THE GOOD: Carlos Pena's solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game. Could this be the moment that gets El Gato back on track? Prior to that at bat, Pena had left 2 runners on in the 1st inning, 3 in the 2nd, 1 runner in the 4th and 2 more in the 6th.

THE BAD: Evan Longoria and Dan Wheeler in the 10th inning. You absolutely cannot lose that game. You are at home, going for a sweep against an inferior ball club and Carlos Pena had just bailed you out in the bottom of the 9th. You have to shut the Royals down in the 10th and give your team a shot to win. Longoria put Wheeler in a jam right off the bat with a throwing error that left the leadoff runner on 2nd and Wheeler gave up a 3-run home run to a guy who only had 3 coming into the game. This is one of those games that if the Rays miss the playoffs by a game or 2, we will look back and cringe.

THE TELLING: In order to give BJ Upton a day off, Joe Maddon penciled Carl Crawford into center field and CC was not happy about it...Reid Brignac did not play and is 0-4 with a walk and 3 strikeouts in his brief major league career...Remember that "reasonable goal" of a .500 season (81 wins)? The Rays need to go 27-47 over the remainder of the season in order to surpass that mark...Even though Boston has a 1.5 game lead in the Wild Card, the Rays magic number over the second place Twins is also 69 (for a playoff spot) as both the Twinkies and Red Sox have the same number of losses.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• We are back, if ever so briefly. On Thursday Mrs. Prof (no longer just figuratively) and I will be on our way to the Islands for a week. There will be updates while we are gone, although we are still working on the exact details. More to come in the next day or two.
• The Rays have a 77.8% chance of making the playoffs this season. [The Heater]
  
• Al Reyes threw a simluated game and says he is ready to come off the DL. [Herald-Tribune]
  
• Dioner Navarro and Scott Kazmir were named to the AL All-Star squad and Dan Shanoff says the Rays got screwed by politics. [The Sporting News]
• Evan Longoria still has a shot to be named to the final spot on the AL roster, and is currently leading the voting. [The Heater]
  
• John Romano says that Joe Maddon should have been named an all-star coach. [St. Pete Times]
• Marc Lancaster says the Rays are more likely to make a small move before the trade deadline, rather than go after some of the big names that are being tossed around right now...We agree. As we have stated before, our prediction is Eric Hinske for a utility infielder that is an upgrade over Ben Zobrist and possibly a relief pitcher to add to the bullpen depth. [Tampa Tribune]
• The Rays appear to have interest in Brian Fuentes. Of course the Rockies want Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson. That doesn't mean they will get one of those top pitching prospects. [The Heater]
  
• Bill Madden says that with the Rays on top of the AL East, the Yankees and Red Sox lack the "spark" from years past. [NY Daily News]
• The New York Daily News says the Rays are the new "beasts of the AL East." [NY Daily News]
• Richard Justice says that the Rays could be even better in the second half...While there is definitely room for improvement, it will be difficult to keep up this torrid pace of wins especially with more games on the road in the second half. [Yahoo! Sports]
  
• Now that the Rays are on the lips of media outlets everywhere some are offended that the Rays are often referred to as the "Tampa Rays". [St. Pete Times]
• The Rays surpassed 1 million in attendance in their 48th game this season. That is second fastest in franchise history, out-paced only by the inaugural season. [Tampa Tribune]
• A writer for the Aspen Times says the Rays are "not yet" this year's Rockies (upstart World Series participant)...He is right. While the Rays may not make it to the World Series, this Rays squad is much better than the Rockies squad that got hot late and ran through a weak NL playoff field. [Aspen Times]
• Marc Topkin lays out 5 keys to the Rays playoff hopes. [St. Pete Times]
• Former Rays prospect Wes Bankston hit his first major league home run for the A's. [MLB]
• Former Rays GM Chuck LaMar would like to take credit for the Rays success. We don't have the energy to give this it's proper beatdown. [The Heater]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (25 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Houston 8, Tampa Bay Rays 4. Jason Hammel started. He worked three innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, but did not walk a batter. Reid Brignac made his first spring appearance going 0-2. Scott Dohmann's shot at a bullpen spot took a hit after allowing 4 runs in 1 inning on 4 hits and a walk. Ben Zobrist started at shot and moved to first base later in the game. He was 2-4 with a walk and a stolen base. Willy Aybar started at third base, with Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske pinch-hitting.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• In an unusual move for a spring training game, Carl Crawford plowed through the Astros catcher yesterday rather than slide into home where BJ Upton's bat was still laying. The move was well received in the dugout and the team's response goes a long ways towards showing that their is a different attitude in the Rays' dugout these days. Joe Maddon said "It was nice to see Carl come at him hard...I liked it a lot. ... It was a good, hard play." BJ Upton added "We're just trying to set the tone early...We're trying to do some things different this year, and I think we're just kind of letting guys know that we're serious about the season." [Tampa Tribune]
  
