Rays win wild game two 9-8 in 11 crazy innings to tie their ALCS with Boston 1-1

SCOTT JACOBS

Fans were sleeping. Heads were slouched, yawns aplenty. On the surface, this didn’t look like the closing moments of a crucial game two. It looked more like the 2008 All Star Game, that kept going and going… and going. And what a marathon this game two was.

It took five hours and twenty seven minutes to finish this dandy. And when it was over, after pinch runner Fernando Perez slid safely into home on a shallow right field popup in the bottom of the eleventh with the bases loaded and an 0-2 count on B.J. Upton the Rays found themselves back in this thing. After the 400 plus pitches were thrown, the Rays found this roller-coaster ride of a season alive and thrillingly well. 1-1 going back to Boston. It’s a split Tampa Bay will gladly take.

So, instead of staring at a devastating 2-0 series deficit and the prospects of losing the first two at home, heading back to Boston for three, the Rays had to win this game. Nine runs later they did.

This one had it all. Seven home runs tied a post-season record. And that was with Scott Kazmir and Josh Beckett pitching. Twenty four hits. A brilliant three and a third scoreless relief appearance from the Rays Dan Wheeler. And lest we forget the rookie David Price stepping in during the 11th inning with one out and one on, and getting out of the inning unscathed.

The Red Sox weren’t as fortunate. Mike Timlin who had last pitched September 28th took the loss in his 45th post-season appearance. Maybe he just wanted some sleep! It was 1:35 a.m. when the Rays got the game winning run home.

David Ortiz has really struggled in this post-season without Manny Ramirez. Ortiz is just 4-23 in these 2008 playoffs.

It looked like the Rays had control in the 8th inning leading 8-7, but a wild pitch allowed Dustin Pedroia to score. And on and on we went into the wee hours of the night and into the morning.

Rays 9 Red Sox 8.

We’ve got a series folks.

This one’s got a long way to go.

SCOTT JACOBS

Hey guys! Welcome back to the program. Consider our two day hiatus away from your computer a re-examination, to make sure we were seeing things correctly. We had to get our contact prescription corrected so we could re-read the NFL standings. And we needed new glasses so we could make sure we read right that Tampa Bay is hosting the ALCS. And can the NFC West really be that bad? Well, actually that one’s kind of easy: yes.

So before you jump over a car, stick around as we make our way through the sports world seemingly with our beer googles on. It’s the only way to make sense of the madness.

Titantic shocker
So the Tennessee Titans are now 5-0 after coming back in Crabcake nation to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 13-10. The Titans being 5-0 is a surprise. A huge one infact, but it’s not the team that has us even more amazed. It’s 12,345 year old Kerry Collins, who has come out of nowhere to manage this team to a perfect record. Vince Young is no longer the golden boy, in fact, he’s now the problem child, and Tennessee’s number three draft choice from the 2005 draft looks like a bigger bust every day. So, when Tennessee made him the franchise quarterback, they hardly expected an old, ‘washed up’ quarterback to take his place, and lead the team to the best start in franchise history. Okay, so he hasn’t really led them persay, but he’s done everything to get out of that ferocious defense’s way.

Collins has done nothing mind-blowing. In fact he isn’t doing anythig even good. His completion percentage is 27th in the league. When it comes to yards per game, Collins is 28th! So what’s been working? How about an offensive line that has given up just one sack since Collins has taken the field. It’s tops in the league.

The Titans may have beaten the Ravens on Sunday, but they sure looked like the 2000 Ravens on Sunday. That Ravens team, by some considered to be the greatest defense ever, was one of the most dominant units to ever take the field, but its hard to overlook what Tennessee’s relentless D is doing to opposing teams in 08. Okay, so it’s only a sample size (a mere five games) but the Titans are allowing just 11.2 points a game. They’re giving up just 4.2 yards a play, which is good for fourth best in the NFL. Tennessee is fifth in yards allowed.

