The Rays have won a season high 5 in a row and it's no surprise that the bullpen has finally started to pull their weight. Coincidence? I don't think so!

The Bullpen has gone from being the worst in the big leagues the first month...to their current 13.2 innings scoreless streak.  Closer Fernando Rodney has his Plantain Power finally working going 3 straight appearances without giving up a hit. In the depths of the Rays early season slump Joe Maddon said his bullpen would eventually be the best in the AL. Now they have a long way to go statistically but with Jake McGee and Rodney getting more consistent velocity and Josh Lueke added to the mix it appears the Rays bully is indeed going to be a strength. I can see long term Kyle Farnsworth (who has lost 6-8 mph on his fastball since his 2011 high point) being phased out for Lueke. Maddon loves this kids new found maturity, physicality and stuff! Don't forget the talented arms at Durham in Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer who might eventually see some time with the big league club this year.

The foundation of this Rays resurgence has been of course the nuclear powered offense. The Rays have been the highest scoring team in MLB since April 17th! They are averaging almost 6 runs per game. They also lead MLB in home runs the last month hitting 38 HR in 25 games…Evan Longoria leads MLB with 9 HR during this span. The Rays have remained competitive the last few years with a dreadful offense but the new combinations and Maddon's mixing and matching have produced a juggernaut never seen in Tampa Bay. Longoria and James Loney have been scorching hot. The numbers are off the charts. Since April 15, Longo leads the majors with 24 runs in 26 games…is hitting .343 (36-for-105) with a .400 OBP since that date. 

Off season pick up James Loney has been even better. He has homered in his last 2 games. In his last 23 games (17 starts) since April 17 he leads the majors with a .453 avg. (34-for-75) with 2 HR, 15 RBI, 9 2B and only 4 SO to raise his avg. by more than 200 points, from .167 (5-for-30) to .371! He is making more solid contact than and player in baseball. 33% percent of his balls in play are line drives, according to Fangraphs, the highest pct. in the majors…the major league avg. is 20.2 pct!

Loney has significantly changed his approach this year getting more into a crouch and he's seeing and tracking the ball better. There is no way he continue to hit .453 but it's clear his presence behind Longoria is adding much needed protection that Longo has rarely received. Perhaps most importantly, Loney has only struck out 4 times in that span. That used to be a typical game for Carlos Pena! With Pena and Upton's 360+ strikeouts gone from the Rays line-up the consistent run scoring has improved dramatically.

The great news for Rays fans is this team is likely to get better this season. There is now way David Price will continue to pitch to a near 5 ERA and Jeremey Hellickson will certainly improve. There is good reason to expect Wil Myers, last years Minor League Player of the Year will eventually join the team and add even more pop and protection for Longoria. Remember what 2011 MLPOY Mike Trout did for the Angels?

Right now the Rays trail the Yankees by 4.5 games. The Yanks will get Jeter, ARod, Texiera and Granderson back...all should be back for the last 3rd of the season. But right now the Yanks are playing great baseball with Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay and the replacement crew producing as well or better than the starters have produced. The Yankees rotation that includes CC Sabathia (32), Andy Pettitte (40) and Hiroki Kuroda (38) has pitched well but how good will they be in September and October after 225 Innings pitched? Sabathia has already had arm issues the past couple years. The Red Sox have lost closer Joel Hanrahan for the season and their other closer Andrew Bailey is also on the DL. I'm not saying the Rays are a lock to win the AL East but they appear to be the team prepared for the long haul.

Many pundits picked the Rays to win the World Series and early on it did not look good, but Joe Maddon's steady (if not a bit eccentric) hand has preached patience and the Rays are now over.500 and looking to make a run. The schedule gets much easier as they approach the All-Star break with 7 games against the Dis-Astros. Expect the Rays to be near or in 1st place come break time!

In our exclusive 1 on 1 interview with Ronde Barber...Ronde talks about his retirement after 16 seasons in the NFL including a record 215 consecutive games played on defense. 