• Yesterday we mentioned that Ben Zobrist was being groomed to be the Rays' Swiss Army Knife (AKA super-utility player). Yesterday, Zobrist received playing time at first base. He has already played every infield position this spring and will see time in the outfield today. All of the extra work in the field has not hurt his bat so far. In 5 games, Zobrist is 6-14 (.429) with 3 walks (.529 OBP). [St. Pete Times]

As strictly a shortstop, Zobrist, wouldn't make the team with Jason Bartlett aboard. But with the versatility of playing seven positions (and being a switch-hitter), Zobrist appears the odds-on favorite for a spot..."Zoey's looked good," Maddon said. "He's working his butt off. Zoey wants to be on this team, and I've really been paying attention to that. He's going about it right. He's done a nice job."

• Scott Kazmir has begun throwing and Joe Maddon said he does not know when Rocco Baldelli will make an appearance in the outfield. [Rays Report]
• Troy Percival will make his spring debut today. Apparently his role as team leader also includes team "policeman". [Tampa Bay Rays]

"Troy, he's going to get on guys," said Brian Anderson, who refers to Percival as the club policeman. "A lot of these guys haven't pitched through the grind of a [Major League] season."

• Brian Anderson is not nervous about making his second comeback from Tommy John surgery even though he has not pitched in the majors since 2005. Anderson says if he is not in the majors by July he will retire. But his comeback has progressed faster than anybody thought and Joe Maddon would not rule out Anderson making the roster out of spring training as a reliever or in the rotation...Huh, wha? That seems like a bit of a stretch. [Bradenton Herald]
  
• Joe Maddon discusses Dioner Navarro's base running skills...Seriously...Isn't base"running" a bit of a misnomer with Navi? Shouldn't it be "Base-Rumbling"? [Tampa Bay Rays]

"He's a good baserunner, I'm telling you," said Maddon. "He's aggressive and he's not afraid to take the chance."

• The Bradenton Herald profiles Edwin Jackson. A bowler, Jackson bowls left-handed to save his pitching arm. [Bradenton Herald]
  
• Rays Anatomy projects the Rays 25-man roster. Only differences from ours is they have Willy Aybar at third and Eric Hinske on the bench (no sign of Joel Guzman). In the 'pen they give the last spot to Grant Balfour. [Rays Anatomy]
  
• Troy Tulowitzki, last years runner-up for NL Rookie-of-the-Year is a former teammate of Evan Longoria at Long Beach State. Tulowitzki was so impressed with Longoria, that he is now a big fan, and speculates on how his fellow Dirtbag will adjust to the big leagues. [Denver Post]

“He has a amazing baseball knowledge and maturity, even at a young age,’’ Tulowitzki said today. “He won’t get caught up in the hype.’’ Tulowitzki and Longoria, a third baseman, were teammates for one season at Long Beach State. The Rockies nearly selected Longoria two years ago, but decided the night before the draft to take pitcher Greg Reynolds. Longoria is known for his offensive prowess, impressing scouts with his ability to turn on an inside pitch. “He has some of the quickest hands I’ve ever seen. I have no doubt that he will hit (in the big leagues),’’ Tulowitzki said.

• FoxSports.com has their Rays preview up. [Fox Sports]
  
• Bugs & Cranks continues their team previews by comparing every team to the Devil Rays in their "Your Team Ain't $#!t Compared To The Devil Rays" series. They are up to #10 (Nationals; starting with the worst teams) and so far the arguments are believable. How much longer can they keep it up? [Bugs & Cranks]
• Chuck LaMar will attend his first Rays game since being fired by the Rays in 2005, as a scout for the Phillies. LaMar feels that people will start to notice in the next year or two the kind of players that he put together for the Rays and reminisces about giving his "heart and soul" to the Rays for ten years. [Philadelphia Daily News]
• Fantasy Scope Baseball takes a look at recent teams that have shown a significant increase in win-totals from one season to the next and doubts that the Rays can join that group. [Fantasy Scope Baseball]
  

Scottsdale Scorpions (1-10)

thurs
Mesa 6, Scottsdale 2. Reid Brignac led of for Scottsdale, going 2-3 and hitting a olo home run, his first in the AFL. Evan Longoria was 2-3 with 2 doubles and a walk.

fri
Scottsdale 9, Peo Javelinas 3. Evan Longoria was 3-4 with 2 doubles, a home run and 3 RBI in Scottsadale's first win. It was Longoria's 4th home run. John Jaso also homered for the Scorpions, going 1-2 with 2 RBI. Reid Brignac was 0-4. Mike Prochaska started and picked up the win, going 3 innings, and allowing 1 run on 3 hits, and a walk, while striking out 2. Calvin Medlock relieved and pitched 2 scoreless innings striking out 2.