That team is really good folks. I mean, that defense is really good. But the Titans are doing exactly enough to get the job done week in and week out. And unlike college football, where there are no polls, the Titans are winning, margin of victory be damned.

LCS Coverage from coast to uh, coast
We’ve got you covered with viewpoints from all four cities competing for a chance to win a World Series.

Starting in Tampa Bay, where the Rays expect another dramatic set of games, similar to the ones the two teams played in the regular season, in which the Rays won the season series 10 games to 8. And in case you were wondering, those days of free tickets in Tampa Bay are long over.

We take our act to Boston, where the Red Sox are the new Yankees. People just expect Boston to win now. That’s funny, before 2004, they were dying for a ring. Now, they expect one (every year).

In Los Angeles thank Don Mattingly for the Dodgers resurgence. Well, that Manny fellow is pretty good too.

In the City of Brotherly Love, they’re shifting gears and showing some love to (not Santa silly) Mets management. Without them, none of this could be possible.

Giant Start
The Giants look like the best team in the league right now, and if the playoffs started today, they’d be the favorites to win them all. Wait a minute, the defending champs, looking better then the defending champs? Does that happen? Well, not really, but then again, it’s not often a 10-6 team beats a 16-0 team to win the Super Bowl. So maybe if the Giants go undefeated they’ll get the respect they fell they deserve. Or maybe not.

Arizona and the Woeful west
Finally, we shift our attention to the NFC West where the erratic 3-2 Cardinals lead.

Arizona is the only team with a winning record in the west, and it’s their division to win. Seriously, do you want it? You want it? No. Take it Arizona. And if they beat Dallas (odds are better that one of the presidential candidates will say “that one”) then they should just be handed the crown. But seriously, what is up with Arizona and the west. The NL West was awful, and now the NFC West is following in its undesirable footsteps. Look people, throw us a freaking bone here. Everybody’s looking. Please, you’re embarrassing us.

LA-Philly should be a fun series, but the proof is in the pudding that Red Sox-Rays should be an instant classic

SCOTT JACOBS

The ALCS is set! Boston-Tampa Bay. It should be one heck of a brawl. The two AL East rivals, who finished one and 32 last year respectively, are playing for a trip to the World Series. It’s an unbelievable contrast in what should be an unforgettable series. How fitting that the Rays, playing in their first ALCS, will have to dethrone the world champion and their bitter rival Boston to make the Fall Classic. And how fitting that the Red Sox will have to get through the upstart Rays, who will be the home team in this series, to defend their world championship. O boy this one should be fun. On Friday they quick start this baby at 8pm on TBS, and it should be a dandy.

The Red Sox are back in the ALCS for the fourth time since 2003. But this one was really tough. They fought off a game Angels team to claw their way to a series win, and a berth in an ALCS that few wrote them off after the much disputed Manny Ramirez trade.

How fitting that Jason Bay, the man Boston got back to take Manny’s place, scored the winning run. How fitting that the Angels could have taken the lead in the top half of the 9th but failed on a squeeze bunt and the runner on third got thrown out. It was afterall the Angels undoing, and the ultimate reason that the best team in baseball in 2008 is no longer in contention for a championship.

So it’s Red Sox-Rays from St. Pete. C’mon, should it really have been any other way? An all AL East clash for a trip to the World Series. And because the AL won that marathon of an All Star game, the team that wins this series will host the World Series. It will either be Boston, looking to go back to back, or Tampa Bay, hosting their first World Series.

And as I wrote earlier, no Florida team has ever lost a post-season series. Hmm… are you ready? Because I can’t wait!

And TV execs have to be jumping up and down. Yes, they lost the Cubs, but the Dodgers and Phillies will both draw huge, and the Red Sox are a ratings machine. Could you imagine a Dodgers-Red Sox Fall Classic? Doesn’t seem so far fetched now does it? Then again, it no longer seems to crazy that the Rays are four wins away from the World Series.

Wow. Just wow.

SCOTT JACOBS

Goodbye laughingstock, hello final four.

