RAYS & MADDON NEED A SENSE OF URGENCY

Well, just as Maddon started to manage well, and the Rays started winning, the Rays players decided to take time off from hitting, pitching, and playing defense. The Rays lead the league in Runs scored, but that is deceiving, as they scored alot of those runs in blowouts, and aren't scoring runs when they need to in order to win games.

Maddon decided to tinker with his pitching staff again, right when they start hitting stride, he changed the pitching order and dropped Niemann from his normal start for the 3rd time this year. That may have not had any bearing on the 4 game losing streak they are on, but why change it when it was working, and Niemann had actually been your most reliable starter for wins this year?

Pat Burrell still isn't hitting, it's over half a season, and yet he still starts every game. The Rays starters were rested early in the season when they were hot and didn't need rest, and they cooled off. Now that they need rest, they aren't being rested. Pena, Burrell, Longoria, are all struggling, and Aybar was hot and can play any of those 3 positions and give a rest to the struggling hitters and provide some needed offense. Navarro is just flat out hopeless at this point, but the Rays don't have much of an every day alternative.

Any manager would have a tough time when your best players are struggling and not producing, but changes have to be made when players struggle, even if it's just a game off. They are simply not playing up to their capabilities, but it is already over half a season, and the Rays need to show a sense of urgency in trying to get their hottest players in the lineup, as they simply can't afford to keep losing games against teams they should beat. Losing to 3 rookie pitchers in a row, and not only losing, but getting a total of 6 runs in 3 games, is simply not good enough if the Rays want to make the playoffs. This team has to show the urgency and put in the effort and hustle to win. Running ground balls out and hustling is not an option, it is a must. It not only creates runs, it becomes infectious, and the whole team could sure use a spark. Winning 7 games in a row was nice, but playoff teams don't turn around and lose 4 in a row, and give up games in the standings. It's time for the Rays to show the urgency and start playing consistent. They have the talent, now it's time for it to show up on the field.