Power Pros Forum

5/31 - White Sox (27-29) @ Rays (38-18): Game 3
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have ended the month of May on a high note with their thirty-ninth victory of the season. The White Sox scored first in the top of the first with a Paul Konerko RBI single scoring Nick Swisher, but that would be the only offense the White Sox would get. The Rays tied the game up in the sixth when Evan Longoria hit an RBI single scoring Jason Bartlett, and taking the lead in the seventh when Jason Bartlett hit an RBI triple scoring Rocco Baldelli. The Rays scored once more in the eighth with a lead-off solo blast to center field by B.J. Upton. Rays starting pitcher James Shields pitched great, going seven innings, giving up the one White Sox run in the first on six hits and striking out three for the win. The offensive story of this game was Jason Bartlett going 3-3 with a single, double, and RBI triple, coming a homer shy of the cycle, but did not get a fourth at-bat.

Final Score:
White Sox: 1
Rays: 3

WP - James Shields (3-2) | LP - Mark Buehrle (6-2) | SV - Troy Percival (17)

HR:
B.J. Upton - Rays (20)

May in Review
Finishing the month with a record of 21-8, and an overall record of 39-18 over the first two months of the season, the Rays are in great shape first in the American League east division, five games over the second place Yankees, first among the fourteen American League teams, and second best record overall the majors, second to just the Cincinnati Reds. The Rays are doing great, but can they keep it up? Just as with the month of April, the Rays are doing great among individual stats to go along with their great record as a team:

Standings:


League Leaders:


Pitching Stats:


ERA:
1. Aaron Harang (Reds) - 1.21
2. Mark Buehrle (White Sox) - 2.08
3. John Smoltz (Braves) - 2.12

Wins:
1. Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks) - 8
2. C.C. Sabathia (Indians) - 8
3. Scott Olsen (Marlins) - 8

Saves:
1. Troy Percival (Rays) - 17
2. Huston Street (Athletics) - 14
3. Joe Nathan (Twins) - 14
1 Other with 14

Strikeouts:
1. Aaron Harang (Reds) - 113
2. C.C. Sabathia (Indians) - 92
3. Johan Santana (Mets) - 87



Hitting Stats:


AVG:
1. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - .407
2. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - .385
3. Yorvit Torrealba (Rockies) - .382

Hits:
1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 92
2. B.J. Upton (Rays) - 89
3. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - 79
1 Other with 79

Home Runs:
1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 29
2. B.J. Upton (Rays) - 20
3. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - 19

RBI:
1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 72
2. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - 61
3. Andruw Jones (Dodgers) - 57

June Preview
What can we expect from the Rays in the coming month of June? Will they heat up along with the weather as the summer goes on? June is the month of interleague play, so we'll see how they do against teams of the opposite league, and possibly a future World Series opponent? June is also the month of the draft, and I'm sure they will choose the right players to help the team in the future.

I'm going to do a post, and continue to post in the future trades that have taken place and will be made in the future. Not just Rays trades, but trades by all teams, so you can know who's gone where.

Trades and Acquisitions Through June 1

Red Sox
May 7
Jeff Keppinger - Reds >> Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon - Red Sox >> Reds

Orioles
March 25
Jayson Nix - Free Agent >> Orioles
Joe Dillon - Free Agent >> Orioles
Mike DiFelice - Free Agent >> Orioles
David Newhan - Free Agent >> Orioles

June 1
Kevin Cameron - Padres >> Orioles
Brandon Fahey - Orioles >> Padres

Tigers
April 10
Trever Miller - Rays >> Tigers

May 20
Mark Sweeney - Dodgers >> Tigers
Ryan Raburn - Tigers >> Dodgers

White Sox
May 12
Ruben Gotay - Braves >> White Sox
Pablo Ozuna - White Sox >> Braves

Royals
May 24
Paul McAnulty - Padres >> Royals
Jake Peavy - Padres >> Royals
Randy Wolf - Padres >> Royals
Billy Butler - Royals >> Padres

Mariners
March 25
Adam Melhuse - Free Agent >> Mariners
Great Wood - Free Agent >> Mariners
Brady Clark - Free Agent >> Mariners
Juan Castro - Free Agent >> Mariners
Matt Morris - Free Agent >> Mariners
Tomas Perez - Free Agent >> Mariners
Kirk Saarloos - Free Agent >> Mariners
Angel Chavez - Free Agent >> Mariners

Rangers
May 16
Bobby Livingston - Reds >> Rangers
Jared Burton - Reds >> Rangers
German Duran - Rangers >> Reds

Braves
May 12
Pablo Ozuna - White Sox >> Braves
Ruben Gotay - Braves >> White Sox

Marlins
March 25
Great White - Free Agent >> Marlins
Justin Ruggiano - Free Agent >> Marlins
Great Blanco - Free Agent >> Marlins

Reds
May 7
Jonathan Papelbon - Red Sox >> Reds
Jeff Keppinger - Reds >> Red Sox

May 16
German Duran - Rangers >> Reds
Bobby Livingston - Reds >> Rangers
Jared Burton - Reds >> Rangers

Diamondbacks
May 22
Erick Threets - Giants >> Diamondbacks
Robby Hammock - Diamondbacks >> Giants

