Rays-Red Sox, day 2

Update, 6:17 p.m. There's nothing official, but it sure sounds as if closer Troy Percival is headed to the disabled list due to his left hamstring problem. "It may be, probably, I just don't want to jump the gun, but if I had to guess, that may be what's going to occur,'' manager Joe Maddon said before the game.

Percival was to examined Tuesday night, and the Rays could make a move after the game or sometime before Wednesday's game. RHP Scott Dohmann would seem a likely candidate to be called up, though he would first have to be re-added to the 40-man roster. But with RHP Al Reyes looking like he will be ready to come off the DL early next week, the Rays could opt for a short-term fix and stick with a rostered pitcher, such as Jeff Niemann or Mitch Talbot, and use them in long relief, with Jason Hammel getting an increased role.

Otherwise, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was glad to have a full complement of bench players again, as 2B Akinori Iwamura concluded his suspension and returned to the top spot of the lineup.

When the talk turned to All-Stars - with the teams to be named on Sunday - Maddon restated his support for three Rays, LHP J.P. Howell, C Dioner Navarro and LHP Scott Kazmir; and added a fourth, RHP Dan Wheeler.

No word yet from the Rays clubhouse on the status of RHP Troy Percival, but the lineups have filtered out, and DH Cliff Floyd is making his first start for the Rays since June 22 and 2B Akinori Iwamura is officially off his suspension. And with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the mound, the Sox have Tampa product and ex-Ray Kevin Cash behind the plate.

The lineups:

RAYS
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Floyd, DH
Navarro, c
Hinske, rf
Bartlett, ss
Garza, p

SOX
Ellsbury, cf
Pedroia, 2b
Drew, rf
Ramirez, dh
Lowell, 3b
Youkilis, 1b
Moss, lf
Cora, ss
Cash, c
Wakefield, p

Comments

[The Truth in Maine]

I'd like to take a moment to apologize for Jeff aka VHSchola. He is a feeble minded little prissy who runs a internet radioshow called the Sports Vortex. According to Webster's a votex sucks. In this case (the Vortex - or as it is known locally - the sports Kotex) case, it holds true. Google VHSchola and you will see the guy trolls on 100s of forums and blogs. He's been banned from several forums for profanity, and has never met a person he would not threaten physically over the 'net. Most of us Mainers are fond of the Red Sox, and bleed the Sox Red. However, we mean no disrespect to any of you Rays fans in Tampa (or anywhere else)

Be proud of your team, they are really fun to watch.

Lookign forward to a competitive completion to the season,

- The Truth in Maine

[Anthony]

- Wow, three whole incidents? That's definitely the same thing as CONSTANTLY, EVERY GAME AND BETWEEN GAMES
- Wilbon was at the Garden
- Hunter subsequently said he wanted to play in Boston
- Jim Rice played left for the Sox for 16 years and said he never heard a single racial slur at fenway

"And one thing we can agree on, is that stupid fans ruin the game for everyone."

Although according to Ray F, the "stupid fan" in TB with the fruity pebbles sign was put up on the jumbotron and loudly applauded. Try that at Fenway, you'll get booed and tossed at a minimum. Maybe you better move on, you dig the hole deeper with every post.

[Andy]

And one thing we can agree on, is that stupid fans ruin the game for everyone. Let's just agree to disagree and move onto a newer thread. Take care.

[Andy]

"These people are *not* shouting racial slurs at anyone."

Like I said before, tell that to Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews Jr., and Michael Wilbon.

[Anthony]

Andy, I have been to dozens of games at Fenway and never heard that word uttered once. Today, any seat at Fenway that is close enough to the field for a player to hear what you're saying is occupied either by a corporate exec or client, or someone who paid hundreds of dollars for it. I know this is a strange concept to someone in Tampa, but you actually can't just buy these seats the day before the game - in most cases you can't buy them at all. These people are *not* shouting racial slurs at anyone.

Sure there are guys who are OK with homophobia, just like there are guys who are OK with racism, no question. But there are gay guys in the MLB, along with straight guys who take offense to homophobia, and in TB these guys are or would be subjected to a constant, undeterred stream of gay jokes and other forms of gaybashing, in the stands, on blogs (like right here), and every time they went out. Let's face it, there are a *lot* of people in all walks of life who don't want to be surrounded by hillbillies all the time.

