Sports Day Tampa Bay

The Lightning begin their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begins tonight with Game 1 vs. the Blue Jackets so Diana Nearhos joins us to break down the regular season and can their success carry on in the postseaon. Victor Hedman appears ready to play in Game 1 but it looks like Anton Stralman won't play so how does that affect the defense. Plus the Rays are now 9-3 and the Bucs release their preseason schedule. Today's show is presented by Swimming with the Manatees at Book online at http://SwimmingWithTheManatees.com or call 352-777-1796!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Rays improve to 8-3 as they spoil the White Sox home opener behind Blake Snell's 11 strikeouts in route to a 5-1 win in which Hunter Wood pitched the last 3 innings for his first major league save. Victor Hedman practiced for the first time since leaving injured 5 games ago as the Lightning prepare for the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Virginia hangs on to beat Texas Tech in overtime to become National Champions in a great game and Jameis Winston opens up about his faith and how it's helped him change his life. Today's show is presented by Millian-Aire for all your air conditioning needs. Give them a call at 727-862-2100 or visit http://www.millian-aire.com/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Tampa Bay Rays take 2 of 3 in San Francisco as the pitching and defense continue to impress while Yandy Diaz has 3 home runs so far. The Tampa Bay Lightning tie the Red Wings for the most wins ever at 62 while Nikita Kucherov sets the all-time points in a season record for a Russian born player. Next up is the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday as the playoffs begin. The Women's Final Four was a success in Tampa Bay as Baylor beat defending champion Notre Dame 82-81 and the Men's championship is set for tonight as Virginia and Texas Tech will play for the title. The Lightning just wrapped up a historic regular season and now comes the quest for the cup. Hang on to history with a commemorative hard-cover book. This 160 page keepsake full of amazing photos from the Times photographers, will cover the regular and post season and if you pre-order now you can save $10. Just go to BoltsBook.com now to place your pre-order and save.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Lightning beat Toronto 3-1 on Thursday to put them 1 win away from tying the 1995-96 Red Wings for most wins in a season at 62. Nikita Kucherov got his 40th goal making the Lightning the first team to have three 40-goal scorers since the 1995-96 Penguins. Plus the Men's NCAA Tournament semifinals are Saturday and we talk to Matt Baker about the Women's Final Four which gets underway at Amalie Arena tonight.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Rays open the season 5-2 despite a 1-0 extra inning loss on Wednesday. The pitching staff has given up 11 runs in 7 games, the defense has been terrific and the hitting timely in most games. They can't ask for a better start after last year when they started 1-7 and 4-13. The Lightning are less than a week from the playoffs and the defensive breakdowns are starting to become more common but should we be concerned. Today's show is presented by May Electric Solar at http://mayelectricsolar.com. Call them at 727-819-2862 to start saving 90-95% on your electric bill.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rick Stroud answers your questions on today's mailbag including why Gerald McCoy was a no-show for the first offseason workouts, why not restructure his contract, what might the Bucs do with the 5th overall pick in the draft, is it time to call Matt Duffy a bust for the Rays and are the mounting injuries on the blue line a concern for the Lightning heading into the playoffs. Today's show is presented by Swimming with the Manatees at Book online at http://SwimmingWithTheManatees.com or call 352-777-1796!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rick Stroud was at One Buc Place on Monday for the Bucs first offseason workout program under new coach Bruce Arians but one notable Buc wasn't, Gerald McCoy. Vernon Hargreaves weighed in on his absense plus what Bruce Arians thinks of him and could Mike Evans play defensive back in the NFL. Plus Rick sat down with Bucs Co-chairman Joel Glazer at the Owners Meetings last week to discuss the Bruce Arians hire, Jason Licht's retention and what this season means for Jameis Winston.Today's show is presented by Millian-Aire for all your air conditioning needs. Give them a call at 727-862-2100 or visit http://www.millian-aire.com/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rays take final 3 games from the Astros after dropping the opener as Yonny Chironos dazzled for 7 shutout innings on Sudnay and the bullpen goes 13 scoreless innings in the series. Austin Meadows supplied the offense Sunday while the Rays defense was key in the series. The Lightning looked like they were sleep walking to start Saturday night as they lost to the Capitals but sustained some injuries to Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak, and the Final Four is set with only one #1 seed in Virginia as Michigan State knocked top seed Duke out of the tournament.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Rays get an early run off Justin Verlander but Blake Snell gave up three homeruns as the Astros win the opener 5-1 in a battle between last year's top 2 Cy Young Award vote getters. Tommy Pham looked good and Mike Zunino was great behind the plate but the offense could never get going. Also Rick Stroud spoke to a lot of people in Phoenix at the NFL Owner's Meetings and a consensus is building that the Bucs are likely to take LSU LB Devin White with the 5th picks, plus the USF Men's basketball team makes the CBI finals vs. DePaul.