Bleed Cubbie Blue

i hope the rays smear the red sox

so i can ride the jerks at work who were big red sox fans and had their fun at my expense two weeks ago .. let’s go Rays

You may want that...

… but I suspect the Rays are done, and not only that, the Red Sox are probably going to win in a blowout.

Al Yellon - October 19, 2008 reply

i on the other hand am not sure about that

these rays have startled everyone from start to finish .. and i got a feeling they’re just young and dumb enough to go out and beat the pants off of the Red Sox

works for me, but i really don’t care .. the season ended for me two weeks ago

I already got my pay-back...

…with all those Dodger and Angels fans at work — None of which could name either teams’ full outfield or full starting rotation — total bandwagoners — just like the Lakers every year.

I did a 180º

I wanted the Rays to get to the World Series at first, but my desire for a Boston-Philadelphia World Series turned out to be stronger than wanting to see our generation’s (pardon the expression) 1969 Mets.

I was cheering for the Rays, pretty hardcore

and now I feel like, “Meh”. I still would prefer the Rays, but ultimately want the Phils to win it all. I used to really like the Red Sox, and associated them with the Cubs and both teams’ history of losing, but now I feel like the Red Sox are more like the Yankees than anyone else. Not to mention the Celtics and Patriots. Yup, go Rays!

Dan

I can't forget the decades of agony the Sox and their fans endured

To me, Red Sox Nation has earned the right to pop off and whoop it up for the next 88 years.

Matt Garza

Tonight he gets the start for the Rays, and he’s kind of a goofy sort in the mold of a Kevin MIllar or our “Z”. This can either work for them or against them, depending on how Garza reacts to the adversity of a bad call or an error in the field. Will he be able to brush it off the way the Idiots did in 2004, or will he cave into his emotions and wilt under the heat?

I'm pretty over the Red Sox

and Boston sports in general. Time for them to go back to feeling pain.

But I fear Al is right.

Weird

On AFN it isn’t the TBS feed, it’s the “MLB International” Feed. O’Brien and Sutcliffe are my announcers. The mic’s have MLB logos on ’em.

sanantonecub - October 19, 2008 reply

How short is Pedoria?

5’5?

The Rays team and fans all look somewhat familiar tonight

as if they are expecting the worst.

Weeghman Park - October 19, 2008 reply

Blowing a 7-0 lead with only seven outs to go until you go to the World Series

really takes the wind out of your sails. We’ve been there, done that….

TBS? Yuk! I want this stuff back on Fox or one of the other networks.

I guess MLB doesn’t rate much with the networks anymore but the Owners need to have a little bit of pride before greed and put their playoff show case back on a network that can cover it right. At least have the league championship series back on one of the 4 major networks.

DudeVf11 - October 19, 2008 reply

If it was on fox everyone would be complaining about something

I don’t really understand the hatefest against TBS. The Frank TV commercials are too much, but they are showing the games and I can watch them (except for last night, which I admit was not handled well).

LT - October 19, 2008 reply

I can't stand..

…that “That’s Why I Love This Town” song. The Frank TV commercials are too much, and aside from Chip Caray, their broadcast team sucks. If TBS and/or FOX would hire Vin Scully to announce solo, I’d love their network forever — However, Vin’s probably over it by now

Vin Scully could never make it to all these games at his age

LT - October 19, 2008 reply

What are you talking about?

He announces ALL Dodger home games and ALL road games vs the NL west. He also announced every Dodger playoff game this season on radio. Like I said, “He’s probably over it by now”, but he could if he WANTED to — his age and health have NOTHING to do with his curtailed schedule, he enjoys more time w/ his wife — That’s it

FWIW...

WGN also used that annoying Bon Jovi song during their “Cubs season highlights” while the credits rolled during the telecast of the final home game.

MillsChC - October 20, 2008 reply

You'd think after years of broadcasting Braves games...

…TBS would be more up to the challenge. They are pitiful!

I also agree the playoffs should be shown on network TV. My grandfather is ‘old-school’ and has never had cable — he’s a lifelong Cubs fan and he can’t watch the LDS or ALCS; again pitiful! At least he didn’t have to endure the pain of this year’s flop in the LDS.

I'm a broke-ass PhD student

and don’t have cable. I download all my shows, or just don’t watch TV. The only games I’ve been able to watch are the Fox games. Or I resort to going to the bar or a friend’s house. It’s plain stupid these games are not on network TV. Another thing I blame on Selig.

