2010 team, re-signing reserve outfielder Gabe Kapler to another one-year deal. Kapler, 34, hit .239 with eight homers and 32 RBIs overall in 99 games, but what the Rays want him for primarily is his production against left-handed pitchers - .276 with all his homers and 30 of his RBIs, plus a .379 on-base percentage (26 walks, 23 strikeouts) and .931 OPS. "I'm more than excited," Kapler said from California. "I love the people in the clubhouse, I love the organization. … I believe next year is going to be better no matter what, just the way things broke last year. 2010 I'm confident will be a much better year from the team perspective, and I ..."
Rays re-sign outfielder Gabe Kapler
Comment
October 27
St. Petersburg Times
 
""I'm more than excited,'' Kapler said from California. "I love the people in the clubhouse, I love the organization. ... I believe next year is going to be better no matter what, just the way things broke last year. 2010 I'm confident will be a much better year from the team perspective and I really have a great deal of confidence I'll be able to help the team achieve great things.'' Kapler, 34, hit. 239 with 8 homers and 32 RBIs overall in 99 games, but his production against lefthanded pitchers is what the Rays were most interested in - .276 with all 8 homers and 30 of his RBIs, plus a .379 on-base percentage (26 walks, 23 strikeouts) and .931 OPS."
Struggles as player help New York Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland excel as teacher
Comment
October 27
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Less than a month into his first season, the rookie big-league pitching coach had to call in one of his struggling starters to make it clear he'd have to change things to stay in the rotation. "You know my background," Dave Eiland, who won 12 games in the major leagues, began that April 2008 day to Mike Mussina, who'd won 251. "I wasn't even close to being the same type of pitcher you are. But you're not the pitcher you used to be, and you have to make adjustments." Eiland wanted him to throw inside more, tweak a few other things; Mussina wasn't interested. Well then, Eiland said, "if you're not going to do this, you're not going to pitch here anymore." Mussina made the changes, reversing ..."
Mets not interested in Lackey or Bradley; Holliday tops their list
Comment
October 26
SI.com
 (scroll down)
"The Mets don't seem inclined to pursue top free-agent pitcher John Lackey, who will surely shoot for a $100 million-plus contract in light of A.J. Burnett's $82.5 million deal. They do want to add a solid starting pitcher (they may try a do-over on Randy Wolf), but their big-ticket target is most likely going to be a left fielder. Matt Holliday is believed to top their list, though Jason Bay will certainly suffice. Bobby Abreu is another top free-agent outfielder, while Carl Crawford could be available in trade. The Mets have no interest in taking on Milton Bradley's problems."
Phillies say they're a better team without Tampa Bay Rays' Pat Burrell
Comment
October 25
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The first, second and third basemen are all the same, as is the shortstop. So are the catcher and the right- and centerfielders. It's only in leftfield the Phillies made a change from the team that won last year's World Series and the one that will try to do so again starting Wednesday. Pat Burrell is with the Rays now, replaced by Raul Ibanez. And the Phillies say they are better for it. "It's worked out for us," said shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the most veteran Phillie. "Definitely. It has definitely worked out for us." At the time, Phillies officials said it was a difficult decision to part ways with Burrell, who'd become something of the face of the franchise after 11 years. And a ..."
Former Cleveland Indians player praise new Tampa Bay Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton
Comment
October 25
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Rays officials had heard good things about Derek Shelton's work and were even more impressed when they spoke with him. Hiring new hitting coaches isn't an exact science, as gray of an area sometimes as evaluating old ones, but after considering five candidates, then a couple very seriously, they feel very good about their decision. Talking to a few of Shelton's former Indians players, it sounds as if they couldn't have done better. "I thought he was a great hitting coach," now-Dodgers 3B Casey Blake said. What Shelton does best, from what Blake and now-Phillies OF Ben Francisco said, is work hard, communicate and, most important, mold his coaching techniques to each player. "I feel ..."
Rays hire Wesley Chapel resident Derek Shelton as hitting coach
Comment
October 22
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Derek Shelton figures this is a good situation. Shelton was announced Wednesday as the Rays' hitting coach and already has plans to address one of their primary shortcomings: lack of success in situational hitting. "It's important, and it's something that's going to be stressed from Day 1 in spring training," Shelton said. "The big thing we're going to try to talk about and be consistent with is making sure our approach stays consistent.'' Among the concepts he'll stress: pitch selection, making more use of the middle of the field, and "team offense." Shelton, 39, spent the past five seasons as the Indians' hitting coach then was let go along with manager Eric Wedge and the rest of the ..."
