SportsNation Blog Archives
Tampa Bay Rays
Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?
Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series
Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?
World Series repeat?
The Cardinals prevailed over the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, but St. Louis lost its biggest gun this past offseason ...
Best player?
... which is a pretty big loss, considering he might be one of the best players of all time.
Odd one out?
The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season after an epic September collapse. Will they be on the outside looking in once again?
AL's best?
Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols were probably the two biggest additions to teams in the American League, meaning the balance of power could shift.
NL's best?
Likewise, the addition of Jose Reyes to the Marlins could give the team a huge upgrade -- offensively with new third baseman Hanley Ramirez, and defensively at shortstop.
The Rays may have had one of the most epic comebacks in major league history in September, but their season ended abruptly Tuesday night on the strength of three Adrian Beltre home runs. The mood has changed dramatically in Tampa, as principal owner Stuart Steinberg, frustrated with a lack of attendance despite a great deal of success from the team, aired his grievances in the Rays' clubhouse after the game. Steinberg used the ominous phrase "the rubber has got to hit the road" -- could he be forecasting the Rays' departure from Florida?
- "Move the Rays, that's the only solution. I know of half a dozen cities that would love for them to come over. They already have the pieces for a championship. Just need the money and they're set." -- SN commenter bonds_6
Are the Rays long for Florida?
The Rays have had a great deal of success in the past four years, putting up winning seasons and even making the World Series in 2008. The issue is attendance -- they couldn't even sell out home games during their brief playoff run this year.
Would a new stadium help?
Unfortunately for the Rays, scenes like the above have been all too common during their recent history. The team has struggled to find a real foothold in Florida.
Will Florida have any teams?
The Marlins have a similar problem to the Rays -- even though the team has won two World Series in its brief history, it hasn't made much of an impact with its home fans.
ALDS: Tigers vs. Yankees
Jose Valverde was perfect in the regular season, but is he second-best in this series?
Vote: Five questions for Tigers vs. Yankees
ALDS: Rays vs. Rangers
The Rays used one ace just to make it, but does starting rookie Matt Moore on the road make sense?
Vote: Five questions for Rays vs. Rangers
NLDS: Cardinals vs. Phillies
Albert Pujols' slow start turned into MVP-type numbers, but does pitching rule a short series?
Vote: Five questions for Cardinals vs. Phillies
NLDS: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers
Ian Kennedy won 21 games for Arizona, but do the Brewers have the depth?
Vote: Five questions for Diamondbacks vs. Brewers
Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Stewart once pitched no-hitters on the same day. Cal Ripken Jr.'s lap around Camden Yards was special. But has any regular-season day in your lifetime topped the drama that unfolded last night in baseball? Evan Longoria channeled Bobby Thomson with a walk-off home run, Jonathan Papelbon wrote a fitting ending for a September collapse, the Braves and Phillies battled deep into extra innings and the Cardinals took care of business. Like Jose Reyes, hopefully you rested up in the afternoon.
- "What a night of baseball! Watched Strasburg pitch a gem. Watched the Braves collapse. Watched the O's rally to beat the Sox. Watchd the Rays rally to beat the Yanks. Don't you love technology?" -- SN commenter luvdc88
- "My Orioles weren't in the race -- and haven't been since I had more hair -- but even though I've watched sports of all sorts since the late 60s and have been in sports media since 1979, this was a night I won't soon forget." -- SN commenter joeypsinger
Does it get better than Wednesday?
Well, sure, if you're a fan of the Red Sox or Braves, but from the perspective of the rest of us, have there been better days of baseball?
Which dropped your jaw most?
The Rays rallied from seven runs down, but we'd still be playing baseball today if Jonathan Papelbon hadn't recorded just his third blown save this season.
Should we have seen Mariano Rivera?
Rays manager Joe Maddon thanked the Orioles for playing hard to the finish against the Red Sox, but did Joe Girardi owe it to the sport to use Mariano Rivera?
Did Carl Crawford have a play?
