Sports Talk - Tampa Bay Sports Blog

Rays/White Sox go to Game Four

2008-10-06T02:34:00Z

You can't win them all. Chicago staved off elimination Sunday with a 5 to 3 win over Tampa Bay. Joe Maddon went with Carlos Pena in the lineup Sunday. Pena went 2 for 5, but the only runs scored in the game came off a single by Aki and a two-run homer by B. J. Upton.

The good news is the Rays have two games to win one game to move on to the ALCS.

The Rays had a couple of opportunities to score runs and didn't convert. You have to give John Danks some credit. He pitched a pretty good game for Chicago. Andy Sonnanstine now get s a crack at Chicago in Game Four Monday.

Check for the starting time of that game Monday. If Boston beats LA Angels tonight, the game will be moved to 8:07pm. If the Angels win, game time will remain at 5:07pm.

Tom Korun

Griese hurt, Garcia takes over as Bucs QB Sunday

2008-10-06T02:29:00Z

Aside from the 16-13 loss Sunday to Denver, we have a yellow flag at Quarterback. Brian Griese went down with an elbow injury sustained in the 3rd quarter against Denver. Champ Bailey came in unmolested and nailed Griese.

Griese said after the game there is no structual damage to the elbow or the left shoulder he fell on after the hit. We'll know more tomorrow, but Jeff garcia did take over as quarterback and did lead one TD drive. It was the only TD drive all afternoon for the Bucs, coming with two minutes left in the game to pull the Bucs to within two.

So I ask you, if both Griese and Garcia are healthy this week, who do you want to start this Sunday against Carolina at home?

Tom Korun

TK'S Top 10

2008-10-05T20:01:00Z

After last week's upsets, all has settled down in college football. But in the next couple of week's, we will see shakeups due to conference matchups involving the nation's elite. Here's my Top 10.

1. Oklahoma (dominating again, Texas is next)

2. Alabama (can Ole Miss upset the Tide?)

3. Missouri (plays #21 Oky. State next)

4. LSU ( here come the Gators)

5. Texas ( Red-River rivalry set for Dallas vs. Oklahoma)

6. Penn St. (tough test at #18 Wisconsin next week)

7. Texas Tech (RR's still have tough conference tests ahead)

8. Georgia (play Vols next week)

9. USC ( would you rather see BYU here)

10 (tie) BYU, Florida (Gators have the big test vs. LSU, BYU plays another rummy New Mexico)

Coming on strong: Vanderbilt, Ohio State

Tom Korun

Pena in the lineup, Rocco RF batting 8th, Aybar DH batting 6th

2008-10-05T19:55:00Z

Here's the Rays lineup for Game Three against Chicago. There is a rain delay.

RAYS LINEUP
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Crawford, lf
Aybar, dh
Navarro, c
Baldelli, rf
Bartlett, ss
Garza, p

Pena expected in Rays lineup

2008-10-05T19:22:00Z

Rays Manager Joe Maddon says he expects to see Carlos Pena in the lineup today against Chicago. Maddon said that Pena would be in his familiar third spot in the lineuip. Any changes, we'll have them for you near game time.

Friday Football Frenzy Scores

2008-10-04T03:30:00Z

Ocala Lake Weir 49, Wiregrass Ranch 41, Final

Faith Baptist Christian 26, Temple Christian 19, Final

Middleton 38, Blake 8, Final

Alonso 27, Freedom 15, Final

Keswick Christian 35, Cambridge Christian 18, Final

Gulf 52, Ridgewood 28, Final

Mitchell 39, Hudson 36, Final

Hillsborough 61, Riverview 14, Final

Gaither 18, Jesuit 14, Final

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 31, St. Pete Catholic 25, Final