Dan

good point, dan.

...and good point, calicubfan also :-)

Good point you make about pointing our our points, zevkal.

Garza looking just fine...

…a few too many pitches, but it being Game 7 n all…I think Maddon would throw just about anybody out there. Better game than I thought it would be thus far.

Dan

Here's a fun one:

Pick one guy from each league to start a team with. Not to win a championship NOW, but instead to be the core and heart of your new team. Who do you pick? Here’s my choices:

NL – Evan Longoria – great defense, and has really proven himself in his first big league season
AL – Hanley Ramirez – five tool stud

Furthermore

Hanley’s RZR (this year) is 6th amongst SS, and his VORP is 2nd only the Pujols in all of baseball.

Evan – much smaller sample size – is 4th amongst 3B, and his VORP is 3rd amongst all rookies (Geo #1).

Dan

Good game. Rays seem to be hitting Lester pretty well tonight....

I guess I want the Rays to lose. I don’t like bandwagon Florida fans, and at least Boston has had some serious passionate fans throughout the year.

Also misery loves company…and I wouldn’t mind the Rays fans feeling the pain of being 7 outs from getting into the world series, and then blowing it….

But whatever…no biggie either way….

I don't care about the Rays' fans

because I know there are very few. I want the Rays to win for the players, for the guys that came into an organization that has been nothing but the butt of all jokes…and is now almost at the World Series. I mean, you look at guys like Crawford, Upton, Baldelli, Shields, and Kazmir, and I think every one of those guys have been there at least 4 or 5 years, with the exception of Shields. I like seeing the small market teams winning the right way – breeding their own.

Dan

Rays Fans

Thank goodness there’s been a constant barrage of sound effects and Jumbotron cues, otherwise they couldn’t be trusted to cheer on their own team.

A few of them have some strange jerseys on...I recognized one guy with a

Washington Redskins jersey.

There was some clown wearing a Dick Vitale costume

oh wait…that clown WAS Dickie V!

Notice how sparkling new...

…all those jerseys, shirts, and hats are in that crowd. I’ll bet some of those people didn’t even have time to cut off the tags.

Just remembered why I don't like Chip Caray

Harry’s grandkid is wont to overemote every single occurence.

“And that’s the fortieth piece of gum that Terry Francona has chewed…you have to wonder if his teeth can hold out much longer…”

100 pitches for garza.

David Ortiz in the serious slump

Missing hittable fastballs and swinging at pitches out of the zone. If he’s on then Boston is on top in this game.

I can't believe Boston has just 1 hit

SHHHHHHHH

lol..Make that 2!

You need to stop talking, cali

You’re screwin’ it all up.

What? You got $$$ on this? Closet Rays fan?

No

Just messin’ with ya. Garza still goin strong after 116 pitches!

Varitek and Kotsay have each left around 15 LOB

for the ALCS, that is

How can anyone watch a game with so much GD noise?

That’s the kind of thing that has driven me away from attending games in person. Cowbells, sound cues, Jumbotron commands to make noise – my God, whatever happened to going to a game and letting the on-field action do the talking?

Instant gratification society?

Gotta do somethin to bring in the families, fans, and television watchers.

The LCD is the ruination of everything in this country

I liked it better 100 years ago when there wasn’t even a PA system and fans MADE themselves pay attention and learn how to follow the game. And if one couldn’t appreciate or understand it on that basic level, then the rest of us were better off without that person’s presence.

Of course...

The 1908 New York Giants led the league in per game attendance with a whopping 11,375 per game. That was a record that stood until 1920.

The current record is the 1993 Rockies, with 55,000+ per game. Last year’s Yankees had 53,000 per game.

So… maybe baseball is doing something right. People sounded like they had better things to do in 1908.

I get it...let the masses decide what's right

Pontius Pilate, is that you?

So ... wait?

Are you Christ in this little drama you’re performing for yourself?

Go to bed, little boy. You bore me.

Strawman

Take the time to read what I posted and you’ll see that I am defeating (and pretty handily, I might add) your asinine assertion that a popular decision or a popular choice made by a majority is the correct one.

If you’re looking for a place to be right and win arguments, this probably isn’t the place for you.

Madison Cub Fan - October 19, 2008 reply

guess some people just don't get sarcasm

It pains me to speak ill to the Son of God like this...

But the only decision baseball owners want people to make is to hand over money or to put their eyeballs on games.

So, in this case, the popular decision IS the right decision. People like making money.

