May 9-11, 2042: vs Texas (3)
 

Game 1: Vinny Willard was very good for a change and the Rays took the opener of their series with Texas 3-1 at Publix Park. The righty was 6.1 6 1 1 2 4 to improve to 2-4, 6.75 and Kikuo Kawase handled the 9th for save #10. All 3 Tampa Bay runs came in the 4th, with Andy Ruggles singling in a run and Josh Beckett hitting another homer off a lefty, a 2-run shot (#3).

Game 2: The Rays overcame a bad first inning from Brad Jackson and scored 4 times in the 8th to overtake the Rangers 7-4 and make it 6 straight wins. Jackson allowed all 4 Texas runs in the 1st but he did settle in after that, finishing 6 6 4 4 2 6. Dan Anderson picked up win #3 with 2 innings of scoreless relief and Freddie Zamora finished for save #3. Doug Johns had a big day at the plate, going 3-3 and his 2-run single in the 3rd got them within 4-3. Dave Frick had the game-winning hit in the 4-run 8th, a 2-run double which put them ahead before Tony Cordova doubled him home.

Game 3: Tampa Bay completed the sweep of Texas behind a solid outing from Jeff Brockman with a 6-3 win, their 7th straight. Brockman improved to 4-1 off a 5.2 4 1 1 1 7 performance. Satoshi Soto pitched into and out of a jam in the 8th by walking a pair but striking out 3. Seth Williams was the star on offense, hitting a 2-run HR (#7) and driving in 3 while Tony Cordova added a 2-run double.

Team record: 31-11. We can't shake the Yanks, who swept Boston while we were doing likewise to Texas, so they remain 3 behind. Something's gotta give as the Yankees now visit for 4 games.

May 12-15, 2042: vs NY Yankees (4)
 

Game 1: It was time for the showdown series between the two hottest teams in baseball, the Yankees and the Rays, at Publix Park, and Tampa Bay cooled New York 4-2 in the opener behind Jose Mendoza. The lefty gave up a pair of solo homers but nothing else and finished 6 5 2 2 3 8 to improve to 6-2, 3.40. Kikuo Kawase had a 1-2-3 2-whiff 9th for save #11. Dan Gregory and Jon Callahan had RBI singles in the 2nd to break a 1-1 tie with Gregory going 3-5 with a steal and Callahan driving in another with a fielder's choice.

Game 2: Dan Gregory, who had a big hit last night, had an even bigger one tonight as his 3-run homer off former Ray Ron Adams in the 7th (#6) gave the Rays a 7-4 win to make it 2 of 2 over the Yanks. Johnny Soland, battling a tender shoulder, wasn't his best tonight (3.1 6 4 3 2 4) but Chris Williams went 2 2/3 scoreless and human good luck charm Dan Anderson picked up his 4th relief win which Kikuo Kawase saved (#12). Jimmy Leonard had nice game with a 2-run HR (#10), an RBI single and two walks.

Game 3: The up-again, down-again Vinny Willard was up again tonight and he and the Yankees' Juan Espinoza hooked up in a pitchers' duel won by the Rays 2-1 in 11 innings. Willard pitched to contact tonight and for a change it worked as he went 7 3 1 1 0 2. Jimmy Leonard's sac fly tied the game at 1 in the 2nd and we went almost 9 innings after that without any scoring before Josh Alexander took a Mike Barkley fastball deep into the Tampa night to walk it off for the Rays, his 13th of the year. Satashi Soto picked up his 3rd win after pitching the 11th.

Game 4: The Rays left no doubt as the who the Beast of the East is after winning a wild 8-7 game over the Yankees to sweep the 4-game series and run their win streak to 11. Josh Beckett's 8th-inning grand slam, his 4th homer of the year and amazingly 3rd off a lefty, turned a 6-4 Yankee lead into an 8-6 Rays advantage, and Kikuo Kawase navigated the 9th allowing an unearned run (thanks to a Beckett error) and hanging on for save #13. Ed Pretty picked up win #2 despite allowing a 2-run homer in the top of the 8th which put New York ahead. Outside of Beckett the top of the order did the damage with Mike Willis going 4-4 with a triple, RBI and steal while Seth Williams was 3-4 with 2 RBI. Brad Jackson started and went 5 5 3 3 2 7 but Dan Anderson made a mess with his runners.

Team record: 35-11. Next up: The homestand continues as Baltimore comes in for 3 over the weekend.

May 16-18, 2042: vs Baltimore (3)
 

Game 1: The win streak reached 12 as the Rays annihilated the Orioles at Publix Park 15-3. Seth Williams was 3-4 with a double, homer (#8) and 3 RBI, Andy Ruggles had a 3-run shot (#8) among his 4 RBI, and Kevin Morley hit #2 with 2 RBI while Dave Frick and Josh Alexander each had 3 hits and an RBI. Jeff Brockman coasted to the win going 7 6 3 3 1 7 with his only damage allowed being a 3-run homer. He's now 5-1, 4.30.

