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Rays debunking the myth of postseason experience
Phantastic Phils
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More on the playoffs:
These men were strangers to playoff baseball. But then, so what?
The time has come to expose the great ruse of October: postseason experience.
Who needs it?
Certainly not the team that will soon face Boston in the ALCS. In the coming days, you will be reminded with annoying frequency that the Tampa Bay Rays are strangers to October baseball. That much is basically true. Though seven players on their ALDS roster had postseason experience with other teams, none of their starting position players or starting pitchers have, to use the infuriatingly prevalent cliche, been there before. Nevertheless, you are hereby instructed to disregard such warnings.
The Angels, who left 46 men on base against the Red Sox, have been there. So have the Yankees, the Cubs and the Mets, all of whom will be watching on television.
Not long after crossing the plate Monday night, Jason Bay — 5-for-14 with five RBIs in the ALDS — was asked how he had ever gotten himself ready for the series, what with the utter lack of postseason experience.
"I can't prepare for it," he said.
No one can. Being there before hasn't helped A-Rod. I don't care what the sabermetric geeks do with their calculators; the heroically clutch athlete — the one who elevates his game under pressure — is the foundation of all sportswriting. Therefore, I'm bound to insist that players who distinguish themselves in October are born, not made. That's the difference between an Alfonso Soriano and a B.J. Upton, who homered twice Monday afternoon, between a Francisco Rodriguez — whose record 62 regular-season saves didn't stop him from taking a loss in Game 2 of the ALDS, and a Jonathan Papelbon, whose career postseason ERA remains 0.00.
Teams are the same way. Lack of postseason experience didn't hurt the 2007 Colorado Rockies, or the 2003 Florida Marlins. It certainly won't hurt the Rays.
Unlike other teams that have surprised the experts in October, the Rays didn't exactly sneak up on anybody. Their demise had been predicted throughout the season. But it never came to pass. With 97 wins in baseball's toughest division, the Rays beat back the two most formidable and well-endowed organizations in baseball, the Yankees and the Red Sox.
As it happened, they were 10-8 against Boston in the regular season. I know what you are saying: that the Angels were 8-1 against Boston, and look how that turned out. Maybe, but I like the way the Rays evidenced a knack for winning the close ones, not to mention big games in September when they were without Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria. They were 4-2 against Boston last month, including their win in a thrilling 14-inning game. Twice the Rays and Red Sox went into extra innings and twice Tampa won. Six of the Rays' 10 wins over Boston were by a single run.
The Red Sox are a great postseason team, not because of experience, but because every year they come up with another guy or two who has no fear of October. Last year it was Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester. This year it may be Jason Bay and Jed Lowrie.
Still, the Red Sox are not what they were a year ago. They miss their best blogger, Curt Schilling. Josh Beckett — baseball's best postseason starter — is ailing. Mike Lowell has been scratched from the ALCS with a bad hip.
Tampa, meanwhile, is more confident and healthy than a month ago. What's more, their guys are still playing with house money. They're supposed to lose, remember?
I've been shilling for Tampa since the All-Star break. No reason to stop now.
Besides, I don't get to be right that often.
Rays in seven.
On the Mark
Being the romantic type, me and the girlfriend watched the Kimbo Slice extravaganza on Youtube.
"It's fixed," she said.
"No," I told her. "The problem is, it's not."
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| Who knew a Kimbo Slice fight could be so romantic? (Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images) |
"Couldn't they have gotten that guy from the '70s? The one who always lost."
"Who?"
"Quarry, is that him?"
"Jerry Quarry. He's dead."
Then again, the point is well-taken. A dead Jerry Quarry would put up more of a fight than a live Kimbo Slice.
I mean, Kimbo was so bad Tyson will offer to fight him.
Don't want to go out on a limb here, but I think the Giants just might be able to go on without Jeremy Shockey.
No truth to the rumor that Hank Steinbrenner has volunteered to replace the Philly Fanatic for the upcoming series against Joe Torre and the Dodgers.
OK, it wasn't much of a vice-presidential debate, but Palin and Biden were still better prepared than the Rams.
Seems that Hefner has informed all three of his girlfriends that it's time to move out.
Something tells me they won't pass through waivers unclaimed.
Get after it. There may be a stupider phrase in the English language.
But I don't know what it is.
Good news, Cubs fans: Your team only stranded 23 runners in this year's sweep, down from 27 last year against Arizona.
Talk about progress.
So here's looking forward to the next 100 years.
Quick, what do Kyle Busch, Arizona State and the AFC have in common?
They all went down quicker than David Duchovny in the season premiere of "Californication."
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| Admit it, you'd pay to see Christopher Walken as Al Davis. (Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images) |
Why do they even bother calling Tom the Cable Guy an "interim" head coach?
Aren't all Raider coaches interim?
I'm telling you, though, now more than ever: Christopher Walken as Al Davis.
It's the role of a lifetime.
According to the New York Times magazine, congressman Tom Davis is sick and tired of all the partisan politics in Washington.
This from the guy who split the Roger Clemens hearing down party lines.
Speaking of which, how's that career in the private sector coming along for old Roger?
Kimbo Slice's 13 seconds of infamy is the biggest embarrassment for CBS since the network sent LaToya Jackson, Erik Estrada and Wee-Man to Muncie, Ind. to become cops in "Armed and Famous."
I know. I'd be jealous, too. I mean, how many guys ever meet a girl cool enough to throw in a Jerry Quarry reference?
