The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

So I'm waiting for Tito to announce the starters for the series.  I'm thinking he'll toss Beckett in game 1 out of loyalty, followed by Lester.

Nope.  Ready for this?

Game 1:  Matsuzaka
Game 2:  Beckett
Game 3:  Lester
Game 4:  Wakefield

What?  Huh?  Who?  Did someone spike my coffee?  Two guys this season that have forced Boston to over use the bullpen are starting games 1 & 2...on the road?

Tito...I love you.  Really do.  You're a good guy, good manager.  But between the Masterson thing in the Anaheim series and now this...you're killing me.

Killing.me.

I guess the logic is the guys who start Games 2 and 3 are the same guys who start Games 6 and 7, and those are your two best starters.

Matsuzaka is better on the road while Wakefield sucks on it, and against the Rays. That being said, in the playoffs the regular season doesn't really matter, so I may have switched those two anyway.

Until this season, Wakefield had never lost a game at the Trop in ten years.  So I'm not sure where this is coming from.  He's had a tough season this year against them...but who hasn't?

That really hasn't been a big feat until this year.

Never to lose a single game in TEN SEASONS?  That's huge no matter who you're playing.

I agree, I am just going by this year's team. It has definitely changed from previous year's. I would start Wakefield in Game 1 and Daisuke in Game 4, as I feel Wakefield's experience weighs more heavily in the playoffs. Not to mention that Daisuke really is a 5 inning pitcher and you don't want to force an injured Beckett to HAVE to go 8 innings in Game 2 due to bullpen fatigue.

This is all a moot point if the Red Sox take a 9-0 3rd inning lead though.

Post 'em here folks!  Whatca got?

The Rays have never been in this situation before and the pressure is extremely high.  Sox in 6. 

Sox in 6, Beckett throws a 2 hitter CG in game 6 to win it

Rays in 7

ALCS MVP: BJ Upton

Rays in 6

rays in 5.

it is going to be a bloodbath.

I would like to see the Rays go but I think Boston has that experience factor behind it. Sox in 6!!!!!

Boston in 6.

I'm so sick of Boston already. Come on Tampa Bay, knock these chowder-headed assholes out of the playoffs.

Boston is like the 1996-2000 Yankees unfortunately, in that no matter how many injuries or inferior players they have, they still win. This will not be changing this season.

Sox in 5.

P.S. I don't mean to say they suck, far from it, but I think the Rays are a better team and right now even the Dodgers are, and I have no doubt they would steamroll them.

This series is going 7 games and I have no idea who is going to win. 

Boston will split in the opening two.  Tampa Bay will steal one of three in Boston.  It'll go back to Tampa with Boston up 3-2, Tampa wins game 6 to force game 7.

Your game 7 starters will be "Big Game" James Shields and John "Thank God we didn't trade him for Santana" Lester.

Flip a coin on this one.

!%#&$ Red Sox

Rays in seven...They've got nothing to lose..they've never been here.. ???

Sox have been there, so I say Sox in 7. I'd love to see Dodgers v. Boston, just because I'm curious about how Manny will be treated by the Fenway Faithful.

What I meant was...The Ray's haven't been there...So they can play loose,no Pressure...If they lose Ohh well..no one expecting them to be there..... :)

^Gotcha B. ;)

Red Sox in 5.

Rays for no particular reason.

This is going to be a tough series, who ever wins it I hope will win the World Series.
I will pick Boston in 7, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rays take it.

I don't buy this type of logic. Of course they have something to lose; their entire season. They aren't playing with the house's money, they didn't back into the ALCS, they earned it. Same with Boston. They won't look at their championship last year and not care too much about this season.

The Rays will give it everything they got and not be satisfied with losing.

No one expects them to be there,majority of people were waiting for them to faulter down the stretch.........Lot's of Boston fans expect the Red sox to be there.....It's alot like the Dodgers....You get to play with the chip on your shoulder....It's about expections....

I don't care if you buy it or Not Edge....

Other than support for my team, this is the exact reason why I think the Rays will beat Boston.

Either way - barring a fluke sweep by either team - it's going to be an amazing series.

Me love the Rays!Tampa in 5.

If I were a Phillies or Rays fan, I think I'd be getting reeeeeally tired of hearing all the media talking heads begging for a Dodgers-Red Sox series just so they can have a "Manny Returns" story line.

No disrespect to the AL East Moneystackers (Yankees-Red Sox), but if I don't see either of those "We have history on our side so kindly kiss our ass" franchises in the WS any time soon, it'll be just fine by me.

Go Rays!! Go Phillies!!
...and in general, Viva la Small Market!!

;D

Philly is market #8 and 13th in payroll...ain't nothing "small market" about any of the teams left in the playoffs with the exception of the Rays.

You skipped over my "in general" disclaimer there in regards to the Viva la Small Market comment...so eager was your passion to rebut my slander against the evil AL East Moneystackers. ;)

But I do appreciate you underlining my point... Of the 4 teams remaining, my two selections are the smallest market teams remaining in the playoffs for both the AL and NL. If there was a lower budget team than Philly in there, I'd be pulling for them instead.

I didn't have a passion to rebutt nuttin', honey.  Was just laying out the facts and nothing but the facts, ma'am.

Or sir, as it would be.

Go Sox???

:)

You already have two WS titles this decade, ya greedy bastard. ;D

GO RAYS!!

Go Sox (and yes I'm a greedy bitch, I want more titles)

^ is it bitch or bastard?  I'm confused.  ;D

Hey Ray fans, first good luck to your team may be better team win.
Second you should check this about a 12 year old boy being kicked out of school for his Rayhawk hair cut.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/School-suspends-12-year-old-for-having-Rayhawk-f?urn=mlb,113776

Dice K kicked ass last night.  Like I said.... the experience factor is going to be huge here.  The BoSox have been here before, the Rays haven't.  And that can trump any talent matchup. 

Every few years you hear about something that derails a team's championship dreams.  It usually has nothing to do with the team and, yet, almost always is the proverbial stake in the heart each time.

In 2001 the Pittsburgh Steelers booked their flights and hotel rooms for the Super Bowl week prior to the AFC Championship game.  They had been double digit favorites to beat New England.  We all know how that season ended.

In 2002 the San Fransisco Giants had their "2002 World Series Champion" banner for their stadium printed prior to game 2 of the World Series versus the Angels.

In 2003  - during the ALCS game seven against New York...Boston lead in the 6th inning by four runs.  The grounds crew started the process of painting the World Series MLB logo behind home plate at Fenway.  Four innings later Aaron Boone's home run sailed into the Bronx night sending the Yankees to the World Series.

2008 = in the week's leading to the Super Bowl, shoppers on nfl.com were able to purchase 19-0 New England Patriots t-shirts...before they went 19-0.

And now available on mlb.com...t-shirts printed of something that hasn't happened yet...

(http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/BDD_TBts_rsn_10.10%2C08.jpg)

I couldn't help but thinking something last night as I watched the game.

Any of you have older brothers or maybe an uncle?  You'd play 21 with them and have them on the ropes, you're sitting pretty at 19.  You are all excited thinking that you're finally...FINALLY...going to beat that miserable SOB.  And then he smerks and, next thing you know, you've lost again.

It was almost like Boston played rope-a-dope with Tampa last night.  Load the bases with no out and shut 'em down.  Spot them runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs and shut 'em down.

