"Who Knew?"

"...And when did they know it?"   The interesting question posed by Mike and Mike on this morning's show as baseball fans boned up on one of the game's new rules allowing for the suspension of tied World Series games.  Tell you what.  This fan had no clue that the Rays weren't playing for their baseball lives in the top of the 6th. Apparently, Carlos Pena also thought it was do or die time with 2 outs, BJ Upton on second and the Phillie's leading 2-1.  So he did.  Pena laced a ball through to center just out of Rollins reach, and BJ navigated the inch deep pools surrounding third base well enough to beat the throw home and tie the game at two.

As the world drew a collective breath, the tarps finally went on the field. By the time the umpiring crew deemed the field unplayable, the rain was coming down in half frozen sheets on a 39 degree night. Drenched players were in Flaps Down mode in their new Elmer Fudd caps. And there was no end in sight. For what it's worth, I think MLB got this one right.  Try to get the game in and do the right thing when the field becomes an icerink.

It seems that the tied game triggered the new rule, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said he would have invoked an indefinite rain delay to ensure all 9 innings were played.  Apparently this issue was discussed at length with both teams prior to Game 3 which started 90 minutes late due to weather. For whatever reason, the teams kept that info under their hats and the players were unaware last night.  It explains why Joe Maddon wasn't feeling the excrutiating pain of Kazmir's 6th walk quite as keenly as the rest of us. He knew it would be a 9 inning game.  And it may have put a charge in Pena's bat and the run they needed to stay in this thing.

The suspended game is set to resume in the bottom of the 6th tonight at 8pm EDT but the forecast calls for more rain.  If necessary, the game will be completed tomorrow. Or whenever it clears up in Philly.  A Rays win brings the Series back to The Trop. She and her lovely teflon roof are suddenly the talk of the town in soggy Philadelphia.

Longo also returned to the productive part of the lineup last night. He drove in Carlos Pena to put the Rays on the board in the top of the 4th.  Pena had doubled off the top of the wall in right, the ball barely escaping the webbing of Werth's to the delight of Rays fans from coast to coast. The boys are back.  In the nick of time.

Pena and Longoria somehow navigated the most bizarre and frustrating strike zone configuration the Rays have encountered all year.  For a birds eye view of what Home Plate Umpire Larry Kellogg saw, fast forward this YouTube to the 32 second mark. 

And speaking of birds eye views, let's wrap up this post with a time warp. Remember Dave Winfield's Fowl Ball?  God Bless Billy Martin in his front row seat: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2003/10/29/2003-10-29_fowl_ball__dave_winfield__bi.html

Rays Gearing Up For A Game Of Inches?

Pre-Game Pearls for tonight's must maintain momentum m-m-m-game. 

• Jonesin' for the Rays Walk Up Music during this road trip? There's a playlist at the bottom of the post ;-)
• BJ bounced back from a disappointing Game One, driving in what proved to be the winning run in the 4th.  The fielding tools of fans in Section 120 went untested in Game Two.
• But, Melvin Upton, you hustle your booty down the line every time. It's a game of inches and that inch might mean earn a World Series Ring.  Just ask Rocco. Almost punched out and drew a huge walk in a moment of umpire indecision.  Almost safe at home in a massive collision.  And how 'bout that beautiful double play catch/pick off combo catching Jason Werth too far off first base.  Game of inches. You never know when Werth is gonna serve up another bobble-drop on a routine play in right. Game of inches BJ. If Rocco can run like he might not see another World Series, so can you.  No style points for gliding on the basepaths. Especially the first 90 feet.
• Wicked weather predicted in Philly today.  Sounds like the worst might blow through by 9pm.  Or maybe not.  Could be a long night on the east coast.
• A rainout tonight might also muck up the Rays rotation.  Rays Index does a great job breaking that down. (http://www.raysindex.com/2008/10/world-series-rotation-rainout-could.html)
• Santa Rosa's Eric Bruntlett had his 15 minutes of fame getting the Phillies on the board with a solo pinch hit home run in Game Two. That'll be enough Eric. You don't need to be a hero to get an invite to Camp For A Cure.  
• Taylor Swift sings the National Anthem tonight.  Barely better than Tampa Bay's Back Street Boys.  Not by much. And I'm a country fan.
• Jonny Gomes the Spin Doctor.  All miked up for Game Three after his now famous flesh pressing with Obama.  The chatter that made it through was a spin on a Maddon quote last week. And it flopped. 
• Speaking of Joe Maddon, he was named Manager of the Year.  Amen. Exactly right. Here's a neat little tour of the Skipper's office courtesy of ESPN's Jim Caple.
  