East Lake 59, Pinellas Park 6, Final

Tarpon Springs 15, Countryside 14, Final

Nature Coast 18, Pasco 17, Final

Largo 19, Dunedin 7, Final

Sickles 17, Bloomingdale 14, Final

Lakeland 27, Miami Killian 21, Final

Seminole 29, Osceola 27, Final

Leto 46, Lennard 27, Final

Palm Harbor 37, Dixie Hollins 19, Final

Gibbs 34, Clearwater 20, Final

Land O' Lakes 28, Sunlake 0, Final

St. Petersburg 17, Boca Ciega 2, Final

Zephyrhills 28, Wesley Chapel 0, Final

Chamberlain 21, East Bay 6, Final

Armwood 41, Jefferson 0, Final

Tampa Bay Tech 14, Spoto 6, Final

Durant 10, Brandon 0, Final

Newsome 17, Robinson 0, Final

Carrollwood Day 34, Mount Dora Bible 14, Final

Wharton 44, Plant City 21, Final

TK's Pick: Buccaneers vs. Broncos

2008-10-03T18:47:00Z

TK'S BUCS PICK
BUCCANEERS VS. BRONCOS
LINE: BRONCOS -3
TK VS. SPREAD 3-0

So much has changed since these two teams meet last in 2004. About the only constant is the Head Coach's. Jon Gruden is 1 and 8 overall against Denver and Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Keep in mind, all but the 2004 loss to Denver was with the Oakland Raiders.

Denver is coming off a rather stunning loss to Kansas City. I'm guessing they took the week off and thought the old "mail it in" would be good enough against Kansas City. I'm banking on the Broncos being focused this week.

From the department of the obvious: Tampa Bay's rash of offensive turnovers are glaring. QB Brian Griese knows the score. If he drops another 3INT's on Denver, the Bucs lose with impunity. If he, or the offense, doesn't turn the ball over, they have a chance.

Tampa Bay's defense has been the catalyst the past three weeks. Despite giving up the big play, they have manufactured turnovers by the bunches. Tampa Bay's "D" has scored three TD's. However, as much faith as I have in this group, there will be games the offense will not get bailed out. I believe this will be one of those games. I am also concerned with opponents hitting the Bucs secondary weekly with big plays.

The boys in Vegas made Denver a three-point favorite. Frankly, I don't think they have a pulse on this game. They're going back to the past four meetings, where the margin of victory by either team has not been by more than four.

Then again, I could talking out of my ears here, but I like the Broncos Sunday. the Bucs are hitting this team at the wrong time. So..........my pick:

BRONCOS -3

Tom Korun

USF's cameo Top 10 appearance

2008-10-03T10:59:00Z

It was inevitable that USF would lose a game this season. Didn't think it would be against Pittsburgh at home. That was a shocker. Not to say Pitt is a lousy team, it's just an average team in an average conference top to bottom. I obviously gave USF too much credit as being the class of the Big East.

In the end, the Bulls may rebound. But their defense was a BIG concern last night, and if it continues to play like, forget any ranking and/or a Big East title. I expect USF to drop between 16th and 18th this week, could be lower. You don't lose home games, and really don't have a conference schedule from here that can put them on the rebound that anyone will take notice.

Tom Korun

Post Game notes from Game 1 of the ALDS

2008-10-03T03:00:00Z

CHICAGO WHITE SOX at TAMPA BAY RAYS---OCTOBER 2, 2008

GAME 1, AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Rays 6, White Sox 4

WP: Shields (1-0) LP: Vazquez (0-1) SV: Wheeler (1)

First Pitch: 2:38 p.m. Temps: 72-in, 85-out Attendance: 35,041 Game Time: 3:10

TOMORROW: White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen will be available in the interview room tomorrow at 4:15 pm, followed by Rays Manager Joe Maddon at 4:30…Game 3 starting pitchers will be available at U.S. Cellular Field on workout day Saturday…gates open tomorrow at 3:30…golf legend Paul Azinger will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

POSTSEASON IN ST. PETE: A sellout crowd of 35,041 at Tropicana Field witnessed the first postseason game in Rays history…the Rays improved to 22-2 in front of crowds of 30,000+ this season…due to reconfiguration in the ballpark for the postseason, the total attendance was slightly lower than the usual sellout crowd of 36,048.

