Monday, 4 a.m.

The other team can’t hit. The other team can’t pitch. The other team can’t catch. Most of all, the other team can’t usually win.

And the Tampa Bay Rays lost to them.

Again.

So, what does that say about them?

Content beyond this point is for members only.

Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo). Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.

The Rays managed to lose to the worst team in the world again Sunday night, losing an 8-7, 10-inning game to the Chicago White Sox. In two nights, the Sox — the worst hitting team in baseball — have scored 17 runs against the Rays.

Tampa Bay, also a last-place team (AL East) fell to 13-15.

For the Rays, it was a familiar feeling. The starting pitching wasn’t good — Aaron Civale gave up  six earned runs in four and one-third innings .The relieving wasn’t good — Phil Maton took just two pitches to blow the save. The hitting wasn’t good — 11 runners left on base.

The Rays also failed to take advantage of their chances. In the eighth inning, they loaded the bases with one out. But Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes both popped out.

The Rays had gone ahead in the 10th on a wild pitch by Deivi Garcia, but could not hold.

For Chicago, the star was Andrew Benintendi, who came into the game hitting 169. He hit two homers  and drove in six runs in the game.

The Sox now have two wins against the Rays and three against the rest of baseball.

The Ryas got three hits from Richie Palacios and Ben Rortvedt. Austin Shenton had two hits, including his first home run.

The Rays and Sox play again today at 2:10 p.m.

 Monday, 4 a.m.

Gone are the plug-and-play days, those seasons when the Bucs would draft a 21-year-old kid and expect him to the best player on the team.

These days, the team and talent need the same thing: Patience.

Content beyond this point is for members only.

Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo). Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.

The Bucs concluded their draft Sunday afternoon with more emphasis on depth than on instant gratification. Sure, No. 1 pick Graham Barton will be expected to start, probably at center. Everyone else is going to have to work for their time.

Consider:

Second-round pick Chris Braswell from Alabama will probably work his way into the pass-rush rotation. But he’ll  have to prove he can start, which he rarely did in college. He could start in the second half of the year.

Third-round pick Tykee Smith of Georgia comes with good clippings, but he’s at one of the Bucs’ strongest positions. He’ll compete for time as a backup and a nickel.

Jalen McMillan, the other third-round pick, will compete to be the team’s third receiver. No shame when you remember Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the starters.

Fourth-round pick Bucky Irving of Oregon will compete to be the backup running back. Still, as bad as the Bucs have been at running the ball, that’s a good thing.

Sixth-round pick Elijah Klein of UTEP, one of the small school offensive linemen that Jason Licht loves, will compete for a backup spot. It may take him some time.

Seventh-round tight end Devin Culp of Washington will compete for time in a young position group. 

It’s a better way for the Bucs, who have left too many prospects shell-shocked with high expectations. Oh, the Bucs expect Braswell and McMillan to be players. They just don’t have to be right now.

For now, the roles of the kids is to get ready, to grow, to develop. When a team is picking in the butt-end of the draft, it’s the smart way to play.

Monday, 3 a.m.

Turns out, the Tampa Bay Lightning isn’t ready to stop playing yet.

The Lightning, one foot in the grave in the NHL playoffs, showed a bit of a pulse Sunday afternoon in a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. The Bolts showed their most aggressiveness, their most efficiency, in the victory.

Content beyond this point is for members only.

Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo). Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.

Oh, they’re still in rouble. In 206 series, only four teams have rallied from a 3-0 deficit. The Bolts must fight off three more elimination games, starting Monday night on the road. But at least they will not go quietly into the night.

Tampa Bay rode its best players to the win. Among the highlights:

— Steven Stamkos scored two goals. He scored for the fourth straight game, continuing his hot streak. In his last 22 games, he has 21 goals and 13 assists.

— Brandon Hagel had two goals and an assist. His first goal was shorthanded.

— Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman all had three points.

— Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of 25 shots.

— Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev returned to the ice after missing much of the season with an injury. He had an assist.

— The power play scored twice.

The Panthers came from three goals down to within 4-3 at the end of the second period, but the Bolts put away the game in the third.