Kazmir goes for No. 10 on national stage
In today's matinee with the White Sox, the Rays will be the featured game on FOX for the first time in more than five years.
They'll be led by All-Star lefthander Scott Kazmir, who goes for his 10th win; if he completes the feat, it will mark the first time in club history all five Rays starters cracked double digits in wins.
Kazmir, who lasted six innings in his last start (also a win), has said he's not going to worry about pitch counts and such, and just try to keep it simple and attack hitters, like he did when he was the AL Pitcher of the Month in May.
The Rays stocked some more lefties in the lineup today, as the Sox starter RHP Javier Vazquez. Ex-Ray Toby Hall will also get a start for the Sox.
If Tampa Bay wins, it could make for some more milestones:
*A win would give the Rays their first series win over the White Sox since 1998, their inaugural season.
*Manager Joe Maddon would earn his 206th career victory as Rays skipper, giving him the club record (Larry Rothschild has 205)
*The Rays would then be a franchise-record 30 games over .500
RAYS
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Floyd, dh
Aybar, 3b
Hinske, lf
Navarro, c
Gross, Rf
Bartlett, ss
SOX
Cabrera, ss
Swisher, cf
Quentin, lf
Dye, rf
Thome, dh
Konerko, 1b
Ramirez, 2b
Uribe, 3b
Hall, c
-- JOE SMITH
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and Scott Kazmir, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
Let 'em keep questioning Maddon. It gives them something to talk about and makes them look pretty silly at the same time. Kazmir actually looked really good today, especially once he settled down beginning in the 3rd. The 2 HRs from Dye were actually good pitches, but Dye was able to get the barrel on the ball down low and on a tough pitch inside (he'll hit maybe 1 of 20 that hard with the ball in those locations, if he's lucky). Dye was feeling it tonight and there was nothing Kaz could do. Kaz is starting to turn the corner.
Posted by: 9equals8.com | August 24, 2008 at 09:10 AM
ROCKIN' WITH KAZMIR
Posted by: jeff | August 24, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Please, enough of the bunting thing. If you've noticed lately, teams that have tried to bunt against us have almost always bunted into an out without advancing the runner. I'm a purist and like the bunt, but it's just not Maddon's style...it worked out not to bunt this time.....so it is what it is. It's hard to question Maddon or Friedman.
Posted by: Bill | August 23, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Maddon will probably be the AL manager of the year and some people call him stupid..UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: joe | August 23, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Rays win, Red Sox lose.
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Are people really still questioning Maddon?
Posted by: Joe | August 23, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Great play by Bartlett and Pena on the tag, good call by the ump. So far, the umpires have been much better in this series.
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Come on bullpen, hold em'
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 06:37 PM
who ever said percival isn't one of the rays top 4 relievers needs to take some baseball lessons.
were playing this game just like we should, getting across what we can against a very good pitching performance by the white sox and now shelling their bullpen. Kaz didn't have his best today but takeout Dye and he only let across one run, looks like Kaz is becoming Kid K once again.
now lets keep this lead, shut down the sox, and take our first series against them since 1998.
Posted by: Michael | August 23, 2008 at 06:37 PM
5-3 RAYS!!!
Posted by: Ricky | August 23, 2008 at 06:27 PM
y would you ever bunt hinske. another highly stupid descision by joe maddon
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Should have pitched around Dye. Oh well, it's only 3-1, we're still in it.
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Did everybody see that Jason Hammel curve ball in the ninth inning last night? Don't hurt 'em, Hammel.
Posted by: chux2 | August 23, 2008 at 05:40 PM
r rays do u have a clue of wat ur talking about. troy percival isnt even one of our top 4 relievers. carl crawford also hasnt helped much this season
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I'm 50 miles north of Baston. Talkin baseball with some locals. They are really impressed with the Ray's. Pretty nice people in New Hampshire..
Posted by: Joe | August 23, 2008 at 03:57 PM
I might be wrong but this will be the first time in History Fox will Broadcast a Tampa Bay Rays Game!!
Up to this point the 2008 Rays are the Best Team in Baseball, even though the have three of the Best Players injured. Carl Crawford, E. Longoria and Troy Percival. Obviously the Season is not over yet, however who would have thought the Rays would be this good??? The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from worst to First! The Tampa Bay Lightning win a Stanley Cup, The Tampa Bay Storm won a National Championship in Arena Football. Tampa Bay Sports Fans always said "The Rays are next"! Now, they are right!
Posted by: R Rays | August 23, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Where y'at Bawst'in! 11-0 in the 5th inning!
Posted by: RaysfanNewOrleans | August 23, 2008 at 03:17 PM