HOME RUN IN FIRST DIVISION SERIES AT-BAT

Benito Santiago CIN NL 10/03/1995

Brady Anderson BAL AL 10/01/1996

B.J. Surhoff BAL AL 10/01/1996

Harold Baines BAL AL 10/02/1997

Shane Spencer NYA AL 09/30/1998

Edgardo Alfonzo NYN NL 10/05/1999

Joe Oliver SEA AL 10/03/2000

Mark McGwire SLN NL 10/05/2000

Todd Walker BOS AL 10/01/2003

Tom Wilson LAN NL 10/05/2004

Jason Lane HOU NL 10/06/2004

Raul Chavez HOU NL 10/07/2004

Brian McCann ATL NL 10/06/2005

Kevin Youkilis BOS AL 10/03/2007

Evan Longoria TB AL 10/02/2008

RAYS: Win the first postseason game in franchise history and stake a 1-0 lead in the series…of the 52 LDS series since Division Series play began in 1995, the team that won the first game went on to win the series 35 times…with a win tomorrow, the Rays could take a 2-0 lead, and 27 of the 32 teams to take a 2-0 lead in LDS play have gone on to win the series.

WHITE SOX: The loss snaps Chicago’s eight-game postseason winning streak (last loss came in Game 1 of the 2005 ALCS vs. LAA)…all 4 of their runs scored on home runs.

EVAN LONGORIA: Went 3-for-3 with 2-HR, an RBI single, BB and SB in his first career postseason game…hit two solo home runs, coming in his first two at-bats…became the second player in major league history to homer in his first two postseason at-bats, joining MIN Gary Gaetti in 1987 (David Vincent, SABR)…his first HR came on the first pitch, becoming the first since HOU Raul Chavez in 2004 to homer on the first pitch of his first career LDS at-bat.

Þ With two homers, tied the record for most HR in a LDS game – last was HOU Carlos Beltran on Oct 11, 2004 (Game 5 vs. ATL)…was the 30^th player to do so.

Þ Including the regular season, has recorded 4 multi-HR games this season…also May 24 vs. BAL (2), June 9 at LAA (2) and Sep 18 vs. MIN (3).

Þ Incidentally, Gaetti was Longoria’s hitting coach at Durham (AAA) during the first week of the 2008 season.

Þ The second HR hit the C-ring catwalk, some 125 feet above the playing field…it was the 12^th ball to hit off a catwalk in fair territory in 2008, including regular season, and the 7^th HR off the C-ring catwalk…any ball that hits the C-ring or D-ring catwalk in fair territory is an automatic home run.

JAMES SHIELDS: Made his first career postseason start and earned the win, totaling 6.1-IP, 6-H, 3-R/ER, 1-BB, 4-SO…all 3 runs scored on Dewayne Wise’s 3-run home run in the 3^rd inning.

CARL CRAWFORD: Made his first start since Sep 9 at SEA, when he suffered a subluxation of his right middle finger tendon… batted 5^th for the first time of his career (had never batted anywhere 4-thru-7 before today).

JAVIER VAZQUEZ: Fell to 1-1 lifetime with a 10.34 ERA (15.2-IP, 18-ER) in 4 career postseason starts…all 3 of his previous postseason starts came in 2004 with the Yankees.

Þ Over his last 4 starts (postseason and regular season) he is 0-4 with a 13.22 ERA (16.1-IP, 24-ER)…has allowed at least 5-R/ER in all 4 of those starts.

BULLPEN POWER: Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler combined for 2.2-IP, 1-H, 1-R/ER, 0-BB, 5-SO, allowing just one base runner (Paul Konerko’s home run)…the two bullpens combined for 11 SO over 6.1 innings, allowing 4-H, 1-R/ER, 2-BB.

Þ Dan Wheeler made his 14^th career postseason appearance and recorded his first postseason save…owns a career ERA of 2.50 (18-IP, 5-ER) in postseason play.

Þ Clayton Richard’s five strikeouts as a reliever tie a White Sox franchise record in a postseason game (also Jose DeLeon in Game 5 of the 1993 ALCS at Toronto; 3.2 IP)

PAUL KONERKO: Hit his 6^th postseason home run with the White Sox, extending the club record.

DEWAYNE WISE: Belted a 3-run homer off Shields in the 3^rd…was his postseason debut.

