The way their bullpen has performed through the first two games in the playoffs, the Rays would have felt confident taking a one-run lead into the ninth inning Friday night. ...more

October 4, 2008

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

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

Jon Lester flirted with a no-hitter in his final tuneup before the playoffs, finishing with six innings of two-hit ball on Thursday night and leading the Red Sox to a 6-1 victory against the Indians. ...more

September 26, 2008

The line of blue, waist-high coolers on wheels lined up in the corridor off the visitors' clubhouse told the tale Thursday afternoon. ...more

September 26, 2008

Pitching was about all the Rays had to hang their hat on Monday, as their offense was hardly clicking on all cylinders against a series of mediocre Orioles pitchers. ...more

September 23, 2008

Six feet. Six little feet. A testy putt, to be sure, but one that defines the legacy of a player such as Phil Mickelson. ...more

September 21, 2008

BOWLING Owning a pro shop at Mariner Lanes helped Vic Oliver learn the mental part of bowling and become one of the top bowlers in the county. ...more

September 8, 2008

Looking for a microcosm of how the Rays have played lately? Check out Akinori Iwamura's at-bat in the eighth inning of Saturday's game. ...more

August 24, 2008

Here's how bad it was for Boston lefty Jon Lester: Vernon Wells turned on the best pitch he threw and drilled it for a two-run homer. ...more

August 24, 2008