Trouble On The Bay?

Things got off to such a fantastic start at the Trop. They got off to the best start in team history, losing only six games the entire first month of the season. Now they've come back down to reality, and hard. For the first time all season, as of this writing, the Tampa Bay Rays are not in first place in the American League East (Baltimore is by a game as of this writing).

They won 25 games by the end of April, then hit the 40 win mark by the end of May. Once June hit, things started to balance out. July, the wheels started falling off. By the time of this writing the Rays are just 3-12 in the month, having lost their grip on first place in the East to the O's. They're on a five game losing streak and have lost seven of their last ten games.

What's wrong with the Rays?

Well for one thing is the bullpen. Not clue what exactly to put my finger on, or if we can even point a finger at one or two specific players. But as a unit, it looks like the pen is lost, not being able to really hold leads as of late. The starting pitching has been holding up fine, its just the pen can't hang onto the lead some nights.

Then there's what's going on at the plate. The offense just isn't clicking. too many strikeouts and way too many left in scoring position. The big hits aren't there as they were at the beginning of the season. Randy Arozerana isn't connecting with the power the way he was to start the year off.

Time to hit the panic button?

Not just yet. The Rays got off to such a hot start that they built a big enough pad. Now that pad has gone away and they need to get back to work. They've got a little over two months left in the season before we hit the playoffs. Barring a major drop off, the Rays should be there. If the Rays have to be hitting a slide, it's better for the team to be hitting it and working the kinks out now then hitting a slide right at the end of September rolling into playoff baseball. Not really worried too much, but its starting to creep into the back of people's minds.

Not all of this falls on Kevin Cash. There's only so much he can do, so many moves and lineup juggling he can do. he can't make the players hit, he can't make the players hustle. I can't see Cash going anywhere but between now and the August 1st trade deadline, I wouldn't be surprised if the Rays start making moves to better this team

MLB Midseason Lookback

We have hit the halfway point of the 2023 Major League Baseball season and boy has it been an entertaining one at that. We've had a combined now hitter in Detroit and a Yankee toss a perfect game. There's been quite a few surprises, and disappointments, as the season has gone along. So lets get into it for the first half of the 2023 season.

Surprises:

Rays

Tampa Bay turned out to be a big surprise, getting off to a perfect 13-0 start. Sure they've come down as of late, dropping 7 of the final 8 heading into the all star break. But the Rays offense through most of the first half of the season had been head and shoulders above the rest. They had gotten way ahead of the rest of the division, allowing them the breathing room before coming down to earth going into the break. They've got six guys that have more than ten home runs, and five guys with more than 40 RBI.

Rangers

If you had Texas leading the AL West at the halfway mark raise your hand. Adolis Garcia has gone off, driving in 75 runs and clubbing over 20 homers. There was four other Rangers with over 50 RBI's and seven hitters with double digits in home runs. They've been getting balanced hitting and great staring pitching, even without Jacob deGrom in the rotation.

Reds

Speaking of balanced offense, that's what your starting to see more of in Cincinnati. They're atop the NL Central and killing it.

Disappointments:

Mets

After spending all the money they did in the offseason. They tried to build off the 101 win season last year and so far its fallen flat on its face. This has been the furthest back of first place the Mets have been at the break in the last 20 years. Yes, Alonso and Lindor have been driving in runs, but there averages are low. They have a plus side in Francisco Alveraz, but the rest of the team has been a letdown, at least by comparison to last year and the standards that the owners have tried to set.

Padres

This was a team that just a season ago, was three wins away from the world series. Now, they're four games under .500 and eight and a half back at the break. Yes, you're getting production from their big guns in Soto, Tatis and Machado, but the rest of the supporting cast isn't there.

Best Rookie:
AL: Josh Jung (Texas) NL: Corbin Carroll (Arizona)

What Jung is doing at the hot corner in Texas is amazing. He's playing quality defense at 3rd. And he's holding it down in the middle of the Texas lineup, hitting .280, and driving in 56 runs in 88 games. What Carroll is doing in Arizona is downright impressive. He's the heart and soul of a lineup that's got 52 wins on the year and is the 2nd best team in the AL West behind only the Dodgers. Can he keep it up? Only time will tell, but for the time being he's been powering that team.

Best Manager:
AL: Bruce Bochy (Texas) NL: Tory Lovuello (Arizona)

With the NL, you could make an argument for Brian Snitker in Atlanta, who have the best record in baseball at this point. But that's expected of the Braves. With Lovuello, this is an Arizona team that wasn't expected to be this far above .500. They have the 2nd best record in the NL West and the 3rd most wins in the NL. You can also make a case for Skip Schumaker for what he's doing over in Miami. As for the AL its a two horse race. Kevin Cash in Tampa can be one argument for getting the Rays to the best record in the AL at the break. But I have to give it to Bochy in Texas with that young lineup and no deGrom he's got them to the best record in the AL West.

