Official MLB Playoffs, playoff games to get into playoffs game and games thread

[Whisky Dog]

And that is all she wrote. What a pathetic display of heart and fight I saw tonight. I booed and booed and booed all game long. In a must win, they pitch like shit and just take it up the ass. I am disgusted to my stomach. I love my Red Sox and I always will but FUCK YOU for that performance tonight you pieces of shit. It is one thing losing a tough competitive series but it's another to just bend over like that when the pressure is on.

Props to the DRAYS. They are on a mission and they proved it yet again tonight. This series is over. DRAYS will end this shit Thursday night. I would be stunned if the Sox showed any pride and even make it semi competitive. I will be at that game and I will stay there until the final out.

I really want the Rays to win this series, but it's far from over. The Red Sox have Diasuke, Beckett, and Lester lined up for 5,6, and 7 and all three are capable of winning their starts. I hope the Rays end it fast, but it's not done yet.

[bostonguy]

I really want the Rays to win this series, but it's far from over. The Red Sox have Diasuke, Beckett, and Lester lined up for 5,6, and 7 and all three are capable of winning their starts. I hope the Rays end it fast, but it's not done yet.

Beckett has been a shadow of himself these playoffs.

Sox arent pulling another dramatic comeback in the alcs. They did it the previous 2 trips but the 3rd time will get them burned. They lied down in a must win game. It's over. DRAYS are well aware another game has to be played and they will be ready. DRAYS will not only end this series on Thursday night, they will do it in a dominating way. I will cheer the sox for a wonderful season if they end it with some fucking pride. If they dont, I will boo and cuss the living fuck out of them. If you are going to lose, lose fighting. Like this is unacceptable.

[FromWayDowntown]

Interesting that Maddon will flip-flop Shields and Kazmir for Games 5 & 6. Not sure if it's a good move, given how shaky Kazmir has been late in this season, but it would seem to give the Rays a chance to send their best guy to the hill before a crazy home crowd in Game 6, in the event that the Red Sox get off the mat in Game 5 and salvage a home win.

[T Park]

He referenced Kazmir being better in Boston and the road, and Shields being really good at home.

Makes sense IMO, we shall see.

[FromWayDowntown]

He referenced Kazmir being better in Boston and the road, and Shields being really good at home.

Makes sense IMO, we shall see.

Apparently, it also has something to do with the fact that Derryl Cousins is scheduled to be the home plate umpire for Game 6 and some fued earlier this year between Cousins and Kazmir, who thought he got squeezed in a game from which Maddon was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

[IronMexican]

Fuck Kent. Fuck Furcal. Fuck.

[T Park]

Should be more, "Fuck Cole Hamels"

Hes the reason for tonight's game.

Props to Philly, hell of a win, and hell of a team. Good luck against Tampa Bay.

[ducks]

well ducks got one team right atleast(rays play tomorrow)
ducks was just wrong with the sweep

[ducks]

oh and manny sure made the number 4 hitter that much better this series

dodgers got beat in all aspects
they completly got outplayed in this series

[Romo]

Romo says that ducks lives in his parent's basement and jacks off to pictures of Tony Parker while finishing his two inch peter off on pictures of Manny.

[dbreiden83080]

oh and manny sure made the number 4 hitter that much better this series

dodgers got beat in all aspects
they completly got outplayed in this series

That they did and for the Dodger fans pissing on Torre about game 4, get over it. Team had not won a playoff series in 20 years and he got you to the NLCS. Dodgers got beat-down by a better team.

[ducks]

Romo says that ducks lives in his parent's basement and jacks off to pictures of Tony Parker while finishing his two inch peter off on pictures of Manny.

romo knows nothing
ducks has been married for over 10 years to the same beautiful wife

[ducks]

oh and torre got completly out managed in this serries also

[dbreiden83080]

oh and torre got completly out managed in this serries also

:rolleyes

[ducks]

That they did and for the Dodger fans pissing on Torre about game 4, get over it. Team had not won a playoff series in 20 years and he got you to the NLCS. Dodgers got beat-down by a better team.

what have the yankees done the last few years with torre
jack shit

[dbreiden83080]

what have the yankees done the last few years with torre
jack shit

They missed the playoffs altogether this year you half-wit

When did that happen under Torre??

Ugh gee uh oh yeah that's right, NEVER!!

[Romo]

romo knows nothing
ducks has been married for over 10 years to the same beautiful wife

Romo says that piece of rabbit fur ducks rubs on his teenie weenie every night does not count as a wife.

Romo hopes you wash rabbit fur at least once in 10 years.

[ducks]

They missed the playoffs altogether this year you half-wit

When did that happen under Torre??

Ugh gee uh oh yeah that's right, NEVER!!

yankees were rebuilding this year
that is why they made no big moves you dumbshit

did they every ever have those injuries to starting pitching
and they also never had the rays playing that well in that division

[ducks]

Romo says that piece of rabbit fur ducks rubs on his teenie weenie every night does not count as a wife.

Romo hopes you wash rabbit fur at least once in 10 years.

is that what you use instead of a pussy because you can not even afford to buy pussy
because you lost your job

[dbreiden83080]

yankees were rebuilding this year
that is why they made no big moves you dumbshit

did they every ever have those injuries to starting pitching
and they also never had the rays playing that well in that division

Rebuilding with a 200 mil payroll and you are calling me a dumbshit. So if the payroll was 180 mil, are the Yanks giving up on the season altogether?? :rolleyes

And yes the Yanks had tons of injuries to starting pitching in the Torre era. Long stints in world series years without the likes of David Cone, Andy Pettitte, Wells. A few years ago Wang, was out for months, still made the playoffs. Tons of injuries to position players, Bernie Williams bad shoulders, Derek Jeter, dislocated shoulder, Tino and Paul O'neil missing major time with leg injuries. Mariono Rivera with shoulder trouble missing plenty of reg season games. Even survived Chuck Noblauch and his throwing nightmares. And there was nobody better at handling the egos in the clubhouse and pressure to win in NY than Torre. 4 WS titles, 6 pennants, 12 straight playoff appearances.

1st year without Torre, missed the playoffs

He's one of the best managers of all time, period...