POSTSEASON DEBUTS: Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton, Carlos Peña, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross, Willy Aybar, Rocco Baldelli, James Shields, J.P. Howell, Dewayne Wise, Alexei Ramirez, Brian Anderson and Clayton Richard.

Þ Ken Griffey Jr. played in his first postseason game since 1997 with the Mariners.

CARLOS PEÑA: Left the game after 2 innings with slightly blurred vision in his left eye, the result of accidentally scratching his eye last night at home…it is not believed to be serious…he is expected to play tomorrow.

HOME RUNS

Team Player # Distance Type Field Count Off Inn. Score

TB       Evan Longoria               1        421 ft.         solo           left                    0-0              Vazquez                  2                1-0, TB
CWS   Dewayne Wise              1        368 ft.         3-run          right                 2-2              Shields                    3                3-1, CWS
TB       Evan Longoria               2        430 ft.         solo           LF C-ring         0-1              Vazquez                  3                4-3, TB
CWS   Paul Konerko                 1        406 ft.         solo           left                    3-2              Wheeler                  9                6-4, TB

UP NEXT: Fri vs. CWS at 6:00 p.m. (TBS/1250 WHNZ English/680 WGES Spanish)

LH Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49) vs. LH Mark Buehrle (15-12, 3.79)

POSTGAME QUOTES

October 2, 2008 vs. Chicago White Sox (Game 1, American League Division Series)

Rays Quotes

Grant Balfour

(on the issue with Orlando Cabrera)

“He kicked the dirt and told me to throw it over the plate and started cursing at me. He just fired me up to get him out. So I was fortunate there. I like to get fired up so he really helped me out.”

(after he struck him out)

“I told him to go sit down. … It was a good feeling.”

Dioner Navarro

(on the crowd)

“It was pretty exciting. This is why we work hard for the whole spring and the whole summer.”

(on the series)

“They knew we can play against them and we know they can play against us.”

(on the win)

“We played good games. We catch the ball, timely hitting, exceptional pitching. … That’s what we were talking about before the game. It’s just a regular game.”

J.P. Howell

(on the win)

“We’re proud but there’s still a lot more to go. … We know that the hard part is keeping it simple.”

(on James Shields outing)

“That’s why we call him Big Game James. … He sets the tone and keep the tempo going.”

White Sox Quotes

Orlando Cabrera

(on Grant Balfour)

“They say that he always gets pumped up like that, he says the F word to the hitter every time they swing at his pitch, I didn’t know that so I just got mad a little bit and I was just pumped up. …Like I said before, it was just heat of the moment in the battlefield.”

Javier Vazquez

(on Evan Longoria)

“He’s a good hitter, bottom line. He’s a rookie but he did it all year for them and he’s a good power guy. …The second curve ball I threw was a terrible curve ball and he took advantage of that.”

(on the game)

“They kept getting hits over and over and over, and it was just a tough game. …This is by far the roughest time in my career.”

A.J. Pierzynski

(on the game)

“We got to pitch better, that’s the bottom line. We made a couple mistakes and they hit a couple home runs. …The bottom line is we just got to make pitches when we have to and tonight we didn’t do that. …We had our chances, we had bases loaded on one inning and didn’t get any runs…we had our chances, we’ll get them tomorrow. …It’s the playoffs, guys don’t miss them now.”

Courtesy MLB

Home Cookin'

2008-10-03T01:41:00Z

No wonder Joe Maddon willed his Rays to the AL East title.

The Rays owned the top home record in baseball.

In Game One, the Rays take "advantage" of homefield advantage.

I've covered every major sporting event Tampa Bay has had or been involved in over the last 20 years.

The atmosphere around the Trop was electric.

It rivaled Buccaneer playoff games. Only the Lightning's Game 7 win in the Stanley Cup Finals had more juice.

I can only imagine a Game 7 of the World Series at the Trop. Don't forget that Scott Kazmir was the American League's winning pitcher in the All-Star game. Evan Longoria provided a key RBI. So, it is only appropriate that the Rays are able to use the American League's homefield advantage with that All-Star victory.