It wasn't Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, but as you watch the replay above of Robert Andino's game-winning hit, did Crawford have a play?
What about the Cardinals?
We can't overlook Albert Pujols and the Cardinals, but with Chris Carpenter out of the mix until Game 3 and the Phillies waiting, was catching the Braves the easy part?
The last wild-card race of its kind?
If Bud Selig has his way and adds an additional wild-card spot in each league, a day like Wednesday would be decidedly less dramatic. But is that a fair trade?
What about Jose Reyes?
Jose Reyes had to love last night's drama, if only because it let him off the hook for taking himself out of a game earlier in the day to protect his batting title.
The final day of the regular season is here. Unless it isn't. With both the American League and National League wild-card races all square thanks to a triple play, a surprise star and a big rally, the odds seem good that we'll have at least one bonus game Thursday. What's your take on the Braves, Cardinals, Rays and Red Sox?
Which teams make it to October?
The Braves and Rays have the advantage of playing at home Wednesday, but the Cardinals have momentum and the Red Sox have -- well, they were pretty good in July.
Whom do you trust with the ball?
The silver lining of Jon Lester's giving up eight runs against the Yankees over the weekend? He's working on short rest Wednesday but threw only 55 pitches in his last outing.
Whom do you trust making calls?
Tony La Russa has more playoff appearances than the other three skippers combined, but is he the guy you want making the calls?
How did we get here?
New York Times blogger Nate Silver lays out a case for Boston's collapse ranking as the worst ever, but the Braves had a bigger lead on Sept. 5.
It's a curious development that the two teams that most successfully avoided wild-card races will help determine which teams earn those spots. The Phillies and Yankees are safely in the postseason, but the Yankees visit the Rays for three games, with the latter just one game behind the Red Sox in the AL wild-card race. In the NL, the Phillies visit the Braves, with the latter just one game ahead of the Cardinals. Do the leaders owe the wild-card contenders full effort? Rank 'Em: Your MLB Power Rankings
How will the AL race conclude?
Jacoby Ellsbury's home run in the top of the 14th inning saved a doubleheader split Sunday, but will it carry the Red Sox to October?
How will the NL race conclude?
While the Braves host the Phillies, Albert Pujols and the Cardinals visit MLB's only 100-loss team for three games against the Astros.
Which team could make it count?
Only the Phillies, Giants and Dodgers have a better ERA from their starting pitchers than the Rays. Does that make David Price's team the ultimate wild card?
The Cardinals wasted a golden opportunity in losing late against the Mets on Thursday, but neither the Braves in the NL nor Red Sox in the AL can feel comfortable about their leads entering a potentially wild weekend. Do you expect a clear picture by Monday morning?
Forecast for Red Sox at Yankees?
Friday: Jon Lester vs. Freddy Garcia
Saturday: Tim Wakefield vs. A.J. Burnett
Sunday: John Lackey vs. Ivan Nova
Forecast for Rays vs. Blue Jays?
Friday: David Price vs. Brandon Morrow
Saturday: Jeff Niemann vs. Ricky Romero
Sunday: Wade Davis vs. Brett Cecil
Forecast for Angels vs. Athletics?
Friday: Jered Weaver vs. Gio Gonzalez
Saturday: Jerome Williams vs. Guillermo Moscoso
Sunday: Joel Pineiro vs. Rich Harden
Forecast for Braves at Nationals?
Friday: Tim Hudson vs. Stephen Strasburg
Saturday: Brandon Beachy vs. Chien-Ming Wang
Sunday: Mike Minor vs. Ross Detwiler
Forecast for Cardinals vs. Cubs?
Friday: Chris Carpenter vs. Ryan Dempster
Saturday: Kyle Lohse vs. Rodrigo Lopezg
Sunday: Edwin Jackson vs. Casey Coleman
Forecast for Giants at Diamondbacks?