Let them get to 19, smerk and then pull the rug out from under them.

I think that Tampa discovered a couple things last night.  First, you aren't in the regular season anymore.  Not quite as easy to be so laid back when there is so much on the line.  Second is that you aren't playing the Chicago White Sox anymore.  The guys in front of you are the defending World Champions - a team you beat 10 games to 8 in the regular season but of those 10 wins, 8 were by one run and 5 were come from behind. 

One game in a seven game series means almost nothing.  Christ - being up 3-1 doesn't mean a ton anymore.  That's why you play 7 games.  But I saw something in Tampa last night that I hadn't seen all season - and what I saw was "uh-oh.  This isn't yesterday anymore, is it?"

Beckett comes out and is Beckett tonight and you might see a little panic setting in.  I would in their shoes.  Matsuzaka just schooled us, Beckett mowed us down and now we get to go to Fenway to face Lester?  Yikes.  There is a lot for Tampa riding on tonight. 

They have gone all season with no pressure.  Last night Boston put 100% of the season's pressure right on the Rays young shoulders.  Lets see how they respond.

Last night simply means that Boston has won one of the three games I predicted they'd win in this series... ;)

For what it's worth though, NO ONE outside of Red Sox nation has been as steadfast in their endorsement of Dice-K since his arrival as I have. Even when he struggled, I kept saying "He's still getting his feel for the hitters and umpires in this league" and "his best games are yet to come." Well, they're here now... Everyone saw the ceiling for Matsuzaka last night, and it was painted up like the fukkin' Sistine Chapel.

Kazmir in game two...Go Rays!!

I don't know if they are cursing themselves as much as they are going to lose to a better playoff team.

Who was the dynasty? I hope they don't mean the 3rd place Yankees.

Captain Hyperbole, please pick up a white courtesy phone...

That shirt is listed as part of the "AL East Division Winners" section of the TB catalog on MLB shop. Last time I checked, they actually DID win the AL East. Try being flattered that they called you a dynasty and try not hiring a contortionist to stretch for your bulletin board material. ;)

Hmmmmmmmmmm.  If it does apply to them winning the division, then the shirt is accurate. 

Its one game...the Rays have bounced back all season...it's not over yet...wait until the series is over to make claims like that

Yes Boston won last night...they were impressive, I'll give them that...they won 2-0...its not like they whooped the Rays ass...I love how I'm seeing people having this "I told you so" attitude already....we'll see what happens the next few games...I don't think the Rays are going to have two nights in a row with cold bats.

GO RAYS!!!!!

FYI

In 2001 ALL FOUR teams made some arraignments prior to the AFCCG/NFCCG that they would not have otherwise made b/c of the terrorist attacks there was no bye week and the teams had to fly down the next day.

In 2007 for each of the 19-0 items one could pre-order one could also pre-order items that had the Giants winning. 
 

Nice! Captain spin-cycle is at it again!  ;D

Curse - No.
Bulletin Board Material - Yes.

We always remember the hits (when the Pats print a 19-0 shirt and lose), but we don't remember the misses (if they were to print a 19-0 shirt and win, nobody would be talking about it.)   That's why this stuff sticks out.  When things go as they should, there's no story.

It's stupid to have these shirts, because it can pump up your opponent.  But other than that, there's nothing there.

I think the shitty Homeplate Umpire tonight has more of a say in this series than some curse. I don't want to blame this all on the umpire because the game did have like 13 innings to decide it, but that was some bullshit in the last inning in favor of the Rays. Lots of bad calls on balls and strikes that seemed to cause Boston to lose.

stroke, they called the YANKEES the dynasty (that's yankees font), and the sox the nation.

Amazing game last night.  The second I saw Timlin warming up I knew it was over.  Tampa was very nervous about that game getting into the hands of Jackson as well.  I think Beckett answered all the questions...there is something not right about him.  Kazmir as well.

I'd pay money to watch Evan Longoria take BP...what a freakin' beast that dude is!

Let's go, Rays!!

Talk about two opposite games between game one and two...last nights game was so exciting...like regular home run derby...like I've said before Perez is one fast mofo ;D

GO RAYS!!!!!

The pitching match up tonight is a New Englander's dream.

Jon Lestaaah versus Mat Gaaaaahzaaaah.

This weekend was brutal on Maine's show.  Urgh.

And you guys make fun of the way we talk in the south,lol.I'll bet it was a riot,I used to love the way our chowd safety director said "Florider".("O.k. fellahs,things ahh much diffent down heah in Florider than they wuz back home")

Should be a wicked pissa matchup ;)

I'm covering the next three games at Fenway and now remember why I don't cover a lot of games anymore.

I'm bored out of my tits.  Thankfully the game starts at 4 and not 7.

Anyway...I was just sitting around with a bunch of writers at a coffee shop and we were all complaining about this and that.  Tom Caron asked me how I would have managed the past couple of games differently.  Lately I've been on an anti-Tito thing.  It's not so much game 1 that I have issue with, it's game two.  Boston was lucky to win game 1, however they did.  They had a chance to send the series back to Boston up 2-0 and missed a giant opportunity.

So here is what I would have done differently, starting with the starting line up.

1:  Anyone else notice that Ellsbury can't get out of his own way during the post season?  Two hits and one was that fluke drop in 3 RBI base hit against the Angels.  He needs to be taken out.  Boston's starting lineup, defensively, should have looked like this for game two:

P - Beckett
C - 'Tek
3 - Youk
SS - Lowrie
2 - Dusty
1 - Casey
LF - Bay
C - Crisp
RF - Kotsay

The minute Kazmir was knocked from the lineup, Drew should have replaced Kotsay.  I'm not sure if Casey slept with Tito's girl or something, but why he hasn't been used is driving me nuts.  No big deal, he is only a career .302 hitter who is hitting .322 this season.  He has a career postseason BA is .442 and, yet, sits.

Why?

The batting order, 1-9, should have been as follows:

1: Crisp
2:  Dusty
3:  Youk
4:  Casey
5:  Bay
6:  Ortiz
7:  Lowrie
8:  Kotsay
9:  Tek

Yes, I have dropped Ortiz in this line up.  They were facing Scott Kazmir.  Last time I checked, Ortiz is terrible against him.  1-4 is solid in their career against lefties in general and have a good record against Kazmir.  7-9 hold their own versus lefties and can feed 1-3 when the rotation turns over.

Leaving Ortiz in the 6 hole will ensure that he still gets 4 AB's in the game.

Boston scored eight runs and still stranded seven runners in scoring position.  The batters that stranded the most?  Ellsbury and Kotsay.  Crisp and Casey should have been swinging the bats in those spots.

The pitching...oh, boy.  Don't even get me started.

First of all, it doesn't take a pitching coach to see that Beckett doesn't have it.  Boston jumps out 2-0 in the 1st, Beckett promptly gives that back, 2-2.  Boston then falls behind 4-2 and ties it.  Tampa then jumps on Josh for a couple more at 6-4 and Boston fights their way back in the bottom of the 4th to make it 6-6. 

That's the point where you say "enough's enough."  Six earned runs through four innings isn't enough for you to see that Beckett doesn't have it?  His flat 91mph fastball...you know the same one that is normally 96mph and dancing, hasn't clued you in on anything?  His 11-5 curve ball that normally buckles knees that has suddenly gone 10-6 and hangs wasn't a large enough hint?

