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Published: November 17, 2010 BRANDON - Matt Joyce, one of thousands of kids who grew up playing baseball at North Brandon Little League, is returning to his old digs Dec. 4, this time as a big leaguer offering a hand to those who want to follow in his footsteps. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, who graduated from Armwood High in Seffner, has teamed up with the Greater Brandon Community Foundation to hold the Sweet Swingin' Baseball Camp at North Brandon Little League. He will be bringing an entourage of coaches and other pro players to teach ballplayers ages 9 to 15 the fundamentals of the game. He also will convey the importance of teamwork and the necessity of good grades. "I definitely want to be a role model," Joyce said. "I think there are a lot of guys nowadays that kids look up to. I just want to be a big part of that. That's where you grew up, that's your home ground. You have to pay respect to it and take care of it." Joyce said he never had a major league player come out to the Little League park and discuss what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Joyce will lead the camp's coaching staff, along with other Rays players and coaches. The camp, open to the first 100 kids who sign up, is $100 and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost includes lunch. Click here to continue reading.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sweet Swingin' Baseball Camp
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Rays know time to win is now
Here is you update on our Tampa Bay Rays: ST. PETERSBURG -- Perception says the window of opportunity is closing for this collection of Tampa Bay Rays. Principal owner Stuart Sternberg is a businessman, and he says the Rays have stretched their payroll to the limit. Thus, an adjustment needs to be made, which means there will be a payroll reduction in 2011. So the likelihood of favorites such as Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Rafael Soriano being back with the team seems unlikely. The TBS coverage team of former Major Leaguers John Smoltz, Ron Darling and Cal Ripken offered their opinions on the subject. Click here to read the rest of the article.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Free Ray's Tickets!
Rays fans, want to go see the Rays play Orioles for free. Well today is your lucky day. Read below and go see the Rays play tonight for free!
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays will make available 20,000 free tickets to tomorrow night's regular-season finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Game time is 7:10 p.m. ET. Tickets will be distributed at all gates beginning at 4:45 p.m.
Tickets will be distributed one per person on a first-come, first-served basis and will be given away upon entry to the ballpark. Tickets may not be picked up in advance. The complimentary tickets will be available in the Press Level, Baseline Box, Loge Box, Outfield, Upper Box and Upper Reserved sections. Fans who have purchased tickets to tomorrow night's game in the aforementioned seating areas may exchange them at Guest Services for a Lower Box seat upon their arrival, based on availability. Click here to go to the Ray's article for more info.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Daily Playoff Pitch: Giants the big winners; Tampa Bay has an advantage
Here is more news about our #1 baseball team - the Tampa Bay Rays:
Tampa Bay positioned itself for a big finish. Look who has the best record in baseball (hint: They don't play in the AL East). If it's Friday -- actually, just about any day -- there must be a change atop the NL West.
Thursday's heroes
Another shutout for the Giants, their second in three nights at Chicago, but Juan Uribe made that a minor factor in the 13-0 victory that helped San Francisco jump over San Diego into the NL West lead, the fifth time those two teams have swapped spots in the past seven days. Uribe hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs in a nine-run second inning. San Francisco's 19-hit outburst began against Ryan Dempster, who had a 14-inning shutout streak entering the game. The seven hits off Dempster in 15 batters were as many as he had allowed in the 14-inning streak. In their past nine games, the Giants have scored two or fewer runs six times. They have 10, nine and 13 in the other three games.
Carl Crawford's two-run single, his second hit of the inning, capped a seven-run sixth against CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain as the Rays beat the Yankees 8-3 to split the four-game series in New York. Tampa Bay is back within a half-game of the Yankees, who won the first two games of the series. B.J. Upton's two-run double greeted Chamberlain after Sabathia left trailing 4-3 and the bases loaded. The victory also gives the Rays the season series against New York, 10-8, which would decide the AL East if the two teams tie.
Click here to read more.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
What Is Going On With The Rays
So what did the Rays do? They went 17-6 in April and by May 23 the Rays were 32-12 with a six-game lead on the Yankees. Included in that burst from the starting gate was a 19-5 road record.
The Rays were the darlings of baseball, complete with a highly touted starting staff, Gold Glove-caliber defense and truckloads of athleticism.