Game 2: The Rays extended their winning streak to a baker's dozen thanks to a dominant Jose Mendoza performance in a 6-0 win over Baltimore. The lefty was 6 4 0 0 1 9 to improve to 7-2, 3.00 and he was supported by Dan Gregory, whose grand slam (#7) broke open a 2-0 game in the 7th. Seth Williams banged out 3 more hits and stole a pair of bases.

Game 3: Tampa Bay concluded its weekend pummeling of the Orioles with a 9-2 rout to make it a sweep of Baltimore by an aggregate 30-5 score and run the win streak to 14. The Orioles' Mike Sisk has been one of the top pitchers this season at 5-1, 1.84 but that didn't faze the Rays as they added a run to his ERA by blasting a pair of 3-run homers in the 3rd from Seth Williams (#9) and Jose Mendez (#5). Williams later added his 10th to cap another 3-hit game, his 4th straight. He now leads MLB in batting average at .381. This was all more than enough for Johnny Soland, who improved to 6-1, 3.36 after going 7 5 1 1 1 2.

Team record: 38-11. Next up: An off-day then we hit the road for 3 in Boston.

May 20-22, 2042: at Boston (3)
 

Game 1: The train keeps a-rollin' as the Rays stomped Boston 9-2 at Fenway Park to take their 15th straight win. Andy Ruggles drove in 3 with a homer (#9) and a double, Josh Alexander had a 2-run blast (#14) and Josh Beckett was 4-5 with an RBI double to raise his BA to .380. Vinny Willard did his pitch-to-contact thing effectively again at 7 7 1 1 1 2 and improved to 3-4, 5.26.

Game 2: The Rays made it 16 straight, but had to work harder for this one, scoring 4 times in the 7th and going on to take a 7-5 win over Boston. Andy Ruggles had an RBI double and Doug Johns a 2-run single in that pivotal inning after Seth Williams had earlier launched a 2-run shot (#11). Brad Jackson picked up the win after another spotty outing (6.1 9 5 5 0 4 with 2 homers allowed) to go to 4-2, 5.46 with Kikuo Kawase saving for the 14th time.

Game 3: It feels like they may never lose again after routing the Red Sox again 8-1, putting up a 5-spot in the first on their way to consecutive win #17. Andy Ruggles had a 3-run homer (#10) and Josh Beckett a 2-run double in the inning, and later Dave Frick capped a 4-hit day with an RBI double. Jeff Brockman was excellent after a shaky first inning, going 6 4 1 1 2 6 and upping his record to 6-1, 4.01.

Team record: 41-11. Next up: We head west to play Detroit 4 times in a wraparound series through Memorial Day.

Related: is this good?

https://i.imgur.com/JVLdfww.png

May 23-26, 2042: at Detroit (4)
 

Game 1: The Rays beat Detroit 6-5 to make it 18 straight wins, but paid the price as not one, not two, but three pitchers had to leave the game with injuries. One of them was starter Jose Mendoza who had to exit in the 4th with a sore ankle described as "moderate" for a week. We'll leave him active for now. Also departing was Jon Harbour, who picked up the win in relief and has a mild shoulder strain, also "moderate" (he'll go on the IL). Finally and most notably Kikuo Kawase had to leave with 2 men on and 2 out in the 9th with a sore elbow (also moderate for a week and he'll be ILed). Ken Burgess ended up getting the final out for save #2. Aside from that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln? Mike Willis had a 2-run homer (#1) and Dan Gregory added a solo shot (#8) while Josh Alexander had a pair of RBI singles to lead the offense.

May 24: Placed Ps Jon Harbour and Kikuo Kawase on the 10-day IL, recalled Ps Doug Combs and Alex Stephens from AAA Durham.

Game 2: The Rays routed the Tigers 13-2 to make it 19 wins on the trot, but not without suffering another pitching injury. Seth Williams had another of his mega-games, going 4-5 with a 2-run HR (#12), a steal and 4 runs scored, Andy Ruggles homered (#11) and drove in 3, and Jimmy Leonard went deep (#10) while driving in 2 to pace a 16-hit attack. Johnny Soland was his usual solid self (6.2 7 2 2 2 2) to improve to 7-1, 3.29 but Doug Combs, just recalled from Durham, had to leave and will need surgery for bone chips in his elbow and is out 3-4 months.

May 25: Placed P Doug Combs on the 60-day IL with bone chip surgery, recalled P Billy Haroutunian from AAA Durham.

Haroutunian will take over Jon Harbour's long relief role and may step in for Jose Mendoza to make a start.

Game 3: The winning streak now sits at 20 after a 5-2 win in Detroit. Vinny Willard was decent again (5 6 2 2 3 4) and evened his record at 4-4, 5.11 while Freddy Zamora grabbed save #4. Doug Johns had the big bat, going 3-4 with 2 RBI while Dan Gregory had a 2-run triple. For a change, no pitchers were injured today.

