sweet

i dont' have a favorite team
but i do have a least favorite team

go tampa bay!

"I teenk they do a good yob."

--Big Sloppi

I think this is the first World Series since 1995 that I wished both teams could win the Series. While it probably won't draw the ratings like the Red Sox, Dodgers or a Chicago team might have, as a baseball fan I think it is a great match up. Both teams have great stories. Tampa, the Cinderella story who's never been to the playoffs before. Just to get there they had to overcome about a 350 Million payroll deficit between themselves and the Yanks/Sox.

Phillie, one World Championship in their very long history. They, like Tampa developed a lot of their own players. And if you aren't already a Rays team, how can root against Jamie Moyer who is making his first World Series appearance after a 22 year career in the Majors.

Take THAT, Boston!

Ditto on what Kliff said.

Hard to believe Tampa reached the World Series. I thought that like my Texas Rangers, they were in the group of teams that would never reach it.

Back when the Rays sucked, they were the unofficial baseball team of the Drudge Retort. Members here with dumps would lose one each time they won. I think that will go down as the worst idea I've ever had running this site.

Back when the Rays sucked, they were the unofficial baseball team of the Drudge Retort. Members here with dumps would lose one each time they won. I think that will go down as the worst idea I've ever had running this site.

#5 | Posted by rcade

Was it that the dumped post would be de-dumped or that it would be removed from the posters record?

What a bummer. I was really hoping to see a Phillies & Boston World Series. There's nothing memorable about kicking the ass of a team from Tampa Bay. Go Phillies.

Go Rays, dammit! So much talent on that team, from their own system. Nobody does it that way anymore, which is why it's freakin sweet. They were kinda dicks to Longoria not letting him play at the beginning of the season, but it was a savvy move to save money (though if I were Longoria, I'd send my agent in for renegotiation).

Go Rays!

"Go Rays, dammit! So much talent on that team, from their own system. Nobody does it that way anymore, which is why it's freakin sweet."

They have 3 starting position players and 2 starting pitchers that came up throught their system. That's probably more than alot of teams but they are hardly fielding a homegrown team. The Yankees of the late 90's were paid alot more but just as much talent came up through their own system.

I'm happy that they beat the Red Sox but as much as I hate it, I may have to root for Philly. Philly fans may be jerks but at least they exist. Tampa was in first place all year and didn't sell out once before the playoffs.

Thank god. 4 nights (nights 5,6, and 7 if necessary) of my life back.

Was that you in the Obama shirt behind the plate RCADE?

Sully, I must've spliced the Marlins with the Rays in my head, haven't had my coffee yet, whoops. Let's see: Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Aki Iwamura, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton (disappointment this year, though he was nursing an injury the entire time), that's a few from their system right there, and they all are decent or better. Longoria's going to hit some jacks in the Series. 2 jacks, I say.

The Phils aren't a buncha assholes, though, and they have old-as-hell Jamie Moyer starting for them.

Go Rays!

Scrump - I wasn't counting Baldelli as he isn't a regular. And Iwamura was a longtime pro in Japan who signed as a free agent. So I was saying the three regulars they brought up through their system are Upton, Crawford and Longoria. Upton and Crawford both had down years but that doesn't matter at all at this point. They are still dangerous players.

Something everybody can agree on. The Rays are amazing!!!!!!!!

As a BOSOX fan, I can honestly say that I thought the Rays were overall the better team all along, and I hope they kick Philly's ass. Besides, I need the sleep...

"As a BOSOX fan, I can honestly say that I thought the Rays were overall the better team all along, and I hope they kick Philly's ass. Besides, I need the sleep..."

#15 | Posted by NappyHeadedHo

I saw Redsox fans who were applauding after the game. I'm not sure if they were clapping for the Rays or the Sox or just for a great series but like you, NappyHead they appear to have a lot of class.

Congrats to the Rays and their "legion" of 40k fans worldwide. Next year the AL East will be very interesting.

Someone said RCADE banned Ray.

"Congrats to the Rays and their "legion" of 40k fans worldwide. Next year the AL East will be very interesting."

#17 | Posted by Redsoxfan

Why? Are the Redsox going to another division because the competition is too much for them?

ALL RIGHT

NO YANKEES AND NO RED SOX

CANT WAIT

Why? Are the Redsox going to another division because the competition is too much for them?

#19 | Posted by FreddyK at 2008-10-20 02:50 PM

No, it's because the Sux are the Rays' bitch now.

I think this is the first World Series since 1995 that I wished both teams could win the Series. -- #3 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce

Yeah, I'm with you there. Tampa Bay is a good organization, and Phillies fans have suffered too long.

Well I can't believe it but today I had a guy come in my store and say that Tampa Bay was blessed because they dropped the "DEVIL" in Devil Rays!!

I guess I should not be amazed. Big population of nuts.

I know nothing about Baseball.

At lunch just for fun I bet $100.00 on Tampa.

someone tell me I have a chance.

What are the odds or is that still being figured?

Oh well, it is only money

Congrats to the Rays but I wouldn't trade 10 years of sucking for one pennant. Wait till next year (Go Cardinals).

