Rays Report

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 30, 2007

Joe Maddon quotes of the season

"Molten? Magma? What is there?"

describing Carl Crawford as beyond red-hot

"I saw him walking back like Fred Sanford, so I said, 'Let me go out there and check it out.' And I ran out there like Fred Sanford."

on B.J. Upton appearing hurt on a play

"We cannot permit that to ever happen again. I'm going to have all of our present batboys throw a bullpen session tomorrow, just to see what we have going on here."

after being shut down by Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch, a former Rays batboy

Bottom's up

The Rays will have the worst record in the majors for the second straight season and fourth overall:

Team W-L GA

Rays 65-96 -

x-Pirates 68-92 +3.5

x-Royals 68-92 +3.5

x-Orioles 69-91 +4.5

x-late

Annual report

The Rays will finish with the fifth-best record in their 10 seasons:

Year W-L P-GB

2004 70-91 4-30.5

2000 69-92 5-18

1999 69-93 5-29

2005 67-94 5-28

2007 65-96 5-30.5

1998 63-99 5-51

2003 63-99 5-38

2001 62-100 5-34

2006 61-101 5-36

2002 55-106 5-48

Today: Rays at Blue Jays

When/where: 1:07 p.m., Rogers Centre, Toronto

TV/radio: FSN; 1250-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers: Rays - RHP Jason Hammel (2-5, 6.08); Jays - RHP A.J. Burnett (10-7, 3.49)

Rays info: (727) 825-3250

Watch for ...

Hammer time: Jason Hammel has gotten better as the season has gone on, going 1-0, 2.35 in a four-game stretch before giving up five runs in five innings to the Yankees on Tuesday.

A.J. OK: A.J. Burnett has been on a roll since coming off the DL, going 5-1, 2.33. He has been tough on the Rays, with a 6-1, 2.45 career mark.

Two-hour time limit? The usual rule for a meaningless season finale is to swing at the first pitch. We'll see.

[Last modified September 29, 2007, 22:20:50]