Sweep complete, Rays end half with 7-game skid

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays lost their seventh straight game Sunday, sending baseball's feel-good story into the All-Star break on a sour note.

Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians beat Scott Kazmir and Tampa Bay 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep.

Peralta's two-run homer in the fifth inning off Kazmir (7-5) gave Cleveland a 4-2 lead and put the Rays in danger of dropping out of first place in the AL East. They started play Sunday a half-game ahead of Boston after leading the division by five games on Monday morning.

(Pictured: Rays ace Scott Kazmir hangs his head after giving up a two-run home run to Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta in the fifth inning. AP photo. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[MeTOH]

Has anybody called AAA to get the flat tires on the bandwagon fixed yet?

[wrygrape]

Red Sox 2008 payroll - 130 million, not 180 million - although that is 4th highest.

From 2002 through 2006, Tampa Bay took in an average of $32 million per year in revenue sharing money. During that same period, the Rays had an average payroll of just $27 million, which was the lowest in baseball. They also had the worst five year record on the field, winning an average of just 70 games per season.

Yet the team turned an average profit of more than $20 million during those years.

So keep bitching about the big payrolls that Yankees and the Sox have (Sorry, let me use the highly original "Red Sux" and "Yankmees"). Our owners will spend money to try to win games. Your owners are in baseball to make money, not win games. No wonder you Ray fans are the way you are.

[frank]

joey, you git to bed now!

[joey]

hey frank who from the red sox or yankees is in the home run derby. and why are the yankees celebrating when they beat the rays

[frank]

it must warm your redneck hearts watching josh hamilton knock 'em out.

[frank]

Wow, Joey! Way to put everyone in their place. Except that your childish outburst didn't do anything. I need to talk to your mother.

Oh, and Evan is in last place, just like his team will be after the break.

[joey]

this is a rays article
Fu#k the yankees and the cry baby red sox.
end of story

[Razzlegator]

FYI Frankie,
It ain't home 'till you take the wheels off.

[Frank]

razzle is 'teched. yesterday he, living in some trailer park in florida, tried to lecture on how poor is Boston's civil rights record. seriously, some white guy in florida was saying all this.

[Razzlegator is simple]

"It's obvious as fans(NY/BOS) one is copying the other how else the same cheer."

No wonder they threw you out of Cambridge, that has got the be the worst-written sentence I've ever seen. You're definitely in the right place now.

[Razzlegator]

Apparently you don't Sox Fan. I was engaging in sarcasm. Look it up.

[Sox fan]

"They are just the greatest fans there ever was. Whatever their teams have accomplished is only because these guys are fans of that team. Without them their teams would be as pitiful as the Rays."

You finally get it :)

[Dan is nuts]

"resorts to imitating the fan base of the Oakland Raiders"

Yeah, Bostonians are so tapped into Oakland culture. You are off the rails my friend, just go into hibernation, maybe the Yanks won't suck so bad next year.

[Razzlegator]

Dan,
You're wasting your time trying a have an intellectual conversation with these guys. It's obvious as fans(NY/BOS) one is copying the other how else the same cheer. They are just the greatest fans there ever was. Whatever their teams have accomplished is only because these guys are fans of that team. Without them their teams would be as pitiful as the Rays. Possibly worse, considering how great these guys are.
As an aside, I was born in Boston,Cambridge actually, and was a lifelong Red Sox fan until I got to see the class act these guys are when they come to the Trop.

[Dan in NY]

Dale...
If the Sox merely "pay" their players then explain to my why MLB penalizes them with a luxury tax, much like they do the Yankees?

You have to really wonder why fans of other teams consider the Red Sox fans to be so arrogant?

This is a Rays related article, in the Rays section, of the St Pete Times, isn't it?

One would swear you were in Boston with all of the Sox fans here.

What's wrong Sox fans? The Rays got you scared?

[frank]

and your point, dan? That the rays really sucked bad last year?

[Dan in NY]

Upon doing research, I came across a few little known facts that might interest some of you...

The New York Yankees are not from New York...

at least not originally. They started out as the first incarnation of The Baltimore Orioles. After moving to New York they were known as the Highlanders, and later the Yankees.

The Boston Red Sox are not originally from Boston...

The Boston Red Sox were actually started in New York. Buffalo to be exact.

The current incarnation of the Baltimore Orioles started in Milwaukee as the Brewers.