Member Comments
As a Red Sox fan my stomach just turned when they Brought in Timlin. But BostonJimmy I would like to add they did have Byrd warming up and he is going to be used as a reliever this series there is no reason they should have put timlin in, Tito messed up but the Red sox also had there opportunities as well. Rays earned the win and now back at ole fenway its ours
jason.howe10/12/2008 20:17:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey, I'm as passionate as the next fellow Boston sports fan. Truth be told, we ALL thought the Rays would fold but they haven't. yes, they are a great group of young talent but I still don't see where thery'll survive a 7 game series with our Sox. My only worry is Tito trying to capture lightining in a bottle one more time with Timlin. This isn't '04 or '07 and no Schilling isn't a series killer. Just the thought going through the Ray's players heads of October baseball in fenway is a help too. The pressure of a nation watching them, and only them, could be what the Sox need to get past this and onto Philly. I cheer for Philly because I don't wanna stay up til 10 p.m. for west coast W.S. game times. Plus, aren't the Dodger's pretty much Red Sox west anyway? Garcia-Parra, Lowe, Ramirez...
RedSoxNation36910/12/2008 6:07:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Rays are a team of smug punks.The only reason they won is that we were forced to use the old goat Timlin. Sox ran out of Bull Pen options.
BostonJimmy10/12/2008 3:11:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Bottom of the 9th, economy looks like it is going to take the game. Wait, game tied! 12th inning...booyaaa! <br /><br />N-heck yea. I would love to see Christopher Walken as Al Davis.<br /><br />R-u kidding? The only fault of the Raiders is they are not the New York Raiders....
10/11/2008 23:19:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
sorry thats is supposed to be (bet) not be
jason.howe10/11/2008 19:13:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Splendidsprinter41 I am sorry but how can you call yourself a Red Sox fan and bet against them, that just makes no sense at all, you either jump on and off the band waggon or you have lost your marbles. NO TRUE SOX FAN WILL BE AGAINST THERE TEAM.......
jason.howe10/11/2008 19:12:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Jeez, come on people, it is only a game. Looks like someone needs some help with anger towards a ball player that was tired of playing for fans like you!
kwitkryin10/11/2008 12:04:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Stinkal is sooo lame, This is the same song and dance he puts on every time the Sox or Pats or Celtics are playin for the title. Remember last year? Oh ya the upstart Rockies were gonna beat us too. Hey anything can happen.. The Rays are good this year. But The Sox proved the regular season doesnt mean much...Just ask the Angels.
Equaltime10/10/2008 16:40:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Can't wait for Manny to face A.L. pitching again. Swing and a miss!! Manny was never exactly Mr.Clutch in the playoffs even though he was World Series M.V.P. Swing and a miss yerrr out.<br /> A ss hole. Magot Manuel A. Ramierz. Hope you and Boras go to hell.
splendidsprinter4110/9/2008 16:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The Boston Red Sox will need a lot of luck and great pitching to beat the Rays.However the defending champs will not go down without a tremendous fight.It is so hard to repeat in any sport but the Bosox can do it.My heart and soul are with the Sox but my money goes on the Rays after taking the emotion factor out of it.However i won't mind paying the man if i'm wrong.
splendidsprinter4110/9/2008 16:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
yellow dog,<br /><br />My gmail is steve4redsox, the only reason I have the nepats one is my account got messed up somehow and it was easier to just start from scratch. I like the pats a lot and have followed them since their early years (my older brother actualy saw them play @ Havard Stadium and Fenway) but my passion is baseball.<br /><br />I never make predictions on baseball and though I'm in a postseason pool I wouldn't bet much at all on something so unpredictable. Good luck.
steve4nepats10/9/2008 12:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Steve4nepats: Judging by your screen name, the Bosox are not your only preoccupation. Otherwise it would be Steve4brs. I also love the Bosox, but I wouldn?t bet my house that they will beat the Rays.
yellow_dog10/9/2008 6:44:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
kwitkryin,<br /><br />I've been following the Red Sox for over 45 years and I live for baseball (no just the Red Sox). I talk baseball to anyone who wants to talk baseball and I have not heard one Red Sox fan "cry" about Manny leaving. Some acknowledge that they wish it hadn't come to that, some say it should have happened sooner. The thing is he's in LA now because he quit on his team, he faked injuries, and for all intents and purposes he was thrown off the island by his teammates because as great a hitter as he is he had become a negative in a positive environment.<br /><br />Manny is the best hitter I've ever seen play for the Red Sox and was my favorite player over the last 7+ seasons but again it was time to go and the Red Sox didn't exactly struggle with Jason Bay in LF who was probably the best offensive player on either team in the ALDS.
steve4nepats10/9/2008 5:20:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
What is it about Red Sox fans, Manny crying about leaving Boston, give us a break. Reality is awsome isn't it! Go Dodgers bean breath.
kwitkryin10/9/2008 4:30:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I'm not making any predictions. Jimbo, having the best home record does not man they will win. They probably only had a handful more wins at home than Boston. that being said, they are a very good team, they are not going to fold, don't know why people even bring that up anymore. I expect them to play very well and it is going to be tough to get past them, but hey..Go Sox.
loismustdie10/9/2008 4:19:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Yo jimbo,<br /><br />Prdeictions in baseball aren't worth the time it takes to type them. Good luck, hoping for a good series and my only prdiction is the team that scores the most runs in each game will win that game and the first team to do that 4 times will win the series.
steve4nepats10/8/2008 15:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Last time I checked the Rays were the home team in the ALCS and boasted the best home record in baseball. The Sox wins against the rays were pre-September and the last 6 games were Rays 4 - Sox 2. They didn't fold in August. They didn't fold in September. They will not fold in October. Rays in 6
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