Bullpen Heart Racing Ninth, Wasn't Necessary
mvn.com 6/29/2009 — The Rays have been without a closer for over a month now. That shouldn't have made a difference going into the top of ninth with 5-1 lead over the Florida Marlins. David Price went six and a third innings and Joe Nelson an effective one and two-thirds innings to give the Rays one-run ball over ...

Losing Lance Cormier
mvn.com 7/4/2009 — He was the bright light in the bullpen in April, making 9 appearances for 18 innings with a 3.37 FIP, pitching mostly in long relief with four outings of 2.1 innings or more pitched. Lance Cormier really shined in spring training and earn a spot in the Rays bullpen as the long reliever, ...

All Things Rays: Rays vs. Royals
raysallday.com 7/17/2009 — The Rays open up the second half of the season tonight against the Royals. It will be key for the Rays to open up the second half winning if the Rays want to make up the distance in the standings and make the playoffs. Joe Maddon sends James Shields to the mound tonight to begin the ...

If History Is Right, Shields Should Win Today (Or At Least Pitch Excellent)
mvn.com 7/7/2009 — Having the schedule the way it worked out to be, the Rays had two off days in five days, which would give two starters six days rest if they started in order. Instead, Joe Maddon was smart to give the ace of 2009 James Shields the benefit of the schedule. After pitching a start on Wednesday at ...

An Epic Battle Won By Bullpen, Offense, And The Greatest Comeback In Rays History
mvn.com 7/25/2009 — July 25, 2009 Box    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   R  ...

Rays set second-half rotation
tboblogs.com 7/12/2009 — The Rays have set up their starting rotation for the start of the second half next Friday, when James Shields will get the ball at Kansas City. Tampa Bay’s Opening Day starter, who will be on the mound tomorrow in the first half finale, will ...

The Bullpen Has Been Under Worked Lately. Good Or Bad?
mvn.com 6/5/2009 — Just a brief look at the dates the last time the Rays relievers pitched in a game. Rest days since last appearance and stats when pitching on # of rest days in 2009 0 Days- J.P. Howell (7 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 9 K, ER) 2 Days- Grant Balfour (7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K, ER) 4 Days- Joe Nelson, Jason ...

Waiting Game: The Story Of The Rays First 50 Games
draysbay.com 5/29/2009 — More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP B.J. Upton is just waiting. So are we. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) Browse more photos » It's sort of ...

Shields Keeps His Pitches Tight
mvn.com 7/7/2009 — There is really only two general sets of pitches in baseball. Fast and slow. Better pitchers will vary that with fast, medium, and slow or someone say like Jamie Moyer: slow, slower, and even slower than the last. An more advanced pitcher will then add break right, left, down, and up. James ...

Grant Balfour Saves Game In Seventh Inning Jam; Rays Sweep Jays
draysbay.com 7/12/2009 — More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon made the right call to Grant Balfour in the pivotal seventh inning.  ...

Cabrera lifts Oakland past Tampa Bay — SFGate: Top Sports Stories
The Oakland Athletics didn't play like a team entering the All-Star break with a losing record for the first time in a decade. Orlando Cabrera hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Oakland's four-run seventh, leading the Athletics to a 7-3 victory over the ...

Trevor Hoffman to replace Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton in All-Star game — L.A. Times - Baseball News
Hoffman joins Pittsburgh's Zach Duke and Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena as players picked to replace All-Stars unable to participate in Tuesday's game. > Trevor Hoffman was supposed to ...

Ian Kinsler Still Not an All-Star — Bleacher Report - MLB
Major League Baseball announced Sunday that Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has withdrawn from Tuesday's All-Star Game to be with his wife, who is in the hospital. This gave American League manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays the ...

A's beat Rays with 4-run rally in 7th (AP) — Yahoo! Sports - MLB News
Orlando Cabrera hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Oakland's four-run seventh, leading the Athletics to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Kurt Suzuki and pinch-hitter Jack Cust each singled in a run and Mark Ellis drove in Landon Powell ...

Cabrera lifts Oakland past Tampa Bay — Boston.com -- Baseball News
Orlando Cabrera hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Oakland's four-run seventh, leading the Athletics to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.