Beckett goes back in and promptly puts Tampa up 8-6.

The management of the bullpen is equally as confusing.  He brings in Lopez who gives up one hit and a run (Beckett's run) and then pulls him.  One hitter.  Declarmen comes in and works less than an inning.  Oki comes in and works less than an inning.  Masterson comes in and works less than an inning.

And then you're bringing in Papelbon in the 9th in a tied situation?

Papelbon shouldn't have been touched in a tie situation.  The situation was this:  Masterson mowed down two in the 8th and was about to face Pena, who has decent numbers off Masterson.  So Tito went to Papelbon instead who closed out the 8th and worked the 9th.  Never should have come to that.

First of all - why are you going to a situational lefty in Lopez to spell Beckett is you're only going to use him for one hitter?  Especially in a situation where you have runners on the corners, no outs and you're bringing him in to face a hitter that is 5-8 lifetime against him?  That is the perfect spot to bring in Oki.  You let Oki work the rest of the 5th and 6th.  Boston had tied the score in the bottom of the 5th.

Tampa's 7th was the bottom of the order.  At this point you either leave Oki in to face Aybar or you bring in Masterson.  Let him take care of your 7th and have Delcarmen ready to go.  Masterson can start the 8th, he has good numbers against Tampa's 1 & 2 hitters.  Then you make a decision with Pena and Evan, if Pena gets on.

Last time I checked, Delcarmen is the guy that you relied on for most of the season to get to Papelbon.  And Delcarmen can give you a couple innings.  Now you are going to the 9th with a fresh Delcarmen and you've got Papelbon stretching for an appearance in the 10th or 11th.

Tito couldn't have mis-managed that bullpen in a worse fashion, leaving himself Timlin and Byrd as his only options in the 11th inning.  To Timlin's credit, he threw pretty well and really got squeezed on some calls.  But it shouldn't have come to that in the first place.

The Anaheim series Tito also mis-managed the pen and got away with it.  I hope to God Lester gives him 8+ tonight, the last two series have me scratching my head about his ability to use these guys the right way.  Based on what I'm hearing around town, I'm not the only one thinking that way.

Ellsbury is clearly overmatched right now. I doubt it's the pressure because he was in it last year, he may have just picked the wrong time to go through a slump.

Having Beckett out there really hurt the team. It's not a manager's job to ASK a player how he feels, it's a manager's job to SEE how a player feels. No ballplayer would ever tell you they are hurt, even if they were bleeding and had a bone sticking through the skin. They are like children and have to be treated as such. Ask a pitcher who just walked 8 guys in a row how he feels and he will say "Great skip! I am starting to really find my groove out here".

Francona should've seen this and taken him out, may have cost him the win.

In case it's not coming across on your televisions across the fine nation...yes.  The Fenway faithful are letting their home team have it.  I don't blame them.

Boooooooooooooooooooooooo!  I can't do it out loud from media row, so I'm doing it here.

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooo!

Jesus, it's a playoff game at Fenway. There are only like 39,000 available tickets, WHERE THE F*CK ARE YOU GOING??? I know it's a lost game, but at least stay until the end. Stop acting like Yankee fans whose first memories of a game start with Tino Martinez.

Oh, and I support Paul Byrd pitching 4 innings and think he did a fine job. Completely saved the bullpen. I mean, his ERA for the game is something like 9, but with a lost cause game, you care more for innings and he provided.

Just as I type this Carlos "I love steroids" Pena hits an opposite field HR that went like 430 feet. Still, Okajima, Delcarmen and Papelbon are grateful for the extra rest.

Rays looked impressive today...hope they can take the momentum into the next game...a lot of people said they were going to lose this one, and to put up a shalaking like this is freakin' sweeeet....B.J. Upton plays a whole lot better when he's actually trying...GO RAYS!!!!

Whoo hoo!!!!

Phillies-Rays, baby...this needs to happen.

That is the world series I would prefer.

The thing about the booing bothered me when they did it to Ortiz in the 2nd inning. Really? You are going to boo him? In the 2nd inning of a 1-0 playoff game? Awful. Ortiz should be as untouchable as Jeter is in NY(and he was booed after a 0-32 slump), so he shouldn't be booed in such an insignificant spot. Or pretty much ever to be honest with you. I don't remember the Red Sox winning many championships before he came to town.

Looks like it became a BoSox fan's worst nightmare.  9-1??  Four homers from the Rays that cleared the legendary Green Monster??  Jeez. 

Ortiz wasn't booed in the 2nd inning.  He wasn't booed at all. 

Please keep in mind who (Yooooooooooouk) hits behind Ortiz.  Ortiz gets the Yoooooouk every AB.

As far as fans leaving in the 8th after Rocco's three run blast?  I don't blame them.  Would you sit around for a Dolphins 62-3 ass whuppin' or hit the bricks?  I would have left had I been allowed to.

Just like the Pats fans leaving early in the 4th quarter of their 38-13 shellacking at the hands of the Dolphins. 

This isn't bad at all.  Boston is very used to this.  They were in a must win in 2004 coming home 0-2 to the Yankees and gave up 19 runs to fall down in that series 0-3.

This is just like last year's ALCS.  Boston won game 1 and then lost game 2 in heart breaking fashion - 13 to 6 in 11 innings.  Cleveland romped in the 11th at Fenway.  Cleveland then won game three to go up 2-1 and then pounded Boston 7-3 in game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.

This is old hat to Boston.  I heard the exact same things about the Indians that I am hearing now about the Rays.  The pitching is better, the bats are better (Longoria / Sizemore), they are younger, they are too young and dumb to feel the pressure.  Not taking anything away from Tampa, but this series is doing exactly what I said it would.  Boston would take one on the road, Tampa would take 1 of 3 in Boston, Boston will win game 6....this one is going 7.

Not with Joshie going game 6.....fire up the bus!!!!!!!!!! Tampa wins games 5 & 6!

^^Now it's a lock.

Red Sox in 6.  Thanks, Denver!

The difference is, they weren't facing a team of vets like Cleveland and the Yankees.  Tampa is young, hungry, and doesn't care about tradition. 

No matter how good you are, there will always be someone younger and hungrier looking to push you off your pedistal. 

Don't jinx my Rays guys...I know about Boston's history of coming back...I'm not going to celebrate until it's over

GO RAYS!!!!

Cleveland's over all team age last year is younger than Tampa's this year.  So not to sound crass...what's your point?

Last year all I heard was that Cleveland was the dynamic up and coming group of youngsters lead by Grady Sizemore and that unstoppable bullpen full of flame throwers.  They got Boston on the ropes 3-1 and we all know how that ended.

At the end of the day, Boston is the underdog here.  Tampa SHOULD win.

One of the ESPN reports said he was booed. I read that somewhere else too. They could be wrong, God knows ESPN has become a joke.

'Tek was booed.  I really don't think Ortiz was, I think it was Youk over flow.

Seriously?  All anyone has been saying, before the Rays took the lead in the series, is how Boston is going to beat the Rays...I've heard it on the boards and in the media...Boston should be the underdog, but until recently they haven't been considered that.  You are right that the Rays should win, but like I said earlier, I'm not celebrating until it's over.

^^I have never said Boston would or should win.  I said it's a coin toss.  But if you look at overall records and home field advantage, Tampa should be favored.

JD Drew leading off? Seriously?

