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August 18, 7:34 PM

by Ted Fleming, Tampa Bay Sports Examiner

 

 

Not that it is such a bad thing because the Rays build a solid foundation toward making the postseason with a frontloaded Tropicana Field gift from MLB. But the opposition for this three-gamer has such an impressive road mark many teams would be envious just to have it in the home column.

A three game homestand?

OK, so Tampa Bay gets a trip through the Windy City before returning to their own friendly confines sandwiched between two off days. Big deal.

A three game homestand?

Injuries are part of the game and the Rays have had their share. So have the Red Sox and Yankees and despite losing Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Longoria, closer Troy Percival and the engine of this team, outfielder Carl Crawford, the State of Florida may still be represented in the AL Divisional Series.

The buzz was the lengthy road trip would define how they would fare the rest of the way and if a 7-3 mark doesn’t impress you then you must be a relative of former governor, wrestler and TV analyst Jesse “The Body” Ventura because you don’t impress easily.

Shorthanded and bouncing from Seattle to Oakland to Texas before coming back to St. Petersburg at this time of the year is as rough as it gets.

Or is it?

That three game homestand talked about earlier?

It’s against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California on the other west coast or whatever they are calling themselves these days. The Energizer Bunny has nothing on them because they keep winning and winning and winning……

Thirty games over the last I looked and that is nothing to sneeze at when you consider the other team wearing the Los Angeles tag is in first place and just barely able to use one hand to count how far over they are.

On the other hand, they Rays been hit from pillar to post with an amorphic roster yet are able to keep Boston and New York at bat’s length. But how long can you keep letting the genie out of the bottle before he/she said, “Enough already?”

Her name is Fay. No last name, changing first names like depression, storm or hurricane. Whatever you wish to call her, the name remains the same. Fay may have pulled a healing rabbit out of a weather hat.

Five minutes before Monday’s first pitch, Rays’ president Matt Silverman said it is the intention of the team to play all three games although Mother Nature might have the last word. Should either or both remaining contests be sent to the September open date on the calendar, the Halos may have clinched by then, the Rays healthy up and a postseason twin-bill would pack the house.

I’m rooting for my gal Fay.

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