THE GOOD: The offense. It was only 5 runs, but we are starting to see signs of the bats coming out of their funk. Carlos Pena homered. Again. His 5th in 14 games since the all-star break. Carl Crawford tripled. Again. His 5th in 6 games. Evan Longoria homered. Again. His 20th and 4th since the all-star break...The bullpen. Knowing early on that the bullpen was going to work overtime, 4 relievers combined to throw 4.1 shutout innings, allowing only 1 basehit.

THE BAD: Scott Kazmir. 4 walks in the first, including one with the bases loaded and 6 overall, led to Kaz being pulled without even completing the 5th inning after 110 pitches. It was Kazmir at his stereotypical worst...Scott Kazmir's shoes? HERE is a picture of Kazmir's shoes last night. And HERE is a photo of Kazmir's shoes from his July 21st start (we could not find a photo of his July 26th start). Are those the same shoes? They are clearly a different color, but are they different models. We ask because Kazmir seemed to really struggle last night with his "landing" foot. Kazmir repeatedly would look down at where his lead foot would land on the mound. Did Dwayne Staats or Joe Magrane say anything about Kazmir struggling with new shoes? It did not appear to be a problem with the mound or Kazmir would have brought the groundcrew out to fix it. It would not surprise us to see Kid K come out in his next start with the old model.

THE TELLING: Jim Leyland of the Tigers thought that Miguel Cabrera's RBI triple in the 3rd should have been ruled a home run feeling that the ball hit the catwalk. BJ Upton disagreed...The Rays picked up another game on the suposedly superior Yankees.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• There was some confusion over the status of Jonny Gomes. In yesterday's "Pepper" segment, we said Gomes would be DFA'd if Rocco Baldelli is activated. The feeling was Gomes is out of minor league options. This was verified by somebody close to the team...However, Gomes was only in the minors for 16 days in '07. A player must be in the minors for 20 days to count as an optional assignment. We double-checked with the Rays and sure enough Gomes does have an option remaining. Our bad. We blame Mrs. Professor. This is one of the more confusing aspects of baseball transactions. Last season, the Rays optioned Seth McClung to the minors at the end of spring training after his agent told him the Rays were out of options.
  
• Marc Lancaster originally thought Rocco Baldelli could be activated today, but is now reporting that Rocco will be "run through various baseball drills during the weekend" to see how he responds. Lancaster then says that Rocco could be activated at some point during this homestand. [Tampa Tribune]
  
• The Gary Glover era is over in Tampa Bay. After being DFA'd, Glover has cleared waivers and declined an assignment to the minors, instead choosing to become a free agent...Settle down, settle down. Yes, we are excited also. [MLB]
  
• Finally somebody that does not label the Rays "losers" at the trade deadline. [Seamheads]
  

Orioles 3, Devil Rays 0.
It was nice of the Devil Rays to get back to losing in a fashion with which we are more familiar. You know the kind where Scott Kazmir pitches lights out for 5 innings and then wears down in an effort to pitch just well enough to lose. That is of course followed by a reliever throwing gas on the fire. In this case it was Juan Salas pleading innocent of steroids but guilty of being unable to throw strikes with the bases loaded.

All the while the "almighty" Rays offense thought it was "Turn Back The Clock" night as they were shutout by a pitiful Orioles pitching staff despite having runners on base in 7 innings. Entering last night's contest, the Rays had the 4th highest team batting average since the all-star break (.315) yet, in a game during which the pitchers gave them a chance to win, the offense managed to ground into more double plays (4) than they had hits (2).