Al Keck

What Jon Gruden had to say on Thursday

2008-10-02T21:26:00Z

HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN

(On injured players)
"I don't have any updates. Aqib Talib was limited with an illness but he'll be okay, we think."

(On how Davin Joseph looked)
"I thought he looked alright. I'm just getting tired of talking about the injured players. But he looked better today. He's got a chance to play."

(On Bronco receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal)
"Well, Royal's a rookie, so his familiarity is what we have in the first four games of the season. But he's made a lot of great plays. They go to him in key situations. Marshall is, if not the best receiver I've seen, one of the best. He's unbelievable. He can beat you deep, he can beat you after the catch, he can just beat you period. He's a great player. Central Florida should be proud."

(On if Byron Storer is one of the unheralded players on the team)
"Yeah, he is. He got a Hammer Award – we give an award for the special teams player of the week. He had three tackles last week. He comes in and starts at fullback, no one knows he played. He doesn't show up on these stats but he's a really good player. We ran behind him in short-yardage four times. He's up in the hole doing some good things. We're really happy for him. He's a good kid and he's really played well here. He's one of the unheralded guys of our team, but we have others."

(On former Buc and current Bronco RB Michael Pittman)
"Well, he's Michael Pittman. You see him in the slot, you see him carrying the ball, you see him as a fullback. You see the big arms – you can't miss him. He's just a very good player, a great team guy and he's a world champion. Denver's fortunate to have him."

What Jon Gruden had to say on Wednesday

2008-10-01T21:47:00Z

(On injured players)
"We'll have an update here in a little bit but Sabby Piscitelli has a sore elbow. He was not practicing but his status for the game is still up in the air. Davin Joseph did practice; his status is up in the air. Joey Galloway did not, B.J. Askew did not. Other than that, we had a couple guys like Warrick Dunn that are normally inactive on Wednesday inactive today."

(On Warrick Dunn getting Wednesdays off)
"That's part of our plan with him. He's had his own routine the last couple years and it's worked very well for him. I sure like the quickness and the playmaking that he's putting on our film so we're going to stay with our pattern. He's a real pro. He takes a lot of reps in the walk-through, he's great in the meetings and it gives our young backs like Michael Bennett and the other guys a chance to take some turns."

(On if it's a challenge to get all the quarterbacks prepared)
"We've used a lot of players already. Obviously Jeremy Zuttah and Byron Storer and Antonio Bryant – a lot of guys have taken over right away as starters. That's part of practice. That's why you have practice."

(On if Matt Bryant's Player of the Week Award was special)
"It was very special. Obviously what occurred last week was just a terrible tragedy, and that's not going anywhere. The sorrow and disappointment and all those things are still devastating. But he won the games for us two weeks in a row with last-second field goals. We're really happy for him.”

(On playing in the high altitude in Denver)
"It was challenging playing them out there because they were the two-time defending World Champions. It's always a challenge playing Denver, a Mike Shanahan-coached football team. This is a 3-1 team. People look at our schedule; it's a hard schedule. Forget about the altitude and the crowd noise and the beautiful stadium and the long trip – they're a hell of a football team. They're 3-1 and they're coming off a tough loss. We're going to have to play a great game to beat them."

(On the Broncos' offensive ranking and still giving up a lot of sacks)
"You bring up the stats to me. Stats, they don't mean that much to me. I've had a lot of people bring stats up to me. They're a hell of a team. They beat San Diego at home, impressively. [Jay] Cutler's playing great. They have a creative attack. And defensively they've given up six or seven long plays but they've played pretty good in some other areas. They're 3-1 because they're a good team and they're well-coached and they're creative and diverse on both sides of the ball and they're talented."

(On the Broncos always finding diamonds in the rough at running back)
"Well, they do a great job, obviously, finding a back that fits their scheme and they surround that guy with good players. They've got a very good offensive line. They've always had very good quarterback play. And I can remember Rod Smith and [Ed] McCaffrey. I can remember now they've got Brandon Marshall and [Eddie] Royal. They're always talented. It's a credit to Coach Shanahan and the front office, and they style in which they play. We've got our own diamond here in the rough. His name is Earnest Graham."