[Romo]

is that what you use instead of a pussy because you can not even afford to buy pussy
because you lost your job

http://www.thehoopnews.com/img/lebron-james.jpg

[Romo]

yankees were rebuilding this year
that is why they made no big moves you dumbshit

did they every ever have those injuries to starting pitching
and they also never had the rays playing that well in that division

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/chizzlecuzz/Hater.jpghttp://i.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/joe_torre/joe_torre_01.jpg

[T Park]

Ducks's knowledge of baseball is restricted to Bill Simmons columns.

[Whisky Dog]

Manny Ramirez 2008 Postseason:

.520 Batting Average

4 HR

10 RBIs

1.080 Slugging %

Statistically... ducks' has been hating on the best postseason performance in the history of baseball. Ever.

Time to pick a new target for the hate.

[dirk4mvp]

Time to pick a new target for the hate.



His other choices are LeBron and the Broncos. Now I guess the easiest one would be the Broncos, but he's a Charger fan, so that doesn't give him any leeway.

[T Park]

Doesn't he also hate Ginobili, the country of argentina, and chimichurri sauce?

I mean thats three other things.

[IronMexican]

Doesn't he also hate Ginobili, the country of argentina, and chimichurri sauce?

I mean thats three other things.

He also hates being right cause I don't think he ever has been with the things he says

[T Park]

He also hates being right cause I don't think he ever has been with the things he says


Well played sir.

[Whisky Dog]

How can you hate on a guy putting up those numbers? You may bot like it, but you gotta admit the guy is clutch beyond clutch.

[AFBlue]

Interesting that Maddon will flip-flop Shields and Kazmir for Games 5 & 6. Not sure if it's a good move, given how shaky Kazmir has been late in this season, but it would seem to give the Rays a chance to send their best guy to the hill before a crazy home crowd in Game 6, in the event that the Red Sox get off the mat in Game 5 and salvage a home win.

If Kazmir shows up throwing in the low 90s with his fastball and is getting hit hard, I don't think Maddon will hesitate one minute putting in either one of two guys that can throw mid to upper-90s heat and can work in long relief.

In case you're wondering, that'd be 14-game winner Edwin Jackson (RHP) or stud SP prospect David Price (LHP).

I hope the good Kazmir (mid-90s fastball and late-breaking slider) shows up, but if he doesn't the Rays still have some pretty good bullpen options.

Bottom Line: If Kaz struggles early, he'll be pulled early.

[AFBlue]

Oh and....

GO RAYS! End it tonight!

[dirk4mvp]

Now it's Dice-K who's giving up homers left and right? This must just be the Ray's season or something.


Chode......bloaded.

[IronMexican]

Woooo! I wont be forced to cheer for Philly now.

[T Park]

Goooo Devil Rays!!

[FromWayDowntown]

Papelbon . . . . in the 7th.

[Whisky Dog]

Papelbon... in the 7th... getting rocked by Upton for 2 and the 7 run lead. The Rays haven't just beat the Sox, they've dominated everyone including the "untouchable" Papelbon.

Now they get a shot at the "untouchable" Lidge.

[TheMadHatter]

Good God.......Upton has been incredible this series.

[Whisky Dog]

I think this has a damn good chance to be the best World Series that nobody watches. Both of these teams are excellent with the Rays having a better starting rotation.

This has a chance to be the baseball equivalent of Spurs over Pistons in 2005.

[Tippecanoe]

It's been a hell of a season. Too bad it had to end this way. Congrats to the Rays. They definitely outplayed the Red Sox this whole series. :tu

[FromWayDowntown]

Not over yet . . . . though with the game becoming more interesting, Francona's decision to go to Papelbon so early (and Papelbon's ineffectiveness in that spot) makes the end game for the Sox a bit more interesting.

[Whisky Dog]

I think this has a damn good chance to be the best World Series that nobody watches. Both of these teams are excellent with the Rays having a better starting rotation.

This has a chance to be the baseball equivalent of Spurs over Pistons in 2005.

Not so fast!

:depressed

:(

[sa_kid20]

Holy Shit! 1 run game nobody out in the 8th

[SAtown]

Holy Fucking Shit

[Whisky Dog]

Fuck!!

Die Sox. Just fucking Die.

[sa_kid20]

7-7 going to the 9th. Crazy.

[SAtown]

Fuck!!

Die Sox. Just fucking Die.

+ fucking 1

[Whisky Dog]

Thoughts of champagne came 7 outs too soon.

[T Park]

This is going extras, and it doesn't bode well for the Red Sox.

Their bully is pretty much shot.

[T Park]

KILLER DP by Pena there, could've ended the game!!!

Now the Red Sox come up with their 3 best bats...

Howell more than likely coming in for the Rays to pitch.


God this is AWESOME!!!

[T Park]

Hell of a battle here between Howell and Youkilis.

[dirk4mvp]

:wow is postseason experience kicking in?

[SAtown]

:pctoss

[lefty]

lol

[sa_kid20]

up to J.D Drew

[lefty]

Hr Jdd

[SAtown]

Gotdamnit

[FromWayDowntown]

The Rays pen has just imploded here -- it's quite interesting to see them unravel and to see the front-running Sox fans (the same fans who were booing the Sox on Monday and Tuesday) suddenly acting like they never gave up.

[lefty]

Rays are Yankeeing

[TheMadHatter]

Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?

No way is BOS winning two in a row in Florida. Heroic effort tonight though.

[dirk4mvp]

Phillies/Sox in the series.

[Whisky Dog]

Now we'll see what they Rays are truly made of. If the season holds true they beat down Beckett again to seal it in 6, but this was just a huge choke job.

[sa_kid20]

Even if the Red Sox lose in Tampa thats one hell of a way to close out your season at home.

[baseline bum]

Fucking Red Sox are cockroaches. :lol

[SAtown]

Rays are chokers. Philly wins the WS

[T Park]

Unreal how JD Drew has just turned into mr clutch.

Player of the game, by far and away....

[T Park]

If the Rays make it to the series, I see it going 7 and the Rays winning a tight one.

