News :: Opinion
To Remain Contenders, Rays' Kids Must Grow Up
Associated Press photo
Edwin Jackson, foreground, reacts after being removed following the fifth inning of a 9-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: June 16, 2008
Updated: 06/16/2008 12:44 am
ST. PETERSBURG - It was a trip down memory sewer in the middle of what has been an atypical Rays baseball season, the first of its kind, in fact, the kind where, suddenly, taking two of three from the downstate Marlins simply won't do.
The Chicago Cubs, with the best record in baseball and a century of moaning in their hip pockets, pay their first visit to the friendly catwalks of Tropicana Field beginning Tuesday (last Rays fan to dress up as Bartman is a rotten egg). That will be circus enough, with Lou Piniella back at Tropicana Field. So did the Rays really have to beat the traffic and hop out of a tiny clown car Sunday?
Lou would have known Sunday's Rays crew with his eyes closed - the sound of home run balls thrown by Edwin Jackson, the thud of the routine fly ball B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross let drop between them for two runs, or the thud in the catcher's mitt during 12 Rays strikeouts. It was old-time Rays religion in a sleepy 9-3 loss to Florida.
"That was a rough one," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
He added, "It's also wonderful that we're disappointed."
Losses Can't Add Up
Taking the first two games of any three-game series in the first 10 years of Rays history would have felt like a full tummy. Not now. And it can't if this team has any designs of staying in the playoff conversation.
There are games like Sunday. There will always be games like Sunday.
They just can't add up.
Aside from the abominable sweep at Boston here or there, the Rays (40-29) have mostly taken care of business.
Consider that in the absence of Troy Percival, the Rays didn't blow a save.
Consider that no one on this team has outstanding offensive numbers.
Consider that James Shields, part of the Rays' Big Two starting pitchers, hasn't won since May 9.
Consider that two-thirds of the Little Three, starters Andy Sonnanstine and Matt Garza, won games this weekend. Garza showed signs that his Oil Can moment is behind him with seven big innings Saturday night.
But there was no getting around the sight of Jackson watching a pair of three-run homers sail over his head. In the second, a pair of walks, then a fat two-strike slider that traveled 390 feet for a 3-0 Marlins lead. In the fifth, two two-out singles, then a fat change-up, 402 more feet and a 6-0 hole. Thanks for playing.
Jackson has allowed one run or less in six starts and at one point had thrown 20 straight scoreless innings, but he's 2-6 in his past 12 starts. That, and especially Sunday, is troubling, because the ultimate success of this season might come down to the back end of the starting rotation.
Jackson, Sonnanstine and Garza all have had their moments, but sooner or later someone will have to step up and stay up. Rays pitching has made a great leap this season, but we're talking about the next step, season-long contention, and that will require more than the hash Jackson served up Sunday.
It Felt Like Night
Throw in those stifled Rays bats. Twelve times Tampa Bay hitters struck out against Marlins starter Wilbur Wood, whose alias is Ricky Nolasco.
The Great Nolasco threw 132 pitches, the most by a major-league pitcher in nearly two years, which made you wonder why the guy was still hurling despite a seven-run lead in the ninth.
Gov. Charlie Crist wasn't at the Trop to present the Citrus Series Trophy, because the Rays and Marlins still have three games left in Miami, and because there is no Citrus Series Trophy. Still, the Rays already have 40 victories this season, and last season it took them until Aug. 1 to manage that. It's night and day.
Still, Sunday felt like night, deep and dark.
Maybe it just seemed that way because on Sunday the Red Sox piled on the Reds and the Yankees are showing signs of getting hot. The pace might be quickening, kids, and kids like Jackson are going to need to keep growing. Or else.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
