oh Evan, Where art thou…
So here we go again with the Rays with their backs against the wall. To have to win the next three seems all but impossible. Like I’ve had said before everyone has been counting them out all year and against the Red Sox. This time they might have dug themselves a whole too deep. So where are the Rays that have been playing all year? These World Series Rays aren’t them. The Rays won by having solid defense, pitching and their bats.. The speed is still there so at least that is something. The Pitching has been descent but not solid and the last two games have been giving up the big hits.. When everyone was praising the Rays’ young guns and doubting the Phillies back part of their rotation, it’s been Moyer & Blanton who has shined. Moyer with a 6.3 innings pitched 5 hits allowed 3 earned runs 1 walk and 5 K’s.. Blanton 6.0 innings pitched 4 hits allowed 2 earned runs 2 walks 7 K’s.. Wow what a pickup Blanton was; trust me I’ve watched him in Oakland former 1
Now about them Rays… The hitting is close to non-existed. Evan Longoria & Carlos Pena are a combined 0-fer for 29!! Ouch compared to against the Red Sox they were 14 for 53 with 7 Homers combine. Errors OMG the Errors how did this start was it the cold air? The Young Guns haven’t had it either they had a combine 43.6 innings pitched 37 hits 15 earned runs 18 walks 34 K’s against Boston. Against Philly they are a combine 21.7 innings pitched 25 hits 10 earned runs 11 walks 17 K’s. They are close and not stinking it too bad but not quite cutting it. The Phillies bats are coming alive and the Rays’ aren’t simple as that. The Rays just don’t win when Evan & Carlos aren’t hitting. So if the Rays stand a chance tonight to get it back to the Trop those guys need to come up big. So the question is again with the Rays up against the wall in the cold and facing Cole Hamels on the mound can they be those Resilient Remarkable Rays that we have seen all year?
It has been on hell of a season and a ride either way and no one can take that away from them and with most of these guys locked up for about 3 years.. It will be fun to watch…