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's Opening Day as Blake Snell takes on Justin Verlander at Tropicana Field with expectations for the Rays to build upon an unexpected 90-win season last year. We've got Marc Topkin to break it all down as we discuss everything from Blake to Yandy and in between to get you ready for baseball. Today's show is presented by May Electric Solar at http://mayelectricsolar.com. Call them at 727-819-2862 to start saving 90-95% on your electric bill.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tampa Bay Times Bucs Beat Writer is in Arizona for the NFL Owner's Meetings where new Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians told us that Gerald McCoy isn't as disruptive as he once was and is leading us to believe McCoy will not be a Buccaneer this year. Also the NFL Owners have passed new rules allowing coaches to challenge pass interference calls this coming season, and the Lightning have extended Head Coach Jon Cooper for multiple years as his contract was expiring after this record setting season. Today's show is presented by Swimming with the Manatees at Book online at http://SwimmingWithTheManatees.com or call 352-777-1796!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rick Stroud is in Arizona at the NFL Owner's Meetings where he caught up with Bucs QB Jameis Winston and Head Coach Bruce Arians where they discuss the fact that Winston has bulked up to 250-pounds but is it a good thing. Plus the Rays have 1 roster spot left, Rob Gronkowski retires and the Lightning are gearing up for the playoffs. Today's show is presented by Millian-Aire for all your air conditioning needs. Give them a call at 727-862-2100 or visit http://www.millian-aire.com/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neil Solondz from the Rays Radio Network joins us to discuss the Rays expectations heading into the season, who might handle the closer duties for the team, and what to expect from the young players on the roster and some still in the minors including Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe and Wander Franco.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Days after Rays Pitcher Blake Snell expressed disappointment in getting a very small raise after winning the Cy Young Award he signs a 5-year, $50 million deal plus the Lightning win in Carolina to give them 58 wins, just 4 off the record with 7 games remaining and head coach Jon Cooper gets his 300th win in just 500 games. Plus for Tamap Bay Times Columnist Tom Jones joins us to put the Lightning season in perspective, the Rays prospects for the season and how Bruce Arians will help the Bucs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Tampa Bay Times USF Beat Writer Joey Knight breaks down as South Florida goes for win #20 tonight in the CBI as Brian Gregory has built the program back to postseason play for the first time in 7 years, USF women are in the WNIT after suffering injury after injury this year and the Bulls have begun spring practice as Charlie Strong says he evaluated everything they do. Plus we answer your mailbag questions including should the Bucs draft a QB this year, will they add a veteran corner, Mike Trout's new contract and does running up the score matter in hockey. Today's show is presented by Swimming with the Manatees at Book online at http://SwimmingWithTheManatees.com or call 352-777-1796!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tampa Bay Times writer Rick Stroud speaks with FloridaGators.com Chris Harry to breakdown the Gators chances in the NCAA Tournament which begins on Thursday and discuss the job that head coach Mike White has done with the program. Plus Rick answers some Bucs questions including why Jameis Winston wasn't signed to a long-term deal to reduce his salary cap hit and why hasn't Brent Grimes signed anywhere, then the Lightning hit another milestone, clinching the President's Trophy as the best team in the NHL for the regular season and they do it with 9 games remaining while Steven Stamkos sets the franchise record for goals passing Vinny Lecavalier. Today's show is presented by Millian-Aire for all your air conditioning needs. Give them a call at 727-862-2100 or visit http://www.millian-aire.com/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tampa Bay Times Beat Writer Rick Stroud explains why the Bucs are signing so many players to one-year deals as they can get compensatory picks in return next year for free agents they lost and they currently don't have a lot of cap room with re-signing the 2015 draft class including Jameis Winston, Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith. Plus the Lightning beat the Capitals in a very entertaining and intense game, the first since they were eliminated in Game 7 last year, the NCAA brackets are set and John Romano's column on why the Rays messed up with Blake Snell.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Tampa Bay Lightning rebound from a flat first quarter to rally from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Red Wings 5-4 as Steven Stamkos ties Vinny Lecavalier for the franchise record in goals scored and Nikita Kucherov gets 4 points to raise his total to 115 on the year, a mark that hasn't been hit in 12 years. Plus the Bucs introduced WR Breshad Perriman and P Bradley Pinion on Thursday as both are excited to play in Tampa Bay and the USF Basketball team fell to UConn in the AAC Tournament denying them the chance to win their 20th game.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Could the Bucs take the title of "laughing stock of the NFL" from the Browns after Cleveland continues to make big moves in free agency. The Bucs have made some small moves including re-signing Peyton Barber but their big splash this offseason is signing Bruce Arians and his coaching staff. Plus USF plays UConn in the AAC Tournament today looking for their 20th win, the Lightning are playing in Detroit as comparisions to the 1995-96 Red Wings are pretty scary and what is going on in the NCAA with a cheating scandal of buying your way onto a sports team. Today's show is presented by May Electric Solar at http://mayelectricsolar.com. Call them at 727-819-2862 to start saving 90-95% on your electric bill.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.