No Losers In 2008 World Series

The Rays didn't bring the bling of a championship ring as we'd hoped.  But anyone that labels them losers is a World Series Watcher, not a True Baseball Fan.

The 2008 Rays have gone from zeroes to heroes in a season.  They did it with a new name, a new look, and an unprecedented MLB payroll ranking.  Only the Florida Marlins spent less. 

Teamwork emerged as the Rays 2008 MVP.  Individual heroes were a fleeting thing.

Case in point: Joe Maddon who inspired professional athletes who probably thought they had nothing more to learn about themselves.  He helped Matt Garza discover the thrill of Post Season baseball. Turns out Matt just needed a Manager who really cared and a teammate to hold him accountable.

Case in point: Dan Johnson who stepped out of a Taxi to hit a game tying home run in Yankee Stadium kicking the Rays' playoff chase into high gear. His call up lasted only days.

Case in point: Dioner Navarro who was selected to the 2008 American League All-Star team recognizing his consistency, leadership, and 180 degree 12 month turnaround.  Navi winning over the Tampa Bay fans is arguably a greater accomplishment than the All-Star game itself.

Case in point: The Rays Bullpen.  Without their spectacular performance all season long, the Rays simply would not have made the post season on the strength of their hitting, which was often a gut wrenching weakness.  The pen, particularly JP Howell, Dan Wheeler, and recently David Price, picked up the starters and held opposing teams in check so the offense could provide just enough runs to eek out the wins. Percy's early and mid-season closes were masterful.

Case in point: The Reserves.  Willy Aybar, Fernando Perez, Ben Zobrist.  Whoda thunk it that the bottom third of the order, which turned over so frequently this season, would prove to be so strong.  A one hit, one play, one run, one game at a time mentality developed their confidence and by the end of July, the eyes of the Baseball World were riveted on Tampa Bay.

Case in point: The Front Office.  A new image, an exorcism, and a few absolutely brilliant trades and repositioning of players to shore up the middle.  Bartlett's unexpected swinging of the lumber was icing on the cake. And how 'bout the measured and timely uncorking of the Evan Longoria and David Price genies?  Pure magic.

Case in  point:  The Much Maligned Trop.  She became a competitive advantage instead of a quirky tin can. Still far from secure as the Rays long term home, she is no longer the laughing stock of the MLB in the wake of a World Series weather fiasco the last week of October in the rain soaked North East.

A 97 win regular season, an American League Pennant, and a burgeoning fanbase whose $100 personalized jersey purchases suggest they won't be bandwagon jumpers.  Countless stories of collective team efforts sparked by nearly every player on the 40 man roster.  Oh, The Places We Have Gone!

There was not a single loser on the field last night after
Eric Hinske swung at the final pitch of the 2008 season. 

Only winners.

Congratulations Eric Bruntlett...

"Your team just took the 2008 World Series.  Here's our announcer Johnny Olson to tell you what you've won..."

"Well Bob, all a baseball player really wants to do at the end of the season is get home to his wife, his family and all the comforts of home.  So we've arranged for Bud Selig's private jet to whisk Eric home to Santa Rosa, CA, in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine Country.  Where 3 inches of rain are expected this weekend. Bud will personally make the determination if conditions are appropriate to proceed. That might be 24 hours or 48 hours or who knows. We'll celebrate Thanksgiving here if we have to."

"Eric, your reaction?"

"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

Bring It Home

I refuse to give up on the 2008 Rays.  Rays Index documents the many other Brinks Of Elimination the Rays have teetered upon this season.  Granted, this is the highest brink upon which they have teetered. If they can follow the Skipper's advice and pull off three consecutive one game streaks, they will have jewel encrusted ring fingers on Opening Day 2009.  One hit, one pitch, one catch, one throw and one win at a time.  Bring it home to the Trop Tampa Bay.

********

Switching gears, I'm taking advantage of the swell in readership during the World Series

 to raise awareness of a deadly practice in the hope that it might save the life of someone you love.