Alas, the Rays have not played as well since, especially during an 11-14 stretch in June, as the team fell from first place and the defending champion Yankees ascended to the top of the AL East.
Read the full article and see video here.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Events Coming Up This Memorial Weekend
Saturday, May 29 at 7 a.m.
Hubbard's Marina & the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant
170 John's Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach FL 33708
Avid anglers ages 5-15 are invited to attend this annual fishing contest with prizes in such categories as biggest fish, smallest fish and most extraordinary catch. There are three divisions: age 5 and younger (entry fee $15); ages 6-10 ($25); and ages 11-15 ($25). Winners from each group will receive a rod and reel combo, trophy and additional prize. All registered anglers get a tournament T-shirt, bait bucket with shrimp, a bag filled with fishing goodies, lunch and a raffle ticket for additional prizes. Friends and families are welcome to attend and can purchase additional T-shirts, lunch and raffle tickets. There also will be face painting, kids games and activities. Fishing is from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Weigh-in is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with the awards ceremony beginning at 3 p.m.
Price: $15-$25 depending on age group
Categories: Benefits, Family, Kid-friendly, Outdoors, Sports
Phone: (727) 393-1947
http://www.johnspassfestiv als.com/
Rays Baseball
Sunday, May 30 at 1:40 p.m.
Tropicana Field
1 Stadium Drive, St. Petersburg FL 33705
The Rays hold a commanding lead in the AL East after a disappointing 2009 campaign. The new mantra this year: GTMI (Get the Man in!).
The first 10,000 kids 14 and under receive a Carlos Peña toothbrush holder and the first 10,000 fans receive a poster courtesy of the St. Petersburg Times . Local TV: Sun Sports ----- Local Radio: WDAE 620 -- WGES 680
Categories: Family, Kid-friendly, Sports
Phone: (888) 326-7297
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/ Silly Bandz Beach Bash
Is the Silly Bandz craze crashing yet? Can't you see kids going off to summer camp one day with five Mom_sillybandz bracelets and coming back with 15? Well, let them have fun while it lasts. Here's a great way to get the weekend started at the Silly Bandz Beach Bash at United Skates of America, 5121 N Armenia AVe., Tampa. The kid who wears the most Bandz will win a $25 prize. Imagine how many more bracelets he or she can get. It costs $8 and that includes skate rental. Find the fun at 8 p.m. Friday. Call (813) 876-5826 or go to the Visit this site Have fun and be safe Tampa Bay!
aahttp://www.pjtampabay.com/
Friday, May 21, 2010
AL Quick Pitch: Rays win 6th straight, open AL East lead
By Scott Boeck
The Tampa Bay Rays swept the New York Yankees in a two-game series and won their sixth straight.
Yes, the Rays won both at Yankee Stadium. Up until last week, they had lost six in a row in New York.
"This ballpark didn't treat us kindly last year," manager Joe Maddon said after an 8-6 win. "It was important to show that we can win here. It's important in regards to the mental factor."
Maddon has his club in great command of the AL East. The Rays have opened a five-game lead over the Yankees, and they've proven they can win at home and on the road.
The Rays improved to a remarkable 17-4 on the road and 30-11 overall.
"These guys are hot as a pistol right now. Anytime we make a mistake, they are on it," Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez said.
The East division is full of firepower. Four of the five teams - Rays, Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox - are above .500. And one of the perennial powerhouses - the Yankees or Red Sox - could be playing for the wild card if the Rays continue their streak.
Also noteworthy in the AL:
- DUEL OF THE DAY: In what was supposed to be a matchup of two premier left-handers - Red Sox's Jon Lester and Twins' Francisco Liriano - it became a runnaway for Lester. Lester threw his first complete game win of the season and needed just 98 pitches. Liriano exited the game with two outs in the fifth inning. With the victory, Lester lifted his winning percentage to .719, the best ever for a pitcher with at least 100 starts.
"That's great," Lester said without a smile. "But that's just a testament to the teams that I've been on. It's easy to pitch when guys score runs."
- Employee No. 24 came through for the Seattle Mariners. Ken Griffey Jr., who according to a report was unavailable to pinch-hit in an earlier loss because he was sleeping in the clubhouse, got his 10th game-ending hit of his career. It was the first game-ending hit of Seattle's disappointing season.