[xtremesteven33]

incredible game.....red sox just never die

[lefty]

Devil rays = Yankees in gay uniforms

[Tippecanoe]

did not expect that...

[T Park]

Devil rays = Yankees in gay uniforms

Gay uniforms?

how are they "gay" ?

[bostonguy]

:lmao:lmao

I didnt even think the Sox would pull the win out of their assholes like that tonight. I was just glad in the 7th they were finally fighting back. The win was gravy but I thank the Drays for already planning ahead prematurely. Rays are by far the better team. They let up after letting Kazmir head to the bench. I thought it was pathetic seeing a few Red Sox fans heading for the exits in the 7th inning. Fun game and I am glad they ended the season at Fenway with a win. This series is over. The Drays will clinch the alcs Saturday night in front of their home crowd.

[bostonguy]

The Rays pen has just imploded here -- it's quite interesting to see them unravel and to see the front-running Sox fans (the same fans who were booing the Sox on Monday and Tuesday) suddenly acting like they never gave up.

They deserved to be booed. I even booed them for that pathetic display of heart and competitive spirit. I am a TRUE Sox fan and I was calling them heartless through the first 25 innings at Fenway during this 3 game set. One thing I will never tolerate is losing with no pride.

[crc21209]

I'm a huge Sox fan and have been for awhile now, yes before 2004 so everyone shut up, but really I started to like them when I was younger it was a combined thing of liking them and hating the Yankees which brought me to love the Sox today. Down 7-0 in the 7th I was thinking no fucking way they come back and win this, and just like that Papi hits a 3 run HR and J.D fucking Drew who is now all of sudden Sox Mr. Clutch hits a 2 Run Homer and It's a 7-6 game and big ups to Coco Crisp who battled on that one AB that finally tied the game. WoW! Just wow! Crazy game at Fenway, way to fight. 1 game can change everything, you never know....Just believe Sox fans!

[T Park]

They deserved to be booed. I even booed them for that pathetic display of heart and competitive spirit. I am a TRUE Sox fan and I was calling them heartless through the first 25 innings at Fenway during this 3 game set. One thing I will never tolerate is losing with no pride.

How does one tell they were losing with no pride and they weren't showing heart exactly?

:lol

I'm sorry, I cannot condone booing your own team. Thats just bush league. Its boston, so what a shocker.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think what I despise is the sense of entitlement that seems to surround Red Sox fans, particularly now that the Sox have actually won something that matters. It's as if Boston invented baseball and no club has ever done the sorts of things that the Red Sox have done recently.

I think the thing that's most galling about Sox fans booing their team this week -- before suddenly jumping back on the bandwagon -- was the sense that Sox fans believed their team shouldn't be losing the Rays! Oh, no! Not the Rays!!! Those guys can't beat Boston, and if they are, well, then it must be that the Sox are a bunch of gutless wonders; it couldn't possibly be that the Rays are actually that good -- good enough to beat Boston in a 7-game series.

Red Sox fans have become Lakers fans.

[bostonguy]

How does one tell they were losing with no pride and they weren't showing heart exactly?

Game 3 was a good example but game 4 was more evident of showing no fight whatsoever.




I'm sorry, I cannot condone booing your own team. Thats just bush league. Its boston, so what a shocker.


Lack of fight especially at home in big playoff games from a championship team deserves boos. That is my view on it. Outside of bad pitching, I literally cant stand to watch that kind of shit.

Good for you if you can sit their and applaud your team that is laying down in a critical playoff game.

[bostonguy]

I think what I despise is the sense of entitlement that seems to surround Red Sox fans, particularly now that the Sox have actually won something that matters. It's as if Boston invented baseball and no club has ever done the sorts of things that the Red Sox have done recently.

I think the thing that's most galling about Sox fans booing their team this week -- before suddenly jumping back on the bandwagon -- was the sense that Sox fans believed their team shouldn't be losing the Rays! Oh, no! Not the Rays!!! Those guys can't beat Boston, and if they are, well, then it must be that the Sox are a bunch of gutless wonders; it couldn't possibly be that the Rays are actually that good -- good enough to beat Boston in a 7-game series.

Red Sox fans have become Lakers fans.


The Rays are that good. I've said it all along. Dont you dare put me with the rest of those front running sox fans. If me booing my team for showing no fight whatsoever in a must win playoff game makes me any less of a true fan, then I guess that definition is flawed. It's one thing for them to lose this series, but to not show any competitiveness just isn't acceptable. Dont sit here and act like you wouldn't be pissed with the lack of fight from your team in a playoff series.

[FromWayDowntown]

Lack of fight especially at home in big playoff games from a championship team deserves boos. That is my view on it. Outside of bad pitching, I literally cant stand to watch that kind of shit.

Good for you if you can sit their and applaud your team that is laying down in a critical playoff game.

Were they just lyaing down? Or were they getting their asses kicked by a really good Rays team? I think it was more of the latter -- which to me makes the booing not just indicative of front-running, but also of an utter lack of respect for the quality of the opponent.

[IronMexican]

I don't mind booing you're team. I've cussed at Blake Dewitt against Philly.

[bostonguy]

Were they just lyaing down? Or were they getting their asses kicked by a really good Rays team? I think it was more of the latter -- which to me makes the booing not just indicative of front-running, but also of an utter lack of respect for the quality of the opponent.


That is lack of respect to the Rays to say the Sox can fight better than what they displayed? I have said the Rays are by far a better team and have give them their due so far. Hell I even said they win this series in 6 games. I know the Rays are that good but I sure as hell know the Sox can fight better than that. Dont throw those bullshit jabs at me.

[FromWayDowntown]

That is lack of respect to the Rays to say the Sox can fight better than what they displayed? I have said the Rays are by far a better team and have give them their due so far. Hell I even said they win this series in 6 games. I know the Rays are that good but I sure as hell know the Sox can fight better than that. Dont throw those bullshit jabs at me.

I just didn't see the Red Sox lacking fight. I saw a Rays team that was dominating them -- taking advantage of every mistake (and, to me, aggressive mistakes aren't the same as laying down) and giving the Red Sox no opportunities to get things done.