Game 4: The Rays continued to chase history by extending their winning streak to 21, but it wasn't easy as they had to overcame a couple of blown leads and finished a Memorial Day Marathon in 15 innings with a 6-5 triumph. They led 4-2 going into the bottom of the 7th on another just-OK Brad Jackson outing (5.1 8 2 2 2 4) before Chris Johansen surrendered a 2-run homer to let Detroit tie. Doug Johns and Jose Mendez doubled in the 8th to restore the lead, but Ed Pretty couldn't handle the 9th and allowed the tying run. On to extras we went, with the Rays unable to hit much from innings 10-14 while Detroit threatened in seemingly every inning. Finally in the 15th Johns capped a 4-hit day (which also included HR #7) with another double which scored Josh Alexander, and Chris Williams, the 7th pitcher of the day, got the Tigers out for his 1st save of the year. Freddy Zamora picked up his 3rd win with 3 scoreless innings before Williams.

May 26: Placed P Jose Mendoza on the 10-day IL with a sore ankle, recalled P Joel Gird from AAA Durham.

After the game we learned Mendoza's injury wasn't healing as anticipated, so we'll IL him retro a few days and have top prospect Gird make another spot start in Toronto.

Team record: 45-11. Next up: 3 games in Toronto, which will be a true test of the winning streak considering our struggles with the Jays of the past several years. We hold the AL win streak of 25, set in 2022, so we're 4 shy of that and 5 of the MLB record set in 1916 by the Giants.

May 27-29, 2042: vs Toronto (3)
 

Game 1: There will be no records set this time around as the Rays' 21-game win streak came to a halt at Publix Park in a 5-2 loss to Toronto. Jeff Brockman was pretty good (5 6 2 2 2 4) and the Rays only trailed 2-1 after 6, but the bullpen let the game get somewhat out of hand and the bats never came to life as the Rays tasted defeat for the first time in over three weeks.

Game 2: Joel Gird made another spot start, this time in place of Jose Mendoza and the rookie righty showed what all the buzz was about, going 6 1/3 scoreless in a 4-0 Rays win. Gird was 6.1 3 0 0 1 6 and was never really in trouble until he left in the 7th, when a single and an error behind him with one out put two men on. Ken Burgess got him out of the inning and Gird picked up his first MLB win, likely of many. A 3-run 3rd which featured a 2-run Andy Ruggles single was all Gird and the Rays needed while Seth Williams had another 3-hit game with 2 runs scored.

Game 3: It was a wild one at Publix Park and the Rays fell just short 13-12 after being down as many as 6 runs at one point. Johnny Soland didn't have it today, allowing 5 runs in the 1st and 3 more in the 4th while Chris Johansen was terrible as well, giving up 5 more on 6 hits in 1 1/3 and the Rays found themselves down 13-7. But a bases-clearing triple from Mike Willis got them within 13-10 and Seth Williams, whom the Jays never retired today, had an RBI double in the 7th to make it 13-12 with the potential tying run right behind getting thrown out at the plate. Williams was 2-2 with 3 walks and 3 RBI and is merely hitting 394/441/636. Willis had a huge day with 2 triples, a double and 5 RBI while Jimmy Leonard had a 1st-inning 2-run shot (#12).

Team record: 46-13. Next up: A rare Friday off before a 2-game interleague series at home against Milwaukee where we see old friend Daniel Malone.

May 31-June 1, 2042: vs Milwaukee (2)
 

Game 1: The Rays took an 8-3 win in the first of two at Publix Park against the Brewers. Josh Beckett's 3-run HR (#6) put them ahead to stay 4-3 in the 4th and he was supported by Seth Williams (who else?) who was 3-4 with a HR (#13) and 2 RBI to up his average to a cool .400 as well as Mike Willis who was 2-5 with 2 RBI and extended his hitting streak to 20. Vinny Willard started but scuffled and didn't last the 4th, going 3.2 3 3 3 5 4 with uncharacteristic wildness. Chris Williams took over and went 1 2/3 scoreless for his 2nd win.

Game 2: The bats and the bullpen let them down today in a 5-2 loss to the Brewers. The Rays had 13 baserunners but could only get two of them home and then Ken Burgess and Billy Haroutunian combined to allow 4 runs in the late innings, including homers to former Rays Jeff Hayes and Marco Recinos (the latter a minor leaguer sent to Milwaukee in the Dan Gregory deal with Daniel Malone). Brad Jackson had a fine start (6 6 1 1 3 5) but received no help. At least Mike Willis extended his hit streak to 21 and Seth Williams had two more hits to up his average to .402.

Team record: 47-14. Next up: We start a road trip with 3 in Minnesota where we'll catch up with old friend Pat Moyer.

No shock from the league office here:

https://i.imgur.com/6kYePm4.png

June 2-4, 2042: at Minnesota (3)
 

June 2: Placed P Chris Johansen on the restricted list, recalled P Chris Toombs from AAA Durham.

Johansen was ejected from yesterday's game and suspended 6 games after he hit a batter and a brawl ensued. Toombs has torn it up at Durham with 18 saves but was hit for 4 runs without getting an out in his lone MLB appearance this year.

Game 1: The Rays scored 6 times in the first 2 innings and went on to rout the Twins at Target Field 11-2 in the series opener. Dan Gregory had a 2-run single and Josh Alexander a 2-run homer (#15) to highlight the early inning assault while Josh Beckett was 3-4 with 3 RBI and Andy Ruggles was 2-4 with 2 RBI. Jeff Brockman started and was in line for an easy win but couldn't get through the 5th, going 4.2 7 2 2 4 5 on 110 pitches. Alex Stephens ended up with the cheapie victory, his first, and Chris Toombs got the cheapie save going the final 3 scoreless.

