Posted by  Mike Creyton, New Tampa on 03/24  at  02:40 PM

Nick, teh pitching situation is not as desperate as many believe.  Kazmir is an ace.  Jae Seo looks like the Jae Seo of 2005 when he went 12-5 with a 2.51 ERA with the Mets.  He has been unhittable this spring. James Shields is a very solid pitcher and is only getting better.  Fossum is a solid 4th starter.  And Edwin Jackson has been dominating all spring other than the game against the Tigers where he walked 5. But he still only gave up one run.  Jeff Niemann, Mitch Talbot, JP Howell, and Andy Sonnanstine are all only a phone call away this year. Then throw in the trio of aces in A ball in Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Matt Walker…..we are going to be just fine.

Posted by  Charles Treoger, Auburndale FL on 03/24  at  01:06 PM

Thank you Mike, Thank you Richard, Thank You Nick, Thank You Heather & to all you other positive fans. This is the kind of things we need to hear around Rays territory. We may or may not make the play offs but we are turning the corner to success and that is good for us.  The future looks bright. If you look up to Sec 310 above the Pepsi sign and you will find me for 54 of the games with the bells a ringing.

Posted by  Heather Hagerty, Tampa, FL on 03/24  at  10:12 AM

I am so excited for the start of this season! I am hoping for a playoff run but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll settle for CC stealing home again!!  See you opening night!!  GO RAYS!

Posted by  Nick Vellas, Tampa on 03/24  at  07:43 AM

I’ve got to admit things look better than they did a week ago but thats how it always seems to be, one step forward and two steps back. We may have a decent hitting team but we are still in desperate need of solid pitching. I only skimmed the article in Sports Illustrated and must have missed the part about the Rays being the best team in baseball by 2010 but I didn’t miss the part that said we will be last in our division and have the third worst record in baseball THIS year. I know that even decent pitchers are way overpriced but I don’t see us developing the staff we need in our farm system and hope ownership can dig a little deeper and provide us with a competetive payroll. Anyway I will be there as a Rays fan win or lose!

Posted by  RICHARD BACCHESCHI, tampa, fl. on 03/24  at  05:56 AM

AWESOME .. IT’S EARLY BUT THE GUY IS RIGHT. TIME TO LOAD THE BAND WAGON FOR THE RAYS 1ST PLAYOFF RUN. LET THE MORE NEGATIVE FANS LAUGH. RAYS HAVE DEPTH. WE CAN EVEN MISS CC & ROCCO FOR AWHILE & THEY WILL PRODUCE. PITCHING IS THE BIG KEY & THAT IS WERE WE NEED EXPERIENCE & LOTS OF LUCK. IF THE ARMS COME THRU THE RAYS WILL SHOCK THE BASEBALL WORLD. AM I DREAMING IN ‘07 ?

Posted by  Mike Creyton, New Tampa on 03/23  at  09:07 PM

...and the Rays blow out another team since starting to play for real and using mostly regulars.  15-1.  Dominant pitching and hitting is a tough combo to beat.  The Rays are now 4-0 since Maddon said they would focus on playing the regulars and trying to win.  3 of the 4 straight wins were blowouts.  Is anybody still panicing?  Listen to the national media, not the locals.  This team is stacked.  Sports Illustrated and Baseball America both wrote articles this week stating the Rays will be the best team in baseball by 2010.  It is time to jump on the bandwagon. And Marc….you walked into a goldmine here didn’t you?  How do you like watching the real line up in action?  This team is AWESOME!