(On Earnest Graham as a man and a leader)
"Well, they don't get any better. They just don't get any better. The Warrick Dunns, Derrick Brookses, [Ronde] Barbers, some of the guys we've been fortunate enough to have here and coach, the [John] Lynches, all those guys, high character guys – this guys right there with them. He's a team guy. He plays fullback, tailback, he'll run down, he's begging to cover a kick. He's as happy for Warrick Dunn and his success as he is for his own. And boy is he talented. He's a hard guy to bring down. He was 4-4 in short-yardage last week against the Green Bay Packers. That says enough right there, what kind of hard-nosed runner he is. And he's showing big-time playmaking ability as well."

(On if Graham gets better later in the game as he gets more carries)
"That's been the case so far. We haven't done particularly well running the ball in the first half. I think he had eight carries for eight yards at halftime the other day. That's not because he's not running the ball or not because we're not trying. We used up seven or eight early downs to try to get the run established. We have to do a better job. We'd like to see Earnest start hot and finish with a bang; one of these days he will."

(On if he and Brian Griese have worked on eliminating interceptions)
"We're going to be okay, I think. He understands that he can't turn the ball over. He knows where I stand and he knows enough about the position, that that's critical to our success. We're going to try to move on. Fortunately we were able to win the football game. But, yeah, there are some things that we talked about and there are some things that we understand clearly. We're going to move on, now. We've got to get ready for another game."

It's that time!!! ALDS style

2008-10-01T20:54:00Z

For all who have waited patiently for this moment, savor it. For all of you who are new to the area, and not quite with the Rays program here, you will. Spending most the day at Tropicana Field with the boys was fun. Why? Because that's what their having, fun.

Not to say they are taking their eye off the ball here, that is farthest from the truth. But they are taking another verse out of Joe Maddon's message book. Have fun, take in what your seeing, and then on gameday, do what you've done all season...come to play.

Today didn't have the pomp and circumstance tomorrow will bring. I was most pleasantly happy for the long time employees and coaches that have been with this franchise from day one. Talking with Third base coach Tom Foley today, this season brought about joy that took such a jagged road getting here, it would make a grown man cry. To tell you the truth, he admitted his eyes watered the day they clinched the AL East.

Carl Crawford, who has also endured the pain of some aweful teams, was perhaps the happiest of all. He was very close to not making the series roster due to injury. But as CC told me today, his hand all of a sudden got better in a hurry, and he's batting fifth tomorrow against Chicago.

It appears that closer Troy Percival will be left off the rsoter for the ALDS. Rays will be going with 10 pitchers.

Enjoy the series!

Tom Korun

Rays vs White Sox

2008-10-01T03:18:00Z

In a season that has featured so many key showdowns with the Red Sox, the Rays make their postseason debut against the White Sox.

Chicago won the AL Central with a 1-0 win over Minnesota in the one-game winner- take-all.

Jim Thome provided the game's only offense with a 7th inning home run.

John Danks fired a 2-hitter over 8. Danks has 2 victories over the Rays this season.

The Rays won the season series 6-4. The Rays won 5 of the final 6 games. What does that mean Thursday at the Trop?

Nothing.

Al Keck

Rays Set Rotation

2008-10-01T00:21:00Z

The Rays say they are going with a four-man pitching rotation for the opening round of the American League playoffs.

James Shields starts Game 1 Thursday at the Trop.

Scott Kazmir goes in Game 2 Friday.

Matt Garza will get the call in Game 3 Sunday on the road.

And right now, the Rays will go to Andy Sonnanstine in Game 4.

It appears Edwin Jackson has become the odd man out. Jackson was tied with Shields for the Rays lead with 14 wins. But he also led the Rays with 11 losses. There were times when Jackson was electric. There were other times when he'd get off to a slow start and he put the Rays in an early hole.

Now the question is, will Jackson be included on this opening round roster in the bullpen?Joe Maddon admits he has some tough decisions. What you don't want is to put pitchers in roles they did not fill during the regular season.

Al Keck