If there was ever a doubt that the Tampa Bay Rays were for real, even as we entered the post-season, those doubts have been put to bed. If there was ever a wonder if these baby Rays could hang with the big dogs, those questions were put to rest. If anyone thought this team was a mirage, guess what? They’re still here. The Tampa Bay Rays once upon a time were the team that could only dream of playing post-season baseball. Now, they’re one Red Sox win away from hosting the ALCS.

After an impressive, scrappy series win over the home run happy White Sox, the Rays proved once and for all that they’re for real. And they’ve got another huge thing going for them. They’re from Florida. Once just a crazy efficient stat, there’s now something to this whole Florida teams in the playoffs thing.

Seven for seven.

Florida teams don’t lose in the post-season.

The Marlins christened both of their trips to the postseason with World Series titles, and the Rays look like they may be on their way to keeping that crazy string of Sunshine State success going.

Something in the water or something. Kind of astonishing if you think about it. No state, no pair of franchises has been more successful percentage wise in winning post-season series. Okay, so the Rays are still drinking from the sipee cup considering this is their first go around, but whatever they’re feeding those guys keep it up.

O and there’s this: maybe the Rays are just really good, and that their 97 wins were the true story. They survived a tough AL East to secure the second best record in the AL, and now their young guns are psyching themselves up for the ALCS. 9=’d 8, but today, 9=4, and maybe, just maybe, it equals 1.

Windy Worst Nightmare

And just like that Chicago is wiped right out of the playoffs. The Cubs bowed out quietly to the Dodgers on Saturday in their second consecutive sweep to the NL West winner. The White Sox at least got a win before being punched out by Tampa today. And just like that the dream is dead. South Side. North Side. How about no side? With both teams already out there will be no Chicago party this year. There is however still the possibility of an LA-LAA Fall Classic. When Juiced Sports went to press the Angels had just started game four of their series with the Red Sox.

How about a Dodgers-Phillies NLCS? Well, we’ve got it. The Dodgers hadn’t won a post-season series since 1988, and the Phillies hadn’t done anything in October since 1993, so the NLCS presents a matchup of two playoff success starved teams and it should be a good one. As you may know Philly’s sports teams haven’t won a championship (sorry Arena League doesn’t count) since 1983, a curse commonly known around the city of Brotherly Love as the Curse of William Penn. They haven’t been to the Fall Classic since Joe Carter belted them right into elimination and history in 1993. The Dodgers haven’t been to the Fall Classic in 20 years. Someone’s going to get back there in 2008.

And a Rays-Red Sox ALCS would be bon apetit. It’s about time the Yanks-Sox rivalry takes a back seat. What better matchup then the new rivalry growing between the Sox and Rays. And just sort of a funny fact: if the Red Sox advance to the ALCS, the Rays will have to beat both Sox to make it to the World Series.

Sock it to ‘em Tampa Bay! Beat Sox=Fall Classic? Could be a catchy t-shirt Joe Maddon.

Maybe it’s covers like this:

If the Cubs can’t win once in 100 years, why does SI always pick them to win it, and why do they have queer SI covers made of them every year with Japanese writing saying that they are going to win it?

We know they are never going to win it again, but the mainstream media always tells us they will, and the rest of this post is a compilation of media love given to the Cubs that the Cubs never returned:

Take a good look, Cubs fans. Because it’s going to be your last. (Until next spring’s SI baseball preview, that is.)

Around the Blogosphere
Wide Receivers by Species
Raiders Demise is Madden-ing
2008 Sports Blogscars
NFL Players as South Park Characters
Kickboxing in the 30’s: Popular, Manly?
Interview With Yankees PR Guy on Working in Sports

SCOTT JACOBS 

The Rays start their series with the White Sox today, marking the first playoff series ever in the team’s short, albeit mostly pathetic history.  But hey: ditch the Devil, get the rookie, save the cheerleader… o wait, no that’s not what I was meaning to get at.  Ya know what, let’s just move onto the interview.

Read the July 3rd interview here.