The biggest reason why I don't want the Devil Rays to win  is that they have THE WORST fan base in the AL.

I never said you predicted Boston to win...in fact from reading your posts it seems more like you expected the Rays to win, barely...the media and most of the other people on this board said Boston would win and that's what I was getting at.


Get your shit straight...it's the RAYS

What do you expect from a franchise that hasn't been around very long, and has had a losing record since they started?  Add the fact that half of the people in Tampa and St. Pete are from either Boston or New York, bringing their "loyalty" for their teams with them, and that Steinbrener is from Tampa, having a huge influence on the baseball community, and there you go...shitty fans.  I do have to say that as the year has gone on, more and more Rays fans are showing up, so the shitty fans mantra may go away in the upcoming years.

It's a good move.  I guess Tito was going to move Ortiz to 5th and decided not to as well.  He should have.

already 2-0 Rays in the first

%^&*    *&^ *&^  %^%^& 

Come on!!!  Sox bat better heat up tonight, down 3 - 0

looks like TB is one game away from the WS up 11-1 in the 7th

Now that's what I call an asswhoopin'....one more time guys

GO RAYS!!!!

Yeah, Drew gets on base and that's what you want your leadoff guy to do. He isn't the best choice in the world, but since Ellsbury hasn't even played like a major leaguer, it was the right move to do. Kudos to Terry for realizing the severity of the situation and making bold moves.

Up 3-1 now.  This Tampa team is hungry.  Their bats got hot at the right time.  They have their eyes on the prize and nothing is going to make them blink. 

This will not be another New York or Cleveland collapse. 

Nope.

The sox should have lost to the Angels.

I thought the bullpen was going to be the downfall of the sox this post season but I guess it was the starting pitching.  What happened to the sox bats? Ortiz has not don shit sox are in trouble if they cant get there bats going!!

Im still not counting the sox out but I wouldn't put money on the sox to win

Sounds alot like The Miami Fan Base except they have been around over 40 yrs...........


Fuck New England in any shape or form!!   ;D :D >:D

Ortiz' career is over, just like I told you in the offseason. This is his final run, enjoy it. It only gets worse from here.

Unless after the Rays win the World Series, ownership decides to have a fire-sale, just like they did with the Marlins.

I think Ortiz's wrist is in far worse shape than they're letting on, same with whatever is ailing Josh (elbow? oblique?)

This is a bad time to have these injuries.  Lowell is out, Ortiz probably should be.  Beckett would be on the DL right now if this were the regular season. 

But that still doesn't take away the ass pounding Tampa put on Lester, who is fine physically, and Wakefield, who is also fine physically. 

Maybe Boston wins game two with a healthy Beckett.  Either way they lose 3 & 4 at home.

Scott Kazmir is starting tomorrow

Surprised they're takinga break from the series today.... but it actually helps.  Tomorrow night, when my Seminoles square off against NC State at 7:30, I'll be at JB's watching the game, and I'll also get to catch the Rays/BoSox at 8. 

Football, baseball, cool place to hang out at, cold beer, tasty chicken wings........ what more could a sports fan ask for?

Just my opinion, but I think that many people really failed to appreciate what sort of an impact that adding Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli to an already potent lineup would do for Tampa Bay.  There just doesn't appear to be a real weak spot anywhere in that batting order now.

^^I also think that is partially Boston's fault.  This is almost a carbon copy of 2004.  Matsui was ripping Boston apart and NY looked strong 1-9 as well.  Pedro took the ball, had enough, and threw one so high and tight it burned Matsui's una-brow off.

He was never the same after that - neither were the rest of the Yankees.  There is a huge and trackable drop off in production from their line up after that one pitch.

If Boston is to slow down this offense they need to take the same approach.  The Rays are WAY too comfortable in that batter's box.

Boston has rain moving in tomorrow.  There are rumors swirling that Boston is going to re-schuffle and sent Beckett on the hill for game 5.  The only reason I can think they are doing this is for the exact purpose of buzzing some guys.  Matsuzaka won't do it, it's not part of his make up.  He does not believe hitting batters is part of the game.  When he does hit someone he steps off the plate and tips his cap to the hitter to say "sorry, didn't mean to."

Beckett, on the other hand, has no issues with buzzing people inside.

Now - I'm not talking about hitting anyone.  But Boston needs to do something to make Tampa hitters think twice every time they step up.

That might slow down Tampa's offense a little, it's worth a try.  But it won't matter a heck of one bit if Boston can't get their own offense running.

^ I don't know if that's such a good idea...Gomes may not be active, but he is in the dugout....and that would just fire up the Rays more

Maine, what is the deal with Josh - is it the oblique or is it the elbow or something totally unrelated?

Tampa has scored 22 runs in the past three games.  How worse could it get?

Tampa is fired up because of their success.  Boston needs to make them a little less comfortable at the plate. 

I'm a pitcher.  If a guy is hitting me well and seems a little too at home in the batter's box...I'm buzzing him.  I promise his success rate on me tapers of a little bit. 

I haven't talked to him in a while - no "inside" info to be had here. 

I'll say this again - I know the kid inside and out.  There is something wrong with his stuff which tells me that there is something wrong with him.  Once Boston is out of it I suspect we'll hear the truth.

Having a 3-1 lead against the red sox only to lose the remaining games and the series

I didn't know if, as a pitcher, you could tell. I know the velocity on the fast ball is down and he just plain doesn't look right

Manny isn't there to protect fat boy. No Mike Lowell (grape ape). Ellsbury sucks.  JD Drew is plastic man.

It's OVER Johnny!!!!!!!!! ;D

Huge difference between last season and this season.  Let me count the ways:

1 - Boston forced games 6 & 7 and those games were at Fenway.
2 - If Boston forces a game 6, and I think that they will, games 6 & 7 will be at the Trop.
3 - No way in hell does Tampa lose two games in a row at the Trop, much less than three in a row.
4 - Hate to say it, D_B is right.  Ortiz is injured AND he doesn't have protection in the lineup.  Bay is awesome but he isn't a game changer like Manny was.  Manny and Lowell accounted for 21 runs in games 5, 6 and 7 last year V Cleveland.  That brings me to...
5 - No Mike Lowell.

And, in closing,

6 - Tampa is a flat out better team than Boston, even if Boston were healthy.

Sure they can.... and they will

Yep.  And not even so much as a pitcher but as a guy that knows how his stuff usually works.  He's just not there.  Just got down talking to Tito for some sound bytes and he said "Josh is healthy.  I don't know if 96 mph is in there right now, maybe only 92 or 93."  My follow up question was "if 96 isn't 'in there' it sounds to me that he isn't healthy.  Why isn't it 'in there?'"  He danced around the question.

I think Ortiz has begun his decline due to injuries, so he is no longer who he was last year. Lowell is hurt. Ellsbury should be in AA the way he has played and Beckett probably needs some surgery.

As of right now, Tampa is just the better team, maybe better when everyone is healthy too. They can still blow it, but it's unlikely.

I'm glad you think so, Tommy.  I'm already making my plans for a Tampa - Philly WS.

I just got something in the mail today that is pretty.  A good friend of mine is a beat writer for the Rays and he mailed me an authentic Longoria home jersey.  I've got to say this thing is pretty f'n sweet.  A simple note was enclosed:

"E,
Plenty of room on the bandwagon.  I've reserved a seat for you."