'With 22% of 6th and 8th graders admitting to abusing inhalants, but only 3% of parents thinking their child has ever abused inhalants – it is clear that this generation of pre-teens and especially their parents have a lot to learn about the lethal nature of inhalant abuse.'

– Stephen J. Pasireb, President and CEO, The Partnership for a Drug-Free America

This week I received the news that my cousin died of inhalant abuse. "Huffing" or "bagging", as it's commonly known.  In an effort to understand how my cousin could have died this way, I learned that inhalant abuse is actually very common among pre-teens and teenagers. Their access to household chemicals such as Dust-Off, butane, nail polish remover, cooking sprays or even permanent markers makes them ripe for experimentation.  Inhalants can be lethal the first time they're used and they are often a pre-teen's first experience with risk taking behavior and abuse. Mark, age 35, was not a typical abuser but we can learn from his tragedy and become better informed parents, neighbors and friends. 

Mark's path to inhalants did not begin with teen peer pressure.  More likely, it began with a painkiller dependancy.  He was on a helitack firefighting crew in Grand Canyon National Park when his helicopter crash landed, leaving him with a back injury and a a life of chronic pain. Unable to fight fires any longer Mark, a man of faith, followed a calling to serve another way. He moved to Texas and began working with Casas Por Cristo an organization which builds homes for the needy in Juarez, Mexico. Somewhere along this path, to deal with his pain, Mark developed an addiction to Vicodin. The abuse of Dust-off began after he went thru clinical detox to get off the Vicodin. He said that he suffered from extreme anxiety after quitting Vicodin, and the Dust-Off allowed him to "check out" and avoid the anxiety. His family intervened, enrolling him in rehab, but Mark checked himself out of the program knowing this addiction  would likely kill him.  Last week, Mark was found dead in a shopping center parking lot sitting in his truck with several cans of Dust-Off (compressed air) in the seat beside him. 

Here are a few useful links I discovered trying to learn more about the issue. This link highlights warning signs such as chemical odors on breath or clothing, paint stains on the face, hands or clothes, and other physical signs of huffing.  And, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, "if you talk to your kids about the risks of drugs, they are 36% less likely to abuse an Inhalant." Here are some talking points to help you have an age appropriate discussion with your kids.

Please take a minute to look at this information.  Your kid may not be one of the 20% that experiment with inhalants, but someone they know... perhaps well... most certainly is.

Tug McGraw Conjures Up A Game 3 Win For The Phils

The Battle Of The Baseball Supernaturals  World Series took an eerie turn last night.   Reminiscent of The Rays inexplicable Game 5 loss to The Red Sox last week, the Phillies came out on top last night despite another umpiring non-controversy that broke the Rays Way. Here's the bloody game recap. Crikey.

You see, the ghost of Tug McGraw was quietly wrecking havoc with the Rays' 9th inning defense as the team tried to send a tied game to extras. At 1:47am.  His long lost, then found son, Tim McGraw of country music fame, walked the game ball out to legendary Phillies hurler Steve Carlton for the first pitch ceremony last night.  Seems he walked a little bit of Tug around the mound as well.

Explains a lot:

• Jamie Moyer's Game Of A Lifetime while sick as a dog. From the looks of things, might be tonsilitis.
• Matt Garza's Which Matt Is That performance
• Longo's wind shortened longball to LF in the top of the 6th with 2 out and one on
• Utley and Howards' back to back wind lengthened jacks to RF in the bottom of the 6th
• The Mad Australian's plunking of Santa Rosa's pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett in the bottom of the 9th
• The Mad Australian's Wild Pitch in the 9th allowing baserunners to advance
• Navi's bad throw on a 9th inning attempt allowing baserunners to advance
• Carlos Ruiz dribbler down the 3rd base line with bases loaded and a 5 man infield shift
• Evan Longoria's Hail Mary lob of Ruiz' dribbler over Navi's head
• The Phillies' walk-off dribbler is only their second base hit of the night 

And wouldn't you know it... the lead baserunner who was advanced all the way to walk-off run scoring status was Philly Eric Bruntlett, a guy who lives 20 miles up the road from PTown.