For the rest of the story, visit USAToday.com
http://pjtampabay.com
Monday, May 17, 2010
MLB Odds: Tampa Bay Rays Big Chalk at Home Versus Indians
Tampa Bay remains the top team in the majors with a two-game lead in the tough AL East. The Rays are 200 favorites at home Monday against the Cleveland Indians.
The Tampa Bay Rays (26-11) are 4-1 in their last five games with three of the wins being close one-run affairs. Joe Maddon’s club is atop the American League East standings and opens a two-game set in Monday’s home meeting with the Cleveland Indians (15-20), who are 5-2 in their last seven.
Gabe Kapler’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly gave him the game-winning RBI for the Rays, who cashed as 147 home favorites, in Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. The right fielder struck out twice in his other two plate appearances.
Rays second baseman Sean Rodriguez had his team’s other RBI. The nine-hole hitter’s double in the seventh-inning began the comeback victory after his squad was down, 1-0.
The game’s combined three runs plunged below the ‘total’ of seven, and extended the Rays' ‘under’ streak to 4-0-1.
Starting pitcher Matt Garza went six innings for the Rays and gave up five hits. Dan Wheeler got the win for Tampa Bay in relief to improve his record to 2-0, and Rafael Soriano closed for his 10th save.
For the full story, visit SBRforum.com
Friday, May 14, 2010
Price wins fifth as Rays edge Angels: Two runs on passed balls help righty tie for AL lead in wins
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
05/12/10 11:41 PM ETANAHEIM -- David Price was 13 years old and in the eighth grade the last time the Rays won a series at Angels Stadium.
That series win came May 14-16, 1999.Since then, Price has been to college, become the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, and now he's an integral part of a solid, young Tampa Bay staff. On Wednesday, Price used his left arm to help the Rays earn a 4-3 win over the Angels to take the rubber game of a three-game series in front of 35,700.In victory, Tampa Bay finished the trip with a 6-3 mark to move its road record to 15-4 on the season, and the red-hot club improved its Major League-best record to 24-10.For the rest of the story, visit MLB.comhttp://pjtampabay.comUntitled
The 2010 Rays Summer Concert Series is presented by Hess Express, as part of Rays Saturday Nights, presented by Bright House Sports Network. The concerts begin shortly after select homes games conclude and are FREE with the purchase of that night's game ticket.
Enjoy the sounds of the game and music with friends and family. Learn about discounted Group Seating for 20 or more people.
Also, The St. Petersburg Times Family Fun Days (every Sunday home game) feature special ticket offers that include a voucher for a hot dog, snack, and Pepsi product. For Gold Sunday games (all Sunday games except 4/11, 8/1, 8/29) Outfield seats are available for just $22; and Baseline Box seats for just $31. For Diamond Sunday games (4/11, 8/1, 8/29), Outfield seats are available for just $30. All special ticket offers are based on availability.
888-fan-rays or visit RaysBaseball.com
If you want to share any photos with us, tag PJ Tampa Bay on Facebook and we'll add it to our Flickr!
pjtampabay.com
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tampa Bay Rays 8 to 1 to Win 2010 World Series
Matt Garza.(credit: Wikipedia.com)
7 May 2010
The Rays have the best winning percentage in baseball so far this season.
The New York Yankees have played outstanding baseball so far this post-season as they have a .704 winning percentage through 27 games. However despite all of their success, they are not even the leaders of their division as the Tampa Bay Rays are 21-7 on the year so far.
One thing that is very head turning with Tampa Bay is that they are 12-1 on the road so far this year. Most teams play worse on the road when compared to their home record, but the Rays have been dominant so far although one seriously has to question if they can keep that kind of road winning percentage up for much longer.
So far the best offensive player for Tampa Bay has been third basemen Evan Langoria whose OPS is 1.050. Langoria has an impressive 7 home runs on the year and his batting average at this point is .356.
On the mound 26 year old Matt Garza has been the Ray best pitcher.
Garza appears to be on track for a career year as he is already 5-1 with a WHIP of only 1.070. His best season so far was in 2008, when the Rays made the World Series, when he went 11-9 during the regular season.
For the rest of the story, visit Crunchsports.com
http://pjtampabay.com