Juiced Sports: Tampa Bay Rays: AL East Champions.  Has it sunk in yet that the team that couldn’t get out of its own way for a decade just won the most prolific division in baseball?

R.J. Anderson: Not yet. From previous championship experiences in this town I never really grasp the whole “Oh wow we’re league champs” concept until, um, we’re not league champs anymore.

JSB: What was it like as a Rays blogger, to watch the tight White Sox-Twins game yesterday, knowing that Tampa Bay was resting comfortably at home, awaiting the winner?

RJ: As a fan I just wanted a good game, as a writer who had a preview do, I wanted someone to take a lead.

JSB: Rays fans have waited 10 years for this, and now it’s here.  What’s the atmosphere in the Tampa area right now?  Is it all Rays all the time?

RJ: You see more gear than ever. I never knew my neighbors were Rays fans until yesterday.

JSB: How does this Rays team match-up with the South Siders?  Would they have been better off getting the Twins?

RJ: I think the White Sox are slightly better than the Twins, but not enough to change my outlook. The Rays have the better defense, nearly equal pitching staffs, and a slightly worse offense.

JSB: What is the key to this series for the Rays? Is their inexperience a blessing or a curse?

RJ: Three keys: limiting homeruns, taking advantage of the White Sox free-swingers, and playing matchups; bringing in David Price or J.P. Howell to face Jim Thome instead of Dan Wheeler for instance. I don’t really buy into the experience talk. Just because you’ve been there doesn’t mean you will or have succeeded.

JSB: The Cubs have waited 99 years and counting for a championship, Rays fans are at year 10.  Is there a legitimate hunger for a championship or are people just happy that the Rays are here?

RJ: You aren’t a baseball fan if you don’t have a hunger for the World Series title. Being happy about the accomplishments and being hungry aren’t exclusives.

JSB: How big of a home-field advantage will the Trop offer Tampa Bay in their first playoff series?

RJ: Probably as big as you can get. The roof will be rocking.

JSB: When the Rays draw 30,000 or more they win, and they win some more.  You guys are going to sell out the place right?

RJ: Oh come on, of course the games are sold out and were pretty quickly.

I don’t really buy into the experience talk. Just because you’ve been there doesn’t mean you will or have succeeded.

JSB: Is there a sense that this is a team of destiny?  Or is it more a wait and see approach?

RJ: It’s a team of now. If they do the unthinkable I’m sure all the devil jokes will reappear.

JSB: Can this Rays team win the American League? 

RJ: Yes.

JSB: Will they?

RJ: Yes.

JSB: I wrote today that Scott Kazmir and James Shields will be the best 1-2 punch in this post-season.  Are they good enough to lead the Rays to a world championship?

RJ: Certainly, although I’m not sure they’re the best duo in the league this season.

JSB: What kind of effect will Carl Crawford have on this series?  Is his status doom or boom for the Rays, or is he just another piece for this balanced Rays team?

His defensive value cannot be understated. Offensively he’s been weaker than normal, but anytime you can re-add the best defensive Left Fielder in the game it’s usually not a bad thing.

JSB: Joe Maddon is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.  Nervous?

RJ: No way. Joe Maddon is too zen for jinxes or curses.

JSB: Tampa Bay is in the playoffs.  The Yankees are not.  For years the Yanks were the only show in Tampa (they play their Spring training there).  Is this officially a Tampa Bay Rays town?

RJ: I think it’s close to becoming that. Amazing how many people “lost” their Yankees gear after one down season.

JSB: Okay, fill in the blank.  When it’s all said and done the Rays will have ____________?

RJ: 108 wins total.

SCOTT JACOBS

Talk about double your pleasure, double your fun. This year’s playoff field is just oozing with twins. No, not those Twins, they got kicked out in a phenomenal one game playoff for the AL Central. But as far as pairs go, well, we got you covered. We’ve got Los Angeles, and Los Angeles (Angels of Anaheim). We’ve got Chicago and we’ve got Chicago. We’ve got teams that have never won anything (Rays, Brewers). We’ve got teams that don’t win/haven’t won in a really long time (Phillies, Cubs). We’ve got the 2002 champion, the 2004 champion, the 2005 champion, and the 2007 champion (Angels, Red Sox, White Sox). We’ve got TBS and we’ve got FOX. Are you ready for the playoffs? Are you ready for our picks? Cause here they come!