"Absolutely I overachieved." Barber said. "I far outmatched my ambitions"

Barber is the gold standard for versatility playing a unique role as the Nickel Corner in the Tampa 2 defense that has been an NFL staple for the past 20 years and the defense that brought Tampa Bay it's only Super Bowl win. Barber is the only defensive back to total 20 plus sacks and 40 plus picks finishing with 28 sacks and 47 Interceptions. His 15 non offensive touchdowns rank 4th all time and only 2 defensive backs have more...Deion Sanders (19) and Rod Woodson (17). Barber also racked up 1,260 tackles in his career (12th all time) far more than the next best corner (Woodson) who ranks 37th with 937 tackles.

 "In a defense that everybody started playing, I did it better than anybody else."

Barber talks about his legacy, his unique role in perfecting the Tampa 2 and if he believes he will make it to the Hall of Fame. 

When Ronde Barber broke into the league as the 66th overall pick of the 1997 Buccaneers draft, he hoped to have half as good a career as...Anthony Parker? 

"I remember when Anthony Parker was here. He had a pretty good career man. He scored a bunch of touchdowns, had a bunch of interceptions, played about 10 years. I told myself then, if I had half that career, I would be happy" Barber said.

Safe to say Ronde is pretty happy with his legacy. The numbers are gaudy but pale in comparison to his love for the game, love for winning and his desire to compete to the death on every play. Where did this inextinguishable roaring fire come from? How did a diminutive 5-10 185 pound, slow 4.69 Forty running, 3rd round pick, "Zone" corner make such a compelling case for the Hall of Fame?

Well over the past 16 years I've had the pleasure to cover all of Ronde's games and host his TV show on NewsChannel 8 for many years.  I also got a rare glimpse inside the man behind the jersey and I'm lucky enough to call him a friend. I think I have an insightful (and admittedly non-objective) perspective on the man they call Twenty.

First let's look at the quantifiable numbers...and frankly they are off the charts. If you must consider each player by their excellence at their position, then how can you not vote yes for the HOF? Also consider, when looking at the numbers it's Ronde's versatility at a hybrid position that made him so valuable and ultimately helped the Bucs defense be so dominant for a decade ultimately winning a Super Bowl.

The ONLY corner with 25+ sacks and 45+ interceptions meaning...he could beat 300 pound tackles or shifty backs on a blitz then on the next play cover a number one receiver lined up in the slot or outside? He finished with 28 Sacks and 48 picks which in the days of specialization and shorter careers is a stat that may never be approached...let alone broken.

His most important and telling stat to me is his 1,423 tackles (Tackles are a very much disputed stat as official post game film study counts often can change a 5 tackle game into a 13 tackle game). But by most comparison measures Ronde' is the top tackling corner by over 300 tackles! Consider Deion Sanders, a Hall of Fame corner only had 492...in his career! We can talk about flash and big plays all we want (and we will) but still basic tackling is the foundation of defensive football. Ronde's superior instincts, intelligence and dogged film study not only put him in position to make game changing plays but also put him in position to make the Blue Collar plays that are the foundation of solid Tampa 2 defense. Keeping the 2 yard gains from becoming 8 or 80 yard plays. 

These numbers prove his incredible versatility. But watching every one of his approximately 16,500 plays I've seen him take on 270 pound Brandon Jacobs in full stride. It didn't end well but he got him down! I've seen him hold his own 1 on 1 with Magatron Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Marcus Colston...guys that are almost a foot taller...and compete for jump balls. He didn't always make the play but more often than not he did. He has unselfishly played special teams over the years blocking punts and returning them for scores. The fact is...you can't find players in this league who can do all those things or are even willing to do all those things. 

I asked him a few weeks ago if he felt he redefined that Nickle corner position in the Tampa 2 and in a rare moment of boasting he said...no doubt. He also told me that as Tony Dungy and his position coach Herm Edwards started to realize this small in stature 3rd round pick's unique and versatile abilities, the position morphed into a critical part of thier Tampa 2 scheme.

