MLB Off-Season

This is a manager worth trading players for.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher was scheduled to throw out the first pitch before the Tampa Bay Rays’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. Instead, he shot it.
Photos: Steve Nesius/Reuters, Mike Carlson/The Associated Press

Let’s make this a real sport, shall we?

Evan Longoria in front of some Luchador skateboards

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. (AL edition)

Schedules for the AL playoff contenders:

Yankees

12 home, 16 away - opponents’ winning % (as of 9/4): .497

Orioles

13 home, 14 away - opponents’ winning %: .512

Rays

15 home, 12 away - opponents’ winning %: .529

Tigers

12 home, 16 away - opponents’ winning %: .487

White Sox

16 home, 12 away - opponents’ winning %: .483

Rangers

13 home, 15 away - opponents’ winning %: .502

A’s

11 home, 17 away - opponents’ winning %: .546

Angels

16 home, 11 away - opponents’ winning %: .530

In one of those great baseball coincidences, the Yankees (2), Rangers (3), Tigers (7), and Angels (8) are all in the top ten in per game attendance. While the Orioles (23), White Sox (24), A’s (29), and Rays (30) are in the bottom ten.

MLB Offseason Readers - You Decide!

Do you choose….

A’s vs. Rays - two teams in the playoff hunt playing well

OR

Phillies vs. Reds - which is actually Cueto vs. Hamels, classic pitcher’s duel

King Felix Pitches the Mariners 1st Perfect Game

Felix Hernandez became the first pitcher in Mariners’ history to throw a perfect game, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 this afternoon.

Felix’s pitching line:

9.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 12 K

This is the second Mariners’ no-hitter this year*, six men combined to throw a no-no on June 8 - a record.

This is also the first time 3 perfect games were thrown in the same season. Matt Cain threw a perfect on June 13, with 14 Ks - a major league record. Philip Humber threw a perfect game against the Mariners on April 21. (This marks the first time that a team was the victim of a perfect game and then won a perfect game in the same season.)

* Both no-hitters were won 1-0 highlighting the Mariners’ offensive woes.

Listening to the Rays and the Orioles battle for 1st in the AL East

Just like we all thought they would.

Take a bow Mr Pena, that was a hell of a game

Welcome back to Tampa, Carlos! Hope you’ll return to signing tacos again.

But did you know the reason Longoria's shot had a chance to leave the park was because the Rays lowered the wall in the leftfield corner from nine feet to five feet in 2007? »

“They did it to give Crawford a chance to make home run-robbing catches.”

Thanks again, Carl!

Dan Johnson!

sbnation:

Baseball’s Breakout Stars of 2010

For my money, the Price is right. I mean, the Rays are the AL East division champs, toppling the Evil Empire and are partially responsible for the Boston Massacre of 2010.

Give it up for the new faces of the MLB.

Tampa Bay stand up!