Padres
May 24
Billy Butler - Royals >> Padres
Paul McAnulty - Padres >> Royals
Jake Peavy - Padres >> Royals
Randy Wolf - Padres >> Royals

June 1
Brandon Fahey - Orioles >> Padres
Kevin Cameron - Padres >> Orioles

Dodgers
May 20
Ryan Raburn - Tigers >> Dodgers
Mark Sweeney - Dodgers >> Tigers

Giants
May 22
Robby Hammock - Diamondbacks >> Giants
Erick Threets - Giants >> Diamondbacks

6/1 - White Sox (27-30) @ Rays (39-18): Game 4
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have won the final game of this four game series against the White Sox in Tampa Bay. Jim Thome gave the Sox an early lead in the first with a solo homer, but the Rays got that run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo homer by B.J. Upton. The Rays then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on an RBI single hit by Jason Bartlett scoring Rocco Baldelli from second, but in the next inning, the Sox tied it up again with a solo shot off the bat of Paul Konerko. The Rays took the lead permanently in the bottom of the inning when Cliff Floyd jacked a solo homer. Rays starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine pitched very well, going seven innings giving up both White Sox runs on nine hits and striking out three. Troy Percival protected the one-run lead for his eighteenth save of the season.

Final Score:
White Sox: 2
Rays: 3

WP - Andy Sonnanstine (4-1) | LP - Ehren Wassermann (0-4) | SV - Troy Percival (18)

HR:
B.J. Upton (Rays) - 21
Cliff Floyd (Rays) - 4
Jim Thome (White Sox) - 16
Paul Konerko (White Sox) - 14

6/2 - Trade Update
A trade occurred today between the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers:

Great Shields - Brewers >> White Sox
Danny Richar - White Sox >> Brewers

6/3 - Rays (40-18) @ Red Sox (26-33): Game 1
BOSTON -- The Rays have won their third straight game, taking game one against the Red Sox in Boston. In the third inning, Dioner Navarro got the offense started with a lead-off homer, but the Red Sox tied it in the bottom of the inning when Julio Lugo hit an RBI double scoring Jason Varitek. The Red Sox took the lead in the sixth with a solo blast off the bat of David Ortiz. Tim Wakefield pitched great, but couldn't shut it down in the ninth, giving up a one-out two-run homer to B.J. Upton also scoring Jason Bartlett giving the Rays a 3-2 victory. Troy Percival closed out another one-run lead game for his nineteenth save of the season. Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza pitched well, going seven innings, giving up the two Red Sox runs on four hits and striking out two, taking an unfortunate no decision.

Final Score:
Rays: 3
Red Sox: 2

WP - Al Reyes (4-1) | LP - Tim Wakefield (2-6) | SV - Troy Percival (19)

HR:
David Ortiz (Red Sox) - 12
B.J. Upton (Rays) - 22
Dioner Navarro (Rays) - 3

The Padres are really dumb and that is a really crappy way to kill off salary.

The Padres always make dumb trades whenever i play in Season.

6/4 - Rays (41-18) @ Red Sox (26-34): Game 2
BOSTON -- The Rays' winning streak has come to an end today in a loss to the Boston Red Sox. With no score in the fifth, J.D. Drew hit an RBI double scoring Mike Lowell to take a 1-0 lead. They then extended their lead in the same inning when Dustin Pedroia hit an RBI double knocking in J.D. Drew. The Red Sox scored once more in the sixth on an infield hit by Mike Lowell scoring David Ortiz from third. The Rays made a comeback attempt in the eighth on a bases loaded RBI single for Carlos Pena scoring Dioner Navarro and Rocco Baldelli, but they fell short as Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett went the distance for a complete game. Rays starting pitcher Edwin Jackson pitched great despite giving up all three Red Sox runs, going six innings, giving up those three runs on six hits and striking out two.

Final Score:
Rays: 2
Red Sox: 3

WP - Josh Beckett (5-6) | LP - Edwin Jackson (4-2) | SV -

HR:

6/5 - Trade Update
A trade between the Minnesota Twins and Florida Marlins was made today:

Paul Hoover - Marlins >> Twins
Kevin Slowey - Twins >> Marlins

imagine that trade in real life.

6/5 - Rays (41-19) @ Red Sox (27-34): Game 3
BOSTON -- The Rays have dropped two in a row in Boston and a series loss in a very low scoring game won on a walk-off. Manny Ramirez got things started in the first with an RBI double scoring Jacoby Ellsbury. No one would score again until the seventh when Evan Longoria led-off the top of the inning with a homer to left. Manny Ramirez who got things started, also ended it in the bottom of the ninth with an opposite field blast, giving the Red Sox the series victory of Rays reliever Al Reyes. Rays starting pitcher Hideo Nomo pitched great, pitching seven very strong innings giving up just one run on six hits and striking out three, taking a no decision.

Final Score:
Rays: 1
Red Sox: 2

WP - Hideki Okajima (3-1) | LP - Al Reyes (4-2) | SV -

HR:
Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) - 21
Evan Longoria (Rays) - 18

Tough loss but great job though, everythings neat
see how good it looks when you turn up the difficulty

I'd love to turn it up even higher, but I can't. I practically gave that one to them.

Thats a legit trade.