"I think it was unceremoniously initiated, no fanfare. It wasn't like...this guy is a cant miss player...it was a grind. Over the course of my second, third and fourth years the position that nobody else really played, evolved. You heard the argument...oh he's only a system guy...can only do this...well...in a defense that everybody started playing, I did it better than anybody else."

Barber says other teams tried to find players to do what he did...but couldn't. 

"A lot of people try to find me in their defense because obviously I could rush the passer, play the slot, play multiple positions....on a defense that was simple...that required play-makers. I think I stood out in that regard. It would be entirely too humble for me not to acknowledge that."

I think those comments really capture his career progression and eventual induction into Canton.

Now let's talk big plays that win games. Remember...winning and losing in the NFL is a razors edge difference and usually comes down to who makes the most big plays. A defensive or special teams touchdown tilts the odds of winning to near 80%. Ronde is 4th all time in non-offensive touchdowns with 15 and really was never a primary return guy like the two defensive backs ahead of him Deion (19) and Charles Woodson (17). So you can make the case, with the picks (28) sacks (48) Forced fumbles (13) and fumble recoveries (16) he was the most impactful defensive player of all-time in terms of big, game changing plays. Dominating games defensively with big plays usually earns you the coveted Defensive Player of the Week honor. Ronde won that 9 times, tied for the most ever with Hall of Famers like Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. How can you possibly argue he doesn't stand shoulder to...well his helmet...with those guys.

And about his size...well I think frankly it's part of what drove him to such success. He told me he would never be outworked or out-thought on the field. In my humble opinion I think he used his Napoleonic/Inferiority complex to drive him relentlessly. He always appeared humble but there was an inner arrogance that fueled his uber-confidence. I will never forget our close up TV shot of him on the sidelines (caught full natsound by our crack Channel 8 videographer Bob Hanson) after his indomitable pick 6 at Philadelphia sealed the 2002 NFC title game. This was just after Ronde had been snubbed for the Pro Bowl. He screamed into the camera...(see part of the clip here) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151482682462615&set=vb.560362614&type=2&theater

"Tell me I ain't the best...tell me I ain't the best...Screw the Pro Bowl...we're gong to the Super Bowl!"

Classic Ronde! Few know he is. pound for pound, the best trash talker in NFL history! In his private moments Ronde would voice some of his frustration at not being put in the elite category but he would never say it publicly...and frankly that is extremely hard to do when you're as proud and as accomplished as Ronde is. 5 Pro Bowls and 3 All_pro teams were not nearly enough in my opinion...and secretly his opinion as well.

I once had the opportunity to watch him do film study at his home...where he was constantly studying tape. This was back in 2001 before they played the Eagles and Donovan McNabb. He was going back and forth over the tape, like Dexter doing forensic blood work, showing me how McNabb turned his head on 3rd down and short and sometimes telegraphed where he was going with the ball. And so it was...a YEAR plus later that Ronde used that information...baited McNabb into throwing the ball...and stepped in to make what many call the biggest play in Bucs history. He was doing intricate and exhaustive film study before it became the obsession it is today. Another winning edge.

Finally let's talk toughness and longevity. Of course his record 215 consecutive starts at corner is incredible especially when you factor in how physical and productive a player he was at his size. Many know the story of how he played the last part of the Super Bowl season with a torn PCL in his knee. He also played parts of at least 2 other seasons with a torn MCL...an injury that sidelines most every other player. He played with torn ligaments in his thumb and a dislocated shoulder. Yes he was lucky...but he was also incredibly tough and his love and desire to play hard and never let his teammates down was unprecedented in my experience.

So when I asked him a few weeks ago...are you satisfied with your career? Did you accomplish everything you wanted to...his answer was interesting.

"If you would have asked me this question in 1998...absolutely I overachieved and far outmatched my ambitions."

"Ive always have high goals. There are a lot of things I didn't accomplish but you stack your goals on top of one another. You don't want to pass them and say...I'm done. There are some things I could have done. I'm happy. The merits rest on themselves. Let's see how people judge me in the end...hard to judge people while they're still here. Most people are generally more appreciated when they're gone."