As a lifelong Red Sox fan I'm disappointed but I'm also relieved that those damn Yankees won't be there either.

Why? Are the Redsox going to another division because the competition is too much for them?

#19 | Posted by FreddyK at 2008-10-20 02:50 PM

No, it's because the Sux are the Rays' bitch now.

#21 | Posted by hillbillydeluxe at 2008-10-20 04:37 PM

Sure Hillbilly. And I bet you believe in Unicorns and Pink Elephants. BTW- The Rays play on Wednesday against the Phillies in case you're confused.

"Congrats to the Rays and their "legion" of 40k fans worldwide. Next year the AL East will be very interesting."

#17 | Posted by Redsoxfan

Why? Are the Redsox going to another division because the competition is too much for them?

#19 | Posted by FreddyK

FreddyK- I have more memories from the Redsox winning in 2004 than you'll ever have as a bandwagon Rays fan. Basically no different than the "support" the other Florida team has gotten since winning 2 W.S.

Phils in 5.

FreddyK- I have more memories from the Redsox winning in 2004 than you'll ever have as a bandwagon Rays fan. Basically no different than the "support" the other Florida team has gotten since winning 2 W.S.

It is not the fault of baseball fans in Florida that they don't support the Marlins despite their 2 WS wins. They did firesales after each one selling off the key members of the team. Imagine the Red Sox winning the WS and getting rid of Beckett, Varitek, Ortiz and Ramirez. Would Sox fans be happy?

Also, the Rays have had one good season in 10 years. You have to do something at sometime to get fans to love you and be loyal. This is the first time that has happened. If next year, they have low fan attendance, then we have a problem.

It is not the fault of baseball fans in Florida that they don't support the Marlins despite their 2 WS wins. They did firesales after each one selling off the key members of the team. Imagine the Red Sox winning the WS and getting rid of Beckett, Varitek, Ortiz and Ramirez. Would Sox fans be happy?

Also, the Rays have had one good season in 10 years. You have to do something at sometime to get fans to love you and be loyal. This is the first time that has happened. If next year, they have low fan attendance, then we have a problem.

#30 | Posted by bperk at 2008-10-20 11:08 PM

Well, to counter that, look at the Minnesota Twins. The cheapest owner in MLB history (Billionaire Polhad)and the Twins are still competitive and their fan base is awesome. The fans of Florida should either go out to support the local team anyway or not go at all. I agree tho that the owners should field a competitive team and they could achieve that by building from the bottom up rather than free agents (a la TB Rays) Don't forget Boston had a stretch of crappy teams in the 80's and 90's, but always drew sold out games. TB's attendance should see a strong uptick next year, but they better field a winning team every year just to hold the interest of the Floridian fans because to me it's still lukewarm at best.

Well, to counter that, look at the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins have been in Minnesota since 1961, and they had immediate success throughout the 60s. The key to building a fan base is to have some success. Once you draw fans in and kids start loving the team, you have developed lifelong fans. The Marlins and Rays don't have that luxury given how long they have been teams. Florida has tons of baseball fans. Spring training is huge, and many people have chosen their favorite teams based on who they watched at spring training growing up. The Rays can follow the Twins model, but it takes time. DC is going to have the same problems. You can't develop a big fan base by fielding the worst team in baseball.

"FreddyK- I have more memories from the Redsox winning in 2004 than you'll ever have as a bandwagon Rays fan. Basically no different than the "support" the other Florida team has gotten since winning 2 W.S."

#28 | Posted by Redsoxfan

Yes I'm sure you remember that the pinksox have a reputation for making some of the worst trades in the history of baseball. BTW, My family was at the first Rays game and gone to multiple games every year since they started, hardly bandwagon fans.

"It is not the fault of baseball fans in Florida that they don't support the Marlins despite their 2 WS wins. They did firesales after each one selling off the key members of the team."

What do you expect a team to do when they win the World Series with a relatively low payroll and still can't turn a profit? They didn't even sell out all their games during that 2nd World Series.

You're acting like the fans didn't support the Marlins DURING the championship runs for stuff that happened AFTER those runs. That isn't possible. The firesales were harsh but appropriate given the shitty fan base.

I hope alot of people show up to Tampa games next season but if this worst to first turnaround doesn't help the team in attendance then they should be disbanded right along with the Marlins. Having teams in the league that nobody cares about hurts the game and waters down the talent pool.

"FreddyK- I have more memories from the Redsox winning in 2004 than you'll ever have as a bandwagon Rays fan. Basically no different than the "support" the other Florida team has gotten since winning 2 W.S."

#28 | Posted by Redsoxfan

Yes I'm sure you remember that the pinksox have a reputation for making some of the worst trades in the history of baseball. BTW, My family was at the first Rays game and gone to multiple games every year since they started, hardly bandwagon fans.

#34 | Posted by FreddyK at 2008-10-21 07:59 AM

Getting Beckett and Lowell for Hanley Ramriez was a bad trade?? Big Papi for a bag of baseballs was a bad trade?? FreddyK...think before you type and go back to bed. Those trades got the Redsox 2 championships in 4 years. Oh, Btw, Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen was a HORRIBLE trade, but guess what? The only ring on his finger is a wedding band. Do your homework, kid.