June 3: Activated P Jon Harbour from the 10-day IL, optioned P Billy Haroutunian to AAA Durham.

Game 2: Joel Gird made another start and wasn't that great but the Rays still prevailed 5-4 in 10 innings. The rookie prospect went 5 7 4 4 4 3 and allowed a pair of homers, including one to recent former Ray Pat Moyer. Andy Ruggles had a 2-run HR (#12) and drove in 3 in regulation before Dan Gregory's solo homer (#9) in the top of the 10th won the game for Tampa Bay. Ed Pretty picked up win #3 with a scoreless 9th but in the 10th Satashi Sato had to leave the game with an elbow strain after whiffing the first two matters and will be out 4-5 weeks. Dan Anderson came in for the final out for his 1st save of the year.

June 4: Placed P Satashi Sato on the 10-day IL with an elbow strain, activated P Kikuo Kawase from the 10-day IL.

One Japanese reliever hits the shelf, one leaves it.

Game 3: This was an odd game as a 1-1 pitchers' duel through 6 turned out to be a 16-1 Rays rout as they scored 15 times on 16 hits over the final 3 innings. In the space of a half an inning Johnny Soland went from a potential hard-luck no-decision to being an easy winner, finishing 6.1 4 1 1 2 5 to improve to 8-2, 3.98. The onslaught began in the 7th with a 9-spot featuring a Josh Alexander grand slam (he'd hit a 2-run shot the next inning to give him 6 RBI and 17 HR on the year) and a 3-run blast from Josh Beckett (#7). Seth Williams added a 2-run HR (#14) in the 9th to cap a 3-6, 4-RBI day that sees him now hitting .406. Beckett's up to .392 himself after a 3-hit, 4-RBI day and Doug Johns also had 4 hits including a pair of doubles.

Team record: 50-14. Next up: An off-day then we continue the road trip in Yankee Stadium for 3 over the weekend.

The 2042 Amateur Draft
 

https://i.imgur.com/DlunoR2.png

That time of year again. Here's the skinny on the picks:

Emerson: A JuCo CF from California, he projects as an OK hitter but a very good defensive outfielder as well as a speedster.

Brown: Our supplemental 1st round pick is a reliever who is already rated 75 for stuff and 70 for movement, meaning he could pitch in the bigs right now. The control is iffy though at 35, with potential for either 50 (Metzler) or 60 (OSA). Look at his numbers at Notre Dame this last season:

https://i.imgur.com/rMM0yJv.png

Truly sick! The best reliever prospect I've seen in all the years of this save. Gonna start him off at AA Montgomery once signed.

Bishop: A righty from Vanderbilt who projects to have average-to-slightly above-average stuff, potential back end of the rotation guy.

Thevenot: The Ole Miss product is your prototypical scrappy 2B who projects to hit for average but not a lot of power, can steal bases.

Clark: The USC lefty is a groundball pitcher which projected good movement but fringy stuff (and perhaps fringy control). A longshot.

Treitz: High-school catcher with good contact, bat-to-ball skills.

Garton: A junior from UCF, he's a 4th/5th OF type.

June 6-8, 2042: at NY Yankees (3)
 

Game 1: In a game similar to the one in Minnesota a few days ago, the Rays were locked in a tight one before they blew it open, scoring 8 times in the 6th to break a 4-4 tie and going on to beat the Yankees 14-5 at the Stadium in the series opener. And also like in that game Josh Alexander delivered the big blow, a grand slam (#18) which gave him a 5-RBI day. Also going deep were Andy Ruggles (#13, a 2-run shot), Kevin Morley (#3) and of course Seth Williams (#15) as he drove in 3 more and raised his average to .407. Vinny Willard wasn't very good (4.1 7 4 4 1 3) so Chris Toombs got win #1 with 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

June 7: Activated P Jose Mendoza from the 10-day IL, optioned P Joel Gird to AAA Durham.

Game 2: Brad Jackson no-hit the Yankees for the first 5 as part of 7 shutout innings and the Rays pasted the Yankees 11-0 to go to 8-0 against New York this season. Jackson finished 7 2 0 0 3 6 for his best outing in many a moon and improved to 5-3, 4.57. Seth Williams (broken record alert) (#16) and Dan Gregory (#10) hit solo homers early, and then Jimmy Leonard took over with a pair of 3-run homers to give him 14.

Game 3: It was an announcer's nightmare as the Rays' Jose Mendoza matched up with New York's Jose Mendez while Tampa Bay had their Jose Mendez starting in LF. The Rays' Mendez(oza)s prevailed 9-7 in a game that really wasn't that close until the very end, with Mendoza sparkling in his first game back from missing a few weeks with a sore elbow as he went 5.1 2 2 1 4 7 to up his record to 8-2, 3.02. It was 9-3 going into the 9th when Ken Burgess crapped the bed and allowed 4 runs, necessitating Kikuo Kawase to come in for save #15. Josh Alexander had HR #19 and Jon Callahan had a big day, going 3-4 with 3 RBI. Seth Williams had a 2-run single which actually proved to be the difference, but he was only 1-5 so his average dipped to .404.