Cy Young:
AL: Shane McClanahan (Rays) NL: Spencer Streider (Braves)

Shane leads the AL with an 11-1 record and is second in ERA. He's in the top 20 in strikeouts, but the fact that he's only at 96 innings may hurt his case later. But still when he's on his game, he's ON his game and there's few better. For Streidxer, he's been so dominating on the Braveas mound its scary. I know he hasn't worked as hard as Gullen in Arizona, but he's just been as if not more dominating.

MVP:
AL: Shohei Otani (Angels) NL: Ronald Acuna Jr (Braves)

This race for both isn't even that close. Otani has been one of the best hitters in the AL this year and is the only hitter in the majors at the break to have clubbed 30 dingers. Acuna has been doing it all for the Braves and has been head a shoulders above the rest of the league.

Play Like An All Star

We are one week away. The best of the best in the game of baseball gathering at T-Mobile Park in Seattle for the 93rd Midsummer Classic. This marks the third time that Seattle has hosted the game. First was at the Kingdome in 1979 (a 7-6 National League win) and then in 2001 at the same ballpark (a 4-1 American League win).

Here's who's playing in this years all star game.

American League:
Starters:
Catcher: Jonah Heim Rangers (1st)
1st Base: Yandy Díaz Rays (1st)
2nd Base: Marcus Semien Rangers (2nd)
3rd Base: Josh Jung Rangers (1st)
Shortstop: Corey Seager Rangers (4th)
Outfilders: Randy Arozarena Rays (1st), Aaron Judge Yankees (5th), Mike Trout Angels (11th)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani Angels (3rd)

Reserves:
Catchers: Salvador Pérez Royals (8th), Adley Rutschman Orioles (1st)
1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays (3rd)
2nd Base: Whit Merrifield Blue Jays (3rd)
3rd Base: José Ramírez Guardians (5th)
Shortstop: Bo Bichette Blue Jays (2nd)
Outfielders: Yordan Álvarez Astros (2nd), Adolis García Rangers (2nd), Austin Hays Orioles (1st), Luis Robert Jr. White Sox (1st)
Designated Hitters: Brent Rooker Athletics (1st)

Pitchers:
Félix Bautista Orioles (1st), Yennier Canó Orioles (1st), Luis Castillo Mariners (3rd), Emmanuel Clase Guardians (2nd), Gerrit Cole Yankees (6th), Nathan Eovaldi Rangers (2nd), Sonny Gray Twins (3rd), Kevin Gausman Blue Jays (2nd), Kenley Jansen Red Sox (4th), Michael Lorenzen Tigers (1st), Shane McClanahan Rays (2nd), Shohei Ohtani Angels (3rd), Framber Valdez Astros (2nd)

National League:
Starters:
Catcher: Sean Murphy Braves (1st)
1st Base: Freddie Freeman Dodgers (7th)
2nd Base: Luis Arráez Marlins (2nd)
3rd Base: Nolan Arenado Cardinals (8th)
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia Braves 1st)
Outfielders: Ronald Acuña Jr Braves )4th), Mookie Betts Dodgers (7th), Corbin Carroll Diamondbacks (1st)
Designated Hitter: J. D. Martinez Dodgers (6th)

Reserves:
Catchers: Elías Díaz Rockies (1st), Will Smith Dodgers (1st)
1st Base: Pete Alonso Mets (3rd), Matt Olson Braves (2nd)
2nd Base: Ozzie Albies Braves (3rd)
3rd Base: Austin Riley Braves (2nd)
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson Cubs (2nd)
Outfielders: Nick Castellanos Phillies (2nd), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Diamondbacks (1st0< Juan Soto Padres (3rd)
Designated Hitter: Jorge Soler Marlins (1st)

Pitchers:
Alexis Díaz Reds (1st), Camilo Doval Giants (1st), Bryce Elder Braves (1st), Zac Gallen Diamondbacks (1st), Josiah Gray Nationals (1st), Josh Hader Padres (5th), Mitch Keller Pirates (1st), Clayton Kershaw Dodgers (10th), Justin Steele Cubs (1st), Spencer Strider Braves (1st), Marcus Stroman Cubs (2nd), Devin Williams Brewers (2nd)

So, did the roster get picked correctly? Well, one spot for debate comes to shortstop in the American League. Nothing against the two who were selected to be there in Corey Seager or Bo Bichette. Bichette should have gotten the start, he got the most hits in baseball. Sure Seager has the higher average, but he's played in 54 games, compared to the 80 starts by Bichette. Oh and lets not forget about Wander Franco who's got solid number s in his own rights at the plate. But what I feel kept Wander on the outside looking in was his attitude. Rays Manager Kevin Cash had to sit him for a few games because of that issue, and the GM's who select the reserves took that into consideration I feel. That's the only thing I can think of that kept Wander out of the game. Also kind of surprised that Rafael Devers, the leading RBI man among 3rd Baseman in the AL isn't at the game this year. The low batting average may have something to do with it but still, its worth noting.