Finally...At long and blessed last...It's about time...Take that skeptics.
These phrases, along with many others, are almost certainly the most common words being spoken in Tampa Bay, FL this week, as for the first time in its history, the Tampa Bay Rays have won a playoff series and have advanced to the American League Championship Series.
It wasn't enough that the Rays (or as everyone still calls them, the Devil Rays) finished above .500 for the first time in franchise history, they went on to win the A.L. East by a two-game margin before securing a spot in the ALCS with a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox to take the first-round series, 3-1.
There is no team in baseball that deserves to win the World Series more than the group of "sandlot players" in Tampa Bay.
The Red Sox have broken the curse of the Bambino; America is now tired of them.
The Dodgers' fans are the most unloyal and fair-weathered fans in baseball history. If you can't arrive to the game before the first pitch is thrown, and you can't sit in your seat past the sixth inning during a regular-season game, your team doesn't deserve a Championship.
The Phillies are boring. The Brewers collapsed. The Cubs can't even beat a "curse" from a billy goat, the White Sox don't like each other, and the Angels are the biggest group of underachievers since that guy that was drafted ahead of Michael Jordan (old what's his name).
This leaves one deserving team of the World Championship this season, the Rays, and here are five reasons why:
1. Homegrown Talent
15 of the players on the 2008 Tampa Bay roster are products of their very own farm system and wise drafting strategies. These homegrown players aren’t the run-of-the-mill bench players either; these are starters and superstars.
A guy like Evan Longoria, the deserving A.L. Rookie of the Year, with his .272 batting average, 27 home runs, and 85 RBI in 2008, has proved what homegrown talent can do. Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli were both drafted and groomed by the Rays. The Rays have built their team the right way; their superstars were not bought, they were developed.
2. Get the Fans to the Park
The Rays had one of the lowest attendance-averages during regular-season games, averaging 22,370 fans per game this season (third lowest among A.L. teams).
Before now, a Rays ticket was about as desirable as a case of the measles, but a World Series Championship will bring the fans to the field and turn a ticket to a Rays game into one of the most wanted items in Florida.
The players in Tampa Bay deserve a full stadium, and a World Series appearance and Championship will give them what they deserve.
3. Joe Maddon
Is there any doubt that this guy is the A.L. Manager of the Year? You would have to be an absolute fool to vote otherwise. He happened to manage only the second team in major-league history to win more than 95 games only one year after losing more than 95 games.
While some managers may celebrate victories with a cold brewskie, Maddon sips on a nice glass of wine from a bottle he keeps on a wine rack in his office at Tropicana Field.
4. Payroll
The Rays' payroll for 2008 was an astonishing $43.8 million. This is by far the lowest in the American League and second lowest in the major leagues (the Marlins are lowest at $21.8 million).
When compared to the teams they beat in their division, the Rays, who are over $20 million less than the 2008 A.L. East last place Orioles, have proven that teams can be developed.
With only $43.8 million on their payroll, the Rays still managed to embarrass their A.L. East opponents, all of who happen to have much larger payrolls (Yankees $209 million, Red Sox $133.4 million, Blue Jays $98.6 million, Orioles $67.1 million).
5. Who saw it coming?
This was the worst team in baseball last season, with a 66-96 record; finishing 30 games behind the division winning Red Sox. This season saw the Rays jump out to a 14-12 record after one month of action (the first above-.500 month in franchise history) and finish with a 97-65 record and an A.L. East title.
The Vegas odds for the Rays winning the World Series at the beginning of the MLB season were an astonishing 150-1. The odds-makers put the Rays at 75-1 for winning the American League before the season began. If Vegas didn’t see it coming, no one did.
After 11 years of existence, the Rays are on the brink of achieving greatness, and it’s time to take the old, overrated, overexposed, and overly boring out of the World Series and welcome the new, classy, and homegrown boys in.
So put down the beer, grab a glass of wine, and raise it high in the air as we toast manager Joe Maddon and his miracle team.
Here’s to you Tampa Bay.
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about 1 month ago
Reason #1 why they don't deserve to win:
They have about 25 real fans.
#2
They've only been around for ten years.
Also, I'd just like to point out that there is no actual city called Tampa Bay. The city is Tampa. You might want to change that.
from about 1 month ago
Andrew,
The city is St. Petersburg. The region is Tampa Bay and includes Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, as well as several other cities. You might want to make a note of that.
Watch a game, you'll see a few more than 25 fans at the Trop -- in St. Petersburg.
Go Rays!
from about 1 month ago
Ok, I stand corrected. I guess I couldn't surmise enough about Florida's geography from wikipedia. As for the 25 real fans statement, I stand by that. How many of those fans in the Trop do you think followed this team back in April? I would be willing to say less than 50%.
from about 1 month ago
Andrew,
Only being around for 11 years doesn't mean a thing. The D'Backs won a World Series in their third year of existance. Also, Tampa Bays in whole is the region that supports the Rays. Every other team has Tampa Bay. What are you, a Red Sox fan? You obviously don't know the first thing about the Rays and the Tampa Bay area. Maybe do a little research before you start ripping our team.
Devon
from about 1 month ago
To reply to the 25 fans comment, I know a ton of people who have followed the Rays through the rough years. I also know that when we did bad, we still drew 15,000 to 20,000 fans a game. Most of them were Rays fans. You are right, we have acquired a lot of fans since we started winning. I welcome them with open arms. We are building a large fan base.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, I am a Red Sox fan. I guess I should have said that the large amounts of front-runners who now are Rays fans don't deserve to see them win the World Series. Seriously nothing makes me madder than the fans at any baseball game who sit in the front row and don't know what's going on, don't know when to cheer, and don't know anything about their team. The thing that bothers me about the Rays is that their fanbase seems to be made up predominantly of these people. As for the true Rays fans, they do deserve it. Lord know they've been through hell.