Rays hire Derek Shelton as hitting coach
Comment
October 21
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday named Tampa resident Derek Shelton as Steve Henderson's replacement as hitting coach. Shelton, 39, spent the last five seasons as the Indians' hitting coach. In each of his first four seasons (2005-08), the Indians offense ranked eighth or higher in runs scored. In 2009 they finished 12th. He was fired along with manager Eric Wedge and the rest of the Cleveland coaching staff on Oct. 1. Henderson's contract was not renewed by the Rays. "I believe he is the kind of coach who can create a hitting program that will benefit the organization both at the minor league and major league levels," Rays manager Joe Maddon said in a press release. "In our conversations, ..."
Candid Zaun isn't worried about catching flak
Comment
October 19
Toronto Star
 columnist Chris Zelkovich
"Gregg Zaun says his goals are to return to the post-season and put in 20 years in the major leagues. But if the former Toronto Blue Jays catcher keeps calling it like he sees it on Rogers Sportsnet's baseball playoff broadcasts, you have to wonder if he can last another five seasons. On Thursday, for example, he had this to say about Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge: "The key to being a closer is to have a short memory. Unfortunately, I don't think Brad Lidge has a very short memory." On Friday, he criticized Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard for poor fundamentals while fielding a bunt. On Saturday, he noted that former battery-mate A.J. Burnett had crossed up Yankees catcher Jose Molina. ..."
Los Angeles Angels say Tampa Bay Rays got a good player for Scott Kazmir in Sean Rodriguez
Comment
October 18
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Trading LHP Scott Kazmir to the Angels was about the money, in that it allows the Rays to keep the core of their team together for 2010 and helps going forward with Carlos Peña, Carl Crawford and Grant Balfour headed toward 2011 free agency. But the Rays were also excited about what they got back, primarily versatile INF-OF Sean Rodriguez, who could end up playing a lot at second base. And, Angels people say, they should be. "We're - we were - excited about him, too," Angels GM Tony Reagins said. "We thought that he was a player who was going to impact our major-league club real soon. "He's got power. He plays multiple positions - he plays second, short, third; he can go in the outfield, ..."
Tampa Bay Rays' Andrew Friedman needs to do a better job this offseason
Comment
October 14
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The centerfielder needs to be better. A lot better. The catcher needs to improve, too. As for the DH, the best thing he can do for Tampa Bay in 2010 is put on the uniform of another team. No doubt about it, the list of breakdowns around Tropicana Field was neither short nor lacking in star power. But of all the Rays who need to bounce back from slumps in 2009, there is one who is more important than the rest: The guy calling the shots. For the longest time, Andrew Friedman looked like the biggest brain in the room whenever baseball's general managers would get together in the offseason. He pulled Carlos Peña off a scrap heap. He stole J.P. Howell from Kansas City. He landed Matt Garza ..."
Rays seem willing to see if catcher Dioner Navarro can come back
Comment
October 11
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Of the three most disappointing Rays, DH Pat Burrell has the farthest to go, CF B.J. Upton is the most important to the team and C Dioner Navarro poses the biggest question. Unless the Rays find a taker for Burrell and his $9 million salary (a chatted-about deal with the Cubs for Milton Bradley appears unlikely) or unless they get overwhelmed with an offer for Upton (since they can't afford to trade when his value is low), both will be back - and, the Rays can only hope, better. Navarro, however, poses a much bigger question. That's because the Rays not only have to decide how likely it is he can be more like the 2008 All-Star than the 2009 flop but also how much they are willing to pay to ..."
Scott Kazmir has adjusted well to the Los Angeles Angels
Comment
October 11
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Scott Kazmir is in a good place. Pitching another big game in Boston - high noon today, with a chance to clinch the AL division series - is one reason, a challenge he has relished, and risen to, before. And pitching for the Angels, pitching in the postseason while his former Rays teammates have been home for a week, pitching again under coach Mike Butcher, and pitching very well, makes it even better. "Everything's going really good - good team, good teammates, great location," Kazmir said Saturday morning by phone as the Angels began their daylong trek east. "I'm very happy. I really couldn't have wound up in a better place. I'm very lucky." Kazmir was stunned when the Rays traded him to ..."
Body of former Rays pitcher Geremi Gonzalez to be exhumed in Venezuela
Comment
October 10
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Vene"
Report: Cubs pushing Rays for Bradley-Burrell deal
Comment
October 9
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Chicago Cubs are pushing the Tampa Bay Rays to take bad-boy outfielder Milton Bradley off their hands for Pat Burrell, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The talk of a deal isn't new, but it appears the Cubs want to move quickly, possibly as one of the first official acts of new owner Tom Ricketts, whose purchase could be approved by a bankruptcy judge within weeks. The Cubs are so desperate to unload Bradley that they might pick up some of Bradley's salary for the Rays, the newspaper reported. The Rays are a primary target because they were among the teams attempting to acquire Bradley before last season. The Cubs, however, ended up signing Bradley to a three-year, $30 million free ..."
