Time to face facts. This isn't last year's team

Maybe it's time to face facts.  This obviously isn't last year's team.  Instead of the Rays celebrating a come from behind victory, we get to watch the Minnesota Twins celebrate their own late inning heroics to grab the game.  Nothing makes me feel worse than seeing the other team finish the game in that fashion. Even Dewayne Statts and Brian Anderson looked like someone died after the game.  

JP Howell and the bullpen will get the brunt of the blame for tonight's loss.  But it really was a team effort.  Once again, the Rays proved they can't hit lefties.  Steve Carlton gets channeled and the Rays look clueless (1-8 vs Lefties if you're counting).  It's getting so bad that opposing managers are leaving their starting lefties in longer than they probably should.  James Shields becomes his own worst enemy for the 2nd game in a row, giving up another 1st inning homer and then hitting a batter to push in a run after the Rays tied the game.

Props to Ben Zobrist for forgetting that it's 2009, not 2008.  His 2nd pinch hit home run provided a little excitement,  too bad the guys behind him couldn't get it going.

Bossman's "Extended Spring Training" is wearing on me.  I notice myself, other fans I talk to, and other bloggers are beginning to notice how difficult it is to win with your leadoff guy batting around .150.  I've decided to highlight the starters that are batting below .200.  Their pictures and averages will appear there until they can get it over .20o.  Hear me, Dioner Navarro?

No more cheerleading from me until the Rays turn it around. 

Newsflash: Rays can't hit lefties!

Steve Carlton syndrome 7

 Rays 1

While the rest of the country figures out ways to deal with Swine Flu, the Tampa Bay Rays are suffering from their own ills.... namely Steve Carlton syndrome.  That's what happens when a left-handed pitcher takes the mound against the Rays and looks like the 2nd coming of Lefty.  I was really hoping today would be the day that the Rays could finally beat one of these lefties.  All the stars were aligned.  But, once again, Steve Carlton's power was too much for the Rays to overcome as they drop their 4th straight series in a row.  Now, they're off to Minnesota for a three game set before returning home to face the red hot Boston Red Sox.  Scary days indeed are ahead for the Rays. Hopefully, they can come out of their funk before this time next week or we may have to officially push the panic button.

Here are some of the things I noticed:

Another lefty did the Rays in.  Dana Eveland and his nice little soul patch below his lip took care of the Rays hitters with little effort.  The Rays put up a little stink in the 2nd, but after the A's scored 4 runs in the bottom of the inning... Eveland just cruised along.

Sonnanstine is really looking bad this year.  I commented to a friend of mine that Sonnanstine may have just pitched himself right out of the rotation. It's sad, because I really like Sonny. But, he's really looking bad.

Props to Joe Maddon for tweeking the lineup today.  I like how he gave Zorilla and Aybar the start today. It didn't really make a difference in the big scheme of things, but it shows that Maddon is doing what he can to provide a spark.

Bossman, Jr. really needs to start hitting the ball.  Slump or not .156 is unacceptable.  The same goes for the catcher.  These guys need to start getting some hits.

Chalk up another Steve Carlton Syndrome Loss

In a 162-game season, you're going to have games like today.  Games that are on the West Coast. Games against a rather mediocre team.  Game that aren't on TV.  And games that turn into yet another disappointing loss.  It's April 26th and the defending AL Champions are still in the cellar.

I'm still withholding my panic button until the next home stand.  Last year, game 20 was the one they turned it around.  And right now, they're keeping close to .500 for the road trip.  That's acceptable as long as they can turn it around at home next week against a white hot Red Sox team.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that the Rays fell victim once again to the Steve Carlton syndrome and lost to another lefty.  This lefty was the greatness that is Dallas Braden. You can talk all you want about Garza's walks and the weak offense. But, it still seems the Rays can't do anything against lefties. Matty from St. Pete even told me that if he getting ready to play the Rays he would make sure they get every lefty in the organization.

Steve Carlton... you win again! Even if you don't have any comment.

Move along, not much to see here

The Rays rewarded my late night with another ho-hum performance losing to the Seattle Mariners 4-2.  This game featured much of what we've already seen this season.  We saw the Rays make a lefty look like the 2nd coming of Steve Carlton (see my new side bar). We saw the Rays unable to get guys in with runners in scoring position. We saw plenty of strike outs. We saw both Gabes.  We saw a shallow center field.  I could probably go on forever with this list.

Here's what I noticed tonight:

• I'm going to start calling the Rays problems with lefties... the Steve Carlton Syndrome. It struck again tonight in the form of Jarrod Washburn. The guy absolutely owns the Rays. He got into a little trouble in the 1st inning, but after that was pretty much spot on. Pitched his way out of a jam in the 4th.  Then his team put some runs on the board to reward him. Struck out 9... including Carlos Pena 3 times. He made CC/Pena/Aki look horrible. The Rays are going to continue to see a steady diet of lefties until they prove they can hit them.

• Andy Sonnanstine looked good for the most part. He struck out seven and kept the game close. He had a rough 4th inning which pretty much accounted for all but 1 of the Seattle runs.  

• Once again, the Rays let role players get the best of them.  Seattle's 4th inning rally was all about the bottom of the Mariner's order.  I'm not sure what was going on when Rob Johnson was up to bat, but it looked like Kaplar was playing the "girl at the plate in Little League" center field.  I'll have to hear the post game, but it sure looked like some more of that Maddon defensive "aggressiveness."  Then Yuniesky Betancourt does the same thing 2 batters later and that was followed by a Gabe Kaplar catch in center that could've very easily been another over-the-center fielder's head shot.  

• It looked like the Seattle Mariners were more pumped up to play the Rays than the Rays were pumped up to play the Mariners.  The last decent emotion I've seen out of this team was the first game of the Yankees series. Since then, nothing.  I saw plenty of emotion from Washburn and the rest of the Mariners.

• Props to Pat the Bat and Gabe Kaplar. Both did their part against Washburn. Pat the Bat had an RBI and a couple of hits.  Gabe Kaplar made that nice play in center field and was 1 for 2 with a walk.