Rays bludgeon Sox, lead ALCS 3-1

by salb918 on Oct 14, 2008 8:25 PM PDT

Another evening, another Sox pitcher tattooed. Another evening of Red Sox fans streaming out of Fenway in the middle innings. Another evening of Rays hitters taking the ball over the monster time after time. Another evening of the Red Sox looking old, tired, frustrated, and outmatched.

Another evening of this, and we'll the Rays - yes, the Rays - in the World Series. One more to go, boys. The whole country is rooting for you.

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It almost doesn't get any sweeter than this

Only thing better would be the A’s instead of the Ray’s. But this year, I’ll take this and laugh all the way to the election.

by asfansince1989 on Oct 14, 2008 8:27 PM PDT reply actions

I really like Joe Maddon

by mikev on Oct 14, 2008 8:29 PM PDT reply actions

's glasses

by whiteshoes40 on Oct 14, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I think tactically, Joe Maddon is the closest thing to a perfect balance

of conventional common sense and a willingness to buck CW. He doesn’t appear to do bizarre things just to say “Look at me, I’m different!” yet when the situation makes sense – like walking Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded – he’s one of the few managers who will make the right move instead of the safe move. I just love him.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 14, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

One game.

I just want to see you manage one game. That can be arranged, can’t it?

But it has to be a close game. Get that cat and mouse thing going.

This is starting to sound weird. Probably should have left this one in my head.

Seriously though, I bet you’d be great at it.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 14, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks - I really do appreciate it, 67 MARQUEZ

I think I’d be a good tactician – though I have to say you could never really evaluate that one way or the other based on one game. To me a lot of the art is just what I praised in Maddon: the ability to stray from conventional wisdom as appropriate, but not “just for the sake of”.

A funny true story. In 1994, the manager of the A’s single-A Medford team I was broadcasting for let me pick the starting lineup one day (the team was struggling). I put a guy 2nd in the order who had never hit there, whom I always thought would be a good #2 hitter. He went 4 for 4 and said after the game he really felt comfortable “in the two-hole”. The manager never hit him there again. Go figure.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 14, 2008 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow!

Very cool.

by lynnzgal on Oct 14, 2008 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Shut up!

I fed the dog!

by lynnzgal on Oct 14, 2008 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions

How about you manage from the sixth inning on in every game?

“Now, pinch-managing…”

A pinch-manager, hmm…

That’s a great story. Wonder what ever happened to that player. Like I said, one of my favorite parts of a game thread is when you get into the manager’s head.

I agree with what you said about Maddon and the art of managing in general. Other things come into play, massaging egos and what not, which is probably why managers are most at peace when the game starts. Or at least that’s what Francona says. Good article here. He manages the “wrong” team; but I like him. There’s one on Maddon too, which I have yet to read.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 15, 2008 5:49 AM PDT up reply actions

and hair

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Oct 14, 2008 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions

he looks like Geoffrey Rush playing Peter Sellers playing Terrence Stamp

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Oct 14, 2008 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow! It's true.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 14, 2008 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Red Sox fans the new Dodger fans?

I know. It’s a myth. But what the hell. I’m part-giddy.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 14, 2008 8:38 PM PDT reply actions

time to start the Manny Curse?

by asfansince1989 on Oct 14, 2008 8:39 PM PDT reply actions

Give it 86 years.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 14, 2008 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope this doesn't mean the Dodgers are gonna win 26 World Series now.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 14, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm leaving the country if they win two in the next five seasons.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 15, 2008 5:50 AM PDT up reply actions

First Florida, then Arizona...last year Colorado (though they lost)

Now the Rays are knocking.

These are fairly new teams here. All with World Series experience.

Can Cubs fans feel any worse?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 14, 2008 8:42 PM PDT reply actions

Will until Harden's arm falls off

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 14, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

First Dravecky now Harden.

You’re a mean man.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 14, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I also spell "wait" funny

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 14, 2008 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm liking old A's being on these teams

Matt Stairs, Joe Blanton, Dan Johnson, poor Mark Kotsay…

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Oct 14, 2008 8:49 PM PDT reply actions

Don't forget Chad

by SwisherThresher on Oct 14, 2008 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Didn't make the playoff roster for the Cubs

Carlos and Victor Zambrano have exactly the same number of career postseason wins. Who would have thought?

by Blicks on Oct 15, 2008 6:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Bradford

and his 82 MPH heat

by VictorW on Oct 15, 2008 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Kotsay made it to the ALCS

he’s gotten more out of this season than Hudson or Texiera, his opening day teammates.

Runs Please. A lot of them. The rest of the season. Thank you.

by One won lost won on Oct 14, 2008 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

That poooooor man

That poor SLUT traded himself. Come on dude, you said so yourself.

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Oct 14, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

No, I said I thought....

Look at the bottom line, who’s sittin’ on a million dollars? Who’s got a million dollars sittin’ in the trunk of our car? And you know what they got? My dirty undies…my fuggin’ whites!

The Rays abide.

I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"

by Jackson23 on Oct 15, 2008 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Carlos Pena.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 15, 2008 6:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Danny Ardoin

The A’s drafted and signed Danny Ardoin — IIRC people thought he was a legit catching prospect way back when.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 15, 2008 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Hahaha.

Maddon giving Craig the once-over. That was hilarious.

by whiteshoes40 on Oct 14, 2008 8:50 PM PDT reply actions

Indeed.

And did blow him a kiss?

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Oct 14, 2008 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think so...

just making a face in reaction to the outfit? I dunno.

by whiteshoes40 on Oct 14, 2008 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions

And that was conservative

I kinda liked it.

by lynnzgal on Oct 14, 2008 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Holy hell.

That did it. I love Joe Maddon.

LOL!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Oct 14, 2008 8:50 PM PDT reply actions

He really is adorable.

If I don't comment on your comment how will you know you are completely wrong? -Rocktopus

by pam5981 on Oct 14, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Awesome win for the Rays.

Now, no getting complacent. The Red Sox are all too familiar with conquering this situation.

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Oct 14, 2008 8:55 PM PDT reply actions

True. C'mon Rays, push that stake all the way in!

by asfansince1989 on Oct 14, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Game Six and Seven in 2007

were at Fenway. No such luck for Boston this time.

It will be tough for Boston to come back. Jon Lester, etc., so good at Boston, didn’t even pitch competitively. Looks like they might extend it to Six, but I doubt…seven.

Runs Please. A lot of them. The rest of the season. Thank you.

by One won lost won on Oct 14, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Game Six and Seven in 2004

were at Yankee Stadium

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 14, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

You said what I did not want to say.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 15, 2008 5:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually, I'm rooting for the Red Sox (in game 5, at least)

I’m so over these craptastic series. There hasn’t been a compelling postseason since 2004 (apart from, obviously, the local-interest angle in 2006, which was unfortunately brief).

It would be better, of course, if MLB hadn’t added all these ridiculous extra off days so that there was a week between every series.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Oct 14, 2008 9:12 PM PDT reply actions