So, in a magnaimous return to The Pearls' roots... giving kudos to PTown area pros in pursuit of America's Game... Eric, here are your kudos.  Your second Pearlacious World Series Moment has been duly noted.  And my journalistic responsibilities have been met. And we expect to see you at Camp next weekend.

The Rays must win tonight or tomorrow to bring the Series home to Tampa Bay.  Where The Trop can work her much more potent magic.

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.

Ground Control To Major Jon

Cue the music maestro.....
(it's that playlist on your right)

Santa Claus is highly overrated.

The Rays are in the World Series. Game One: 5pm PTownTime. 

God Bless America !

Officially Funny David Chalk at Bugs and Cranks asked me if I'd like to do a Guest Blog about Jonny Gomes. Not feeling quite worthy of roasting Jonny on my own, I forwarded David a Very Rough Draft. Alexander Fleming made penicillin out of moldy cheese and Chalk made Jonny even funnier than he already is.

Take it away Chalk: Bugs and Cranks: Bugs and Cranks: The Regal Madness of Jonny Gomes

Rays in 5.

Ground Control to Major Tom Jon.

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground control to Major Tom Jon

Commencing countdown engine's on

Check ignition and may God's love be with you

(in case the Phillies take that Rocky thing seriously…)

Really? Rays Phillies World Series A Ratings Bust?

The blogs are abuzz about the looming TV Ratings Bust that a Tampa Bay / Philadelphia World Series will bring.  Commenters by the dozen quip, "Who outside these two cities even cares?"

You can bet Major League Baseball and FOX were making room in the vault for a Pink Hat Nation (once known as the Boston Red Sox) and LA Dodgers matchup.  Tradition, 90 million years of drama, star studded camera angles... big buck$.  Even a Rays/Dodgers series would have play off starved fan appeal on two coasts.

But the Rays and the Phillies? The naysayers don't think that anyone outside those area codes knows a thing about 'em, much less care how it turns out.  While this matchup is not the cash cow it might have been, here are PTown's Points To Ponder when fickle fingers find the remote tomorrow night:

1. Good time to buy stock in West Coast Pizza Chains:  An 8pm East Coast start time means mama's gotta cook during the game.  Ain't gonna happen in this house.  Pizzicato, Pappa Murphy's, Old Chicago, and Mary's Pizza are programmed into the speed dialer.  4 games, 4 pizzas.  4,000 miles of cardio at the gym between games.  
2. Not one, but TWO players are repping the "707" in this series: Jonny Gomes does not have a lock on the love from fans to the north.  Eric Bruntlett, the Phillies starting shortstop, was acquired by the Phils last November. Eric, who lives in Santa Rosa, was t-h-i-s close to a karma filled coaching appearance at CampForACure until the Astros called to tell him his cleats would be waiting even further from home in 2008.  I'd say the commute was worth it.
3. America loves an underdog. And the baseball world is full of them.  The Rays "zero to hero" story has a lock on the whole Underdog thing.  But baseball is full of hometown kids made good. There will be 50 of them on the field this week. Each with a network guys they played ball with from Little League on up... with their own legion of fans.  The thrill of a World Series victory with a home town connection. That's got to be good for a point or two in the ratings. Woonsocketians, just a stone's throw from BeanTown know what I mean. (Thanks Bugs and Cranks)
4. "The dog ate my homework" only has a prayer of working on the East Coast: With a 5:00 start out west, there's still lots of time to git 'er done.  But back east, it's bedtime for the little guys before the game even starts. 
5. This series will feature baseball players, not movie stars:  Seriously, it's annoying as hell when the TV dudes eat an entire inning interviewing some Hollywood Hottie DURING THE WORLD SERIES?  But Tampa Bay has a few. Apologies in advance for the predictable cameo appearances of The Great Hulk Hogan and Mike Alstott.   Jonny, 707's Shock Jock, has become somewhat of a hybrid in his 26th Man Role. Half MLB Star, half Papparazi Photo Op.  But at least he's in the dugout.  But seriously Jonny, when you go to meet the president in a few weeks, borrow a shirt OK?

Photo: Getty Images