Ah...Ronde still looking to see if he will be judged fairly. I think nationally his story will take time to sink in. To really appreciate what he brought to the game. But in the end...he is more than satisfied and at peace with his career and this retirement decision. He also feels blessed he was selected by the Bucs and played his whole career in Tampa.

"Its been more than I could have ever hoped for. I have great friends, great support from my family... yeah man, this town has been very good to me. I cannot lie. Of all the 31 other franchises and cities...I got in the right one for me."

And Ronde plans on making his permanent home in Tampa Bay.

"Absolutely..I'm not going anywhere...golf is too good, the schools the girls are in good, my adult friends we hang out with are here, people we vacation with...Tampa is where Barbers will reside."

So Ronde goes out on his terms...his way. Leaving the game playing at a Pro Bowl level. Few players and even fewer legendary Bucs have had such an appropriate send off. His considerable on field accomplishments don't begin to surpass the loving husband and father he has become. He is the personification of class, character and left a blue print of true professionalism that will leave an indelible mark on this franchise and this city. Congrats Ronde...now let's tee it up!

Have Rays Lost Their Underdog Mojo?

I'm pretty sure I saw Rays mascot Raymond lose some intensity and focus after the Rays put up a 7 spot in the 3rd! He was clearly loafing in the Soda Pop race! Everyone in a Rays uniform last night was at fault for this record setting debacle and it's clearly a trend this season. Never before has a Rays team blown a 7 run lead at the Trop. Heck...never before has a DEVIL RAYS team blown a 7 run lead and think how God-awful some of those teams and bullpens were!  Remember Esteban "Gone" Yan? He got lit up more than a University of Colorado Bong!

So what as changed? Same pitchers for the most part (but I still wonder why you let JP Howell and his 1.21 WHIP get away for 1 year 2.85 Million and give Roberto "Fausto" Hernandez $3.2 Mill?) but they have almost all regressed statistically and velocity wise. Apparently David Price and Jake McGee's fastballs both spent the off season vacationing at Sandals getting drunk, fat and losing their edge. Price's fastball is down 2 MPH and has he's not hitting 97-98 like he did on put-away pitches last year. McGee only throws fastballs and this season his velocity is down and his ERA is up...way up...from 1.95 to 10.64. Kyle Farnsworth has gone from high 90's fastball in his huge 2011 year to low 90's now and a 6.43 ERA. He is clearly not the same pitcher post injury and at this point not reliable. Fernando Rodney's velocity seems fine but his effectiveness is way down after being overused in the WBC. Nobody expected Rodney to reproduce last seasons record setting .60 ERA. Still a 5.06 ERA and the overall staff ERA of 4.39 is 12th in the AL and a huge reason the Rays have given up leads in 12 of their 17 losses. 

In the "Monday Night Meltdown" there was so much blame to go around. Hellickson has now blown leads of 6-1 and 7-0. After getting a 7 run lead he went out in the 4th and had a 39 pitch inning! He began nibbling at the corners instead of challenging hitters. Jake McGee came in throwing all fastballs (he finally found 97-98 last night) that even .200 hitter Mark DeRosa can hit out. He needs to have to have the swagger to throw the slider/cutter he worked on in spring training. Escobar blew a routine double play that could have saved a run in the 8th. In the 9th, Molina throws a ball into CF allowing the tying run to get to 3rd with nobody out. The offense went dormant, the defense went south and Joe Maddon let Rodney pitch too long...and shouldn't have had him pitch at all to Arencibia (9HR, 18 RBI) with first base open and DeRosa waiting on deck!

Maddon believes this is all temporary and he may be right...he usually is. Maddon doesn't think the problem is "attitudinal" and I trust his evaluations perhaps more than any other manager I've covered...but I might disagree.