Rays will stay course in 2010
Comment
October 7
Tampa Tribune
 
"Any thinking that the Rays will be highly aggressive this offseason after falling from first to third in the American League East can be forgotten. Confident they can contend with most of what they have and limited by their financial means, the Rays will be selective in molding their roster for next year, Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman and Manager Joe Maddon said in Tuesday's season wrap-up. That means they probably won't acquire an elite closer or blow up any particular area of their team. "We're not going to overreact," Friedman said. "There are some things on the periphery we want to focus on and improve upon, some of it internal and some of it external, but we feel very ..."
Rays say they're unlikely to pursue a closer
Comment
October 7
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Rays officials say they will work diligently throughout the offseason pursuing free agents and considering trades to improve their bullpen. But don't expect them to close a deal for a closer. "I don't think that's realistic," executive VP Andrew Friedman said at Tuesday's season wrapup media session. Though Friedman said they'd like to have a single pitcher to get the final three outs, the high cost and limited availability, plus the Rays' financial limitations, make it more likely they will add two or three relievers who can face left-handers and right-handers and "have the stuff to pitch high-leverage innings" and handle late-game situations. "Our goal is to have our bullpen be even more ..."
After 2008 success, Rays just weren't hungry enough
Comment
October 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"They weren't hungry enough. To repeat, they weren't hungry enough. That sound you heard, if you heard it at all, was the Tampa Bay Rays' season ending. The idea of a repeat was long dead when the Rays won their 81st game last week, beating the Baltimore Orioles before 10,000 or so souls at Tropicana Field. Roger Mooney of the Bradenton Herald was sitting next to me in the press box. He looked out at the thin house and said he'd been to bigger weddings. For years, they very idea of winning 81 games, not losing more than they one, was a distant star for this franchise. In the end, these 2009 Rays ended up winning 84 times. Only last season changed all the rules. Last season changed ..."
Numbers not Tampa Bay Rays' guide in decisions
Comment
October 6
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Rays set team records for runs, homers, walks and on-base percentage this season, but they dumped hitting coach Steve Henderson 1n Monday. The staff ERA went up more than half a run, their returning starters struggled and the bullpen faltered, but they rehired pitching coach Jim Hickey, along with the four other coaches. The situations, Rays officials said, were as different as the results. Despite the offensive statistical success and extensive praise for Henderson's work ethic and dedication, there were some areas of concern, specifically a lack of success in situational hitting - scoring runners from third, making productive outs - and improving their two-strike approach."
Rays part ways with hitting coach
Comment
October 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Rays have announced they will not renew the contract for hitting coach Steve Henderson after this season. Henderson has been with the Rays organization since 1996 and has spent five seasons as the Rays' major league batting coach and eight as Tampa Bay's minor league hitting coordinator. Bench coach Dave Martinez, third base coach Tom Foley, first base coach George Hendrick, bullpen coach Bobby Ramos and pitching coach Jim Hickey will return for the 2010 season. The position of quality assurance coach, held by Todd Greene, will be discontinued."
Season ends with a whimper
Comment
October 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"There were cheers for the final out of the Rays' season, mostly emanating from the sizable contingent of Yankees fans down the third-base side of Tropicana Field. But there was no pandemonium, no celebration afterward - nothing like the final out of last year, when Brad Lidge fanned Eric Hinske and sent Philadelphia into hysterics. The routine grounder by Gabe Gross that Hinske scooped and threw across the diamond to close out a 10-2 win for his new team, the Yankees, simply sent New York on to bigger and better things and the Rays back into the anonymity of an early offseason. After finishing the year at 84-78, a distant third in the AL East, mixed emotions prevailed. "Disappointing," ..."
Pena shares HR crown
Comment
October 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"Carlos Pena didn't pick up a bat for about the final month of this season but still ended up finishing with a share of the American League home run title. Much to the first baseman's surprise, the 39 homers he had when he suffered two broken fingers after being hit by a pitch Sept. 7 at Yankee Stadium held up heading into the final day, and when New York 1B Mark Teixeira went homerless in four trips to the plate, the two shared the crown. "When my injury happened, there was so much season left that the last thing on my mind was the fact that I was going to be able to be leading the league in home runs," Pena said. "I didn't expect this to happen, so I'm extremely happy and thrilled." ..."