[Andy]

No, I think from the player's perspective, racial slurs are 10 times worse. Many, if not most of the athletes themselves are fairly homophobic, which is why we don't have a single openly gay player in MLB today, and the only players who have come out of the closet did so after their career was over. Hence, Ozzie Guillen still has a job, and none of his players, or anyone else around the league seemed to care much when he called Jay Mariotti a 'f@g'. Hell, even your beloved Crisp showed the machismo mindset when he said that Rays players pulled his hair "like a little girl".

I'm not saying it's right, or that one is worse than the other. But you're not living in the real world if you think that homophobia is just as likely as racism to deter a player from signing a contract.

[Dick James]

"The Red Sox Bandwagon"? Where have the Rays fans been the last 10 years?

[Anthony]

Andy, that is a terrible analogy. I'm sure drunk fans at every park in the country have used that word, along with every other word known to mankind. Gay slurs, on the other hand, seem to be completely tolerated in Florida, to the point where I don't think many of you even see anything wrong with them. Case in point, if the words "fruity pebbles" in the incident described upthread by Ray F were replaced with a racial slur and it occurred in Boston, do you think the crowd would have cheered?

[Ray F]

On a side note... I love Boston as a city. It's a very friendly place. Great night life. Full of history and culture. I have family up in Providence, RI and I get to Boston at least once a year to ice skate at the commons. For anyone that's never been, I highly recommend it.

Just don't expect not to get heckled in your Rays' gear.

[Ray F]

So Anthony,

You don't live in Boston and you don't live in Tampa Bay, what makes you bleed Red Sux? Obviously, they're your team. Where exactly in Red Sux Nation are you???

[Andy]

But you did say "Who the hell would want to play in a town...whose fans use gay slurs as their go-to insult?"

And my response to that is maybe you should go talk to Torii Hunter and Michael Wilbon, and Gary Matthews Jr. who all claim they have been called the 'N' word by Boston fans.

[Anthony]

Andy, I never said anything about Boston as a city, I don't live there. And once again, re: Pena, do you people understand how arbitration works?

[Ray F]

Soxfan,

It's all relative to how you look at it. I refer to the fans at the games not necessarily to the bloggers. I was zoning in on Anthony because he was there and now your here and I can zone in on you...

On monday as we were trying to leave the Trop, a sox fan nearly barreled over my wife who was holding my 3 year old nephew in her arms to get to a Rays fan who was heckling him.

When he shoved in to her, I got between him and told him to calm down because my nephew was right there. Instead of apologizing to my wife for knocking into her, he told me to tell the Rays fan to watch out because when they get outside he was going to f---ing kill him.

In front of a 3 year old!!!

Heckling is a part of baseball. The Rays' fan didn't use one profane word. There were fans from both sides being stupid, but bottom line is- no need to curse and DEFINATELY no need for violence because baseball games should be enjoyable for kids and when to morons are about to fight in front of my 3 year old nephew, I don't care what uniform you're wearing- If you touch him, you're going to need a new uniform.

How's that for class?

[Anthony]

Ray F, that is quite a piece of "Florida logic" to go along with your "Florida class."

[Andy]

Anthony,

Boston has a long-standing reputation as a very, very racist town, and your beloved Sox were one of the last teams in MLB to integrate....great 'destination' for minority players who enjoy racial slurs and death threats.

Also, for Latino players, Florida makes a great destination as it's close to home...which is why Carlos Pena was willing to sign for roughly 8 million a year coming off a season in which he had 46 homers and 110+ RBI.

You're probably right...Boston is a great place to live...with all its beautiful beaches, golf courses, night-life, and lack of an income tax. Which is why all of our residents are moving there.

[Ray F]

Anthony,

You don't have to commit suicide. All I said was that it's time to pay your debt.

...You can fall off a roof
...Get hit by a bus
...Choke on some chowduhhh
...Mugged walkin through the Commons

Do whatever, but bottom line is- you made a deal and you aren't keeping your end of it.

I never said the Rays need to win a championship and I could die. We're used to a losing team. We aren't used to chokers, so it's all gravy ya know guv-nah.

[Anthony]

I understand that you posted a comment on a blog stating an opinion that non-players shouldn't post comments on blogs stating opinions. That is quite a piece of brilliant "communcation." So which team do you play for?

[Steve]

Anthony,
Just lowering myself to your level of communcation so you will be able to understand. Please don't take it personally.