I think it's something more sinister. It's the thing that has sunken great teams since Rome's Legions were upset at Teutoburg Forest by the Germans. Complacency, arrogance and apathy. This is the first season where pundits actually picked the Rays to win the World Series. They have become the "hunted" and and have forgotten their "hunter" DNA. I asked Maddon preseason about this philisophical and motivational shift and he said it was something he acknowledged but wasn't concerned about. Fair enough...but how do you measure "killer instinct"? Focus and effort at key moments? By the number of lost leads? Seems like the best indicator to me and the Rays have been unusually horrible in this category. Last year the Rays lost leads in about 42% of their losses...this year it's 70%! When the Rays went up 7-0 in the third inning they managed just 3 singles the rest of the way. Did they lose that intensity? Were they apathetic? Complacent? Did they arrogantly think the pitchers would take care of business like they did last year? Was Escobar's blown double play and Molina's throw into center field a lack of focus at key moments?

To me it seems this team has lost that "underdog, never say die, us against the world" mentality that has been their core DNA for many years. Did that depart with Bull Dog and vocal team leader Big Game James Shields? Is there a lack of credible leadership in the clubhouse? There are whispers that Longo isn't revered like Shields was.

That "hunter" "underdog" mentality is a very fleeting and elusive vibe and it's hard to just manufacture. The 2 incidents against the Yankees in the spring of 2008 (Elliot Johnson runs over Cervelli, Gomes tackles Shelly Duncan) gave the Rays that "were mad as hell, were not gonna take it any more" attitude. But if there is one manager in the game that can do it...it's the progressive JoJo Ma. Be it penguins, or DJ's or magicians he will find a way. I would be shocked to see this team continue to struggle like this but the path to progress is to accurately identify the problems and fix them. That has been the critical strength of the 2 time Manager of the Year. I expect him to fix all these ills...including whatever is keeping Raymond from being his best self!

What's wrong with David Price? The reigning Cy Young award winner is 1-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 7 starts. He has allowed 8 home runs this year after allowing only 16 all of last season! Price's fastball velocity is off an average of 2 MPH which is the difference between putting away a young rookie with the bases loaded and having Nelson Arenado get you for a Grand Slam to put the game away. That's exactly what happened to Price in his last start against the Rockies. 

Arenado actually hit a hanging cutter at 85 MPH and that's the point here. Price would always challenge hitters in big spots and hump up that fastball to 97-98 sometimes. We have rarely seen him hit 94 this year and he is consistently in the 92-93 fastball range.

Consequently he has gone away from the fastball and is going more to his off speed pitches which are not elite pitches yet. He has been consistently hit hard on his change ups, curve balls and cutters. So how does Price get his Mojo back?

Well pitchers losing velocity is not new. There is a theory that Price's velocity dips on the next starts after he throws over 115 pitches and you can see a great numerical and graphic proof in this awesome piece by Jason Colette:

http://theprocessreport.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/on-david-prices-velocity/#more-4837

So maybe this is just arm fatigue? Let's hope so. The Rays cannot afford another Scott Kazmir melt down. Maybe the Rays should give Price a couple weeks off before he starts to overthrow (to regain velocity) and injure his shoulder. That has happened countless times to so many pitchers. The Rays can bring up Chris Archer who has proven he can pitch very well at this level.

Right now...the Price is very wrong and The Rays have enough of a sampling to make an informed decision. They have always played it safe with their pitchers and Price is so competitive he would never tell you his arm is hurting. Make the decision for him and give him a short break.

This weekend Buccaneers Gerald McCoy and Dashon Goldson were featured on the NFL Networks TOP 100 NFL Players special as the leagues 92nd and 96th best players. It's a pretty good bet Vincent Jackson, Doug Martin (3rd in NFL in yards from scrimmage) Darrelle Revis and Carl Nicks will be on that list. You could make an argument for Levonte David and Ronde Barber with their strong 2012 seasons. Josh Freeman, Mike Williams and Donald Penn have also been on the list in the last 2 years. That's 11 players who are in or near the top 100. The league average per team is 3! The talent infusion at One Buc Place the past couple seasons has made the Bucs legit playoff contenders.

