Rashad Eldridge News

Welcome to another edition of Thaddeus' Tampa Bay Rays Offseason Report. Each and every Friday, we're going to recap the moves, trades, signings, and other nonsense of the previous week in the wonderful world of Tampa Bay baseball; keeping you, Dear Reader, up to date with the team until Opening Day in April 2010 against the Baltimore Orioles.

When David Freese's deep sacrifice ball to centerfield allowed Jon Jay to score from third, tying their game against the Durham Bulls at four in the top of the seventh inning, there wasn't a player in the Redbirds dugout that didn't believe they were on their way to the Triple-A baseball national championship.

Pinch runner Rashad Eldridge raced home on a wild pitch by Oneli Perez in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Durham Bulls beat the Memphis Redbirds 5-4 Tuesday night in the Triple-A championship game.

Some of the Rays look at the 11 games remaining on the schedule and can't wait for the end.

Cracks are beginning to show for the Rays as a frustrating season nears its conclusion.

The hits came in bunches for the Durham Bulls in an 8-4 victory against the Louisville Bats in Game 1 of the International League semifinal playoff series Wednesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

In a bid to win a record 84 games, the Bulls came up short in extra innings as they fell 4-3 to Norfolk on Monday in the regular season finale at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

A week ago, Sean Rodriguez wasn't sure if the postseason would be in his future this month.

Heading into each season, the Rays' baseball staff sits down to solicit input from various coaches and front-office types about which prospects at the higher levels in the minors might be ready to come up and when they might arrive.

Biscuits catcher Jose Lobaton said he could return today after leaving Saturday's game with a wrist injury.

Pitcher Alex Torres groggily worked his way through his first day with the Biscuits.

HUNTSVILLE - Jonathan Lucroy hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning and the Huntsville Stars held off the Biscuits 6-4 on Monday.

Gov. Bob Riley, sitting at suite level Wednesday night at Riverwalk Stadium, said the Biscuits are his favorite minor-league baseball team 'without question.' He then realized there are three other minor-league teams in the state.

The city of Montgomery picked up more than $110,000 from the Biscuits for the quarterly rent payment that was due at the end of July.

The city of Montgomery picked up more than $110,000 from the Biscuits for the quarterly rent payment that was due at the end of July.