[Soxfan]

Ray F. Reread through these posts and other pages and you'll see Red Sox fans are not bitter. Quite the contrary. We love the game win or lose. Rays fans have developed quite a nasty attitude. I haven't read one comment from a Sox fan that has remotely come off bitter. Whether the Red Sox make the Series this year or not, we'll be back cheering for them next year. Y'all just showed up with mighty attitudes banging your cowbells and yellin and hollorin to "go home". Well, if it wasn't for our money supporting YOUR stadium over the past few years YOUR Rays would have probably had to look for another venue to play at because Y'ALL weren't showing up to support them...period. Just out of curiousity, I went and checked out my old newspaper from MA and they are actually giving high kudos to the Rays. I gave them a link to this site so they can see how classy some of our Rays fans are here in Tampa bay.

[Anthony]

Hey Steve, that's quite a "civil manner" you've got going there.

[Anthony]

Hey Ray F, I'm not in St. Pete and it's very likely that I never will be. Thanks for the "Florida intellectual" response inviting me to commit suicide, it reminds me of why.

[Steve]

Blah blah blah. Anthony seems to have diarrhea of the mouth. Hey Anthony, until YOU have pitched a scoreless inning or had a game winning hit, you're nothing more than a "fan". YOU have never contributed to a win for your beloved sox. So, why should any of us care about your "opinions". Opinions are like....well, I'm sure we all know the rest of that saying. So Anthony, until YOU contribute to a win for your sox, YOU are nothing more than a bag of hot air!!

[Ray F]

Anthony,

In 2003, all I heard was, "If the Red Sox could just win once. Only once in my lifetime I would be happy. I only want one title, just one and I will die a happy man."

I think it's time you guys paid up.

So you're definately leaving St Pete in second place- deal with it. Stop being so bitter. Go back to Ipswich and pay your fee for the world series already. Hell, you're gonna have to figure out how to pay twice.

[Anthony]

Wow, you guys really *did* just start paying attention to baseball, didn't you? "His agent said..." "Scott Boras said..." do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Kazmir's contract in his FA year(s) is for $11m, that is market rate. Pena's contract only buys one year of free agency eligibility, at $10m+, again market rate. Both of those guys (along with many others named above) will likely be traded at the beginning of their last contract year so TB will get *something* for them, a la Santana.

There's a huge difference between a hometown discount and simple risk aversion. I'll ask for the third time - show me one case where a Rays player took less than they could have gotten elsewhere - not "maybe, after a couple of arbitration years, according to Scott Boras," but actually passed on better offers - because they prefer to play in TB.

[TT]

Anthony -
Unfortunately for you, these guys like what's going on in St. Pete, ALL of them have given some type of hometown discount.

The latest was Kazmir, who could've done much better money-wise testing free-agency, his agent admitted as much. Agents throughout baseball felt that Longo would've done better waiting. Scott Boras said that Carlos Pena was a $15 million player, he surely could've gotten him $9 or $10 million elsewhere, but he came back to St. Pete for $6M. Shields signed an incentive-laden deal because he said he "wanted to be part of what we're building here." Do you want me to go on?

[Bubba Ray]

If you want to watch your beloved NESN then take you behind back up north you Masshole! You people have been invading our country for 160 years and are still not welcome! Carpetbagger

[Soxfan]

Chris, that was really big of you to post here with a corrected ratio of fans. You showed great class in doing so. I take it as a compliment that the Rays fans seem to love hating the Sox and their fans more than they love rooting for the Rays. We will always be the team to watch and compete with. Unfortunately, I have to watch the games through our local Tampa media outlet which is definitely bias for the Rays. They try so hard to put the cameras on Rays fans, but if you look around those couple of fans, you see nothing but a sea of red and blue. I'm going to upgrade to a package that gets NESN so I can get my NE coverage. I've always felt bad going to the Trop and taking over the stadium, but honestly they should thank us. If it weren't for Yankees and Red Sox fans, that place would have gone under years ago. So instead of getting mad that "we took over your house"...you should be thanking us...and asking yourselves why weren't you there??? It is pretty funny to hear a Ray's fan calling a Sox fan bandwagon jumper or whatever...waiting decades for the curse to be broken with unwavering support...that is dedication and not the fairweather behavior I've grown to see here in Tampa bay over the past few years. The NE fanbase is like no other. I think the only fans that can compare are the Greenbay Packer's fans...they are some crazy fans too.

