DRaysBay Oct 8, 2019
How the Rays bullpen fares against the Houston Astros
Photo by Bob Levey/ Tonight will be a true test of the Rays superb bullpen Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays face elimination once again as they take on the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Division Series. Having already used their top three starters in Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell, the Rays will turn to their fearsome bullpen in hopes of winning the game and forcing a game five in Houston on Thursday. Diego Castillo has already been tabbed as the opener, and then Kevin Cash will choose his battles based on how things proceed from there. “We’ll start...
DRaysBay Oct 8, 2019
View from the catwalk: still alive
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports The Rays seem to like playing in elimination games Strong outing from Charlie Morton? Check. The Rays’ most dependable starter of 2019 hurled 5 innings of one run ball, scattering 3 hits and striking out 9. Charlie Morton struck out Alex Bregman -- who is not easy to strike out -- by following a 2-seamer that broke 21.0 inches in one direction with a curveball that broke 22.2 inches in the opposite direction. pic.twitter.com/RKuNU1B9QP— David Adler (@_dadler) October 7, 2019 Offense waking up in a big way? Check. Kevin Kiermaier opened the scoring...
The Crawfish Boxes Oct 7, 2019
ALDS Game 3 Thread and preview. October 7th, 2019, 12:00 CDT. Astros vs Rays
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Greinke goes for the sweep. Join the discussion. Zack Greinke takes on former Astros Game sevens hero Charlie Morton St. Petersburg in Game 3 of the ALDS. The Astros hope to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays, having won the first two game of the series behind the completely dominant pitching of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Let’s look a little deeper into pitching match-ups. The Astros declined to re-sign Morton in 2019, his lack of stamina throughout his career probably a main consideration. So, Morton went to Tampa and pitched a career high 194 innings at age...
Climbing Tal's Hill Oct 7, 2019
Astros go for ALDS sweep with Zack Greinke up against Charlie Morton
Zack Greinke, the Astros late-season addition, will face off against former Astro Charlie Morton in their attempt to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. The Astros couldn’t have expected anything more from Zack Greinke when they acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks just before the trade deadline expired. But he’ll be on a […] Astros go for ALDS sweep with Zack Greinke up against Charlie Morton - Climbing Tals Hill - Climbing Tals Hill - A Houston Astros Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
DRaysBay Oct 7, 2019
Charlie Morton is not afraid of the Astros
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports “I know those guys” Down two games in a five game series as the Astros come toTropicana Field, the Rays will hand the ball to the pitcher who got them through the Wild Card game: former Astros star Charlie Morton. Asked yesterday about facing his friends and former teammates, Morton was as even- keeled as ever. Because you’re facing guys that you’re close with, you went through a lot with. And I guess that you know what they’re capable of. And that knowledge takes all the mystery away. I mean, you play teams like the Astros — the Yankees, the...
DRaysBay Oct 3, 2019
The five biggest moments from the Tampa Bay Rays Wild Card victory
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports Almost everything went right for the Tampa Bay Rays during Wednesday’s Wild Card Game victory over the Oakland Athletics. From Yandy Diaz leading off the game with a home run, to Charlie Morton tight-roping his way out of danger all night long, to another Diaz blast, to just absolute bullpen dominance; the Rays were literally in control of this game from the very first at-bat. Going to be hard to choose, but let’s go through and decide the top 5 best moments from last night’s action. Yandy sets the tone Have to start with Yandy Diaz’s leadoff blast,...
The Crawfish Boxes Oct 3, 2019
Rays eliminate A’s, 5-1, with four homers. Let’s take a glance from an Astros’ perspective.
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Old friend Charlie Morton logs MLB record third winner-take-all victory Unlike last night’s Wild Card Game, the road team was able to preserve an early lead and prevail with a victory. That means the Tampa Bay Rays will face the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series beginning Friday at Minute Maid Park. There wasn’t a whole lot of drama associated with this one. Yandy Diaz clubbed the first leadoff home run in Rays’ postseason history to give Tampa Bay a lead it would never relinquish. Let us introduce you to Yandy and his ...