All teams try to address their weaknesses in free agency and the draft. The great teams get it done. After this weekends draft and the free agent period it appears the Bucs have partially filled the gaping hole that cost them most of their losses. The pass defense that nearly set a record for the worst pass defense in NFL history. The secondary has gone from one of the worst, to one of the best. The Bucs lined up Danny Gorer, E.J. Biggers and Leonard Johnson at corner in the season finale at Atlanta. Against the Jets in the season opener it will likley be Darrelle Revis, Eric Wright and Jonthan Banks or Ronde Barber. That's like going from the Wiggles to the Beatles! With the addition of Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson and 1st round pick safety Mark Barron in his second year the Bucs secondary is one of the leagues best. 

But while Buc fans crowded into Raymond James Thursday night to cheer thier new toys at the Draft Party and buy their playoff tickets...let's look at this team as an opponent would. Where are the weaknesses? I would start at the defensive line, evlauate the tight ends and put the linebackers under the microscope. In my opinion the Bucs did not do enough to address those positions.

The defensive line has 2 first round picks in Adrian Clayborn and Gerald McCoy and a high second rounder in Da'Quan Bowers. But all have been injury prone and none have proven themselves as elite or even semi-dangerous pass rushers. When you watch the tape Michael Bennett was the most effective rusher and the Bucs didn't even make an effort to keep him. The additions of 4th round picks Akeem Spence and William Goldston do not scream pass rusher. Spence had 3.5 sacks in 3 years at Illinois while Gholston had 10 in 3 years. 5th round pick DE Steven Means, from Buffalo...and not the Bills...had 18.5 in his career but against offensive tackles who will soon be accountants. Give Drew Brees and Matt Ryan enough time and they can torch any secondary. 

As for the linebackers the Bucs signed Jonathan Casillas who couldn't start for the Saints defense...one of the worst in NFL history. WLB Lavonte David is a budding star but MLB Mason Foster struggles in coverage and to get off blocks. SLB Quincy Black is no longer on the roster. Adam Hayward will finally get a shot but these seems like a position that needed upgrades and got none.

The tight end position was addressed by bringing in Tom Crabtree who caught all of 16 passes with the Packers the last 3 years. With an offense that stresses the power running and play action game a tight end who can get down the middle seam would be huge but Luke Stocker has yet to prove either durable or productive. I'm sure Josh Freeman was hoping the Bucs drafted Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame...

That brings us to Freeman. The quarterback position is still somewhat unsettled. If the Bucs ignored these previously mentioned glaring needs to take QB Mike Glennon with their third pick, clearly they are not sold on Freeman. At least we know the head coach isn't. I think Freeman can be a quality starter in this league capable of winning a Super Bowl. He has shown the ability to lead 4th quarter comebacks and win a shoot out if need be. But can he do it with the Schiano looking at him sideways and Glennon looking over his shoulder? 

I think the Bucs are clearly talented enough to make the playoffs but I think it will come down to how well the defensive line can rush the passer and if the linebackers can stop turning check down passes into 13-20 yard gains. The Bucs still have some salary cap room left and might consider adding Dwight Freeney or John Abraham, 2 proven pass rushers. The time is now for the Bucs to go all-in and and adding a couple more weapons at these positions might be the final key to the Bucs winning their first playoff game since the Super Bowl.

When Rays resident choir boy Jeremey Hellickson gets ejected from a game, you KNOW something has gone sideways. It all started when controversial umpire Tom Hallion was struggling behind the plate in Sunday's Rays/White Sox game. His strike zone was smaller than a Tiger Woods tip. Rays pitcher David Price was getting squeezed from his first pitch and frankly did a great job of holding in his frustration until the 7th inning. The reigning Cy Young Award winner had yet to win a game and the Rays were 0-5 in his starts which already had the uber competitive Price on edge. With the game tied at 3 Price delivered a 1-2, 94 mph four seam fastball right down Broadway. Instead of Hallion doing his controversial convulsive, spasmodic strike three punch out...Hallion just glared as Price stared shockingly at the no call. Price did not say a word. He then delivered the same pitch at 95 and Dewayne Wise hit a comebacker that Price fielded with gusto. Price then stared straight down and murmured a few words of displeasure but didn't show up Hallion. That's when Hallion became the aggressor. He walked down the line toward the obviously frustrated Price and said...according to multiple players, coaches and yes fans (via twitter) "Just throw the ball over the f-kn plate". That's when Price turned an said something to Hallion. After Hallion dropped the f-bomb the Rays dugout reacted.