sat
Phoenix 3, Scottsdale 2. Evan Longoria went 1-4 and is now hitting .317. He also committed his 3rd error of the AFL.Longoria is 4th in the AFL with a 1.063 OPS. He is tied for the league lead with 4 home runs, is third with 8 RBI and second with 4 doubles. Chris Nowak started at first base and went 1-3 with an RBI. Nick DeBarr and Evan Meek each pitched in relief. DeBarr threw 2 perfect innings with a strikeout, while Meek strike out two, but gave up a hit an a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

sun
OFF DAY

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• 2007 has been unkind to the state of Ohio. [The Sporting Orange]
• Was anybody esle disturbed a little to see a member of the Orioles in the Boston dugout and throwing the first pitch in game 7? [The Kansas City Star]
  
• We believe the Dustin Pedroia should be and will be AL Rookie of the Year...But Baseball America thinks that Delmon Young was only the 13th best rookie (5th best in the AL)...seriously. [ArmchairGM]
• Yet another blogger that thinks Joe Torre should take a year off and then replace Joe Maddon as manager of the Devil Rays. After hearing Torre refer to the Yankee's contract offer as an "insult", we are starting to warm to the possibility if Maddon gets off to a bad start in 2008 or if the Rays fail to reach .500 at the end of the season. It is not a secret that George Steinbrenner considers Tampa his home turf and has never been fond of the Devil Rays franchise. Taking the Tampa job and beating the Yankees could be the ultimate answer from the manager that is a lot more fiery and calculating than his public persona would suggest. [Quick Hits From The Sidelines]
• Keep in mind that Joe Torre and Don Zimmer are close, and Zim was none-too-happy about the way the Yankees handled his pal Torre. [tampabay.com]
  
• More funky baseball math. This time, Roto Authority suggests that Andy Sonnanstine was the 4th unluckiest pitcher in 2007 which suggests he could be much better in 2008. [Roto Authority]
• Minor-ity Report take a look at David Price and compares his numbers to Mark Prior. Not the first time we have heard the comparison, but Price's numbers in college were actually better than Prior's and Price has an extra year of college under his belt. And did we mention that Price is left-handed. We are starting to get giddy. [Minor-ity Report]
  
• Despite a big dropoff in production in 2007, the Devil Rays still believe that Reid Brignac is their future shortstop. It just won't be in 2008. [TBO]
  
• "The only thing that keeps this organization from being recognized as one of the finest in baseball is wins and losses at the major league level." – Devil Rays GM Chuck Lamar...We are not sure why this is one of "The 35 Dumbest Sports Quotes Ever". Isn't it true? [LiveJournal]
• Jon Garland or Jose Contreras for Carl Crawford? Contreras? No. Garland? Not likely. He is set to make $12 million in 2008 and will be a free agent at the end of the year. [Mets Blog]
• Then again, MLB Rumors cites "industry sources" that "The Devil Rays and White Sox have worked over the past couple months on possible deals this off season that involve Jon Garland and Carl Crawford". Maybe THIS GUY qualifies as an "industry source" [MLB Rumors]
  
• In the four professional sports leagues in North America, there are 92 teams. Sports Frog ranks the Devil Rays 89th, ahead of only the Memphis Grizzlies (90), Charlotte Bobcats (91) and the Houston Texans (92). See? The Rays don't always finish last. [Sports Frog]
• RJ Anderson discusses his upcoming book about Chuck LaMar. [The Stat Pack]
  

The Devil Rays single-A affiliate, the Vero Beach Devil Rays, will hold the promotion to end all promotions tonight when they host "Awful Night".

Awful night will contain some of the most awful promotions, music, food, giveaways, and entertainment that you will ever see at a Minor League Baseball game.

The first 500 fans to the park will receive an autographed picture of Groundskeeper Jim. The night will consist of chances to win loads of specialty prizes in the awful raffle. You can visit the various awful display tables that feature awful food tasting, free face painting, caricatures, balloon animals, as well as free haircuts by Shawn the Barber. Fans can also meet and greet Dodgertown work horses Bob and Tom who will be signing autographs throughout the night. After the game, fans can stay for our Awful Fireworks Extravaganza that is sure to light up the sky!

If they really want to have an "Awful Night" there are a few things they should consider adding to the agenda:

• Making Vero Beach using the Tampa Bay Devil Rays middle relievers during the game.
  
• Make Vince Naimoli honorary team owner and Chuck LaMar the honorary team GM.
• Let BJ Upton play shortstop.
• Use Seth McClung as the starting pitcher.
• Let the Devil Rays heckler be the public address announcer during the game.
  

VB D-Rays To Host 'Awful Night' [MILB.com]]