The Crawfish Boxes Oct 2, 2019
AL Wild Card Game Thread. Oct. 2nd, 2019, 7:09 CDT. Rays vs. A’s
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Two great teams send out their aces in sudden death elimination for the privilege of playing the Astros in the ALDS. Join the discussion. Charlie Morton. Charlie Freakin Morton. Hurling for another team under playoff pressure. It doesn’t seem right. But if the Rays win, it means our guys only have to see that evil curve ball once in the ALDS. The A’s send their best, Sean Manaea. It’s win or go home for these teams. All for the chance to face Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke in the Divisional Series. What a gauntlet. Here’s the...
DRaysBay Oct 2, 2019
Rays Wildcard Preview: Sean Manaea Scouting Report
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via While the Oakland Athletics have the unenviable task of facing Charlie Morton, one of the best starting pitchers in the league, the Rays will work against Oakland starter Sean Manaea, who, while not on the same level as CFM, is probably the best rotation option the Athletics have available. Over his first three seasons in the majors Manaea was a slightly above average pitcher, with a career ERA nine percent better than the league average, and a FIP two percent better. In 29.2 innings after returning from arthroscopic shoulder surgery this year,...
DRaysBay Oct 2, 2019
Rays and A’s announce Wild Card rosters
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ Both teams have stocked their arsenal ahead of tonight’s must-win game With the American League Wild Card game only hours away and nerves among fans are reaching a fever pitch as the do-or-die match looms closer. We already knew the starting pitchers ahead of time: Charlie Morton for Tampa Bay and Sean Manaea for Oakland, but both teams have now release their complete rosters for the big game, and there are a few interesting notes. For the Rays, you’ll notice that Blake Snell — who pitched on Sunday — is on the list (perhaps in case of late inning lefties?)...
DRaysBay Oct 2, 2019
It’s CFM Time
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports Rays give the ball to Charlie Morton for this must-win game In a somewhat surprising move this winter the Tampa Bay Rays signed Charlie Morton to the largest free agent contract in the franchise’s history. The Rays signed him to lead a young pitching staff to the playoffs. Morton rewarded the Rays with the 17th most productive season in major leagues with 6.1 fWAR and was the most valuable free agent signed last winter. When the Rays needed a stabilizing force in the rotation he has been everything they could have dreamed for and more. He set career...
DRaysBay Oct 2, 2019
View from the Catwalk: The American League Wild Card Game
Photo by Jane Tyska/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Here. We. Go Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics will play in the American League Wild Card game where the loser goes home and the winner advances to take on the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series. The first pitch is expected at 8:09 ET with Sean Manaea going for the Oakland Athletics and Charlie Morton going for the Rays. The rosters must be decided by 1:00 ET. News and Links Upstart Rays out to prove their talent - Juan Toribio, Rays Baseball Sogard, Diaz health key to Rays’ roster decisions...
The Crawfish Boxes Sep 30, 2019
Wild Card Preview: A’s vs. Rays, 10/2, 7:09 CT
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ Time to set your AL West animosity aside- the Rays are terrifying. When Astros fans tune into Wednesday night’s AL wild card tilt, there will be plenty of familiar faces on display. Fans have no doubt become familiar with much of the Oakland roster over the last couple of years, as the A’s have been the Astros’ fiercest division rival in the AL West to date. On the other side, Astros World Series champion Charlie Morton will take the hill in this win or go home contest. Morton has continued his dominant late career run with the Rays, who snapped him up on a...
The Mercury News Sep 29, 2019
Predicting Athletics’ wild card roster and approach against Charlie Morton
How will the A's alter their approach against Charlie Morton?
DRaysBay Sep 26, 2019
View from the Catwalk: Everything is awesome
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Everything is cool when you are part of a team The Tampa Bay Rays were victorious last night as Charlie Morton and the Rays bullpen dominated, shutting out the New York Yankees and yielding just one hit during the contest. Offensively, Joey Wendle (3) and Avisail Garcia (20) launched solo home runs for the Rays as part of the four runs scored for Tampa Bay. With the victory and a Cleveland defeat, the Rays now have a 1.5 game lead over the second Wild Card spot and sit a half game back of the Oakland Athletics with just three regular season games...