None of the founding members of the American League East still play in the city in which they were created.

The Toronto Blue Jays are the fastest AL expansion team to ever win the World Series...

It took them 16 years.

And finally.....

a fact that most of you do know....

No team in the Modern Era of baseball has ever had as much as a turnaround as the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays.

[Dale]

BAHAHAhaa...oh, did the Sox 'buy a team'? If you mean they pay their players...then yes, you are correct.

[Sox fan]

"See, before I started rooting for the Rays, I was a Yankees fan, having been born and raised in NY."

Now I understand...it all makes sense now :).

[Dan in NY]

Envious?
Good try.

I find nothing enviable about being a fan of a team who was second class for almost a century, and then resorts to imitating the fan base of the Oakland Raiders. See, before I started rooting for the Rays, I was a Yankees fan, having been born and raised in NY. The truth of the matter is that everything that the Red Sox have striven to do, The Yankees already did, including buying a team. Which is why I no longer root for the Yanks. Well that, and the fact that I spent 13 years of my life in Florida.

Envious?
That's funny.

[Sox fan]

Dan in NY - PS...love the cut and past from urbandictionary.com. You could have at least come up with your own wording. You are really obsessed with the Red Sox aren't you. What a joker.

[Sox fan]

Dan in NY - you are being so pathetic. To say there is no Red Sox Nation is like saying there is no state of Wyoming. You are so blatantly envious it is comical.

[Dan in NY]

The term "Raider Nation," with "Nation" serving to describe the team's numerous followers, has inspired many imitations, the most notable being perhaps the so-called "Red Sox Nation."

[Dan in NY]

I find it quite comical that there is a fan base being called "Red Sox Nation". The Oakland Raiders are the only team who have a "nation". Every other team is simply trying to copy them. Way to be original.

Now as far as the fans of opposing teams are concerned, I really wonder why there are an inordinate amount of Red Sox fans on these forums? It seems like the only fans from other teams who are consistently here are fans of the Yankees and Red Sox. It makes one wonder about the psyche of these so called fans. I, personally, see no reason going to another teams forum/message board/etc. when my team is not playing that other team. Yet, all of you Red Sox fans and Yankees fans must feel like you have something to prove.

What is it?

What is it that you are trying to accomplish by slinging your senseless diatribes across the anonymous internet?

I suppose I'll never know, nor will I care. For I could care less why Jeffrey Dahmer ate people, and I could care less why you feel the need to showcase your insecurities.

Both actions are equally as crazy in my opinion, and that's all I need to know.

Now as far as the Rays fans whom run around like the sky is falling,
Chill...

It is a long season, this last week has sucked. There are things that could and should be done to right the ship. Let's just see how it plays out.

As aggravated as I get at what I believe to be blunders perpetrated by Joe Maddon, I have to remember that he has been widely respected in the game of baseball for over 30 years. I certainly haven't earned that distinction.

Maddon is a baseball guy. I am sure that the lack of change to the lineup, and running Gomes out there the last 3 out of four days, have a purpose.

Hopefully the team will turn things around soon. If not, then I suppose we'll have an even greater influx of these buffoons from the Northeast.

Good Luck Red Sox and Yankees fans. May the best team win, not the most overpayed!!!!

[Paranoid Yankee Fan]

We're still good.
We're still good.
We're still good.
damnit
We're still good!!!
We're still good I tell you!!!

[Dale]

BILL:"100 years and a 160 million dollar payroll makes the Sox the biggest jokes in history.

Sox Nation.........not even close.......that is an ESPN and Peter Gammons creation."

Wow. You're only wrong about every number in that post and who coined the term 'RSN'

Other than being completly wrong...spot on!

[Yankees]

The rays made for a great story. The fact is by the end of the season they will be fighting with Baltimore for 3rd place. Hey, atleast your better than the Blue Jays.

[Warren]

Bill: You are 100% correct about the variance in payroll buying only a half game lead. The Rays are doing fine with the money they have!!

[frank]

Hey Bill,

Sorry you're so jealous (yes, it shows).

[Bill]

100 years and a 160 million dollar payroll makes the Sox the biggest jokes in history.

Sox Nation.........not even close.......that is an ESPN and Peter Gammons creation.

[john]

Any bets the rays can't win more than one game against the jays this weekend?

[Dale]

What's comedy is your knowledge of other teams payrolls....and your owner lining his pockets with your bandwagon money.