Team record: 53-14. Next up: An off-day then 3 at home vs Boston.

June 10-12, 2042: vs Boston (3)
 

June 10: Activated P Chris Johansen from the restricted list, optioned P Alex Stephens to AAA Durham.

Game 1: A 5-run 5th broke open a close game and the Rays routed the Red Sox 8-2 in the series opener at Publix Park. Andy Ruggles had the big hit in that inning, a 3-run blast (#14) as part of a 3-hit day, and Jimmy Leonard had another 2-homer game to give him 16. Jeff Brockman was pretty good today at 6 3 2 2 2 5 to improve to 7-2, 3.89.

Game 2: The Rays squandered a 6-1 lead in the 7th by letting Boston score 7 times, but it didn't matter in the end as they came back to take a 10-8 slugfest. Tony Cordova (#2) and Seth Williams (#17) helped the Rays to that early lead and Johnny Soland was in command until he wasn't in the 7th. He gave up a string of hits to let Boston get close and then Chris Williams was downright awful, failing to retire any of the 4 men he faced and giving up 3 more runs as Soland finished 5.2 9 5 5 2 5. But a 3-run 8th featuring Jimmy Leonard's 2-run double to put them ahead completed the comeback, and Dan Anderson picked up his 5th win while Kikuo Kawase had a 1-2-3 2-whiff 9th for save #16.

Game 3: In a game somewhat similar to yesterday's the Rays led 3-1 after 5 only to see Boston have another big inning with 5 runs in the 6th to make it 6-3 Sox. But they came back to tie and Doug Johns walked it off in the 10th with a 3-run homer (#8) to give them a 9-6 win, a sweep of the series, and a new 8-game win streak. Like Johnny Soland yesterday, Vinny Willard was rolling through the middle innings before it suddenly went bad as he allowed all 5 runs in the 6th. Seth Williams homered again (#18) and Josh Beckett drove in 3 before Andy Ruggles tied it in the 7th with his 15th homer. This set the stage for Johns' heroics in the 10th and Freddy Zamora grabbed the win with 2 scoreless innings and 4 whiffs, his 4th of the year as he lowered his ERA to 0.28. Zamora's season line is now a dominant 32.1 17 1 1 7 44.

Team record: 56-14 (that's .800 ball), although we're 6 games over our Pythagorean record (thanks in large part to being 14-4 in 1-run games). Next up: Baltimore visits for 3 over the weekend.

June 13-15, 2042: vs Baltimore (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays took the series opener from Baltimore 3-0 behind a complete-game 4-hit shutout by Brad Jackson against his former team. The lefty walked one and fanned seven to improve to 6-3, 4.12 and has shaken off his early season struggles having only allowed 3 runs over his last 4 starts covering 27 innings. Doug Johns' solo homer in the 2nd (#9) was the only run Jackson needed while Dave Frick was 2-3 including an RBI single.

Game 2: Jose Mendoza was dominant, no-hitting Baltimore through 5 1/3 as the Rays went on to rout the Orioles 9-2 to make it 11 straight wins. Mendoza finished 6 2 1 1 4 7, lifted after giving up a leadoff homer in the 7th and is now 9-2, 2.88. Ed Pretty wound up with his 2nd save after getting the final out in the 8th and finishing up after the Rays expanded the lead in the bottom of the inning. Seth Williams and Dan Gregory each had 3 hits at the top of the lineup with Williams back up to .406 while Josh Alexander capped a 5-RBI day with a grand slam (#20) in the 8th.

Game 3: The Rays completed the series sweep at Publix Park and have now won 12 straight after a 5-2 beating of Baltimore. Jose Mendez had a 1st-inning 2-run HR (#5) to get things going, and Andy Ruggles (#16) also went deep to back a solid Jeff Brockman outing (5 5 2 2 2 5). The righty improved to 8-2, 3.87 with Kikuo Kawase notching save #17.

Team record: 59-14. Next up: An off-day then we travel to Toronto for 3.

June 17-19, 2042: at Toronto (3)
 

Game 1: Johnny Soland was dealing and the Rays got just enough offense to take a 4-1 win at Rogers Centre in the series opener against the Jays. Soland was 7 5 1 1 0 7 and improved to 9-2, 4.02 with Kikuo Kawase getting save #18 with a perfect 9th. Josh Alexander (#21) and Kevin Morley (#4) had solo homers while Dan Gregory was 2-4 with a triple and an RBI.

Game 2: The Rays built an early 4-0 lead and held on to beat Toronto 5-4 to make it 14 straight wins. They got another homer from a catcher as Tony Cordova's 2-run shot (#3) in the 2nd was the big early hit and Josh Beckett was 3-5 with an RBI double. Vinny Willard started and was adequate at 6 5 3 3 2 3 with a couple of homers allowed, improving to 5-4, 5.71 while Kikuo Kawase got the save again (#19) despite allowing a rare homer.

