Detours: a country in search of direction
On the eve of the election, a reporter and photographer set out for Washington, via America. We tell stories from seven towns, touching on seven issues from politics and real life.
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Game show themes
These themes are probably going to make some of you have flashbacks to wasted mornings or afternoons spent sprawled in front of the TV.
Comforts of home: For whatever reason, Rays starter James Shields is a much better pitcher at home — 5-1, 2.13 compared with 2-5, 6.26. Overall against the Blue Jays, he is 3-0, 2.70.
Possible farewell: Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett has been mentioned in several trade rumors and usually pitches well against the Rays, going 6-3, 3.21 with a .197 average. Carlos Pena is 2-for-14 against him, Dioner Navarro 3-for-15, Eric Hinske 3-for-12 and Akinori Iwamura 2-for-10.
Cito sighting: New (old) Jays skipper Cito Gaston, back for a second stint after leading the Jays in 1989-97, will manage his first game at the Trop.
On deck
Saturday: Blue Jays, 6:10, No TV. Rays — RHP Matt Garza (7-4, 3.51); Blue Jays — RHP Roy Halladay (11-6, 2.71)
Sunday: Blue Jays, 1:40, FSN. Rays — LHP Scott Kazmir (7-5, 3.04) or RHP Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.93); Blue Jays — LHP John Parrish (1-0, 2.77)
Monday: A's, 7:10, FSN. Rays — RHP Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.93) or LHP Scott Kazmir (7-5, 3.04); A's — RHP Sean Gallagher (4-4, 4.25)
Tuesday: A's, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Andy Sonnanstine (10-4, 4.58); A's — LHP Dana Eveland (7-6, 3.49)
By the numbers
Home/road: 36-14/19-25
Day/night: 14-15/41-27
Grass/turf: 19-23/36-15
vs. East: 24-17
vs. Central: 8-9
vs. West: 11-7
vs. NL: 12-6
vs. RH/LH starters: 40-26/ 15-13
Ahead after 6/7/8: 42-3/ 43-3/48-0
Behind after 6/7/8: 4-30/ 3-32/1-32
The dish
Tonight: Blue Jays at Rays
When/where: 7:10; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Ch. 66; 1250-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers:
Rays
RHP James Shields (7-6, 3.83)
Jays
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.96)
Number of the day
138,875 Doughnuts given away by Dunkin' Donuts after Rays wins, about 2,525 per and 20,000 more than all of last season.
P-word note of the day
For the first time in their 11 seasons, the Rays put out a news release with these words: Postseason benefits. The "news" was that Saturday is the last chance to buy prorated season-ticket packages "which include the opportunity to purchase 2008 postseason ticket packages."
Quote of the day
"I didn't think about nothing."
LF Carl Crawford, when asked if he thought much about the successful first half during the break
rays.tampabay.com: Up to the minute reports | Ticket info: 1-888-326-7297, raysbaseball.com
[Last modified: Jul 18, 2008 04:36 PM]
Comments on this article
by Mike
Jul 18, 2008 4:36 PM
I agree with Danny about Pena, what the %&*# is he still doing batting clean-up with a .230 avg? Carl on the other hand is and has always been a class act. I think he is committed to winning and I have no doubt that he cares.
by Danny
Jul 18, 2008 1:55 PM
BJ has only hit 6 HR's. That is not a #3 man. Why isnt Longoria batting cleanup? We see time and time again where the bases are loaded and we got Zobrist or Crawford striking out with 2 outs. We always seem to get the wrong hitters at the wrong time.
by Danny
Jul 18, 2008 1:42 PM
about not being prepared for Center field. Give me a break.
by Danny
Jul 18, 2008 1:41 PM
Lori, based on your response, does pena belong in the cleanup hole? Does BJ belong in the #3 hole? Aki is not the fastest runner on the team. He should be batting 6th or 7th. CC should have no problem playing anywhere on the field and yet he whines..
by Gene
Jul 18, 2008 1:39 PM
Carl has earned the right to think about what he wants! No one should doubt his committment to this franchise. He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. If you don't see that he wants to win, you are not paying attention.
by Dennis
Jul 18, 2008 1:36 PM
Danny, you can't be serious, for a guy who has been on this team for as long as he has, winning is something I think he has not had enough of. To say that a player does not want to win means you should also bench, trash or trade them, again, wrong.
by Lori
Jul 18, 2008 1:32 PM
Hey Danny, you idiot, if he is not comfortable in the lead off spot, his performance will suffer. They get paid a lot of money, we need to put them where they will produce the most.
by Brad M.
Jul 18, 2008 10:45 AM
He does not get paid to think,He just gets paid to play hard. He gets paid to play well
by Danny
Jul 18, 2008 10:35 AM
Carl "didnt think about nothing" because he doesnt care if we win or lose. His demeanor shows it on the field. Since when does a player dictate where he plays in the lineup. he SHOULD be our lead off man. You work for us. Not the other way around.
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