NLDS

Phillies over Brewers in four
C.C. Sabathia will win a game for the Brew Crew, but it won’t be good enough to get the long suffering franchise to the second round. The Phils gained valuable (albeir brief) post-season experience last year when they got swept by Colorado, but the key here is pitching. The Phillies have it. The Brewers… had it before Ben Sheets was lost for the year. And when you get down to the bullpen is their anyone more efficient than Astros castoff Brad Lidge? He didn’t blow a save in 41 chances this year! With no championships in 25 years Phillies fans will be thinking big as the fighting Liberty Bells advance.

Cubs over Dodgers in five
Here’s the thing: everything is set up for the Cubs to fail. They had such a dominant season, this is the 100th year since they won it all, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon saying this is the year. The pressure is unbelievable for this year’s Cubs, who were swept right out of October by those pesky Arizona Dimaondbacks last year. Last year the Snakes won with very good pitching, scrappy hitting, and a dominant closer. This year the Cubs get LA, a team with good pitching, scrappy hitting, and Manny Ramirez. It’ll be different in 2008 as the Cubs expose the weak Dodgers lineup in a big way. LA will steal a couple games to make it interesting, but Chicago prevails.

ALDS

Angels over Red Sox in four
You know how they say you have to beat your rival to get over the hump? Well, the Red Sox are Los Angeles’ hump. Get over the Red Sox and the Halos have as good a shot as anyone to win it all. But can they do it? The Angels brought in soon to be very rich Mark Texieria to seal the deal. K-Rod broke the saves record by a land slide so they got the closer thing covered. Top to bottom the Angels are solid at every position. And the Red Sox are dealing with some tough injuries. Namely Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett. Jason Bay, welcome to the show. Now be Manny! No? We’ll take the Angels to get over the hump.

Rays over White Sox in three
Welcome to October Tampa Bay! Hopefully you canceled those European travel plans made back in Spring Training, because this time you’re in the show. You did it. Now, ten years behind you, and the “Devil” moniker gone, its onto Fall baseball. First up, the Pale Hose, who haven’t stopped playing even though the season ended Sunday. After beating the Royals the Chi Sox got a grand slam to overcome Detroit, and a Jim Thome home run to eclipse the Twins. The thinking here: they have to be worn out. They’ve been on such a high/low rollercoaster over the last week that it’s only logical to assume they’re going to run out of gas. And who better to pick to sweep then the Rays, who are young, hungry, never been here before, and ready to roll. The White Sox are a good team, but the Rays are better. And they’re well rested. That’s the difference. That and their awesome pitching.

NLCS

Cubs over Phillies in seven
No eighth inning meltdown, no three games to one breakdown. None of that for this year’s Cubs, who will overpower the Phillies in an exciting game seven to advance to their first World Series since 1945. I repeat, 1945! As for the Phillies? Well, strikeouts and a blown save by Brad Lidge will be their undoing, and the Curse of William Penn will live on for another year.

ALCS

Rays over Angels in six
This is strictly a gut pick. Why the Rays? Well, no one’s picking them. No one thinks the small market, small name Rays can compete with the Bostons’ and Los Angeles’ of the world. Well, this just in: they can- and they will. Tampa Bay will beat the big money, superstar loaded Angels with timely hits and a dominant display from Scott Kazmir and James Shields, who will surprise a lot of people as the most dominant starting tandem in this year’s post-season.

World Series

Cubs over Rays in four
Hell freezes over. Cubs win, Cubs win. In 2004 Red Sox-esque form, the Cubs overcome their toughest obstacle in the NLCS, before breezing to a long anticipated championship.

Non-Disney-eque prediction:

Angels over Phillies in five
(But what fun is that?)