I don't think it's a lack of effort by the Sox that allows the Rays defenders to get to balls and make plays. A lack of effort didn't cause Sonnanstine to handcuff the Sox for 7 innings. A lack of effort by the Sox wasn't the cause of the Rays' hit parade in the 6th inning of that game. And a lack of effort by the Sox didn't make Pena, Longoria, and Aybar hit home runs to put the Sox down early.

Booing, to me, suggests that the person booing thought the Sox plight in Games 3 and 4 could have somehow been changed by playing harder. The Rays dominated those games and that would have been true no matter how hard the Sox played.

[T Park]

Were they just lyaing down? Or were they getting their asses kicked by a really good Rays team? I think it was more of the latter -- which to me makes the booing not just indicative of front-running, but also of an utter lack of respect for the quality of the opponent.

Bravo as always senor FWD Bravo.

[T Park]

I don't mind booing you're team. I've cussed at Blake Dewitt against Philly.

Laker fan.

Shocking.

Yeah cuss a young up and coming 2nd baseman who busted his ass. Genius :tu

[T Park]

I just didn't see the Red Sox lacking fight. I saw a Rays team that was dominating them -- taking advantage of every mistake (and, to me, aggressive mistakes aren't the same as laying down) and giving the Red Sox no opportunities to get things done.

I don't think it's a lack of effort by the Sox that allows the Rays defenders to get to balls and make plays. A lack of effort didn't cause Sonnanstine to handcuff the Sox for 7 innings. A lack of effort by the Sox wasn't the cause of the Rays' hit parade in the 6th inning of that game. And a lack of effort by the Sox didn't make Pena, Longoria, and Aybar hit home runs to put the Sox down early.

Booing, to me, suggests that the person booing thought the Sox plight in Games 3 and 4 could have somehow been changed by playing harder. The Rays dominated those games and that would have been true no matter how hard the Sox played.

Exactly its like

"well if they try harder then the REd Sox would be BLOWING EM OUT!!"


I agree 1000% on the "sense of entitlement" Its a sickness that has spread from the patriots to the red sox and now to the Celtics.

Its what makes fans root against Red Sox and Patriots and Celtics, which before now, I did the other way, I defended the Patriots and Belicheat, I rooted for the Red Sox come back in 2004 against the Yankees (in hindsight was a bad move cause the Cardinals would've clobbered the Yankees)

[IronMexican]

Laker fan.

Shocking.

Yeah cuss a young up and coming 2nd baseman who busted his ass. Genius :tu

Yeah, I know, but I was pissed. I was more mad at the vet Furcal. I said after the game "I can understand Dewitt, but Raffy?"

[resistanze]

I can't believe TB choked that shit away. I thought I was hallucinating when i saw 7-7 since I was hammered at a conference. It was 7-0 like 40 minutes before.

[TampaDude]

I can't believe TB choked that shit away. I thought I was hallucinating when i saw 7-7 since I was hammered at a conference. It was 7-0 like 40 minutes before.

Shit happens...move on...Rays get to close it out at home... :toast

[bostonguy]

Exactly its like

"well if they try harder then the REd Sox would be BLOWING EM OUT!!"


I agree 1000% on the "sense of entitlement" Its a sickness that has spread from the patriots to the red sox and now to the Celtics.

Its what makes fans root against Red Sox and Patriots and Celtics, which before now, I did the other way, I defended the Patriots and Belicheat, I rooted for the Red Sox come back in 2004 against the Yankees (in hindsight was a bad move cause the Cardinals would've clobbered the Yankees)


:lmao:lmao First you diss the city of Boston now you bring in the Patriots and Celtics. Spurs fans have developed a "sense of entitlement" over the years as well so I guess you are talking shit about them too right?:lmao:lmao

You are quite a comical character Tpark.:toast

[T Park]

:lmao:lmao First you diss the city of Boston now you bring in the Patriots and Celtics. Spurs fans have developed a "sense of entitlement" over the years as well so I guess you are talking shit about them too right?:lmao:lmao

You are quite a comical character Tpark.:toast

Spurs fans haven't developed anything.


You not addressing it just proves that I'm correct.

[bostonguy]

Spurs fans haven't developed anything.


You not addressing it just proves that I'm correct.

Of course Sox fans have gotten spoiled. Tons of fan bases are like that.

You just denied spurs fans acting spoiled which proves I'm correct. You cant stand the Boston teams because they affected each of your teams championships. It is eating away at you thus making you quite bitter.

Red Sox- Swept the Cards with ease in the world series.

Rams- Greatest team on turf got their hearts broken by the underdog Patriots and fell to shit since then.

Spurs- Lost to the team that the Celtics eliminated in the finals.


No wonder you hate Boston sports teams. :lmao:lmao

[Purple & Gold]

Props to the Phillis to taking it to the Dodgers. We will be back next year :soapbox::soapbox:

[ducks]

Props to the Phillis to taking it to the Dodgers. We will be back next year :soapbox::soapbox:

how?

it will be between d-backs and dodgers again for division
d-backs should be alot better next year
not sure about dodgers

[baseline bum]

Spurs fans have developed a "sense of entitlement" over the years as well so I guess you are talking shit about them too right?:lmao:lmao


Spurs fans absolutely have. I still can't believe game 1 of the 07 WCF wasn't a sellout.

[Purple & Gold]

how?

it will be between d-backs and dodgers again for division
d-backs should be alot better next year
not sure about dodgers

Dodgers are young. They will only get better. Lot depends on if Manny is resigned though or if they can find a somewhat comparable bat to him.

[lefty]

TBS is being fucked up rught now; nothing is working :lmao

[Dr. Gonzo]

Why the fuck are they showing that black dude show?

[AFBlue]

WTF!?!

I thought it just might have been me. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

[dirk4mvp]

I turn on TBS and I see some white guy named Bullethead? :td

[AFBlue]

Went on a Rays board...

Apparently they're having trouble routing the feed through Atlanta and out to the nation. TBS is bush league.

[Dr. Gonzo]

That's lame. You would think they would have their shit together for a big playoff game like this.

[Dr. Gonzo]

It's on.