Game 3: The Bradaissance continues as Brad Jackson stayed red-hot on the mound in pitching the Rays to a 4-0 win over the Jays for a series sweep and a 15-game win streak. Jackson went 7 5 0 0 1 7 on exactly 100 pitches and is now 7-3, 3.83 and up to 3rd in the AL in pitcher WAR. Ken Burgess and Jon Harbour each had a scoreless inning to complete the shutout. Dan Gregory hit HR #11, a solo shot, and Seth Williams was 2-3 with an RBI although after a couple of subpar games previous his BA has dipped below .400 to .399.

Team record: 62-14. This team has had win streaks of 21 and now 15, and outside those games, they're still 26-14. Next up: 3 games in Baltimore.

June 20-22, 2042: at Baltimore (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays were up 4-0 in the 6th and looked to be on their way to consecutive win #16 but the bullpen imploded and the streak was snapped with a 7-4 Oriole win at Camden Yards. Doug Johns had a solo shot (#10) and Jose Mendez a 3-run blast (#6) to give them that lead and Jose Mendoza was shutting out Baltimore although he had to leave after going 5 6 0 0 2 8 as he was at 106 pitches. It seemed a 4-run lead was enough to entrust to Chris Toombs, but for the 2nd time in 4 MLB appearances this year he couldn't get anyone out and Dan Anderson couldn't get him out of the inning and it was 4-4. Enter Ken Burgess in the 7th and he coughed up back-to-back homers to allow 3 more to score and the streak was over.

Game 2: Rays pitching couldn't keep the ball in the park as they yielded 5 homers today, but the bats hit enough of their own to give the Rays an 8-6 win in 10 innings. Seth Williams had a solo shot and Dave Frick a 3-run blast (#4) to give them an early 5-3 lead but Jeff Brockman allowed his 3rd homer of the game and ended 4 5 4 4 2 5 before Jon Harbour and Freddy Zamora gave up solo shots to send the game to extras. That's when Williams clubbed his 2nd homer of the game with a man on, his 20th, and won the game for the Rays. Kikuo Kawase got credit for that win (#2), retiring the Orioles with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th and then finishing the 10th.

Game 3: The Rays Meat Loafed the Orioles with a 6-5 win in the series finale. Dave Frick led the offense with another 3-RBI day including a 2-run triple while Josh Alexander blasted a 2-run homer (#22) in support of Johnny Soland who went to 10-2 with a 6 4 5 2 3 6 outing. The bullpen did the job today and Kikuo Kawase closed for his 20th save.

Team record: 64-15. Next up: An off-day then back home for 3 vs Oakland.

June 24-26, 2042: vs Oakland (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays took an easy 7-1 win over the A's at Publix Park in their series opener. They were led by another big game from Seth Williams, 3-5 with a double and solo homer (#21) as he got his average back up to .401. Andy Ruggles drove in a pair and Josh Beckett was 3-4 with an RBI double and is up to .387 himself. Vinny Willard wasn't convincing but good enough to win at 5.1 6 1 1 3 4 to improve to 6-4, 5.44.

Game 2: Brad Jackson has rounded back into his 2041 Cy Young form and he needed to be sharp as the Rays eked out a 2-1 win over Oakland. Jackson was 6.2 4 1 1 3 8 to go to 8-3, 3.67 with Freddy Zamora notching a 4-out save, his 5th. Dave Frick's RBI single in the 4th proved to be the difference for Tampa Bay.

Game 3: The Rays swept the series from Oakland but left it late tonight, scoring three times in the 8th to take a 4-2 win. They trailed 2-0 going into the 7th, when Jimmy Leonard halved the A's advantage with his 17th HR, then they went to work in the 8th off former teammate Steve Abeles. Doug Johns tied it up with an RBI single and then Abeles wild-pitched the runners to 2nd and 3rd with Jose Mendez driving them both home for the win with a single of his own. Jose Mendoza was pretty good at 5.2 8 2 2 0 9 but had a no-decision. Ken Burgess picked up win #1 in relief and Kikuo Kawase handled the 9th for save #21.

Team record: 67-15, as we reach the midway point of the season. Next up: Seattle comes to town for 3.

2042 Midseason Review
 

Let's take a look at where things stand around the league and with the Rays:

https://i.imgur.com/YqZU8ru.png

The team stats:

https://i.imgur.com/9C68yS0.png

Despite elite defenders at CF in Dan Gregory and SS in Dave Frick, our DE remains a terrible 14th in the AL (of course Seth Williams being a 40 at 2B and Josh Alexander a 35 at 1B might have something to do with it). Otherwise it's great stuff all around as we're averaging 6.3 runs/game. Our Pythagorean record implies we're a .700 team, not an .800 team but we're a ridiculous 17-4 in 1-run games so we're lucky and good (and have a real good bullpen).