Perhaps you could get around to throwing the moneylenders out of the temple. I mean, you only have a little bit of time before the crucifixtion and all…

Say hi to Mary Magdalene for me. I think I still have one of her socks from the last time she was over.

No reason to argue, dudes.

The Cubs aren’t even playing.

There is NEVER

a bad time to argue. There are always young people to educate!

Let it go bro

I think you’re taking his joking around a TAD too seriously

I think I've heard Chip...

use the term “fisted” 17 times tonight.

Kansas25 - October 19, 2008 reply

11 years on the job and he still sounds amateurish

Imagine how many times ...

…Braves fans have heard it

Aybar hits a dong. 3-1 Rays.

The guy’s got 15 regular season homers in his career, and in the ALCS he’s hit 2, with 6 RBI, a .421 clip, and a 1.211 OPS. Hmmm.

If the Rays win this game...

…I will be very impressed with their ability to put game 5 and 6 behind them, especially after the way they lost game 5. And, you factor in a young team would be doing it against the defending WS champs, and it is even more impressive.

We’ll see, it ain’t over yet.

MPH73 - October 19, 2008 reply

WOW...

Was that Alex Gonzalez?

Let's see how Tampa's BP handles PRESSURE

Not well

DP

Kansas25 - October 19, 2008 reply

2B

WTF

Gameday has Pedoria [NO OUT, IN PLAY]

He popped out to LF

and now a Tampa pitching change

Holy crap they got out of it

Bases Loaded, two outs

This is some excellent baseball

MrNFL - October 19, 2008 reply

There is something wrong in the heads ..

.. of the Axe commercial agency .. The “edgy” factor has hit gross ..

You think a buncha pimply 12-year-olds

Use that stuff expecting women to ravage them?

Anytime I've ever seen anyone use that crap

Everyone’s response is “Ugh, who’s wearing that crap?”

MrNFL - October 19, 2008 reply

what is this, the 5th pitching change?

yow .. bases loaded ..

wow .. now THAT battery worked

batter struck out!

Got Him!!!

MrNFL - October 19, 2008 reply

HERE WE GO

TOP OF 9!!

Ugly man Bay walks

Good 4 them!

And the Rays take it

yay .. im just thrilled ..

at least it wasn’t the White Sux

THAT'S IT!! SERIES SET!

just sick to my stomach

every expansion team in the ws

even sicker..Segers suit

Too bad he kills it with that terrible tie

I love it!!

A ratings NIGHTMARE for those asses at FOX

Yup.

And the Series doesn’t start til what, Thursday? Jerks.

Wednesday, isn't it?

My bad, ur right

fox and mlb really got screwed

nobody watches the rays and it’s absolutely hilarious how many rays fans claim to be lifelong diehard fans. I’ll be rooting for them because they were a wonderful underdog story, but i won’t care to watch the games. I’ll occasionally check the score online, in the meanwhile, screw you Fox and MLB.

I know the used to suck...

…but I wouldn’t call them underdogs, these guys are good and they are hungry.

MPH73 - October 19, 2008 reply

compared to last season

if you go from worst to first in one year, i consider that team the underdog story. I didn’t even think the Rays would be the White Sox.

I don't think it's screwing at all.

It just goes to show that parity in MLB is fine and well. In the last ten World Series – including this year – there have been 15 different teams (Yanks 4x, Cards 2x, Red Sox 2x), and this year will crown its’ 8th different winner (Red Sox and Yankees won twice). For a professional sport that allows LESS teams in its’ playoffs than both NBA (16/30) and NFL (12/32), baseball only allows 8/30 teams in its’ post-season, yet we have seen 15 different teams in the last 20 World Series teams, and will crown its’ 8th different winner out of 10 champions. I like it.

Dan

Then again...

…if you don’t like parity in MLB, then this is a different story.

yes... Ill tune in at the deciding game

To bounce back...

…and play the way they did tonight, that club has moxie.

MPH73 - October 19, 2008 reply

Yeah, give 'em credit.

I didn’t think they had it in them, especially the way the Red Sox have made a habit of comebacks.

The Rays have a couple of budding stars. They will be a force for many years if they can keep the core together.

And that’ll mean more postseasons of the Yankees sitting home.

watch another team spray champagne and cry

Good job team.

A 100+ comment game thread. First time in weeks…(sniffle, sniffle)

OK now, be honest: who is not going to watch any WS games becasue of the two teams who will be playing?