[lefty]

Captain Varitek

[lefty]

Wow

[dirk4mvp]

Papelbon's about ready to show what he's know for.

[lefty]

Hey Manny Ramirez..

GFY

[dirk4mvp]

You realize they would already be in the world series if Manny was still on the Sox right?

[bostonguy]

You realize they would already be in the world series if Manny was still on the Sox right?

As much as I love Manny, they wouldnt have gotten this far had they not traded him. The guy was stirring shit up left and right in this organization for years and it got worse this season. It was going to sink the Sox had he of stayed. It pains me to say that, but he and Boston were threw with each other.

[bostonguy]

:lmao:lmao How the fuck is this even at a game 7? I am glad they showed that true mental toughness and sent a message that they wont go down without a fight. These redsox just dont lose in humiliating fashion. If they go down, they will go down swigning.

[bostonguy]

If the Sox somehow do win game 7, the Phillies are fucked and they know it.

[T Park]

Red Sox Phillies is gonna be one HELL Of a world series.

[bostonguy]

Red Sox Phillies is gonna be one HELL Of a world series.

:lmao:lmao Is?

Dawg they were fortunate enough to force a game 7. I'm expecting this magical run Boston has made these past 2 games to end tomorrow night. I pick Tampa to win. Boston winning tomorrow just seems too good to be true. I mean getting down 7-0 with 7 outs left in the season and managing to pull off the win and the series overall? That would impress yet shock me a hell of alot more than the 0-3 comeback vs the Yankees. Law of averages say Tampa wins tomorrow and proves they are the better overall team.

[dirk4mvp]

:lol @ a redsox fan not believing in his team after what he's seen them do over the past few years. And you can't say it can't be done cause of Manny, because that'd be going against your own argument.

It's actually kinda pathetic you don't think your team can win, no offense.

[bostonguy]

:lol @ a redsox fan not believing in his team after what he's seen them do over the past few years. And you can't say it can't be done cause of Manny, because that'd be going against your own argument.

It's actually kinda pathetic you don't think your team can win, no offense.

Well I am planning for the worse, hoping for the best. No offense taken. I just wont be surprised if they lose tomorrow. After the last 2 world series wins, I firmly believed that the next time they faced an impossible situation especially in the alcs, it would backfire and they wouldnt get over the hump. That this magic is going to run out sooner or later.

Manny or no Manny, you need great pitching an at least a solid offense to have a great chance to win the world series.

[dirk4mvp]

Would you be surprised if your team ended up winning the world series? Even without Manny, they're still stacked with clutch players.

[lefty]

:lol @ a redsox fan not believing in his team after what he's seen them do over the past few years. And you can't say it can't be done cause of Manny, because that'd be going against your own argument.

It's actually kinda pathetic you don't think your team can win, no offense.

He is trying to jinx TB


Would you be surprised if your team ended up winning the world series? Even without Manny, they're still stacked with clutch players.

Big Papi, Captain Varitek, Bay, Drew, Youkilis, Papelpapobabom, to name a few

[bostonguy]

Would you be surprised if your team ended up winning the world series? Even without Manny, they're still stacked with clutch players.

In this kind of fashion, hell yes I would be. At the start of the series,playoffs or regular season, I could have seen it. What has taken place since the bottom 7th of game 5 has been shocking and surreal. Then again I know I nearly felt this way in 2004. They were down a run in the bottom of the 9th inning in both games 4 and 5 and pulled out 2 nail biting dramatic extra inning victories. I knew the Yanks were fucked after the Arod ball slap in game 6. I just am aware that one of these days, these magical improbable alcs/playoff runs wont be there.

[dirk4mvp]

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out tomorrow :toast

[J.T.]

I wish the Spurs could take a page from the Red Sox and come back from 3-1 in a conference championship series.

[ducks]

you know when it was 3-1 the announcers said boston has done this before but that was with manny a very different team

but but they forced a game 7

[Biernutz]

Did you see the faces on the Rays at the end of the game--Oh! we are screwed comes to mind.

[lefty]

Lester?

Francona, WTF

[Supergirl]

whichever team comes out of this series will decimate the Phillies...

GO SOX GO

[DarkReign]

Doesnt matter who wins tonight in the AL, the AL will win the WS.

Its the same thing that happened to the Tigers and Rockies. You have to wait for your opponent, timing goes off, bang...you lose.

Book it.

[ducks]

Red Sox Phillies is gonna be one HELL Of a world series.

did you discount the rays like alot of people did all season:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[Warlord23]

This is very reminiscent of Hornets vs Spurs last year. The Rays have, like the Hornets did, youth and the favorable match-ups - and have demolished the Sox a couple of times in this series. But they're making mistakes as the games tighten and the pressure grows. The Sox, like the Spurs did, have not played consistently, but have shown their experience and clutchness when it matters and have taken advantage of their opponents' mistakes.

The result might be different, but the psychology and tension of the series is very similar.

[ducks]

the last 2 games the team that scores first loses assumining tamba holds on

[ducks]

if you are raysdo you buy a high price closer this offseason

[Anti.Hero]

It's just not the same with no ManRam.

[ducks]

It's just not the same with no ManRam.

no shit they score more runs
FACT

[dirk4mvp]

It's just not the same with no ManRam.


yep. never woulda been in this jam with him still there.

[ducks]

yep. never woulda been in this jam with him still there.

no rays outplayed boston
their pitching was way better

manny is a good hitter but he can not pitch for the sox


rays pounded the sox

[Anti.Hero]

damn.

[resistanze]

Congrats to the Rays.

[Spurminator]

Wow! The friggin Rays!

[dirk4mvp]

no rays outplayed boston
their pitching was way better

manny is a good hitter but he can not pitch for the sox


rays pounded the sox



Manny is a great hitter, and him in the lineup would also mean Ortiz not hitting so badly this postseason.

[T Park]

Rays Win Rays Win Rays Win Rays Win!!!!

[ducks]

Manny is a great hitter, and him in the lineup would also mean Ortiz not hitting so badly this postseason.

no his swing was not right
even their manager said the first 5 games he was just missing them

manny would have helped david get better pitches though

[tp2021]

David Price kinda looks like Tim.

