Jeff Niemann

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Holding leads has become a major problem for the Rays. On Monday, they blew an early 7-0 lead against the Jays and lost 8-7. Then Tuesday, they took a 4-1 lead into the seventh and...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Rays' left-hander David Price hopes to use the days leading up to his next start Thursday to figure some things out. Because so far, his follow-up to his Cy Young season remains a...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays headed home after Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rockies pretty good about things. The win gave them their first series win in Coors Field, wrapped up a challenging road trip at 4-5...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays have been on an unexpected power trip. After losing two of their top three home run hitters from last season in B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena, they Rays were supposed to be...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays are encouraged that they have found their offense. Home runs in 14 straight games -- one off the team record -- helps, but they are trying to build what manager Joe Maddon...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH After struggling through the first month of the season, ace David Price couldn't enjoy his first win. Price had reason to be relieved and relaxed after the 8-3 victory over Chicago...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Suddenly the Rays find themselves short at shortstop. Starter Yunel Escobar left Wednesday's game with tightness in his right hamstring and is expected to be sidelined until at least...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The rejuvenated offense and manager Joe Maddon's series of clubhouse diversions got most of the attention during the Rays' 5-1 homestand. But the true key to their success was their...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon is up to some of his old tricks. Trying to find a way to lighten the mood around his team, Maddon has resorted to some diversionary tactics. He had a DJ...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Ace lefty David Price was better Tuesday night. That's what manager Joe Maddon said anyway, after the 2012 20-game and Cy Young Award winner pitched into the ninth against the Yankees,...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH No matter how rough the first few weeks were going, and no matter how much chatter there was among fans and media, the Rays were not going to make changes to their roster. That's not...

Before they became the best organization in baseball, the Giants were Barry Bonds' team. They seemed unable to break free from the flawed slugger for a long time, sticking with the disgraced star for six years after his record-setting 2001 season....