Jerk.  ;)

I wonder how much I could get on Ebay for this thing...

My guess is Friday (or whenever this miserable series comes to an end) we'll hear about what the real problem is.

Before this season, probably not much.  Right now.... quite a bit. 

I think the Sox are done this season, may not be tomorrow (I think the who reason behind starting Kazmir tomorrow is to set his the Rays WS Pitching rotation) but they're done

Talk to me first!   ;D

It's actually not.  Earlier this season Kazmir went off on Derryl Cousins's strike zone and said some really stupid stuff.  Cousins is behind the plate for game 6, if it gets to that, and Tampa wants to avoid Kazmir being squeezed or having it in his head.

I made plans for that matchup prior to the postseason starting...and have just been waiting for the dominos to fall. ;)

(btw...the WS goes to TB as well, in 6 games)

I'll take that, but Philly in 7.  :)

Only to get their ( Yankees ) asses handed to them by a young and hungry FLA Marlins Baseball Club.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Crossing my fingers hoping Tampa Bay can break the curse tonight.

Curse?  What curse?

Ladies!  Gents!

NO WORLD SERIES PREDICTIONS YET...please.  ;)

Tampa has a curse? Wow, that was quick. What's their curse?

I think Tommy has taken the title of of this thread a touch too literally.

Nice grammar Maine.  Sweet.

Could be, but I wouldn't consider that a cruse like we would generally think of in Sports (IE: Ruth, Billy Goats etc.)

It's a reverse curse!

Take out Devil from your name and WIN!

People ask me all the time why "small payroll" team always explodes after going deep into playoff runs.  In 2002 the Anaheim Angels won the World Series and then had a dramatic payroll rise.  2005 it was the Chicago White Sox.  2006 it was the Detroit Tigers and Houston.  Last year Colorado.

Here is what is happening to the Rays, payroll wise:

In the past season the Rays have locked up Longoria, Crawford, Pena, Shields, Baldelli and Wheeler to long term extensions. 

Between Longoria, Pena and Shields, Tampa Bay is on the hook for 24 million - which is almost half of their total payroll right now.  By my figures the 2009 Rays projected payroll is going to land around 70 million next season.  And that's if they get to low ball their arbitron eligible guys like Navarro, Jackson, Bartlett, Balfour and Gomes.  Those are some pretty big names to deal with this offseason.

After 2009 the following guys are artibtron eligible:  BJ Upton, Matt Garza, Willy Aybar, JP Howell and Shawn Riggans.  I suspect that a "happy medium" to avoid arbitation on Upton and Garza will cost the Rays 5 million and 4 million.

I think that they did themselves a disservice by locking up Longoria so early.  It set a tone for these guys that are coming up on their potential walking papers.

And that doesn't deal with BJ Upton, who is eligible for arbitration after 2009, and Kazmir. 

They have a 2.7 million option on Cliff Floyd.

Two things will happen here:
1:  Tampa will continue to win and be a top ten, 100 million payroll team, by 2010.
2:  Tampa will not follow up this season's success and shed some salaries and stay where they are.

I say #1 is most realistic.  Once you taste winning it's hard to put that fork down.

You're the only person I've heard that didn't think that was a brilliant maneuver...and I'm not talking drunk fans at a bar, I'm talking about other GMs and baseball front office types. I can certainly understand your reasoning, in how it could lead to other young players pushing for the long term contract, but I feel that TB would be doing a lot of that anyway, given this season's succcess, and locking up a monster like Longoria up long term at a reasonable price seems worth it to me.

If he were eligible for arbitration by 2010 I would agree.  But he wouldn't have been knocking on FA's door until 2014 - he was under TB's control for the next seven seasons.  This is his rookie year.  I personally would have taken the Kevin Youkilis approach with him.

When the new ownership came in, they claimed to put more money into payroll gradually year after year.  New ownership wants a winner, not just a profit like the old ownership wanted.  So.....


I agree with you...option #1

^Miserable?  I find it quite enjoyable  ;) ;D

Keep your last reply in the back of your mind in the off chance Boston sends this series back to Tampa.  Tampa does not want to get into a situation where they have to rely on Lester being "off" in a game 7 situation...

My last reply? I think thus far, this series has been miserable. They've played like they've never held a bat before.

LET'S GO RED SOX!

i SAID...

LET'S FREAKING GO...RED SOX!!!!!!!

Give Tampa a lesson like this...

(http://theneoteric.net/pix/alcs07gm7-plaindealer_sm.jpg)

Or give 'em a little sumpthin' sumpthin' like this...

(http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/041019/041019_yankees_hlg_10p.h2.jpg)

Let me wake up Sunday morning to read this...

(http://derekrose.com/images/theydidit.jpg)

Or this...(game 7, 1986, versus California Angels after trailing 3-1):

(http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/BDD_RS_1986_ALCS_bgfile.jpg)

And let's proudly wave this over Fenway...

(http://homerderby.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/red-sox-2008-world-series-banner.JPG)

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!

(CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP)

(http://www.biggsports.com/catalog/jd%20drew%20bobblehead.jpg)

 ;D

That bobblehead is scary

That bobblehead frikkin' rules.

So...I'm wearing my Longoria jersey under my sweatshirt tonight on media row.  A little reverse logic.  Anything I touch lately turns to 'el crap o.  Let's see if it works.

(I just hope no one catches sight of this tonight...I'll never live it down...)

Any chance you might buy a patriots jersey then.  or maybe a brett Farve jersey?  ;D,

Maybe I'll have to throw on my Carl Crawford jersey when I get home from work tonight....

LET'S GO DEVIL RAYS!!! ONE MORE GAME TO SEND THESE LOSERS HOME!!!

And to counter Brian's Crawford, I'll be throwing on my Paps (or I can bust out my old Trot Nixon)

I'm putting on my Padres jersey and checking out the AZ Fall League action... ;)

It is amazing how many Red Sox haters there are in Central Florida now. People that I know could care less about the Rays are on the bandwagon.

Isn't half of Florida ex-NYers?  AKA Yankee fans. 

That bobblehead enters my dreams at night and asks for souls.

I've always been a "all things New England" hater (Sox, Pats, Bruins, Celtics)...but you're right...most of the Sox caps have gone away and they are being replaced by Rays hats...hey I was on it when it was a shitwagon so good to see people jump aboard since it turned into a bandwagon.


No about 25% are ex-NYers and 25% are ex-New Englanders

Oh, I almost forgot.....LETS GO RAYS!!!!!!

I know it looks likely the Rays are going to the World Series, but I'm still holding my breath until it's over.

GO RAYS!!!!!!

I think the fat lady is making her way to the field at the very moment.

and I hear her singing

Holy crap! I'm in the middle of loading a Uhaul right now, but I have the TV on. 5-0? and up 3-1? WHOO HOO!!!

Earlier, I saw a Boston fan with a sign that said "Down 3-1...Been there, won that!"

Not today, Red Sox fans.  ;D ;D ;D

GO RAYS!!!

Looking strong...let's finish it out

GO RAYS!!!!!

LMFAO! 5-0 Rays. I can't wait to see them celebrate in Fenway in front of those dejected front running fans.

All the fans who left when it was 7-0 should never be allowed back again.

WOW I am shocked right now...if this keeps up I might have to start up theraysmakemecry.com

At this point, I have to give the Rays all the credit in the world if they don't lose. It is very hard to stop bleeding like this. Kudos to Boston for coming back and a big F U to the "fans" who left in the 6th.

looks like the fat lady is having trouble finding the field.