[ducks]

Red Sox 1, Rays 2





ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Matt Garza limited the Boston Red Sox to one hit through six innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays got RBIs from Evan Longoria and Rocco Baldelli to take a 2-1 lead in Game 7 of the AL championship series Sunday night.

The winner hosts Philadelphia in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

Longoria’s fourth-inning double off Jon Lester erased a 1-0 lead the Red Sox took on Dustin Pedroia first-inning homer. Baldelli’s single on an 0-2 pitch put the Rays ahead in the fifth after Willy Aybar doubled and Dioner Navarro reached on an infield single.

Pedroia’s one-out shot in the first was the only hit off Garza, who took the mound for Tampa Bay with something—perhaps cotton balls—stuffed in his ears to help drown out the noise at sold-out Tropicana Field.

The right-hander walked the next batter, David Ortiz, then retired seven in a row before hitting Pedroia just above the left elbow with a 96 mph fastball with two outs in the third. Garza fanned Ortiz to end the inning.

With the tarps covering nearly 5,800 seats in the upper deck removed for the second straight night, more than 40,000 fans packed Tropicana Field for a rematch of the starting pitchers from Game 3, won by Tampa Bay 9-1 at Fenway Park.

Many fans wore Red Sox gear and were even more noticeable when they stood and cheered as Pedroia circled the bases after lining a pitch into the left-field stands.
Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, left, and David Ortiz watch the fifth inning of Game 7 of the American League baseball championship series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.
Boston Red Sox manager Terry F…
AP - Oct 19, 10:18 pm EDT

It was Pedroia’s third homer and ninth run of the series.

Lester gave up two homers in falling behind 5-0 early in Game 3, but looked sharp Sunday night for three innings.

Leadoff man Akinori Iwamura singled for the first hit off the left-hander in the fourth. After B.J. Upton struck out and Carlos Pena grounded into a force play at second, Longoria sliced an opposite-field double to right that enabled a sliding Pena to score from first base.

The Red Sox had a play at the plate, but the relay throw from second baseman Pedroia was up the line a bit.

Baldelli’s hit made it 2-1 with no outs in the fifth. But Jason Bartlett struck out, Iwamura grounded back to Lester and Upton hit a soft liner to shortstop, stranding runners at second and third.

The Red Sox were the eighth team to rally from a 3-1 deficit to force Game 7 of an LCS, and Boston is the only club to do it more than once. The Red Sox also battled back in 1986, 2004 and 2007, and went on to win the World Series the last two times.
Tampa Bay Rays' Rocco Baldelli hits an RBI single against Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester to score Willy Aybar in the fifth inning of Game 7 of the American League baseball championship series in St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.
Tampa Bay Rays' Rocco Baldelli…
AP - Oct 19, 10:18 pm EDT

Saturday night’s 4-2 victory in Game 6 improved the team’s record to 9-0 in ALCS elimination games under manager Terry Francona.

“Once you kind of dig yourselves in a hole, you either win or go home. And we’ve been fortunate, and they’re all different cases because they’re different teams,” Francona said before Sunday night’s game. “But all the teams have that same kind of common denominator that they don’t stop playing and they dig deep.”

The Rays were trying to extend a remarkable run that saw them win more than 70 games in a season for the first time, hold off the Red Sox to win their first AL East championship and make the playoffs for the first time.

Manager Joe Maddon was confident his team would not be overwhelmed by appearing in the franchise’s first Game 7.

“We’re doing a lot of things well. We play a pretty complete game, and I think we can beat you in a variety of different ways,” Maddon said. “But then again, it’s going to be reduced to pitching and defense like it always is for us.”

[T Park]

Think you might miss Manny now Red Sox?

Ortiz batted .154 for the ALCS without him.


Yeah, Manny doesn't mean squat....

[ducks]

Think you might miss Manny now Red Sox?

Ortiz batted .154 for the ALCS without him.


Yeah, Manny doesn't mean squat....


so other players with manny in the number 4 spot batted that in the nlcs with manny

[ducks]

and what is with howard with the philies batting like ortiz?

Is his excuse he does not have manny either?

[dirk4mvp]

and what is with howard with the philies batting like ortiz
is his excuse he does not have manny either

howard sucks either way.

[dirk4mvp]

ducks, would you shit your pants if Manny signed with the D'Bags?

[ducks]

Think you might miss Manny now Red Sox?

Ortiz batted .154 for the ALCS without him.


Yeah, Manny doesn't mean squat....

according to the pros boston did not even have a chance to force a game 7 without manny

[baseline bum]

Ortiz really let the Sox down. It's unbelievable they even forced 7 with Ortiz going Vinny Del Negro in the playoffs this series.

[ducks]

ducks, would you shit your pants if Manny signed with the D'Bags?

if he signed with the d-bags I would not follow them


they would destroy their youth movement
and no one player is worth 25 million a year especially that has a very good chance he acts like baby done the line

rember he acted up in boston while they were winning

[ducks]

Ortiz really let the Sox down. It's unbelievable they even forced 7 with Ortiz going Vinny Del Negro in the playoffs this series.

did he not have surgery not to long ago

I have never seen him struggle like that in a long time

[Trainwreck2100]

Fuck the sawks

[ducks]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Down to their last chance, the Tampa Bay Rays left no doubt they were World Series-worthy, after all.

The young Rays completed a stunning run to their first pennant, holding off the defending champion Boston Red Sox 3-1 Sunday night behind Matt Garza’s masterful pitching in Game 7 of the AL championship series.

The Rays nearly let it slip away when they blew a seven-run lead late in Game 5 and lost meekly Saturday night. But when rookie David Price struck out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning, Tampa Bay showed it had plenty of resolve, too.

Long baseball’s doormat, the Rays were a 200-1 shot to win the title before the season. Now, they’ll host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 Wednesday night.

[AFBlue]

if you are raysdo you buy a high price closer this offseason

Between Percival, Wheeler, and Bradford I think the Rays are shelling out about $10M. Those are considered their high-priced relievers....so no I don't think they go there.

One place they could go is to their deep farm system. They've got a hard-throwing righty in AAA named Wade Davis they could use in the pen. He's a future starter, but it doesn't look like there's any room there at this point.

