Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Rays Republic

The Rays clinch their first playoff spot.
"Pinch me," read the sign behind the third-base dugout.

Few words could better describe the feelings of Rays fans, who saw their team bust out from the basement in 2008 and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history after never winning more than 70 games in a season, which they did one time during a fourth-place campaign in 2004.

Tropicana Field had a soul Saturday afternoon, and every time one of Joe Maddon's Mohawk militia did something right, the echoes of the sellout crowd of 36,048 responded with raucous cheers. And there were plenty of cheers, because the Rays did plenty right in a 7-2 win over the Twins that served as the turnkey to enter the postseason party.
There is no earthly explanation for the Ray’s fortune. Their stats reveal no Big Papis, no A-Rods or Jeters. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we believe.

A lot of the players are sporting Mohawks for the playoff run (Should I get one?). The next step is to win the Al East. The Rays are 2.5 games up with 9 games to go. They won the season series, so a tie would go to the Rays.

After that is to gain the best record in the AL. We are two games behind the Angels. The good news is that, after one last game @ home vs. The Twins, we end the season playing two stiffs, 4 @. Baltimore and 4 @ Detroit.

Of course the final goal is to beat the Mets in the World Series.

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