They pick up the starters, and then they pick up each other. "It's the same thing that's been going on all year long," pitching coach Jim Hickey said after the Rays' bullpen delivered a second consecutive dose of postseason excellence. ...more

October 4, 2008

Less than two hours before Game 2, Carlos Pena said he was "optimistic" he would be able to start as scheduled. ...more

October 4, 2008

Star Of The Game: Rays' Bullpen Last season, it was one of the most motley crews ever assembled in major-league history (6.16 ERA, worst since the 1950s). This season, the Rays' bullpen has been strictly lights out. Scott Kazmir, despite early pitch-count troubles, got into the sixth inning. From there, it was closed out by Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Chad Bradford. In two playoff games, Tampa Bay relievers have retired 18 of 23 batters (61/3 innings, one run allowed on a homer, no walks, nine strikeouts). "They don't have a legit closer, and I see they have lefty, righty, lefty in the bullpen," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That's why they have the brightest men I've seen in the game right now." ...more

October 4, 2008

Last season, the Rays' bullpen was an absolute joke. Major-league baseball hadn't seen a crew that motley – 6.16 ERA – since the 1950s. ...more

October 3, 2008

Troy Percival made the best argument he could under the circumstances, but his two scoreless appearances in Detroit last weekend were too little, too late. ...more

October 2, 2008

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The Rays just became: •The second team all-time to reach the postseason one year after having baseball's worst record (joining the 1991 Braves). ...more

September 21, 2008

The Rays may not have a true ace on their pitching staff, but Andy Sonnanstine has pitched like one under the glare of a pennant race spotlight. ...more

September 17, 2008

The Rays didn't lose any ground in the standings Saturday, but the potential gains that slipped away made for a disappointing finish to their longest day of the season. ...more

September 14, 2008

We're about four hours away from the first pitch tonight at Fenway Park as I sit to write this, and in a way that's a shame. Tuesday night's 5-4 victory by the Rays over the Red Sox was one you'd like a day or two to savor. ...more

September 10, 2008

The underlying theme in Joe Maddon's messages to his team back when winning was still a novelty rarely wavered. ...more

September 6, 2008