Down for another year

The Rays just lost to the Rangers for another year. BUT! We improved on last year in the post season when we at least won the first game of the series. Last year we didn't win a single game against them in post season play. Holding my head high. These guys had the deck stacked against them from the beginning. They accomplished what many thought could not be done. Truly the Comeback Kids. Here's to 2012.

 Gooooooooooooooooooo Tigers! And Cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comeback kids!

Our Tampa Bay Rays are the comeback kids! First time in MLB history for a team to come from 9 games back at the beginning of Sept to catch and then surpass the choking Red Sox for the AL Wild Card championship. Bring on the Rangers on Friday!

Gear Up...

For Baseball!

Decided to do a layout of the Rays game we went to last month. I used a very old CTMH Winter promo pack called Serendipity. I might have a pack or twelve left! I think that may have been one of my all time fave pp's ever.

I used my t!m Holtz gears die (and my new Vagabond!!) and cut some cork for the gears. The arrow is from my stash and emboss glittered it using embossing glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle. I used some of the new CTMH Newsprint Rub-Ons for the "gear up" and the "4" is the Solo number 4 that I stamped on a piece of white chipboard and cut out. The "baseball" uses the CTMH Polka Dot alphabet.

Suite Rays!

John scored us tickets in the Pepsi Suite again for last Friday night's game against the Orioles. It was a special night on two accounts. Before the game, they had a special presentation of retiring the call signs of Officer Yaslowitz, Sgt. Baitinger and Officer Crawford; the three St Pete officers who lost their lives in the line of duty earlier this year. All three had served as Security for the Rays during games. After the presentation, Officer Yaslowitz's oldest son got to throw out the first pitch. Our young phenom pitcher, 21 year old Jeremy Hellickson pitched his first complete games in the majors, allowing only 4 Oriole hits and we WON!! David Price got the dubious honor of shoving the whipped cream pie in Jeremy's face as he was being interviewed by local TV stations!

Buh-bye Man-Ram!

Manny Ramirez's short stint as a Ray is over. He officially retired from baseball today after testing positive yet again for drugs during Spring Training. He was facing a manditory 100 day suspension after his 50 day suspension last season and opted instead to retire. That's taking the man-ly way out! Why anyone who had already been suspended and KNEW what the consequences would be if he tested positive again would be stoopid enough to do the same damn thing again is beyond me. But I've never been addicted to drugs so I wouldn't know. More money wasted by the Rays on an aging has-been star. Maybe they'd be better off sticking with the young kids out of college instead.

Yippee!

It's been a l o n g 4 months! Today Spring Training starts! The Rays are gonna have a totally different look this year. In the off season, we lost among many great players, Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, and Matt Garza (no great loss in my opinion there! Glad Spitter Boy is gone to the Cubbies!) But we got Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez so we'll see what happens with them. Manny can be, well, Manny if he doesn't get his way. And I think Johnny's best days may well be behind him. His salary is tied in with attendance, so I guess the owners think he's still a big enough draw to get behinds in seats. We hope to go to a few more games than we did last year. Hopefully getting to see at least one game from the Pepsi box!

Redneck hedge trimming 101

In addition to the bed weeding, we've pressure washed the pond waterfall rocks, pressure washed the driveway, started replacing the screens, replacing landscape timbers...you know...generally making the outside of the house look like people live here! Things that get neglected during the oppressive summer heat. Temps have started to cool off a bit. We are seeing highs in the mid 80's instead of 90's, so that's a start!

The front hedges needed a trim and since we leave them a bit on the high side, John can't reach the top of them standing on the ground. It would take a year of Sunday's to do it with a ladder, so we came up with the brilliant idea of him standing in the trailer while I move the mower ever so slowly down the hedges! Today he will pressure wash the siding on the gable side of the house and the storage shed out back while I keep watch on the burn pile that we will set ablaze.

On a slightly different note, the Rays lost last night to the TX Rangers 5-1. Such a sad ending to an otherwise great season. Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano and Carlos Pena will most likely be gone to free agency next year, along with some others whose options will not be picked up. It may be a long time before the Rays have another chance at post-season play.