Hellickson, a notorious low talker, no talker and All-American choir boy said something to get ejected. It's debatable he would disturb you if he was being swallowed in quick sand! 

"Uh excuse me...I really hate to bother you but I seem to be being eaten alive by this aggresive sand box...could I trouble you for a life line" but I digress.

Hallion ejects Hellickson setting off an even more reprehensible and suspendable part of the story.

You see Hallion told a pool reporter he didn't drop the F-bomb! And then he called David Price...and Helly...and the dozens of fans...and everyone in the dogout...liars.

"I'll come right out bluntly and say he's a liar," Hallion said, voice raised. "I'm denying what he said I said, pretty strongly.”

Price was just as adamant about his side of the story...and demanded MLB take action.

"For him to talk to me that way, no … ," Price said. "Something has to be done about that."

Price later took to Twitter to express his side of the story.

David Price        ✔ @DAVIDprice14

1. I am not a liar 2. I would not make that stuff up 3. My own dad doesn't speak to me that way 4. Again I am not a liar #accountability

David Price        ✔ @DAVIDprice14

Someone please give me the definition of accountability...

 

David Price        ✔ @DAVIDprice14

Someone give me the definition of a coward please

6:35 PM - 28 Apr 2013

 

Hallions sins are many in my opinion. First, he was the one who instigated the confrontation and that is NEVER the role of the umpire. 

Second, he lied about what happened. Clearly the dugout would not have erupted if he didn't drop the f-bomb and certainly the mild mannered Hellickson would not have gotten ejected over Hallion telling Price to just throw the ball over the plate.

Third...Hallion compounds his mistakes by going all "Roger Clemens" and misremembering what he said and calling Price a liar! The level of arrogance here is only surpassed by the level of his narcissism displayed in his little punch-out dance. He makes the great Enricco Pollazzo punch-out dance in Naked Gun look like the hokie-pokie.

Hallion is a noted hot head and was suspended in 1999 for bumping 2 players. And remember, the Umpires Union is more powerful than the freakin FBI. For an umpire to be suspended you have to commit 3 major felonies.

The real problem will come when Hallion and his crew have to work another Rays series. Umpires hold grudges and that's not professional. What's worse is Hallion initiated the entire confrontation!

Fans don't pay to see or hear umpires but clearly Hallion does not subscribe to that theory. Suspend him and while your at it...outlaw that ridiculous punch out party.

 

6:45 PM - 28 Apr 2013

 

 

As the press conference announcing the trade and signing of former Jets All-Pro Darrelle Revis came to a close, the large Buccaneers banner adorning the dais crumbled to the ground revealing a few small pieces of duct tape charged with holding the whole thing together. Perhaps this was a metaphor for the Bucs old way of doing business. Or...an ominous sign that this mega-million dollar superstar will crumble on the Bucs. That they gave up a 1st and 3rd round pick and tons of salary cap cash to a player who is damaged goods (torn ACL) and a malcontent hold-out waiting to happen. How Revis plays and how much the Bucs win will ultimately judge what this historic day truly means in Bucs history.

Safe to say this...going all-in on a former Defensive POY at a record $16 Million a year is a whole hell of a lot better than the 5 years of payroll slashing and poor drafting that led the Bucs to a nadir in Atlanta that fatefull final game of the 2011 debacle. Oh come on you remember! Who could forget? The Ra-Ra-heem Bucs were down 42-0 to the Falcons in the 2nd Quarter! That set in motion a seismic shift in philosophy that has resulted in a Buccaneers renaissance like nothing we've witnessed before. The Glazers decided it was time to open the vault, kick the Manchester United fullbacks guarding the cash in the onions and start showering American football players with record deals. Today's handing over of $96 million to Revis caps a 14 month spending spree totaling over $275 Million! So much for that "build through the draft" malarkey right Rah? 

