Carlos Pena News

View full size photo>> It seems odd, but the most compelling Rays hot stove item has nothing to do with this off-season. Well, it has something to do with this year, just not as much as it does with next year, or the year after next.

The "sign and trade" of Akinori Iwamura is another example of the Rays getting creative in order to acquire new talent.

After Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske , after the champagne flowed in the clubhouse, after the floats had floated down Broad Street, and after the euphoria of watching the Phillies win the 2008 World Series finally subsided, you may have found yourself asking this question: How did the Phillies do it? More specifically, how were the Phils able to ...

Chris Richard has been outrighted to Triple-A Durham. The veteran first baseman hit .263 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs in 100 games for Durham in 2009 before joining the Rays in September after Carlos Pena went on the disabled list.

A quick smorgasbord here on two thoughts I have in my mind but are undeserving of their own full-fledged post.

The New York Yankees are back in the World Series again. With American League pennant No.

Entering Spring Training this past season, the Rays found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place in the battle for the 5th spot in the rotation.

Derek Shelton was named the Rays' new Major League hitting coach on Wednesday. After the announcement, Shelton spoke on a conference call with reporters and couldn't hide his enthusiasm about the prospect of working with the likes of Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist.

The centerfielder needs to be better. A lot better. The catcher needs to improve, too.

Alex Rodriguez hit two homers and drove in seven during a 10-run sixth inning. The first jack, this three-run blast, erased a 2-0 Rays lead.

Haverhill's Carlos Pena has been called a lot of things the last couple of years.

They were better offensively than the team that reached the World Series in 2008 and, in some areas, better on the mound, too.

Rodriguez sat in the dugout and spoke bluntly. About the revelation that prompted an embarrassing news conference during spring training.

Carl Crawford was second and Evan Longoria third. "It's a huge honor,'' Zobrist said.

Neither Mark Teixeira nor Joe Girardi would say whether they thought David Price's first-inning fastball that hit Teixeira on his left hand was intentional, but it seemed like more than a coincidence that it was Teixeira taking the blow.

As the Rays head into the final weekend of the season after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles, there are some questions - beyond what might have been had Carlos Pena's left hand not been broken the last time they faced CC Sabathia - that may never be answered.

Add another position to the seven that Ben Zobrist has started for the Rays this season.

Coming off an 11th consecutive loss, which is the Orioles' situation going into the second game of a four-game series at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, is not an easy situation to be in.

One year ago today was - at least to that point - the greatest day in franchise history.

Joe Maddon , the Tampa Bay Rays manager, rarely makes a motivational misstep, and the quotation printed on the lineup card that was posted in the team's clubhouse on a recent afternoon seemed particularly appropriate.