They could also use some of their prospects to trade for a closer. Billy Beane would probably be interested in a deal for Huston Street that brought back a prospect or two...though they'd have to be good.

Still, if it ain't broke...

Besides, I'd rather them use the money to lock up BJ Upton long-term. After this post-season he's gonna get a major pay raise.

[T Park]

JimCS is 4 wins away from being really rich hahaha

[T Park]

They could also use some of their prospects to trade for a closer. Billy Beane would probably be interested in a deal for Huston Street that brought back a prospect or two

I wouldn't trade for any A's pitcher.

Everyone one of them ends up damaged goods.

Street supposedly has a shoulder problem right now...

[ducks]

true I like upton

I want both uptons on the d-backs!

they could make price their closer to!
are the rays committed to keep this team intact?

[T Park]

They have everyone under contract cheap for a few more years.

Why wouldn't they?

[AFBlue]

I wouldn't trade for any A's pitcher.

Everyone one of them ends up damaged goods.

Street supposedly has a shoulder problem right now...

I heard he worked through his issues later in the season, even though he stayed in the setup role.

[AFBlue]

true I like upton

I want both uptons on the d-backs!

they could make price their closer to!
are the rays committed to keep this team intact?

Everyone of importance on this team is locked up for the foreseeable future.

They locked up Longoria until 2016, have Crawford until 2010, Pena until 2010, and the rest of the young guys a couple years away from arbitration (Navarro, Upton, Aybar, etc.). They've also locked up their #1 and #2 starters until at least 2012.

I expect them to work out a reasonable deal to keep Navarro behind the plate, and though Upton is longer odds to get a deal done this winter I think it could also happen.

Actually Upton's situation is very similar to Kazmir. I thought he was destined to ride out his arbitration years and wait for the big day in FA...and I was shocked when the Rays got a deal done. I'm hopeful they can do the same with Upton.

So yes, the Rays FO has been very aggressive in their attempts to keep the core of this team together...and I expect that to continue.

As for Price....he's MUCH to valuable as a starting pitcher to send him to the bullpen. He's a legitimate ace...#1 starter on damn near any club in the league.

[bostonguy]

Well it sucks that it's over, but I cant complain. I am glad the Sox went down fighting rather than just lie down like nutless cowards. Props to the Drays and their fans. They earned their way through adversity and learned together as a team how to handle it. They have more than earned my respect.

Go on and win the world series. You dethroned the defending champions but it wont mean a god damn thing if you dont win the world series. I am seriously rooting for you guys to finish the job. You are the better team and I respect the hell out of you guys.:toast

[bostonguy]

Think you might miss Manny now Red Sox?

Ortiz batted .154 for the ALCS without him.


Yeah, Manny doesn't mean squat....

As much as I love and miss Manny, him not being on the team isnt what costed the Sox another world series. The Sox had a good enough O to survive without Manny. GREAT pitching is what wins in the postseason and the Sox just wasnt good enough this year. Lester couldnt hold the fort down tonight.

[bostonguy]

Sox have some issues of players to work with in the offseason. What do they do with Varitek/Schilling? That is one question that comes to mind.

[FromWayDowntown]

I was glad to see the Rays get that done; not a Rays fan in particular, but I really can't abide Sox fans anymore and the thought of a Sox repeat with another rally from down 1-3 would have made baseball just about unwatchable for me, particularly after the way that Sox fans treated their team in Games 3 and 4.

I think the Rays grew up right in front of our eyes last night and showed that they are more than just an uber-talented team. They made key plays when they had to; guys knew their roles and, almost without exception, performed those roles; the Rays never let the pressure get to them and gutted out a gigantic win.

Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett for Delmon Young? Yeah, that worked out pretty well.

And as others have said, it would certainly appear that there is going to be an era in which the Rays can be a dominating team. It's sick that Price will just get added to that rotation next year, to go along with Shields, Kazmir (who might be healthy again next year), Garza, and Sonnanstine. That, or like they did last winter, they could move one of the relatively weaker pieces in that mix to get themselves a closer or an everyday right fielder. That's just plain scary. Add to that the fact that this team won 97 games while Crawford, Kazmir, and Longoria missed substantial time and that they might actually end up with a useful Rocco Baldelli -- without the pressure of being Rocco Baldelli -- and there's suddenly lots of pressure on the Yankees and Red Sox to get substantially better.

What's crazy, though, is that after years of doing just about everything wrong, there's little doubt that almost everything the Rays have done for the last year or so has been absolutely right.

[T Park]

I think they capitalize on Sonnanstine's career year, and move him for that closer.
Price will be the next Sabathia, he is THAT good.

What the Rays have to warn against is the Tiger's syndrome. The difference I feel though is the Ray's pitching is better than the Tiger's was/is.

This will be a fantastic world series, the teams are very evenly matched and I think the difference will come down to bullpens and if it does, you can't help but love the Phillies, although the Ray's bullpen last night was shaky but got the job done.

[T Park]

As much as I love and miss Manny, him not being on the team isnt what costed the Sox another world series. The Sox had a good enough O to survive without Manny. GREAT pitching is what wins in the postseason and the Sox just wasnt good enough this year. Lester couldnt hold the fort down tonight.

Lester did a fine job but here again your reasoning is wrong.

You cannot beat the Rays by out pitching them. You beat them by scoring more runs. The one game the Sox won where they outpitched em was in game 1. All the rest the Sox had to step up and out score them.

Not having Manny Ramirez's clutch bat, great power killed the Red Sox. It trickled down to killing Ortiz, Veritek and others.

I'm sorry but theres no arguement that can be made that can justify the trade of Ramirez now that the Red Sox are traveling to the islands today.

[T Park]

Sox have some issues of players to work with in the offseason. What do they do with Varitek/Schilling? That is one question that comes to mind.

I think you have to give up on Schilling, pitchers in their 40s after that kind of surgery are not gonna pitch that great.
Varitek, I wouldn't give up on. The guy is the heart and soul of the Red Sox (Damon was not, he was just the flashy chin up pulling naked wacko in the locker room) Varitek proved in game 6 hes still got some magic and I think hes earned the right to come back in spring training to keep that job. Wouldn't hurt to call up one of those two good hitting catchers they have in the minors though.