  
  
• The Mad Australian, Grant Balfour is back on track. Pena and Longo need to ride that wave. The team whose bats wake up first might just win this thing.  The Phillies' are capable of much better than 1-28 with Runners In Scoring Position. 
• Jonesin for the Rays Walk Up Music? 

Zip Code Profiling Responsible For Rays Game One Loss

Here’s how I see it. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight through my Joe Maddon Glasses.

ZipCode Profiling Cost The Rays the game last night.

I’d have caught that foul ball. You know, the 2 out 2-1 change-up that BJ hit into the primo Section 120 seats with Aki on second. That ball was in Fan Territory by more than a Thunderstick. It should have been caught. By a Rays Fan. Not by Phillies’ 1B Ryan Howard.

Game changing.

I'd have caught that ball and kept the inning alive. But I was not there because my name was not pulled in the "I Want To See A Playoff Game But Live On The Other Coast So Don't Expect Me To Buy Season Tickets" lottery. I know they pulled my name out of that lottery tumbler at least a half dozen times and kept putting it back because of my zipcode. Major League Baseball doesn't think someone in California will big bucks on a ticket, much less a place to stay and something to eat. It's Zip Code Profiling and it's wrong.

I'd have caught the ball giving BJ Moster Mash Upton another pitch to knock in the tying run. Maybe he'd have gone yard again and put us ahead.

Instead, the people sitting in my World Series seats were dressed to the nines in their Rays gear and sporting beautiful acrylic nails. Probably with litttle mohawks and Joe Maddon glasses painted on them. You'd have thought Ryan Howard was covered in moldy Philadelpia Cream Cheese the way those fans parted to let him grab that ball over the third row aisle. 

All we can do tonight is hope that BJ can shake off the dissappointment.  All you front row fans better be prepared to pick him up tonight. Wear it if you have to. The pain only lasts for a day or two.

RAY-DEMPTION ! ! !

Your 1:39am EST update... Rays win on a BJ Upton bloop sac fly in the 11th that scored Fernando Perez, pinch running for Navi. Didn't I tell you the Magic Bus needed Perez' speedy wheels? Ray-demption.

The series is tied. Tampa Bay, the boys will be back for Game 6. To win the ALCS at home.

Evan Longoria, BJ, and Dan Wheeler ... Game 2 Heroes . And we needed some.

A 9>8 win. How perfect. PollyAnna is gonna sleep like a baby tonight.

White Sox Blacked Out. Rays to ALCS!

Oh my. Win # 100.
They are playing for
the American League Championship.

Outrageous.

The eye black is dripping down my shirt. But it's running in rivers down the steps of US Cellular Field. The Chicago Black Out was an awesome show of fan support.

BJ has found his stroke, alright, going yard in his first two at bats. Pena is back on his game after that untimely eye injury on the eve of Game One. The Ray's first baseman was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs tonight. Cliff Floyd and Dioner Navarro each drove in a run to round out the 6-2 effort for Tampa Bay. Props to Gabe Gross for plucking A.J. Pierzynski's long ball out of the air as it crossed the fence down the 1st base line. Sonny pitched a beautiful 5.2 innings giving up (only) 2 home runs on 3 hits. Grant Balfour came on in relief of Howell in the 8th and stayed in the game to close, facing only 7 batters in two innings. Troy who?

The boys are now pillaging the Visitors' Club House at US Cellular Field while the Angels try to send their series with the Red Sox back to LA. That's a fine idea. Another double digit inning, bullpen bashing, marathon would be a delightful way to spend a Monday evening. Then you can count on PTown fan to phlip phlop one more time. An ALCS match up with Boston means home field advantage for the Rays. And we totally rock at The Trop.

Dear Mrs. Pena,

If (only) you read my blog, please don't give Carlos any "honey do's" between now and the end of October.  We need both eyes on the ball.  Big time.  I totally rock at dusting.  I'm happy to fill in.  Limited time offer...  After RockTober, it's over.

Feel the love,

PTownFan

Sweeps Are Boring

The Rays lost in Chicago yesterday, but no big deal. We almost always drop one on the road. One loss, no biggie. Just means the game plan is on track. Garza wasn't great, but he was good enough. BJ found his stroke and pounded a homer. If he doesn't serve up long balls, Sonny's gonna sew things up tonight.

The Sox/Angels game last night... now that was entertaining. I can't believe I watched 9 straight hours of baseball yesterday. Rain delays, extra innings and a record number of Viagra commercials really add up. But that pile of ironing I've been putting off is all done :-)

I hope the Angels take it to the Sox again tonight. Tie things up. Clean out that bullpen. Soften those BeanTown boys up, then drop the last game. We like homefield advantage. We'll make it up to you somehow. Maybe some cushy hot stove season trade. We won't forget.

Go Rays. Let's button this thing up tonight in ChiTown.