Crazy game

This just in...David Ortiz has eaten the fat lady.

didn't realize he was wicked hungry

AAAAAARRRRGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGH. ...good job Sox, that was an amazing comeback...now it goes back to St. Pete

The 2004 Yankees called, they said you shamed yourselves.

Up 7-0 and the Ray did this:

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/YoFuggedaboutit/ReggieMillerChoke.jpg)

Great comeback tonight for the Sox, that was fun to watch. All it really means though is that my AL prediction will be just like my NL prediction...right winner but one game early, and the right MVP.

^^^

Serious. That's just flat out embarrassing. I'm sorry, I don't care if it is Boston. Hang your heads tonight, TB...

Down to 2 chances, get it done people.

I'm officially gonna be sick. How many times can this Red Sox have this horse shoe up their asses. Congrats to the Red Sox for showing alot of heart last night.

I can't wait to see the Fitzy.........Boston Red Sox Choke Video.  :D ;D

This happens in many games throughout the season. It happens.  Tampa isn't choking, isn't cursed or whatever you want to think.  In fact ... I predict people will say they wanted to clinch at home so they let it happen or something stuipid like that.  Either way ... Rays will still win.

that was a hell of a comeback. As soon as the announcer said Papi was 0-60-whatever for HRs, Brian called he'd hit one

CF is right...things happen.

BUT, Boston has this kind of experience under their belt and they are not panicking.  There is big pressure on Tampa after that loss.

I can tell you from experience as a player and being around these guys that this type of loss is amazingly hard to bounce back from.

You have the World Series in your sights.  It's so close you can taste it.  The food is on your fork.  It's heading towards your mouth.  You can see the steam rising off it.  And then...

A freakin' pigeon named Ortiz swoops down and steals it right before you bite into it.

You're on a team that won 66 games last year.  97 this year.  And now matter what you do, you can't seem to shake Boston.  You pound them 9-1.  You pound them 13-4.  You're seven outs away from the WORLD SERIES and beating the DEFENDING CHAMPIONS 7-0.

And then lose.

Yes, this happens.  In the regular season.  Not in the playoffs.  It's been 79 years since a comeback like this has been staged.  This doesn't happen.  And I'm willing to bet it's in everyone's heads.  Tampa's...and Boston.

The door was opened a crack.  We'll see if Tampa can close it.

Second biggest deficit overcome in postseason play :D

^^And against a bullpen that hadn't shown a crack until now.

Baseball is a game of streaks.  Between Boston scoring four runs late in that 13-4 loss and then last night, those bats might be heating up.  Boston has been getting runners on, they haven't been getting those timely hits.

We'll see what happens in game 6. 

I'm changing my tone after last night.  I've said all along that this series goes seven and flip a coin.  After spending some time in both locker rooms and seeing what I saw, I'm getting off the fence.

Boston wins this.  JD Drew will be the series MVP.

Boston wins game six in close fashion to last night's game, the score will be something like 7-5 or 9-8.  Game seven will be a romp.

^^^ You think the Rays are going to go belly up twice at the Trop?

Your optimism knows no bounds. ;)

Hmm sounds amazingly like the 2003 Cubs....err we won 67 in 2002...

Cling to anything that you think will support your weight until Saturday night...and then it will officially be "wonder what the Celtics are doing" time for Boston fans.

;D

It's served me well in the past!

If the Rays lose this series, they should fire their manager, just like Joe Torre should've been fired after that epic collapse in 2004. 

You don't pull a choke job like this on my team and expect to keep your job. 

And that's why the Yankees have such a high payroll.  George never cared about profit, he cared about winning.

You're going to feel awful silly when Monday morning comes around and time has proven me correct once again!
:)

Keep in mind that your Philly prediction wasn't exactly going out on a ledge.  You took the favored team to win in 6...and your MVP was a starting pitcher that would appear in two games.  Not exactly a dream prediction! ;)  At least mine has some stones.

Like the (defending World Champion) Red Sox!  Stones of steel!

I feel an avatar bet coming on. 

(Inset Jim Mora "playoffs?" voice) Monday? Monday?? Shoot, by Monday, I'll already be coming down off the "Rays win on Saturday night" high...and praising myself for the self-restraint of only sending a couple of texts at you on Sunday after Boston's season ends.


Yet I was the only one who picked Hamels... But then again, I've been pimping Hamels pretty shamelessly since he came up to the Phillies in '06, so no surprise there. I also designated Hamels (and Shields) as my double-point money pitchers in my postseason cash game.

How about the BJ Upton ALCS MVP pick? Thinner branch there for sure...and you can't tell me anyone expected him to completely go nuclear apeshit against the Sox.

Not that I really care who wins this thing but last nights game was fun as hell to watch for someone with no real vested interest. Amazing comeback for the Sox.

In your world does anybody stay employed for more that a day or not getting beaten up?

I'm teasing you about the Cole thing.  Could have been anyone.

Upton is looking like a lock, but he has some competition in Longoria as well.  Depends on what happens in the next two games, either would be a fine choice! 

Maine:  Josh, a lot has been made about the possible chance you have an undisclosed injury.  Care to shed any light on this?  Are you 100%?

Josh:  Of course I'm F$%#ing dinged the F*&^k up.  Everyone is F$%#ing playing with linger S^*t F$%#ing things right now.  Am I 100%?  Are you F$%#ing kidding me?  Who is?

Maine:  I think you'll agree that there is a difference between being dinged up over the course of the season and having an injury.  Your velocity seems down as does the movement on your ball, which leads some to think you, or the Red Sox, aren't disclosing something more serious.

Josh:  I don't F$%#ing care what the f&^k people F$%#ing think about my F$%#ing velocity and movement.  Look back at my start in the regular season with Toronto.  How fast was I on the gun?  You tell me.

Maine: 97ish.

Josh:  That's F$%#ing right, Erick, ninety F$%#ing sevenish.  And people F$%#ing said that I was hurt then as well.  I'm tired of these questions, man.  Shoot.  I throw ninety F$%#ing seven and get hit and people say I'm injured.  I throw ninety F$%#ing three and can't get ninety F$%#ing seven and people say "see, no F$%#ing velocity."  What the f*&k?  I can't win.

Maine:  I think it's fair to say that winning isn't something that team has been doing lately when you take the mound.  With all the chips riding on your arm Saturday night in Tampa Bay, how are you feeling about your chances?

Josh:  Screw yesterday.  Period.  Screw it right into the wall.  I can't change nothin' about F$%#ing yesterday or last week.  I will be fine Saturday night.

Maine:  Upton and Longoria, and to some extend, Pena, have given you fits this season.  That's carried over to the post season.  How do you attack them tomorrow night?

Josh:  Attack is the right word.  I tell you one F$%#ing thing I don't do is leave a mother F$%#ing curve ball right in Longoria's F$%#ing wheel house again.  That's just flat out F$%#ing stupid.  Maddon would have crushed that one.  I can't make F$%#ing mistakes like that again to Longoria, and he'll be looking for them.  Paps and Masterson have pitched those guys pretty effectively, I'm planning on watching some film from those two guys.  I'll get with Ferrell and we'll have a plan. 

Maine:  When the...