ALDS Playoff game

A friend of John's called yesterday about 10 and said he had 2 tickets to the Rays/Rangers game at 2:30 that he couldn't use because he had to work. John was done for the day, so did we want the tickets? For FREE?! Ummm...does a bear...oh nevermind! OF COURSE we did. Problem was, he couldn't meet us to give us the tix til after 1:00, so with a 2:30 first pitch, that didn't leave a huge window. Traffic on 275 south was horrendous. We were in stop and go traffic from the Gateway area all the way to the Trop. John reclined his seat back and took a nap while I drove. We finally made it to the main parking lot ($20) and were directed to the very last row. The meter maids were out in full force all around the stadium, giving tickets for not parking in authorized spots. This mornings paper said some fines went as high as $286. OUCH! Woulda been cheaper to just pay the $20 to park legally! We got to the nosebleed seats up in the 300 section moments before FL Gov Charlie Crist threw out the ceremonial first pitch. It was a wild pitch and he was wildly boo'd! I think the Rays found the most undamncomfortable seats they could for the 300 section! OMG there was NO way to get situated in the seats. So small and no leg room. If someone in the center had to get out, everyone had to leave their seats to let them out then back in again. Beers were $10 each, up $2.00 from the regular game price. Scorecards were $3.00 each and they are normally free. And the game? Rays lost. 6-0. Rays manager Joe Madden got thrown out in the 5th arguing a controversial call. All the more reason to bring instant replay into baseball. Rangers need only win the Sat game at home and they are in and the Rays go home. Evan Longoria opened his mouth about fan support, or lack thereof and no fans in the seats last week. The Tampa area still has double digit unemployment. The Rays TV revenues were one of the highest in baseball this season. Fans can't afford a $200+ night out on a regular basis. So we watch from home. The Trop was packed Thur afternoon and for the Wed game also. 35,000+ fans both days. Ben Zobrist (mah boy Ben!) had the only run, a solo homer in Wednesday's game. So my thought is, Evan you need to put up or shut up. The fans were there. And you didn't produce. You're the one with the huge contract. It's not nice to bite the hand that feeds you. I love my Rays. I will continue to be a fan and proudly wear my gear and support the team win, lose or draw.

AL East Champs!

The Tampa Bay Rays are the American League Champs. And why wouldn't it take to the last day, and a game that went into extra innings to decide it?! We knew we had won the title when the Yankees lost to the Red Sox (the ONLY time I will ever cheer on the Sox!), but we wanted the best record in the East. We trailed the KC Royals for most of the game, coming back in the top of the 9th to tie. Then it took til the 12th for Rocco Baldelli to score the winning run and then closer Raphael Soriano came in for the save.

The Rays will have home field advantage throughout the Playoffs. We face the Texas Rangers starting Wed afternoon at 1:30. Should be another nail-biter of a series!

Suite Layouts!

I decided to take my play on words and use it for my title page! Working on scrapping the pics of the Rays-Orioles game that we went to in Aug and sat in the Pepsi Suite. Using some old Scenic Route chipboard alphas that I re-covered in CTMH You Rock pp. Also used some long discontinuedCTMH sticky-back Twill to make a "blue jean" backer for the title by using various shades of blue and layering one on top of the other and also to make the baseball, which I used some Bamboo ink to dirty the ball. I used my long-reach Crop-A-Dile to attach eyelets and Waxy Flax to "tie" the two papers together. It took my three hours to do this one layout! That may be record for length of time!

Suite!

We had an opportunity to attend the Rays-Orioles game last night and sit in the Pepsi Suite. For FREE! Well, I'm no dummy! You betcha we were there! There were 15 other Frito employees who took advantage of the offer. We had free soda in the Suite, but were responsible for buying our own food and beer. It was 70's Throw Back night with the Village People performing a concert after the game. (and now we'll ALL be singing YMCA for the rest of the day!!) We did not stay for the concert since John had to work this morning, but everything was 70's themed! The Rays wore jersey's based on the old Tampa Tarpons of the minor leagues since the Rays's weren't playing in the 70's. The Orioles had on their orange and black uniforms from the 70's. The "macho man" from the Village People got to throw out the first pitch. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was chosen to recieve the Heart and Hustle Award, which was presented to him before the game started. Each major league team has one person who recieved this award. I think I decided that the ideal job for me would be running the tractor and pulling the "sled" behind it to smooth out the base paths after batting practice! That's a job I could get into!!