The hitting stats:

https://i.imgur.com/xA1CWns.png

I had referred in the past to Seth Williams being Jaiden Hardaway 2.0, but I didn't expect him to literally be that as he's on pace for nearly 12 WAR this season. He doesn't draw walks like J-Hard but he makes up for it with more power as he's also on pace for a 40-HR season. Otherwise virtually our entire lineup (aside from the catchers) is on pace for at least 3.5 WAR this year which is something else, and we've been remarkably healthy as these 13 players listed are the same 13 positional players who've been on the roster since Opening Day.

The pitching stats:

https://i.imgur.com/lIAIuC2.png

The starters were shaky earlier this season (although it didn't cost us many wins) but have been much better of late while the bullpen has been a true constant. Vinny Willard is having a poor season and Jeff Brockman's penchant for allowing homers has penalized him big-time in WAR.

June 27-29, 2042: vs Seattle (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays kept taking leads and Seattle kept clawing back before they finally outlasted the Mariners for an 11-8 win in their series opener at Publix Park. Seth Williams (#22), Josh Alexander (#23) and Jimmy Leonard (#18) all hit solo homers in the 1st to give them an early 3-0 lead but Jeff Brockman squandered it by the 5th. No matter, in the bottom of the 5th the Rays scored 4 times to go up 7-3. But Seattle answered with 4 more in the 6th, 3 of which were off Brockman who finished 5.1 8 6 6 1 6. Finally a 4-run 7th won it for the Rays with the big hit a 3-run Mike Willis homer, only his 3rd of the year. Chris Williams got win #3 in relief despite allowing a couple of runs and Kikuo Kawase picked up save #22 despite loading the bases in the 9th. Unfortunately Leonard suffered a high ankle sprain during the game and will be lost for 5 weeks, necessitating our first position player move of the year right after I jinxed it in the midseason review.

June 28: Placed OF Jimmy Leonard on the 10-day IL with a high ankle sprain, recalled OF Randy Rappaport from AAA Durham.

Rappaport finally makes the show after being our 1st-round pick all the way back in 2033. He has 70 power, but only 45 contact, so he's the prototypical all-or-nothing power hitter. Doug Johns will get most of Leonard's at-bats but Rappaport will occasionally DH against righties.

Game 2: Seattle thought it might be their day when they scored 3 unearned runs off Johnny Soland in the 1st, but that as good as it got for them as the Rays went on to romp 11-4, building a 10-3 lead by the 4th inning. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with a HR (#8) and 4 RBI, Dave Frick was 3-3 with two walks, two doubles and an RBI while Andy Ruggles (#17) and Jose Mendez (#7) added solo homers. Soland meanwhile recovered from his rough 1st to go 6 6 3 0 1 6 and improve to 10-2, 3.71 while Chris Johansen went the final 3 for save #2.

Game 3: The Rays completed the Seattle sweep with a tough 3-2 win behind a pretty good Vinny Willard outing and a nice game from Dan Gregory, who was 3-3 with HR #12, which put them ahead to stay in the 4th. Willard was 5.1 6 2 2 1 5 to go to 7-4, 5.32, and Freddy Zamora took care of the 9th for save #6. The club has now won 23 of its last 24 games.

Team record: 70-15. Next up: The homestand continues with 4 games against the Angels.

June 30-July 3, 2042: vs LA Angels (4)
 

Game 1: The Rays put up 5 in the 1st inning on their way to yet another win, 11-5 over the Angels in the first of a 4-game series at Publix Park. Josh Beckett, Seth Williams, Mike Willis and Doug Johns each drove in a pair to pace the attack while Brad Jackson kept on rollin' with a 6.1 5 4 4 2 7 outing (with the last two runs allowed to score by Jon Harbour) and improved to 9-3, 3.79.

Some monthly awards:

https://i.imgur.com/uDI5X6o.png

https://i.imgur.com/P1qiPK3.png

Game 2: Jose Mendoza was brilliant and the bats did their usual thing in a 9-1 romp over the Angels to make it 10 straight wins and 25 in their last 26. The lefty went 7 4 1 1 1 10 to improve to 10-2, 2.59. Jon Callahan was in the lineup to give Seth Williams a rest and did his best Williams impersonation by going 3-3 with a pair of solo homers (#3 & 4) and an RBI double, Josh Alexander was 3-5 with 2 RBI and Doug Johns was 2-5 with a double and 3 knocked in.

Game 3: The Rays romped again 9-4 over the Angels thanks to a 5-run 5th, but the win proved costly in terms of injuries. Jon Callahan followed up his 3-3, 2-HR performance of yesterday by going 3-3 with a double and 4 RBI while spelling Dave Frick, but his red-hot run - and his season - was cut short when he broke a kneecap going into 3rd after that double. Andy Ruggles was 2-5 with 2 RBI and Mike Willis went 3-4 with 3 runs scored. Jeff Brockman did his usual short & mediocre thing today going 5 6 3 3 1 6 but it was good enough to go 9-3, 4.53; however Dan Anderson in relief sprained his ankle bad enough to be out 7-8 weeks to join Callahan on the shelf.

July 3: Placed IF Jon Callahan on the 60-day IL with a broken kneecap; placed P Dan Anderson on the 10-day IL with an ankle sprain, purchased the contract of IF/OF Jeff Googins from AA Montgomery and recalled P Alex Stephens from AAA Durham.