Rodriguez blasts into playoffs with record day
Comment
October 5
New York Post
 
"Yesterday's record-setting day was nice. Now it's time for Alex Rodriguez to produce in the postseason: the only time that counts in the Yankees' universe. By the time Rodriguez steps to the plate in Game 1 of the ALDS (likely Wednesday) at Yankee Stadium his two-homer (three-run and grand slam), seven-RBI performance in yesterday's 10-2 win over the Rays in front of 28,699 at Tropicana Field will be a footnote. Yankees fans will have forgotten that he reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the 12th consecutive season and is one of two players ever to do that. And he did it in 124 games, after right hip surgery delayed his first game until May 8. Yesterday's seven RBIs came in the sixth ..."
Rays upset about missing postseason despite franchise's second-best season
Comment
October 5
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The scene was familiar for the last day of the season: players stuffing boxes and equipment bags, signing memorabilia for the team and each other, tipping the clubhouse staff and saying their goodbyes. But the mood was different Sunday, because after tasting champagne four times on their way to the World Series last year, the Rays weren't happy to be packing up so soon. "There's no doubt about it, it sucks," first baseman Carlos Peña said. "We know where we want to be: We want to be in the playoffs. We want to be in the World Series. We don't want to miss that party. It was a lot of fun for us." "You don't want to go home," centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "Not now." The 84-78 record made it ..."
Yankees' Alex Rodriguez has AL-record seven RBIs in an inning
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October 5
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Alex Rodriguez's sixth inning Sunday further entrenched him in baseball's record books. The Yankees third baseman set an AL record by driving in seven runs in the inning, on a three-run homer and a grand slam. He secured his 12th consecutive season of 30 homers and 100 RBIs, tying Jimmie Foxx's major-league record (1929-1940). Rodriguez's 13th season of 30/100 is a record. Rodriguez, 34, went in with 28 homers and 93 RBIs after he missed five weeks due to hip surgery. But as the Yankees put together their 10-run rally, he joked with teammate Eric Hinske he might have a shot. When the Rays intentionally walked Mark Teixeira to load the bases in front of him, a surprised Rodriguez completed ..."
Rays routed by New York
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October 5
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Rays may have let a lead - and their season finale - get away from them in a 10-2 loss to the Yankees on Sunday, but they helped make sure one memorable milestone remained intact. By holding Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira without a homer for the third straight game, Tampa Bay ensured that injured 1B Carlos Peña would share the American League home run title with him at 39. It's the first time a Ray has led the league in homers. "This is so cool, when I was a kid I used to imagine that all the time," Peña said. "For it to materialize, it's a thrill. I would be lying if I didn't tell you I was extremely excited it ended up this way. I wish I would have kept on playing - still the question ..."
Rodriguez powers Yankees to season-ending romp over Rays
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October 5
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees will start their quest for No. 27 on Wednesday night in the Bronx, but they'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out who will be standing on the other side of the field. The Bombers closed out the regular season with a 10-2 thumping of the Rays Sunday, finishing the season with 103 wins. "We're going to show up Wednesday no matter who is there," Mark Teixeira said. "It doesn't matter who we play. We've taken care of our business to get home-field advantage; that's all that matters." While yesterday's game didn't mean anything to the standings, the Yankees ended the regular season on a high note, using a 10-run sixth to help two players reach personal milestones. ..."
George Steinbrenner drops in on Yankees before season finale vs. Rays
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October 5
New York Daily News
 
"George Steinbrenner won't be in the Bronx when the playoffs get underway later this week, but The Boss stopped by the Yankees' clubhouse Sunday to wish his team well. Steinbrenner spent about an hour in Joe Girardi's office before the regular-season finale, as players filtered in to share a moment or two with him. Steinbrenner told The Associated Press he is "excited" about the Yankees' prospects in the postseason, sharing the same message with his team. "He said, 'Just keep going.' Just keep doing what we're doing," Girardi said. "It was really great to see him. Everyone came in and saw him; he was in great spirits." The 79-year-old owner, who was joined yesterday by daughter Jennifer ..."
Rodriguez Does the Math, and It Adds Up to 2 Records
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October 5
New York Times
 
"Before batting practice at Tropicana Field on Sunday, Alex Rodriguez explained a reason for his success this season. When he missed the first five weeks after hip surgery, Rodriguez said, he realized he could not compile his usual dazzling statistics. It sharpened his focus on the everyday. A few hours later, though, an improbable circumstance intruded. It was the sixth inning of the Yankees' eventual 10-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays, and Rodriguez was down to what he figured was his last at-bat. He needed two homers and seven runs batted in to reach 30 and 100 for the 13th time. "I just didn't think it was realistic at all, so therefore it wasn't even a goal," Rodriguez said. "I ..."