Three's the charm

Finally! The Tampa Bay Rays were on the winning end of a no-no. (No hits, no runs) We've been on the losing end twice this year. Last night Matt Garza (or as he's known by me...Spitter Boy. Ugh, he makes me sick with his naaaaasty spitting all the time) pitched a no-no against the Detroit Tigers last night at Tropicana Field in St Pete. Twenty seven men up. Twenty seven men out. He walked one batter in the second, who was thrown out on a double play ball with the next at bat. This gives Matt the destinction of being the first Rays pitcher to throw a no-no. And only that one walked batter kept it from being a Perfect Game. Rays win 5-0!

Not Again!

So they (whoever "they" are!) say things come in threes. The Tampa Bay Rays are the latest to prove this is true. They lost last night. In another no-hitter. This is the THIRD time in less than a year. This time to the Arizona Dimondbacks and former Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson. It took him 149 pitches and eight walks, but he still got the job done. This gives the Rays the destinction of being the first team since 1906 to be no-hit three times in 12 months. Hey, at least we're making records!! Hopefully now this jinx is over and we can just move on!

Perfection. Squared.

It happened again. The Tampa Bay Rays have a new claim to fame. They now hold the destinction of being the only team in the history of baseball to be on the losing end of a Perfect Game in the span of less than 10 months. We now have the notation of being the losing team on the 18th AND 19th Perfect Games in major league history thrown against them. First time was July 23, 2009 against Mark Buehrle and the Chicago White Sox. Perfect Game. No runs, no hits, nobody on base. Then yesterday, May 9, 2010 it happened again. Against Dallas Braden and the Oakland A's. Perfect Game. No runs, no hits, nobody on base. And this game came 42 years and one day after Catfish Hunter pitched his perfect game for the A's. This was a special game. Dallas Braden lost his mom to cancer when he was in high school. His Grandmother raised him and she was in the stands to see this historic game. They had a few minutes together at the end of the game and you could see and feel the emotions going between the two of them. You hate to see your team lose, but there are just some days when you almost have to root for the other guys. Sunday was one of those days.

Woo Hoo!

It's opening day of the regular season for the Tampa Bay Rays! It's been a loooooooong 6 months! John and I have tickets to the Sat May 1 game against the KC Royals. It's notsomuch about the game that night, but more about the Summer Concert Series on Sat nights after home games. We will be seeing the Oh So Fab ZZ Top! Can't wait! Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying the games on TV. Sports Illustrated has the Rays as AL Champs again this year. It's a loooong way to October, so we'll see!

Wait'll next year!

After failing to live up to the World Series team of '08, our Tampa Bay Rays finished their '09 season yesterday. There were highs, like having our entire infield elected to the All Star Game and Carl Crawford's MVP catch to win the game for the American League. There were some lows, like the bullpen collapsing coming down the stretch. But there's alway next year. Hold your heads high boys. We've nothing to be ashamed of. 162 days til Spring Training starts!

Vote Early...Vote Often!

Seriously! This is an election where you can vote as many times as you can. The Tampa Bay Rays have 4 delegates headed to the All Star Game. Evan Longoria is one of the starters and Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett and (my new favorite player!) Ben "Zo-rilla" Zobrist are all reserves. But Carlos "Los" Pena NEEDS to go too. He's one of the five that we, the voting public can send to the All Star game next week. But we NEED to vote. It ends tomorrow, Thur July 9. So what are you waiting for? Go! Vote. And vote. And vote. And vote til you can't vote any more! Vote Los!

www.mlb.com

Congrats!

To our Tampa Bay Rays 3rd baseman Evan Longoria Evan Longoria Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights raysbaseball.com: Team who won the AL Player of the Month award for April! He is the first Ray to win this award since the team was formed 12 years ago.

It's also time to vote for the All Stars game. Go to www.raysbaseball.com and follow the links to cast your vote. Each person can vote 25 times, so make your voice heard!

And so it ends

Just like that. And 9:58 PM last night, the final out was made and the Philadelphia Phillies are the World Series champs. Our Tampa Bay Rays fought the good fight, and we are already looking forward to next year. Only 107 days til the pitchers and catchers report to camp!

Amazing!

I can breathe normally and my heart rate will be normal too for the next three days. Then the anticipation starts anew.

The AMAZING Tampa Bay Rays have made their first ever post season trip to the World Series. Game one will be at St Pete's Tropicana Field on Wed night Oct 22 at 8 PM.