****OFFICIAL TAMPA BAY RAYS THREAD 2008****

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jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Looks like Tampa says they have the biggest balls at the moment. That's 2 1-run games they've won late in the past week. Kudos.

That said, Beckett is still a scary pitcher to face. He did just about everything to win that game. Thankfully Andy and the bullpen were up to the challenge.

From ESPN.com:

Beckett and Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine were outstanding against each another for the second time in six days.

Beckett limited the Rays to Pena's 29th homer and two singles in eight innings, and Sonnanstine held the Red Sox to three hits and an unearned run on Kevin Youkilis' sacrifice fly in six innings.

Both allowed just one run last Wednesday at Fenway Park in a game Tampa Bay eventually won 4-2 in 14 innings.

According to NESN, Red Sox WC magic number is 6. Does that mean that it's 5 for Tampa to clinch a playoff spot?
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Originally posted by: jalaram
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Looks like Tampa says they have the biggest balls at the moment. That's 2 1-run games they've won late in the past week. Kudos.

That said, Beckett is still a scary pitcher to face. He did just about everything to win that game. Thankfully Andy and the bullpen were up to the challenge.

From ESPN.com:

Beckett and Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine were outstanding against each another for the second time in six days.

Beckett limited the Rays to Pena's 29th homer and two singles in eight innings, and Sonnanstine held the Red Sox to three hits and an unearned run on Kevin Youkilis' sacrifice fly in six innings.

Both allowed just one run last Wednesday at Fenway Park in a game Tampa Bay eventually won 4-2 in 14 innings.

According to NESN, Red Sox WC magic number is 6. Does that mean that it's 5 for Tampa to clinch a playoff spot?
Yeah, 5 sounds about right for Tampa. Sonnanstine just proved why he should be on that postseason roster. Beating a good Beckett 2 times in a week? wow

 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Rays: 10
Ortiz: 3

Thankfully, Maddon took out Garza before Ortiz could've torn a hole in the roof and made it 10-6. :D

And, now, the q is will Red Sox Nation root for the Twins to beat the Rays so that the Red Sox have a better chance at the pennant or for the Rays so that the Twins can get eliminated totally. Probably the former since the Twins are trying to do that by themselves already.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: jalaram
Rays: 10
Ortiz: 3

Thankfully, Maddon took out Garza before Ortiz could've torn a hole in the roof and made it 10-6. :D

And, now, the q is will Red Sox Nation root for the Twins to beat the Rays so that the Red Sox have a better chance at the pennant or for the Rays so that the Twins can get eliminated totally. Probably the former since the Twins are trying to do that by themselves already.

The Sox aren't concerned with the Twins, they're too many games out. Rays better hope they play well against and Twins and then their final 7 games of the year on the road.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Interesting game tonight. They brought in Percival to pitch the 8th. Put Wheeler in the 9th and lost the game. They usually do the opposite since Percival is the closer.
 

raystorm

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
4,712
2
0
Congratulations Rays fans. You still have to fight for the division but your boys are in the playoffs. Enjoy the playoffs and good luck!
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
I loved how it was a (I assume nationally) televised game on Fox and the attendance was 36,048. Kazmir rebounded quite well after the last outing.

No time to let up as we need home field advantage.

Congrats to the Cubbies and Lou Piniella for winning the NL Central.

Notes from espn.com

The sellout was the seventh at Tropicana Field this year. Sunday's game is also sold out, giving the Rays full houses for consecutive games for the only the second time in club history. ... With 98 RBIs -- 51 since the All-Star break -- Pena is two shy of joining Fred McGriff and Aubrey Huff as the only players to drive in 100 twice for Tampa Bay.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
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Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
All I can say is "wow" and "go rays"
Yep, congrats TB fans. Let's see if you can hold out for homefield advantage over the Bosox.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
All I can say is "wow" and "go rays"
Yep, congrats TB fans. Let's see if you can hold out for homefield advantage over the Bosox.

Rays on the road for eight in seven days and the Sox home for seven. Should be an exciting finish.
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
All I can say is "wow" and "go rays"
Yep, congrats TB fans. Let's see if you can hold out for homefield advantage over the Bosox.

Rays on the road for eight in seven days and the Sox home for seven. Should be an exciting finish.

Agreed.

Magic number down to 4 as the Rays won and the Sox lost.
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Magic # = 3
They now match the 1991 Atlanta Braves for most wins (94) by a team that owned the worst record in the majors one year earlier.
James Shields (14-8) tied the club record for wins, set in 1998 by Rolando Arrojo.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Originally posted by: jalaram
Magic # = 3
They now match the 1991 Atlanta Braves for most wins (94) by a team that owned the worst record in the majors one year earlier.
James Shields (14-8) tied the club record for wins, set in 1998 by Rolando Arrojo.
I guess they now own the best record for a team that had the worst record in the majors. Freaking. Amazing.

 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
After registering to get tickets for the ALDS, I got an email yesterday that my entry wasn't selected. So, I was planning to see if I could get one when the tickets go on sale to the public. However, now I read this on espn.com

The Rays announced that they have sold out the first two home games of the AL division series. Tampa Bay ranks 12th among 14 AL teams in home attendance, averaging 22,370

Oh well. I'll guess I'll watch at home. :)
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Originally posted by: jalaram
After registering to get tickets for the ALDS, I got an email yesterday that my entry wasn't selected. So, I was planning to see if I could get one when the tickets go on sale to the public. However, now I read this on espn.com

The Rays announced that they have sold out the first two home games of the AL division series. Tampa Bay ranks 12th among 14 AL teams in home attendance, averaging 22,370

Oh well. I'll guess I'll watch at home. :)
Probably sold out to ticket brokers looking to gouge fans.

Barring a superchoke, TB has the div in the bag. But I'm still gonna say Pedroia for MVP. Nice diving stop last night for him!

 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
3
81
Heh I live about ten blocks from the stadium too. Go to Central tonight, apparently there is a party. Even if they lose today, I guess...

/not a baseball fan
//i am a beer fan though
 

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Hey Front Office? Yeah, this Max Depth down at the Triple-A affiliate down in Durham, NC. You guys took three guys from our roster and didn't replace them with equal or better value.

We lost to Scranton (Scranton! those damn yankees) in the 4th game of the Governor's Cup (our world series).


Thanks! You suck!
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Congratulations. And many thanks to the Yankees for not phoning it in. I wish they would've won it in Detroit, but it nice nonetheless.

According to ESPN, they've only been 12-13 in Sept. Hopefully, they'll play better in October. Now, who will it be? ChiSox or the Twins?
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Congrats to the Rays. Though they shouldn't have even played the game in Boston last night but money was more important. If they hadn't scratched Dice-K and half-the team b/c of the rain delay, the Sox probably would have won.

But it may be a blessing in disguise. The Sox can rest some folks now and with how hot the Twins are right now, the Sox are probably better off facing the Angels in a short series where Beckett is almost an automatic two wins. Then they just need one win from Lester or Dice-K.
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
My God, Longoria was on fire yesterday.

Yeah, he forgot that he's a rookie. Good to see that Carl Crawford get in on the action as well.