Oct 01
[Update: 7:05pm] The White Sox have set their rotation. After game 1 starter Javier Vazquez, the Sox will go with Mark Buehrle in game 2, John Danks in game 3 and Gavin Floyd in game 4, if necessary. Also, Carlos Quentin has been left off the White Sox roster.
[Update: 5:47pm] Marc Topkin has the Rays roster for the ALDS. No surprises. With no Percival and only 10 pitchers, both Fernando Perez and Eric Hinske are in, as is David Price.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Troy Percival is telling the press that he thinks he is not on the roster for the ALDS…This likely means that David Price is in and that both Fernando Perez and Eric Hinske will be on the bench. [Rays Report]
- Joe Maddon is just about set with the game 1 lineup. The only question is whether Carl Crawford will bat 5th or 6th. [MLB]
- The New York Roadkill’s writer over at Bugs and Cranks would rather see the Red Sox win the World Series than the Rays…Based on how well things are going for the Yankees these days, that should be enough to guarantee a world championship for the Rays. [Bugs and Cranks]
I absolutely can’t stomach the thought of a Rays World Series title. To some that sounds like a nice story — perennial floormat turned champion. Not me. The thought of having to put up with the pompous gloating of the Rays and their 12 fans if they do happen to win makes me ill. So, they top this list.
- We all know that a batter can win a free steak if they hit the Bull at Burham Bulls Athletic Park (or a salad if they hit the grass), but did you know that a player won $25 if they hit the bull back in 1910 and that the original bull was a tobacco advertisement? [UNIWATCH]
- Buster Olney lists Edwin Jackson as one of several young pitchers that could be available this off-season…Last month we mentioned that the Rays will almost certainly trade either Andy Sonnanstine or Jackson this winter. [ESPN]
- The Brewers “Ain’t S#!t” compared to the Rays. [Bugs and Cranks]
- Walkoff Walk has up a Tampa Bay Rays playoff preview. [Walkoff Walk]
- 19 ESPN “experts”, and only 1 picked the Rays to win the World Series. [ESPN]
Oct 01
Click on the above image for a larger version.
Back in April we were messing around on another website and created the above mashup. The banner represents all the current and former professional franchises that play or played under the “Tampa Bay” banner [Ed. note: Almost all, we don't acknowledge the Mutiny], and the championships won by those franchises (see original post for explanations of the various features).
Little did we know that six months later the Tampa Bay Rays would have a shot to add the 9th skull and crossbones to the banner built on the blood of the Red Sox and Yankees.
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go…I wanna be sedated
Oct 01
THE GOOD: The White Sox this season are 5-17 in dome games, batting .233/.295/.369 in those games.
THE BAD: Having to wait until Thursday for game 1. The Rays have a strong pitching matchup in Game 1, but if that game was this afternoon, it would be a near-guaranteed win.
THE TELLING: The Rays could get lucky with the weather in games 3 and 4 (if necessary) in Chicago. Game time temps should be in the mid-60′s or even low 70s depending on start times. Certainly weather in Chicago this time of year could be much worse…According to CoolStandings.com the Rays have a 59.9% chance of winning the ALDS.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- In case you missed it yesterday afternoon, we ran a bunch of “Webtopia” links in the evening “Happy Hour” feature. [Rays Index]
- For those that have been asking, we will bring you a Rays Index Live Blog-A-Baloo tomorrow afternoon for Game 1 of the ALDS
- The Rays still haven’t announced the rest of their postseason roster. [Tampa Tribune]
- My Fox Tampa Bay has more images of the postseason banners that went up at the Trop yesterday (thanks Rumpy). [My Fox Tampa Bay]
- Ken Rosenthal says there is no reason to start doubting the Rays, noting that the Rays offense may be peaking at the right time. He predicts Rays in 4. [Fox Sports]
- Tim Kurkjian takes a look at several questions heading into the ALDS and predicts the Rays to win in 5. [ESPN]
- Marc Topkin looks at 10 moves that turned around the Rays season. [St. Pete Times]
- Not content with just one list, Marc Topkin brings us the top 10 wins. [St. Pete Times]
- Home Run Derby says the White Sox MVP this season was the coin that won them home field advantage in the one-game playoff.
- The Phillies “Ain’t S#!t” compared to the Rays. [Bugs and Cranks]
- A Chicago sports blog breaks down the White Sox and Rays position-by-position and predicts a White Sox win in 4 games. [Top Ten Chicago Sports]
- Steven Girardi takes a look at the delicate balance between the search for civic pride in St. Pete for those that are offended by references to Tampa and the “Tampa Rays” and the need for the team to incorporate a more regional identity. [The Suncoast News]
- Of course, even though we grew up in Tampa, the headline “On To Tampa” even annoys us. It just reeks of ignorance. [The Heater]
- Joe Henderson says Cliff Floyd’s experience will be invaluable. [Tampa Tribune]
