Rays of hope

What a difference a day makes. Yes, I’m using that cliche today. Boston yesterday, Tampa Bay today. The press box is pretty empty and I’m guessing the stands might be the same. Shame. The Devil Rays could be one of the best young teams in the game. There is a lot of talent on that club. They are missing a few pieces though and they have way too many right-handed pitchers on the staff. But … I talked to Rays manager Joe Madden for a while today and he said he’s proud of his club, but that they just can’t seem to finish games off. They can’t hit that three-pointer, they can’t hold on to the football in the red zone …etc. etc. …In other words, the bullpen needs work and those little things they are not doing add up. He has reason to be optimistic. Remember the Tigers lost 118 games and then a couple of things happened to their pitching staff — namely, Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. They went out and got Kenny Rogers, the young guys develop … the next thing you know they are in the World Series. Can the Devil Rays do the same thing, even being in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees? Maybe. A few pieces here and there and this club can have a real impact.

On a completely different note, I received this email about XM Radio’s new Call Stars deal. It’s cute. You fill out a form and you get a call or email (automated, of course) from David Ortiz, Cal Ripken or Derek Jeter talking about the season and XM Radio.  I think fans might dig it. Then again, I sent a few "calls" to my friends (hardcore Yankees and Red Sox fans) and the reception was modest at best. I got a few calls telling me how big of a dork I am, this and that. Others mostly making fun of me. It was funny. I get mocked by my friends/baseball fans who would faint if Ortiz or Jeter sneezed on them. One dude waited two hours for an autograph of Dustin Pedroia and he calls me the corny one? C’mon … OK. Maybe they are right. My bad.