The Glazers fired Raheem and replaced him with an adult taskmaster (Schiano) that would radically change the culture and armed him with veteran high-priced football players who bring star power and hopefully wins (and ticket sales). With all do respect to Vincent Jackson, Revis is the first free agent with real star power! Something this franchise desperately needs. Of course you have to win and Revis is the missing link and personification of the Greg Schiano in-your face, press man to man, attacking style defense that he tried to play last year...with disastrous consequences. So with Revis shutting down the #1 receiver, Eric Wright handling the #2, Ronde playing the Nickel (more on that in a moment) and newly signed Pro Bowl Safety Dashon Goldson teaming with first round pick Mark Barron in the back...well let's just say the infamous days of Danny Gorrer and the last ranked pass defense should be a faded nightmare!

I asked Ronde if the signing of Revis would bring him back and the answer was...I'm paraphrasing here...I would love to play with Revis. If I can still play...I want to play. In my opinion Ronde became frustrated with the younger players last year and a style of defense the Bucs were not equipped to play with inexperienced corners. Trust me, Schiano listens to Ronde and you can bet the signings of Goldson and Revis have his blessings and oh by the way, he probably wouldn't mind if you signed Dwight Freeney while you're at it! I expect Ronde to announce soon he will be coming back for a final year. As they say in the Bud Light ads..."Here we go!"

So does the signing of Revis make the Bucs Super Bowl contenders? Not so fast my friend. A glass half empty (Falcons/Saints fan) might say Revis is a year away from full speed (hold out?) and will bring jealousy and envy into a previously un-selfish locker room. The Bucs defensive line has a history of injury problems, has no proven pass rusher and very little depth. The linebackers struggle mightily in pass coverage and the head coach is reportedly not sold on the quarterback.

The Bucs fan would say the quarterback will make much better decisions now that he knows he doesn't have to score EVERY TIME HE HAS THE BALL! Revis and Goldson will solidify the leaky secondary and the Nicks/Joseph/Penn anchored Pro Bowl offensive line will be the catalyst for an explosive, punishing Doug Martin running attack and the foundation for a Vincent Jackson/Mike Williams/Insert playmaking drafted TE here...passing attack!

I would lean toward the latter scenario. I expect the whole team gets better simply by being in year two of the Schiano system. The dramatic talent upgrade since that dreadful "March from Atlanta" has rebuilt the Bucs into a solid bet to make their first playoffs since 2005 and win their first playoff game since the Super Bowl. Consider...since the "churning in Atlanta" the Bucs have added Pro Bowl WR Vincent Jackson, Pro Bowl G Carl Nicks, decent CB Eric Wright, 9th overall pick S Mark Barron, 1st Rd RB Doug Martin (3rd in NFL in yards from scrimmage), future Pro Bowl LB Levonte David, Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson and now the best corner in the NFL in Darrelle Revis! That's the best upgrade since Manti Te'o got an actual, human girlfriend!

That crumbling Bucs banner is definitely a sign from the football Gods. Buc's fans hope it signifies the final stripping away of the new crappy paint that covered up the old gorgeous hardwood floors. Then we can see the once proud Bucs defense resurface and lead Tampa Bay back to the Super Bowl which, oh by the way, is in Met-life Stadium. Where the Jets play...where Revis used to play...where the Bucs open the season. You think he wouldn't want to begin and end the season in that stadium with a win?  

Ronde concludes the interview with JP Peterson with a look back on his incredible career.
*On his career perspective from 1998... "Absolutely I overachieved. I outplayed all of my ambitions."
* On playing his whole career in Tampa Bay "this town has been very,very good to me. 31 other franchises and cities...I got in the right one for me."