Josh:  Hey, I think it's pretty F$%#ing important to understand that Cy F$%#ing Young himself could have been out there these past few games and gotten crushed.  This 'injured' crap isn't doing a service to that team over there.  Anyone notice how well they are approaching these F$%#ing games?  So what people are saying is that Tampa isn't good and it's because I'm injured?  Or could it be that people are finally seeing Tampa for what they are?  A head bashing, mouth punching, five tool F$%#ing team that attacks you from all sides?  That's a great F$%#ing team over there.  And it's not just the top of the order.  Heard of a guy named Aybar, by chance?  Notice he's hitting around three F$%#ing seventy?  Or Bartlett?  He's pretty F$%#ing good too.  No weakness in that line up.  They've hit me, Wakey, Lest, Dicey...F$%#ing hitting us all to shit.

Maine:  How do you expect to stop them now then?

Josh:  Funny thing about baseball is that the law of averages will finally come around.  If you're a lifetime .280 hitter and you hit out of your ass in the post season, sooner or later you'll come closer to that .280 mark.  Which is still pretty F$%#ing outstanding, mind you, there are great players that couldn't get above two F$%#ing twenty.  It's the F$%#ing post season, dude.  You're facing the best of the best.  I'm going to go out there and pitch my game.  It's up to me to get them F$%#ing out and it's up to them to get me out of the F$%#ing game.  Facts are facts.  If I'm gone by the 4th they have done their job.  If I'm still around in the 6th I've F$%#ing done mine.

Maine:  What are your thoughts on Masterson?  He got himself into some trouble last night before Pena got him out of trouble.

Josh:  What a great F$%#ing kid.  What a fantastic person that kid is.  And he's nails.  You know he hasn't spend a goddamn whole season in the minors?  And there he is on the mound at Fenway F$%#ing park in a tied game, 9th inning, lose and go home...runners on 1st and 2nd.  Bulldog.  F$%#ing bulldog.  And he's a rookie.  This kid is good.  Great slider.  Great slider.  Great side step.  He was run on a lot this year but I think that's F$%#ing more to do with him trying to make his pitch and letting the guys on base do what they will.  Great guy. 

Maine:  What do you say to those that think Lester should go tomorrow night and put you in game seven?

Josh:  I say whoever is F$%#ing saying that isn't running the F$%#ing team.  I'll pitch when they tell me to pitch.  Lest will do his thing when we need him.  I'm ready.

Maine:  Any pitches in your cache that you aren't comfortable using right now?

Josh:  That's about the dumbest F$%#ing question I've ever heard.  No.

Maine:  Thanks for your F$%#ing time.

Josh:  No sweat.  Thanks, man.  Take care.

LMFAO!!!!  I just spit Jupina all over my monitor!!!!

That was a F$%#ing great interview.  S^*t!

F$%#in' A!!   That's the S^*t that needs to be on ESPN! 

This isn't a lot different than any interview Josh has ever given.  He doesn't have much of a filter if he's in a foul mood.  After last year's ALCS when they gave him the ALCS MVP they had to prep him before going live.  When he's in a good mood he swears a little.  When he's sour he can't get more than three words without dropping an f-bomb.

Personally I loved the answer to my question about any pitches he doesn't have as much confidence in.  You would have thought if I just asked him if he could blow me.  The look he gave me was "they let you out in public?  You're an idiot."

That ..... is...... awesome

LMFAO.....that some good F$%#ing stuff right there!!!!

Was that a real interview, or a spoof piece?

Damn, guess it was a real interview...wow

This loss goes on Madden...stupid choices on pitching match ups....it makes me sick that Kazmir pitched an awesome game, just to lose it like that...Rocko or Perez better start at right field Saturday b/c Gross played like shit.

GO RAYS!!!!

^ Ya but now it's ridiculously high...that's a little overboard

I agree.  I thought it was a spoof as well. 

Long term deals leave little flexibility, so you are stuck with less options. Those being the most expensive kind. Case in point:

Jorge Posada is signed for 3 more years at big bucks, but he will probably have to move to 1B. So, kind of hard to sign Texieria when they need someplace to play Jorge. That's just a small example. For a larger example, come back in 6 years when A-Rod's defense mirrors my own, so they are hampered at DH or 1B and must find a new 3B. However, where is Jeter going to play? God knows he can't stay at short forever, and it's arguable he shouldn't even be there right now.

This is why I am glad a ton of deals are up and even more next year, and why I am leery of making huge commitments. I didn't want Johan, even though he is awesome, nor do I want Tex. Great players, but once you sign them, you have to have them be great successes, otherwise you are screwed.

Spoof.Personally I don't think Maine has ever met Josh Beckett or any of the other Red Sox.except maybe at an autograph signing at the mall. ;)

Its a gamble.  Now they are on the hook no matter how he develops, but I think they believe he will be a great player & in the long term would have gotten more had they went year to year with him.   

I think they probably should have at least waited until the end of '09, because he may never reach the level they expect.

It was just one of these things or we will give you more now, for less later.

The Rays have to put this thing away tonight.  Game 7 will be too much pressure for them. 

wait no more.... his game 5 recap


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdWQHOw2dk

LMFAO!!!!  I just fell off my computer chair, I'm laughing so hard!!!

Looks like all these BoSox-Rays threads were merged for some reason.  This is downright confusing. 

Anyway, Upton just went yard and the Rays have drawn first blood in this game. 

And Youk just busted one outta the Trop.  1-1. 

Sox get two more runners on base but fail to convert.  Shields got into an early jam but pitched himself out of it.  Let's see if he can step up some more later. 

Going to the bottom of the 2nd inning tied 1-1

Easy three and out for Beckett in the bottom of the second.  For a guy who's supposedly injured he looks OK.  Tampa needs to exploit that injury and make him work to have a chance in this game.  So far, they haven't done it. 

Youk drops in his second RBI of the night.  Shields loads the bases but escapes with only one run's worth of damage.

Watching Tek bat is becoming painful.

Jason Bartlett just went yard.  The place was a morgue after Navarro was thrown out attempting to steal second base, now it's a madhouse. 

Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 5th!!!!

I take it all back  ;D

I have to agree there.  Tek's first hit of the series results in Boston retaking the lead.  Shields has been yanked for relief pitching.

Yankees suck!

Yankees suck!

Yankees suck!

Yankees suck!

(no thread about the sox is complete without that being chanted)

The Sox don't like to do anything the easy way, huh?

I have a feeling TB is done. They had them dead. Like Fitzy said, the sleeping giant is awake... (again)
Reservations anyone?

At the end of the game tonight, the Devil Rays looked like a team that just lost a series. The wheels have fallen off of their bandwagon. Let's see how many "fans" are in the seats tomorrow.

It is VERY hard to stop the bleeding once it starts. Once you blow a game like they did in Game 5, you become the HUGE underdogs. Location doesn't matter. The series record doesn't matter. Shit, even stats and logic don't matter.

The Yankees didn't lose to the Red Sox in 7 games back in 2004, they lost in 6 games. Once they lost Game 6, it was over. They didn't even show up for Game 7. Once they got hit like that, they never recovered, the rest was a formality.

This series ended back in Fenway. They are just going through the motions now.

Red Sox over Phillies in 4. Don't ask me how either, because pound for pound they probably aren't even a Top 10 best team with their lineup in shambles, but that's why they deserve all the credit in the world.