Weeghman Park - October 19, 2008 reply

I never miss the Fall Classic..

…And you know all these peeps saying they won’t watch it won’t be able to resist a baseball game

i won't be...there's better things on

Like???

Dexter?

Californication?
The Shield’s last 6 episodes?

well let's think about this...

All the games will be at 7 pm central time according to mlb. Wednesday, I dunno what’s on, but I think I’d find something more entertaining than a meaningless game 1. Thursday there’s college football. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday is more football. There series probably won’t get further than that as there hasn’t been a world series going to game 7 in a while. And yes I’d rather watch Auburn and West Virginia play football on Wednesday than a game 1.

i meant the Aubrun-West Virginia game is on Thursday

Well, enjoy!

For me, seeing how I won’t see a baseball game for about 4 months, it could be Rays vs Marlins and I’d still watch. It’s baseball bro, i watch for the love of the game

I'm hoping to get WS tickets for Tampa Bay home games

I’ve been fortunate enough to win lottery drawing for Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS and every game of the ALDS. Not so lucky with ALCS 6 and 7, though.

I’m from the east coast and drive the 4 hours to watch the Rays.

I’m still a Cubs fan but adopted the Rays as my AL team (since I’m from South Florida). It does suck when I’m only one of maybe 15,000 fans at Tropicana Field. It’s better than a Marlins game, but nothing like a Cubs game.

flachimesa - October 19, 2008 reply

According to a Yahoo baseball blogger...

You wouldn’t have needed the lottery for Game 7 of the ALCS, you would’ve only had to show up outside the Trop….they couldn’t even find enough people in Tampa to give tickets away to outside the stadium.

MillsChC - October 20, 2008 reply

im with you as the rays as my AL team

I used to live about 20 minutes from Tropicana, went to games between 98 and 02 and that place used to be almost empty, even the inagural season we went to see the white sox play and the place was almost empty

truthaddict11 - October 20, 2008 reply

It's the f-ing WORLD SERIES, dood...

…I ain’t gonna miss it. I’m a baseball lover first, and Cubs lover in a very close second.

This series reminds me of the Cards Tigers World series in '06

Did anybody watch this because I sure as hell didn’t. I feel as if the Rays will win it 4-1 without much trouble.

I hope you're wrong.

The last four WS have been boring and one-sided. It’d be nice to have a seven-game Series.

The ALCS was pretty good, after all, after being dull and one-sided through game four. A close, well-played 7-game WS could redeem this postseason.

Well, except for the Cubs’ participation.

I bet Cliff Floyd never dreamed of this..

…when he signed that dotted line

A new trend in post-season play--low payroll team gets into the World Series?

This year it’s Tampa Bay ($44M), last year it was Colorado Rockies ($54M).

For the record, Phillies payroll is $98M.

Tampa Bay Rays are a young, hungry team, many playing for pennies on the dollar compared to the higher-priced teams.

I often wonder if today’s higher-priced players have the drive to play post-season.

Sometimes I think the more a player makes the less he cares.

flachimesa - October 19, 2008 reply

Yet another reason...

… why breaking the bank to sign every high-priced free agent in sight isn’t necessarily the way to win championships.

The Cubs provide financial security and stability with no-trade protection

to these high-priced free agents. If they don’t perform up to the hype, we’re stuck with them.

Another point, when young BJ Upton ($412K) failed to run out a double-play grounder, Maddon benched his lazy butt. Upton tested Maddon twice during the course of the year, getting benched both times.

Apparently, multi-millionaires don’t get benched.

I wonder if managers prefer leading young, unspoiled talent or high-priced Manny’s?

flachimesa - October 20, 2008 reply

Twins

I don’t know the Twins total payroll, but I assume it’s on the low end for MLB. They have not made it to the World Series since 1991, but they have gone to the post-season 4 of the last 7 years.

DrCrawdad - October 20, 2008 reply

This is why...

…being able to be more selective in the FA market is much better than needed to shop every offseason. Also, I believe it is important to look at the character side of who you sign as a FA as well.

When you have guys come up through your system and they become stars, I just think they have more internal pride for the organization that drafted them, and nurtured them a long the way. Those guys should be supplemented with the right trades and FA signings and you are good to go – just like the Red Sox have done for long term success.

MPH73 - October 20, 2008 reply

Garza gets ALCS MVP

With a sub-2 ERA and two victories. Pena, Longoria, or Upton coulda won it, too. Man, I love their young guys.

Dan

Aybar, too.