Friday: Eric Surkamp vs. Joe Saunders
Saturday: Matt Cain vs. Ian Kennedy
Sunday: Tim Lincecum vs. Josh Collmenter
It all seemed so clear just a month ago. The Red Sox had ceded the AL East lead to the Yankees but led the Rays by 8½ games in the wild-card race. The Braves weren't going to catch the Phillies for the NL East lead but led the Giants by 7 games and the Cardinals by 7½ in the wild-card race. Now? The Rays, Angels, Cardinals and Giants are all within four games of a playoff spot. Rank 'Em: What are your MLB Power Rankings?
- "Francona must go. Sorry apologists, this is the time of year where all the idiotic decisions he has made throughout the year haunt you as much as injuries. Wanna bet if they happen to get some sense and fire him the new "brilliant "manager gets them to the playoffs next year and all this BUNK about how good he is fades into myth?" -- SN commenter drysalami
- "I still have all the confidence in the world that this team can win the WORLD SERIES. Yes, I sound like an idiot. But that's how I truly feel. Do you really think a team this talented is going to suck for this long? It's almost impossible." -- SN commenter RedSoxRule1024
Will the Red Sox hold on?
BOS: BAL (4), at NYY (3), at BAL (3)
TB: at NYY (4), TOR (3), NYY (3)
LAA: at TOR (4), OAK (3), TEX (3)
Where is your rooting interest?
SportsNation consistently rates Red Sox-Yankees as one of the best rivalries in sports, but does that mean you want it to be an October option?
Will the Braves hold on?
ATL: at FLA (3), at WAS (3), PHI (3)
STL: at PHI (1), NYM (3), CHI (3), at HOU (3)
SF: at LAD (3), at ARI (3), COL (3)
Where is your rooting interest?
The defending champs face the longest odds, but are you getting swept up in their eight-game winning streak to get back in the conversation?
When a guy who helped bring the Red Sox back from a three-game hole against the Yankees in the '04 ALCS starts talking panic, things are getting interesting. But even if David Ortiz is worried (and whether or not he's available because of back spasms), what do you expect as the Tampa Bay Rays arrived at Fenway Park for a four-game series?
- "A split of this series would be excellent for the Sox. That would keep the Rays engaged as they move on to the Yankees on life support but still alive. Tonight and Sunday's pitching matchups are scary though. Don't forget to look in the rearview mirror, with no one paying attention the Angels are in the WC race." -- SN commenter NorthShorepsbc
What will happen in Boston?
Who knew we would have real September drama in Fenway Park? The Red Sox are 43-30 at home this season, but the Rays are 40-33 on the road.
What needs to happen for Rays?
The Angels are also in this mix if they don't catch the Rangers in the AL West, but with just 10 games remaining after the series, is it sweep or bust for the Rays?
Which team has pitching edge?
The Red Sox are expected to get Josh Beckett back to pair with Jon Lester, but do the Rays get the nod for their rotation depth?
Which manager do you trust?
Both managers have dealt with pennant pressure (or wild-card pressure) plenty of times in recent seasons, but who gets the nod?
Braves second baseman Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 29 games with a single against the Marlins on Monday. At least, we think he did. Eyewitnesses are tough to come by when it comes to the Marlins, who rank last in the majors in attendance. Is it coincidence that the Marlins are 23-35 at home, after another loss Monday, and 32-25 on the road?
- "Marlins announced attendance at just over 20,000 ... is this a joke, Marlins? No way there were even 8,000 there tonight. Good God, what a disgrace." -- SN commenter chpatt
There's no place like home?
The Marlins have a better team OPS at home than on the road, along with a 3.78 team ERA at home and 4.10 team ERA on the road. So what's with all the losses?
Should they listen to Jack McKeon?
Marlins manager Jack McKeon suggested the team wear its road uniforms at home, presumably to confuse the fickle baseball gods.
What is with the Sunshine State?
Only the A's keep the state of Florida from owning the bottom two spots in attendance. That despite the Rays (28th) and Marlins (30th, seen above) combining for a winning record.
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