These threads were merged for a reason - there were five seperate threads that pertained to this series in one way or the other.  That was my fault.  So they are all merged here.  Enjoy!

I'd like to know how this guy EARNED that nickname.  He is a pitcher for a team that lost close to 100 games last season.  Same deal the season before.  He pitched once in the ALDS this season.  He's 0-2 in the ALCS.

He's pitched three "big games" in his life...with mixed results.

And why the hell is the TBS crew referring to him as Tampa's ace?  With all apologies to Buck Martinez, there is a certain someone on that staff (Scott Kazmir, AHEM) that might take exception to that. 

Shields, in 2008, was 14-8 and 3.56.  160 k's in 211 IP.  32-24 career pitcherwith ERA close to 4.00 (3.96).  1-2 in the playoffs with a 3.72 ERA.  That's "Big Game" and "Ace" material?

Kazmir was 12-8 this season with a 3.49 ERAand 166 k's in 150 IP.  He's 47-37, lifetime, for a TAMPA RAYS, and has pitched a hell of a lot more games than Shields.  Lifetime 3.61 ERA.  He pitched the 50 something win season of '04 and those equally awful '05, '06 and '07 seasons.  And has great numbers.

And yet, if you listen to TBS...he's nothing more than a decent #3?  Garza gets more love for God's sake.  If the half hour delay wasn't enough for you...TBS's announcers should make you never want MLB to award playoff baseball to them again.

Shields = good pitcher.  Kazmir = GREAT pitcher.

Tired of this "Big Game" Shields non-sense.  You need to earn that.

You mean like how Boston stopped the bleeding after game 4?


And again...I saw similar expressions on Boston players after they lost their second straight home game in this series.

It's a one game series now, and Tampa will either stop the bleeding, or bleed out. Boston will either complete a straight-up amazing series comeback, or they'll be the team that fell just short of a great comeback. I'm shaking up my magic baseball 8-ball and asking which will happen. The message that is floating to the window is...

"Check back around 10 PM"

Hey, all anti-Tampa people....its the RAYS not the Devill Rays...say it with me now...RAYS

having said that...I'm really nervous about tonight...LETS GO RAYS!!!!!!!

Tenshot, they changed the name this year - they were the Devil Rays for 10 years, it takes time to adjust dropping the Devil from the team

Good luck breaking people of the habit of calling them Devil Rays.  You got a better chance of getting me to stop calling the football team in Miami the FISH. 

Well seeing as the Rays are in the same division as Boston, and they play each other twenty-something times (I'm sure Maine will correct me) I would think that Boston fan was intelligent enough to know what the name of the team is.  I must be giving Boston too much credit.

Lets go sox lets send the Devil Rays packing!!!!

Nice fucking way to start off the game Pedora!!

Rays are in a real tough spot now against the Boston Americans errr....  Red Sox. Ya fucked up Tampa! Get on the ball damnit, LAST CHANCE!!!!

^^^^ If you want to call them the Boston Americans to get back at us for calling your team the Devil Rays, go for it, it won't offend me.

Why did the team change its name, anyway?

All about the pitchers tonight.  2 3 combinded hits total. Game tied up 1- 1

Come on Rays!!!!!!  ;D

I love it when a 60 win team masks itself as a 97 win team!

Because apparently "Devil rays" is offensive

Well, Lester is coming undone here in the 5th

Shit Devil Rays up 2 - 1

Word to your Baldelli, son..........

Top of the lineup coming up, at least that's something

Sox offence needs to step up and start hitting!! Only down 1 run but they only have 1 hit in the game.

What a great at-bat from Dustin

Scratch that.... I hear the fat lady warming up.....

WTF!!!  ORTIZ

Garza is over 100 pitches hopefully he gets pulled soon but the way he is throwing he will probably stay in at least till 120 - 130 pitch count

We have 9 outs to score some runs if the sox can pull their heads out there ass and start hitting the ball.

Now it's time to see what the 3 headed monster Rays bullpen is made of. They completely imploded in Game 5 and singlehandedly caused the Rays to lose that game. Garza will be done after the 7th, if not during the 7th. It will be up to them to hold the lead or keep the Rays in it. Let's see if they have what it takes mentally to recover.

Lets hope we see the implode!  Man on Bay up at bat who has looked like shit tonight at the plate!

Ok 2 men on 2 out we need to score here!!!! Lets go V-Tek!!!  I say he pops up or strikes out!

You got the K right... I don't know, think Tito should have PH for tek there

6 outs to score a run!  I dont know, not feeling it tonight.  They are getting fooled at the plate tonight!

Game fucking over!   Fuck

This is ridiculous drama. Times like these make me happy the Yankees haven't shown up for October in years, no need to stress out so much.

I hate the Devil Rays

Wow, Crisp would've been safe if he had gone for the bag instead of the fielder. Then it would've been bases loaded and 1 out. That was massive.

That wasn't a 3rd strike on Drew that was a ball oh well.

Ech, can't win them all right.

I agree, that was way outside, but the ump called him out on the checked swing. The replay shows he did go around.

Better luck next year Sox!!  I didnt think you guys would get past the Angels but you guys pulled off an upset to bad you guys couldn't do it again.
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Well Boston fans look at the bright side, 9 more days till the Celtics start!!  Lets go Celtics!

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Congrats to the Rays.

To the Sox, thanks for another great season boys. See you in February

To the Devil Rays I hope you get swept by the Phillies!!

RAYS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!

To Maine and other intelligent Boston fans:

Great game...was holding my breath the entire time...Sox are a hell of a team

To Pats2006 and the other doubters:

HOW BOUT THEM APPLES?!?!?!  IT'S OVAHHHHHHH!!!!!

please keep calling them the Devil Rays...it seems to be a good luck charm  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

David Price is my hero

Congratulations to the Red Sox fans for a great season,and congratulations to all the Rays fans..and making it to the World Series...

FRICKIN' SWEET!!!  Good job TB.

GO PHILLIES!!!!   ;D

Helluva game pitched by Matt Garza...again. What a spot to put David Price into as well, and what a nice way for the kid to respond.

Tip o' the cap to Boston for giving Tampa Bay all they could handle. With the young talent in place, I'd be shocked if Boston isn't right back in the playoffs again next season.

I thought the Sox played a decent game. I was happy to see Joe Maddon wake up and start putting lefties against lefties and vice versa.

What can I say? I'm happy about this, as I thought the Rays deserved it more. That, and the fact that I used to watch BJ Upton drop routine pop flies when he was a Charleston Riverdog, and seeing his maturation is a real treat. 

Anyone else think Bud Selig was praying for the Red Sox to mount a comeback? After that blown call on the check swing, I began to wonder if he'd sent out a few text-messages to the umpires mid-inning.

Honestly, the Sox were really hurt by injuries, a disgustingly bad bottom of the order and Terry Francona's insistence on sticking with it.

Mark Kotsay had 40 at bats in the postseason. He did not have one RBI. Stranded 20 baserunners. Jason Varitek was almost as bad. With a bunch of tight games, you gotta believe had they had even league average players they would be going to the world series right now.

I am glad they are gone, but I can't pretend like this was a massacre or that they were outmatched.

I hate the stinkin BoSox.  Glad they're going home.  For all I care, they can head down to Mexico, kill their livers with cheap tequilla and sleep with underage midget whores.  I'm sure Stroke would like the last part.

Looks like it's happened, and the "curse" has been fulfilled. 

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