The Vandy Kid is coming of age on the biggest stage in baseball. ...more

October 24, 2008

Star Of The Game: James Shields Maybe it wasn't a vintage outing, but Rays starter James Shields provided the spark behind Thursday night's 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Shields, picking up his first postseason victory since the Game 1 ALDS win against the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 2, took a shutout two outs into the sixth inning before being lifted. Shields surrendered seven hits, walking two and striking out four, but he showed great resolve by stranding six runners in scoring position. ...more

October 24, 2008

It was nearly 1 a.m. when B.J. Upton appeared at his locker Thursday. Most of his Rays' teammates had already been quizzed about the 3-2 loss to Philadelphia in Game 1 of the World Series, and the clubhouse was beginning to clear, but a large group of reporters waited to hear what Upton had to say because, as usual, he had been a focal point of the game. It wasn't the way he would have wanted to make his World Series debut, although he did have a nice throw from center field to cut down Shane Victorino at home, saving a run. At the plate though, it wasn't good. He went hitless in four at-bats. He hit into double plays his first two times up. And then there was that thing that follows Upton continually: the hustle issue. ...more

October 23, 2008

Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura sees a lot of similarities between the Japan World Series and America's World Series with one major distinction. ...more

October 23, 2008

They have called him things like country bumpkin and Charlie Mayberry. They have made fun of his weight. They have criticized him for being too easy on his players. ...more

October 22, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG – One more out, and the Rays would earn a trip to the World Series. ...more

October 20, 2008

Needing only a four-pitch first inning Monday, LHP Jon Lester looked like he would mow down the Rays like he did in his three previous starts against them this year. ...more

October 14, 2008

Any hopes the Rays had of continuing their postseason roll ended Friday by the toss of a Dice. ...more

October 11, 2008

This is for Little Big Man. Across the Pacific, in Uwajima, Ehime prefecture, on the Japanese island of Shikoku, where Akinori Iwamura was born 29 years ago, they would have partied until dawn after his big Friday night if it wasn't already 9 in the morning Saturday. Japan is 13 hours ahead of Tropicana Field. The Rays are two games ahead of the White Sox in the AL Division Series. ...more

October 4, 2008

Forget the Alamo. Remember Elliot Johnson. We know there's a body of water in Minnesota named Lake Itasca and that it's the source of the mighty Mississippi. But where, oh, where did this amazing Rays season begin? ...more

September 30, 2008