[ducks]

rember upton had shoulder problems and could not hit for homeruns during the season
he hit more already in the postseason

[ducks]

Lester did a fine job but here again your reasoning is wrong.

You cannot beat the Rays by out pitching them. You beat them by scoring more runs. The one game the Sox won where they outpitched em was in game 1. All the rest the Sox had to step up and out score them.

Not having Manny Ramirez's clutch bat, great power killed the Red Sox. It trickled down to killing Ortiz, Veritek and others.

I'm sorry but theres no arguement that can be made that can justify the trade of Ramirez now that the Red Sox are traveling to the islands today.
with manny the rays would have swepted boston if they got by angles

he was causing chemistry problems
that is why they got rid of him not because he sucks on the field
they should have benched him for not running hard to first though

[FromWayDowntown]

I think they capitalize on Sonnanstine's career year, and move him for that closer. Price will be the next Sabathia, he is THAT good.

I'm not sure that Sabathia is the apt comparison on Price. Price seems to me almost to be a bit Pedro-esque. Although he's much bigger than Pedro, Price has great velocity and movement on his fastball, mixes in a very deceptive change up, and then can go get a hitter with that really good slider. Pedro was more of a fastball-change-curve pitcher, but to me the similarity is there. If Price has a Pedro-esque career, the Rays are going to be incredible.


What the Rays have to warn against is the Tiger's syndrome. The difference I feel though is the Ray's pitching is better than the Tiger's was/is.

I'd feel a bit more doubtful about the Rays (and think they were more like the '06-07 Tigers) if Shields and Kazmir hadn't already put together good seasons at the major league level or if their successes were built on having added a bunch of veterans to their club.

The Tigers' 3 relatively young pitchers in '06 (Verlander, Bonderman, and Robertson) had never really been very good at the major league level before that season -- at least not compared to the league:

Bonderman
2005 -- 14-13, 189.0 IP, 145 K/57 BB, 93 ERA+, 4.57 ERA
2006 -- 14-8, 214.0 IP, 202 K/64 BB, 112 ERA+, 4.08 ERA

Robertson
2005 -- 7-16, 196.7 IP, 122 K/65 BB, 96 ERA+, 4.48 ERA
2006 -- 13-13, 208.7 IP, 133 K/67 BB, 119 ERA+, 3.84 ERA

Thus, Bonderman had an ERA+ of 93 in '05 and jumped up to 112 in '06. Robertson did basically the same thing, going from 95 in '05 to 119 in '06. Each had been about a .500 pitcher and each had put up traditional ERA's in the mid-4's while having fairly pedestrian K/BB ratios. In 2007, the Tigers expected them to be what they had been in 2007; instead, each was pretty much what he had been in 2005 (if not worse) and has stayed true to that form (Bonderman's injury in '08 obviously cut short his season):

Bonderman
2007 -- 11-9, 174.3 IP, 145 K/48 BB, 91 ERA+, 5.01 ERA
2008 -- 3-4, 71.3 IP, 44 K/36 BB, 103 ERA+, 4.29 ERA

Robertson
2007 -- 9-13, 177.7 IP, 119 K/63 BB, 96 ERA+, 4.76 ERA
2008 -- 7-11, 168.7 IP, 108 K/62 BB, 69 ERA+, 6.35 ERA

Unlike those two, Verlander was able to duplicate his 2006 numbers again in 2007, but it was probably too much for the Tigers to think that Bonderman and Robertson could maintain the jumps that they made in 2006. And when you add to it the fact that the Tigers run in '06 was aided by Kenny Rogers putting together one more really good season and the contributions of three 30+ hitters who'd been added to the lineup in the year or so before 2006 (Pudge, Magglio, and Carlos Guillen) and there was reason to think that the Tigers' successes might not be sustainable (though most thought it was).

By comparison, the Rays' young starters have all basically done this year what they've done in past years:

Kazmir
2006 -- 10-8, 144.7 IP, 163 K/52 BB, 142 ERA+, 3.24 ERA
2007 -- 13-9, 206.7 IP, 239 K/89 BB, 130 ERA+, 3.48 ERA
2008 -- 12-8, 152.3 IP, 166 K/70 BB, 125 ERA+, 3.49 ERA

Shields
2007 -- 12-8, 215.0 IP, 184 K/36 BB, 117 ERA+, 3.85 ERA
2008 -- 14-8, 215.0 IP, 160 K/40 BB, 122 ERA+, 3.56 ERA

Garza
2007 -- 5-7, 83.0 IP, 67 K/32 BB, 118 ERA+, 3.69 ERA
2008 -- 11-9 184.7 IP, 128 K/59 BB, 118 ERA+, 3.70 ERA

I'd feel much better about the chances that those guys, who've been pretty consistent now for a few years, are going to at least maintain that level. Add to that two other facts: (1) the guys that the Rays added to the mix in '08 weren't 30+ vets but were young guys with great talent -- particularly Longoria, which immediately made them better in CF (Upton) and 2B (Iwamura); and (2) they were able to improve tremendously while Pena's numbers fell across the board. Given those facts, I think there's reason to think that the Rays are built for long-term success beyond the fact that they're just young.

[bostonguy]

Lester did a fine job but here again your reasoning is wrong.

You cannot beat the Rays by out pitching them. You beat them by scoring more runs. The one game the Sox won where they outpitched em was in game 1. All the rest the Sox had to step up and out score them.

Not having Manny Ramirez's clutch bat, great power killed the Red Sox. It trickled down to killing Ortiz, Veritek and others.

I'm sorry but theres no arguement that can be made that can justify the trade of Ramirez now that the Red Sox are traveling to the islands today.


Nah. The Sox O, while it struggled, was good enough if the great lockdown pitching had been there. The pitching couldnt hold the fort down especially in game 7 with a 1-0 lead. You dont need an elite offense to win. Just any kind of productive one will do if the Pitching can hold leads.
Sox had a 1-0 lead and the pitching couldnt hold the fort down.