[Bill]

Red Sox Nation happy to be in first place by a 1/2 game over the Rays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that is funny. Their 180 million has bought them a 1/2 game lead.....and they want to talk smack. This coming from a team that couldn't win anything for nearly 100 years......this is comedy at its best.

[You're a sad crew]

Craig, does hair pulling and missed punches qualify as a "beatdown" in the armpit of the nation? Interesting.

"Maybe the sox fans should go see them at Fenway"

Yeah I guess five straight years of consecutive sellouts isn't enough support. And they never have to hold trace adkins concerts after the game, either.

[Craig]

Yes, poor Coco. He didn't do ANYTHING to deserve the beatdown he got. hahaha

And then the 5-game suspension HAHAHAHA

[Sox Fan]

Eric...boy I guess you told us ;). Don't worry about the Sox or their fans...worry about supporting your team, whether they win or lose.

[Craig]

Maybe the sox fans should go see them at Fenway instead of expecting the Trop to become Boston south whenever they blow into town. It's the Rays' house, and if some idiot sox fan doesn't like their fans cheering for them, stay home. Duh!

And if the Rays suck so bad, what does that say about Boston to have sat in second behind them for the past 2-3 weeks. Can't have it both ways, girls.

[wrygrape]

Wow, the Tampa Bay Ray Romanos are a touchy bunch. Accusing Sox fans of being the very thing that the Tampa Bay Ray Romanos were last week.

It's a long season, and there's no reason that we should treat each other like Gomes treated Coco (you know, with Coco held down on the ground by Gome's team mates)

I wandered there. Someone was trying to define "Classless"?

[Eric]

To the Sox fans:
Classless is what Coco Crisp did. Be careful sox fans, you are turning into Smug Yankees fans. You did not invent winning. You whine when you couldnt win and now are smug so no one likes you. Season is not over yet.

[skp]

2 things are clear:

1) the rays have to be players at the trade deadline to keep this thing going.

2) the all-star break and the return home is sorely needed...hopefully these guys go into the next series well-rested and ready to prove to the home crowd they can keep this thing going...

we needed every bit of that cushion over the sox, but let's not forget that we got it due in part to a similarly frustrating stretch that they went through...they're human, we're human, and this thing will go down to the wire if we can get a few reinforcements in. go (to durham) jonny gomes!

[Ham & Egger Fans]

ohh ohh I'll go to Tropicana Field if they have a cool concert and give away free gas so I can fill up my moped!

[Jimbo]

Other than the Bucs reference (I'm an Eagles phan for life!), I'm right there with you, Joey! Besides, Friday night, they're giving away FREE GAS at the Trop, so get out there and support the team!!!

GO RAYS!!!

[joey]

i cant take this anymore
Get in The Damn Stands. im tired of baseball tongiht and sc talking all there crap about how we dont support them. lets get it together. we need to sell out against toronto. stop walkin with your head down grow a pair and get to the Trop. rays and bucs for life

[Bill]

I was just going off what Sportscenter said the Yankmee attendance was when George took over.

[joey]

hey bodog i agree with you about how we need to stop the blame game but i think jim hickey has been a HUGE part of our success

[joey]

Jimbo JImbo JImbo

you are the %*$^ing man. you are exactly right i want too see all of you at the trop on friday and lets show the rays we are still behind them.

[Ray F]

Last year at this time if you told me we'd be a half game out of first going into the All-Star break, I would've bet the farm against it.

Now, we're complaining about not being in first... AWESOME!!!

I love that this team has gotten used to winning and is definately pissed about dropping out of first.

I know the break will give BJ and CC time to reflect on their slumps and trying to get out of them. Also, I hope the break gives Friedman a chance to review the first half problem areas and add the much-needed right-handed power bat we need in right-field.

GO RAYS!!!

Need I remind you all the Rays are always better in the second half.

[Sox fan]

Bill...your attendance numbers are wrong. The very first year Yankee stadium II opened in 1976, their attendance numbers averaged 25,314 per game.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/yankatte.shtml

[Sox fan]

Here is a link to the Wally and Raymond in "Why can't we be friends". Enjoy!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sB_SYByPj1Q&feature=related

[Jimbo]

Good point, Bill. Something Bosox don't like to admit, either. They haven't always had sell-outs; in fact, as little as 5 or 6 years ago, they didn't have many sell-outs at all. Just some food for thought....