[Steve]

Anthony, You're clearly a Sox fan and not a baseball fan. You can't see the forest for the trees. You can't stand it that the East's doormat has risen to the level of competing for 1st place. You feel it is more productive to berate the Rays and their fans than to simply cheer on your Sox. What does it matter to you if the Rays players are here because the "have" to be? What does the attendance at games have to do with a player's talent? Most guys play the game for the love of the game and some play for money. In either case, I don't see the correlation between their abilities and perfomances to the attendance at games. Please feel free to educate me if you can do it in a civil manner without resorting to snide remarks. Otherwise, keep it to yourself.

[Anthony]

Andy, you rattle those years off like a warden rattling off prison sentences. Does it really feel good to watch a team whose players are there because they *have* to be? Again, who was the last Ray to give a hometown discount? Those guys didn't sign with TB because they love TB, they signed because no one offered them more money than TB. Who the hell would want to play in a town that can't sell out a game that doesn't have a free Trace Adkins concert at the end of it, and whose fans use gay slurs as their go-to insult? These guys are exactly like well-paid minor leaguers in that they can't wait to get to the next level.

[Andy]

"It was the best they could do at the time, and if they can do better next time, they will."

Exactly...they weighed their options and decided that Tampa was the best place for their future. Just like all of the Red Sox players, and anyone with half a brain, does before signing a contract. But of course, in your bizarro world, only the Sox players signed their contracts because they love their city.

And assuming that no current players re-sign, we have Crawford through 2010, Upton, Kazmir, and Howell through 2012, Garza through 2013, Shields through 2014, and Longoria through 2016. In short, we will have another presidential election before we have to worry about replacing our core.

Maybe you should worry about whether Varitek, Okajima, Ramirez, Crisp, and Beckett love Boston as much as you seem to think they do. All of those guys become free agents at least a year before Crawford.

[Anthony]

Hate to break it to you Nathan but those contracts you're so psyched about are the last they'll ever sign in Tampa Bay, unless their careers tank. Which of those guys gave TB a hometown discount, like Boston players do all the time? It was the best they could do at the time, and if they can do better next time, they will.

For all the excitement and TV ratings about this series, neither game sold out, and that kind of "support" isn't lost on the players. The resume padding afforded by postseason success is a huge motivator, but you can rest assured that none of these guys give a rat's a## about playing in Tampa Bay.

[Nathan]

Anthony opined: "How does it feel rooting for a team whose best players' sole motivation is auditioning for the big-market teams that they'll sign with as soon as they possibly can?"
__________

Well, Anthony, are you referring to Carl Crawford (locked up in long-term deal); Evan Longoria (long-term deal); Scott Kazmir (long-term deal); or Carlos Pena (ditto)? Keep holding your breath waiting to sign players the Rays cannot or will not sign. I'll call the paramedics when you pass out from lack of oxygen.

The Red Sox reign may not yet be over; but the AL East is no longer like the Gillian's Island credits - we're no longer "the rest" - we ARE the Professor AND Mary Ann. Which I guess makes Boston and New York Gilligan and the Skipper. Congrats on that.

[Brian]

I think it should be said that although I believe we deserve a little more respect than one flippantly giving out inaccurate numbers (it does matter to us)about attendance, Chris has spoken highly of the Rays on his show. There are a lot of bad guys in the market, but I think Chris S. happens to be one of the good guys. Let's get some callers to the station, but let's keep our dignity.

[Jeff]

vhschola from The Big Jab Forums...Look, 1st of all for anyone as a Rays fan to call Sox fans bandwagon jumpers...well is hysterical...2...you have to admit, facts don't lie...look at your average attendance this season...not what I would call worthy of a playoff bound team...and 3...correct thinking BASEBALL fans up here in Portland Maine know the Rays are for real! This team has slump busting (sorry Mark Grace) starting pitching, a much deeper pen than the Sox...and a pretty potent lineup. There is no dis-respect from normal people..This is going to be a race right down to the end and it will be FUN!!! The Sox will win eventually, but the Rays ARE making the playoffs....oh and MORONS...before sending anymore hatefilled emails Chris, my nickname on the station (yes I know PATHETIC) is Matt Light...you know NE Patriots O Lineman...and for a reason OK boys....and BTW...growing up my fav Sox were Frank Duffy, Stan Papi and Dick Drago...so how bout that for a bandwagon jumper huh....

[Anthony]

Nathan, the season series is now 6-5 Boston, BFD. How does it feel rooting for a team whose best players' sole motivation is auditioning for the big-market teams that they'll sign with as soon as they possibly can?

