View from the Catwalks: Rays and the Trop both lose power over weekend

It was not the best weekend, with disappointing losses and a frightening injury.

Rays News

• The power went out in the Trop on Sunday, and it couldn’t have been a more fitting metaphor for a hugely disappointing series for the Rays:

• While the weekend did not go well, the Rays still got a victory and held on to 1st place in the AL East. Austin Meadows has returned from injury and he has not missed a step at all. Meadows has some good perspective too:

• Rays journal: Tyler Glasnow relieved at diagnosis of mild strain, 4-6 week absence - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times: When Glasnow called over the trainer, all Rays fans and baseball fans alike feared the worst for a the brilliant young flamethrower. However, about as good a news as possible came through after the MRI scans revealed a “mild strain”.

• There are a ton of hard working players on the Rays and in MLB but I’m not sure there is a player who works harder than Tommy Pham:

• Diaz hopes to reunite soon with mom in Cuba - Juan Toribio, MLB.com: Heartbreaking story about Yandy, and his experience being far from home and family.

• Travis d’Arnaud’s crazy cross-country scramble to join the Rays pays off in victory over the Yankees - Josh Tolentino, The Athletic: It’s been a wild week plus for d’Arnaud, who has been across the country twice, on his third team in that time, and in his first game as a Ray (or D-Ray as it were) showed off why the Rays traded for him.

• Speaking of catchers, the other backstop on the Rays did something rare by getting his start on Sunday:

• Austin Meadows is a great player and a really good dude:

• Chirinos: HBPs ‘definitely not intentional’ - Juan Toribio, MLB.com: It appeared to most rational people that Yonny, who can struggle sometimes with control, did not intend to throw to hit a batter in a tie game.
• The journey of Tampa Bay’s ‘unsung hero’ Trung Cao - Tim Brown, Yahoo!Sports: Amazing story about the Rays strength and conditioning coordinator. A fascinating journey and an absolute must read.
• Sunday Notes: Rowdy Swings Maple, Mancini Swings Birch - David Laurila, Fan Graphs: Brandon Lowe talks about hitting in Laurila’s always excellent Sunday column.

Around the League

• For Mother’s day the Padres became the Madres

• Steven Souza Jr is featured in a Diamondbacks documentary following him during Spring Training. Souza will always be a guy root for to succeed, and he’s an easy guy to hope makes a full recovery back to the field.

• Old Friend Alert: former Rays prospect, Parker Markel made his major league debut with the Mariners on Sunday.