The news here is the recall of Googins, acquired along with C Tony Cordova in the deal which sent Daniel Vazquez to Colorado a few years ago. The former #1 pick of the Rockies has bounced between Durham and Montgomery this year and has good power (9 HR in 84 AB at Montgomery), good speed and is an average-to-plus defender at 2B,SS,3B,LF and CF, making him a Ben Zobrist/Dane Ayers-type. The catch though is that Googins has difficulty making contact and is a career .215 hitter in the minors. Still he should man the infield positions as a guy with pop off the bench who can also pinch-run when needed. As for the pitching end of things, Stephens is a stop-gap for a few days as I've decided to recall Joel Gird and put him into the rotation, moving Vinny Willard to the bullpen where hopefully he can replicate Anderson's 6th-7th-inning effective righty role.

Game 4: The Rays looked headed to their 12th straight win and 27 in 28 after they went up 5-2 after 5 against the Angels in the series finale at Publix Park, but an LA 5-spot in the 6th turned the game around and they suffered a rare loss 8-6. Two of those five early runs came on a 441-foot blast from Jeff Googins, in his 2nd career at-bat as he made his MLB debut and lost his first hit in the stands. The homer came off former Ray Joe Trader, and Josh Beckett also knocked in a couple of runs off him. But Johnny Soland, who looked good through 5, couldn't get anyone out in the 6th and then Ken Burgess poured gasoline on the fire, giving up a 2-run homer to cap the inning after wild-pitching in a run. Soland dropped to 11-3, 4.06 after finishing 5 7 6 6 2 2.

Team record: 73-16. Next up: We spend the July 4 weekend at venerable Wrigley Field for 3 against the Cubs, can't get much more American than that.

July 4-6, 2042: at Chicago Cubs (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays had leads of 4-0 and 5-4 going into the bottom of the 8th, but a rare meltdown from Freddy Zamora allowed the Cubs to come back and win 8-6, the team's second straight loss by that scoreline and the first time they lost consecutive games since April 23-24 in Houston. Dave Frick had a 2-run homer (#5) and Doug Johns a solo shot (#11) to help build the early lead while Seth Williams tripled and drove in a pair. Vinny Willard, in his last start for now, was his usual mediocre self at 6.2 7 4 4 1 5 but while Zamora got him out of the 7th, Zamora gave up a 3-run homer to fellow lefty Chris Clark and then a solo shot to lose the game, equaling the number of homers he had allowed all year and tripling the number of runs he's allowed.

Game 2: The bullpen blew it again as Ed Pretty gave up a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th and the Rays lost again to the Cubs 5-4. Brad Jackson was great (6 6 2 2 1 10) and Tony Cordova (#4, a 2-run shot) and Seth Williams (#23, a solo blast) got them out to a 4-2 lead before Pretty gave up the 2-out, 2-on longball to make the Rays losers of 3 straight for the first time this season.

July 6: Optioned P Alex Stephens to AAA Durham, recalled P Joel Gird from AAA Durham.

Game 3: Would it surprise you to find out the bullpen blew another lead? This one wasn't as late and heartbreaking as the last two days were but Joel Gird put two men on in the 6th up 3-2 and Chris Williams proceeded to let them score along with 4 of his own. Although the Rays mounted a valiant comeback they fell short 9-8, swept by the Cubs and now sporting a 4-game losing streak. Jose Mendez had a 2-run homer (#8) as part of a 3-hit, 3-RBI day and while Gird wasn't great, he was getting out of trouble through 5 but thanks to the Williams meltdown he finished 5.1 9 4 4 2 2. Randy Rappaport hit a massive 3-run pinch-hit homer in the 7th, his first in the bigs, to pull the Rays back within 8-7, but Ken Burgess gave up a solo homer in the 8th which meant Andy Ruggles' shot (#18) in the 9th was a consolation run instead of the equalizer.

Team record: 73-19. Next up: An off-day to lick our wounds then 2 games in Milwaukee.

July 8-9, 2042: at Milwaukee (2)
 

Game 1: Jose Mendoza was hit hard and the Rays lost their 5th straight game 7-4 at Miller Park to the Brewers. Mendoza went 4.1 6 7 7 3 5 and allowed a couple of homers including one to former Ray Daniel Malone, dropping to 10-3, 3.18. Seth Williams had a 2-run HR (#24) in a losing cause.

Game 2: Jeff Brockman and the Rays fell behind 4-0 and they looked ticketed for their 6th straight loss, but fought back to take a 5-4 win over Milwaukee to split the series. Brockman was hit for four runs in the first four innings but hung around to go 6 5 4 4 1 10 as his teammates came back. A four-run 6th tied it up thanks to a 2-run Doug Johns double and a 2-run Dave Frick single, and in the 9th Tony Cordova reached on an error, Mike Willis pinch-ran for him and stole second, and then scored with two out on a Seth Williams single for the game-winner. Freddy Zamora picked up his 5th win while Kikuo Kawase had a 1-2-3 9th for save #23.

Team record: 74-20. Next up: An off-day then we come home to continue our stretch of interleague play with 3 against St. Louis before we hit the All-Star break.