[Chris Sedenka]

People were throwing their opinion out there...they were not statements of fact. I couldn't care less how many sox fans were.

And why does anyone really care about a small market radio show in Portland, Maine? (mind you one that thinks the Rays were going to be the sleeper this year...I take great pride in my preseason prediction)

[Nathan]

Chris,

Here's the deal; you might want to VERIFY facts before you blurt them out on the air. That's what responsible hosts do. Second, had you been a Rays fan and had to endure 10 years of obnoxious behavior from Red Sox Nation (and Yankeeville), you'd understand the hate-filled emails. We're only returning the favor.

[Nathan]

Hey Anthony, the minor-league Rays ensured a series win against the reigning World Champs. I didn't get to watch - did Papelsmear or Coco Chanel make appearances?

[Chris Sedenka]

Hello everybody, this is Chris Sedenka from that Maine radio show you are blasting. As for the comments I made...here ya go...I had a caller text me to say it was 70-30 Sox fans. Then a guy called me and said he was there and said it was 50-50.

I have nothing against the Rays or their fans or the cities of St Pete or Tampa.

I am not sure why you guys need to send me hate-filled emails. I was simply reporting and listening to a few of my listeners. Nothing worth a threat of getting my a@@ beat.

Congrats for another win tonight and Good luck the rest of the way. Maybe we will meet in September.

[Anthony]

"there was a guy that had a sign that Had COCO CRISP crossed out with an 'x' and 'FRUITY PEBBLES' written underneathe it. I'm sure PMS Radio- Maine didn't mention that one either."

Probably not, because they don't celebrate homophobia in Maine.

[Anthony]

I agree, Rays games are the best-attended minor league games in the country.

[Jen]

I have to admit, gone are the days of opponants fans outnumbering Rays fans. I was there last night and some other home games and what a difference. I sent that guy an email just to let him know the truth about his unaccurate fan ratios. Go Rays!!!

[rays girl]

Go Rays!

I have never been so excited about baseball in my LIFE!

[Woody]

Can someone tell our manager that middle relievers don't get picked for the All Star game. Why is he not pimping Longoria for the game? He might as well be saying, "Kaz is the only guy on our roster who deserves to go."

[Woody]

Can someone tell our manager that middle relievers don't get picked for the All Star game. Why is he not pimping Longoria for the game? He might as well be saying, "Kaz is the only guy on our roster who deserves to go."

[skp]

brian, quit pimping your radio show - what a batting order when navi-hinske-bartlett are your 7-8-9 hitters...i'm guessing pena is at #4 because maddon is done tinkering and wants each guy to get used to where he will be batting and who he'll be batting in front of\behind long-term...pulling pena out of the 4 spot disrupts 2, maybe 3, other batters...that and maddon believes in pena, and i'm perfectly ok with that

[Tuck]

I completely agree that Pena should be batting lower in the order until he gets hot. I would actually like to see Navarro batting clean up...especially since he is a switch hitter.

Maddon needs to keep Percival on the bench until he is healthy. I don't care if he is tough enough to go out there...he hasn't been effective in about his last 5 or 6 appearances.

In the meantime, Balfour has been absolutely dominant. He should be our new closer in my opinion...at least until Percy is healthy.

Oh, and I used to think that Yankee fans were the most obnoxious fans in baseball, until Boston won their first World Series. Boston fans actually now make Yankee fans seem classy.

[Brent]

God I am so sick of the Bandwagon Sox... Go Rays!!!

[norm]

please update with any Percival news. I'm trying to make a trade and would really appreciate the latest on his status.

[Ray F]

Yeah, i was referring to the Hammy when talking about sliding in to home plate and injuring his finger again. Any decent baserunner should score from second on a base hit with out sliding. I don't think Pena is ready to run from 2nd to home without having to slide. He avoided sliding the other day even though Gomes was clearly telling him to get down.

I can't be there tonight (family deal) but I got nice seats behind the Rays dugout for Wednesday night. Hope to see you Scumbags out there tonight on TV though.

By the way... on the jumbo screen around the 7th inning there was a guy that had a sign that Had COCO CRISP crossed out with an 'x' and "FRUITY PEBBLES" written underneathe it. That got a bigger applause than Drew's homer too.

I'm sure PMS Radio- Maine didn't mention that one either.

GO RAYS!!!