When is the Bucs first pre-season game? Maybe we should just start Bucs Index now.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Carl Crawford was back in the lineup last night after missing two games with a minor ankle injury. [tampabay.com]
  
• Juan Salas made his first appearance for the Rays since being suspended by the league for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. He could instantly step into the role of 7th inning pitcher. Considering he is one relief pitcher with an ERA below 4, maybe he should be the 8th inning guy and closer-in-waiting if/when Al Reyes is traded. [TBO]
• Juan Salas spoke about why he was suspended for the first time. Of course, rather than take responsibility, he took the same low road most players take. He claims he has no idea how he tested positive. We believe him. We think it must have been the invisible steroid fairy that haunts idiot baseball players in their sleep. The fairy looks like Jose Canseco with wings and instead of a wand, it carries a needle to stick in their ass. [tampabay.com]

“It was an accident,’’ Salas said. "I was not aware. I didn’t do it knowing what was going on. It must have been something in a drink. I don’t know.’’

• Jay Witasick believes he will be throwing in a couple of days and will be off the DL when he is eligible. [Devil Rays]
• Casey Fossum should be back with the club on Thursday. That sound you heard was a sigh-of-relief from Devil Rays Red Sox fans. [USA Today]
  
• Before last night's game, the Baltimore Orioles honored Cal Ripken, Jr. on his induction to the Hall of Fame. We tip our caps and hope that someday we can have a player half as good and half as classy play 21 years for the Devil Rays. [Baltimore Sun]
  
• Instead we get to "root" for players like Elijah Dukes. It is like Dukes is trying to get released by the Devil Rays. Why would anyone want to be released by the Devil Rays? [TBO]
  

White Sox 5, Devil Rays 1.

The Professor visits Scott Kazmir at home...

The Professor: Hey Scott, how's it going?
Kid K: Well, this morning I woke up and the sun was shining and my dog, Homer Philippoussis Odyssey Shawn Camp the Third, had already retrieved all 13 of my newspapers. And then I went to the park with Homer Philippoussis Odyssey the Third and we tossed a tennis ball around. Then I cooked some grits. And mind you, I am from Texas and no self-respecting Texan eats instant grits. No, I cook my grits nice and slow. Sure the instant grits are often just as good, but man, there is nothing like cooking...
The Professor: (interrupting Scott) So it's going well?
Kid K: That's what I was saying
The Professor: (noticing a half-eaten bowl of grits on table) ok? so if your grits are so good, then how come you didn't finish your bowl this morning?
Kid K: Well...first of all, when I am eating my grits on days that I am scheduled to pitch, I like to take really small bites. Sometimes it can take me 120 bites just to get through half a bowl and then I am too tired to finish the grits. But man, that half-a-bowl is awesome!
The Professor: It seems like such a waste of good grits.
Kid K: (laying bowl of grits on floor) Nah. I give the other half of the bowl to my dog, Homer Philippoussis Odyssey Shawn Camp the Third. He likes to finish the meals I can't finish. The only problem is that a lot of times, he gets the grits all over the place.
The Professor: (watches dog eating grits) boy, he sure does make a mess of those grits.
Kid K: yeah, but it is really only 2 or 3 bites that make the mess. The other bites are really good and every once in a while he doesn't make a mess at all.
The Professor: So, I was hoping to talk to you about how your season is going so far. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions.
Kid K: Sure. go ahead.
The Professor: At times this season you have looked like your typical dominating self, but at the same time you have had trouble working deep into games. What would you say has changed in your approach this season as compared to the first half of last season?
Kid K: That is a great question. But I am sorry. I need to cut this interview short. My mouth is tired and I need to take a nap.
The Professor: I understand Scott, but I promise we really only need a few more answers from you
Kid K: (laying head down on kitchen table)
The Professor: Scott?
Kid K: (snoring)

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• One unbiased blogger thinks Carl Crawford should be the starting left fielder for the AL All-Star squad.
  
• In case you missed it in our "Down on the Farm" segment, BJ Upton made his first rehab start for the Vero Beach Devil Rays, playing second and going 0-3.
• It was reported earlier that the Rays were hoping to have BJ Upton back in the lineup this weekend in Cleveland. Now it appears that management will wait until Tuesday when the Rays take on the Red Sox.