As for the Tampa/Tampa Bay thing, I wasn't trying to rip anybody, I was just trying to correct what I thought was a mistake. It was referred to as Tampa Bay, Florida, so I thought that he thought it was a city.
And I have all the respect in the world for your team and your real fans, just not for the huge numbers of bandwagoners that go to your games.
about 1 month ago
Andrew, how many red Sox "fans" have been following the team since Buckner days. Sox and yankees hats are all over the nation... Any of them fans during the down years? Fans in the Tampa region now have something exciting... Why can't the follow a team when they are winning just like fans of any other team?
from about 1 month ago
I agree that Tampa fans can follow a team... if they follow it in the good and bad times. As for the Sox fans comment, look at just about every native New Englander, they are mostly all hardcore Red Sox fans. The Sox fans that you know probably are not real fans either, if they aren't from New England.
about 1 month ago
Excuse my errors in my last comment... i was writing from my phone.
about 1 month ago
"The Dodger fans are the most unloyal and fair weathered fans in baseball history. If you can't arrive to the game before the first pitch is thrown and you can't sit in your seat past the sixth inning during a regular season game, your team doesn't deserve a Championship."
You had me at that. Haha. Dude awesome article man. I love this article A LOT. Go Rays..Happy to have you at Bleacher Report.
about 1 month ago
Awesome article. I could not agree more with Rory, Dodger fans are super bandwagon fans.
about 1 month ago
Great article. Go Rays!
about 1 month ago
The only thing worse than Dodger fans, are Braves fans... HAHA!
about 1 month ago
The White Sox don't hate each other...
about 1 month ago
Dude the Dodger's comment is completely unnecessary and ridiculous. You, a Tampa Bay Rays fan are calling out other fans??? Are you kidding me???? You have the lowest attendance in baseball this decade and when they are suddenly good this year the fans show up...at the end of the year nonetheless!!!... how is that not fair-weathered??? That is complete hypocrisy. Secondly, who was 2nd this year in baseball attendance? I'll give you a hint...they are the only real team in L.A. and rhymes with Rodgers.... Lastly, do you have any idea why the fans seem to arrive late??? I'll give you a hint....the traffic in L.A. is a little worse than in most cities and fans are just laid back out there. Go to a Dodgers game....go and experience it before you sit here and bash a city and fans you know nothing about.
Besides the most bandwagon fans belong to the Red Sox now a days...how else do you explain the most popular team in sports the last 20 years being the Yankees in every poll...suddenly in 2004 when the Sox won the series a Red Sox Nation was born and now there are more Boston fans. Gimme a break.
No offense dude but the Dodgers section of this article is completely biased and false. I do want the Rays to go to the World Series and I think they are a great story and the definition of a team
from about 1 month ago
The L.A. Codgers?
from about 1 month ago
knee slapper tyson
from about 1 month ago
Thanks man, I'll be here all night... Try the veal.
from about 1 month ago
The Dodgers have played in front of more fans that any other franchise in sports. Look it up.
The also average more than 47,000 a game. Name a team that beats that.
Traffic in Los Angeles is certainly not the fault of Dodger fans, so don't give me the can't arrive before the first pitch kind of crap. Dodger Stadium is one of the only stadiums with no mass transit that goes to it. It's a tough reality, but it's tough to get their on time if you work, and you have to leave early if you need to get out quickly.
I was at game three of the division series. When Dodger fans are rallied, they are a force to be reckoned with. Shut up with your L.A bashing.
Thank you for the defense of LA Jonny.
from about 1 month ago
Andrew,
The Dodgers have averaged some very impressive attendance. However, they also have the second largest baseball stadium (behind Yankee Stadium). L.A. seats 56,000 people... so you averaged 10,000 less than your capacity... that's a lot of empty seats.
Boston only seats 37,000 people... and they could easily fill a 56,000 seat stadium if they had one. Philly only has 43,000 seats in its stadium.
Sure, Tampa hasn't always filled the Trop (35,000 seat capacity), but you can bet they will for the next two rounds of the playoffs.
about 1 month ago
Great article, I'd like to see the Rays win one (even though I'm a devoted Yankee fan).. and you're right about the Dodgers fans, haha.
about 1 month ago
Even if you discount the so called "bandwagon" Bostn fans and only count the fans who've been around since the Buckner days, the Boston fans still out number Rays fans by about 1000 to one.
You're fully insane for mentioning Dodger fans! The Rays barely half filled their stadium while in the midst of a fight to keep the division lead.
Baseball belongs in Florida about as much as Rosie O'Donnell belongs in a g-string.
about 1 month ago
I'm about two pink Red Sox hats away from freaking out...You think Yaz would've let that crap fly?
I enjoyed the article, Kyle. As soon as it became clear to me that the Tigers' season was going down in flames, I jumped on the Rays' bandwagon. I know another bandwagon fan might not help you win over those Dodgers and Red Sox fans, but if there's a team out there playing more exciting baseball, I'd like to see them.
Also, it was nice to see somebody break up the monotony of the AL East.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, the Phillies are boring as hell. Brad Lidge didn't blow a save all year and only had a couple come very close. Where's the excitement in that? They hit more homers than anyone else in the NL, but where's the manufacturing? Where's the BUNTING? The second-highest run scoring offense in the NL is all well and good, but when your bullpen is one of the five best in all the Majors, where's the late-game excitement with close games?
Oh and don't get me started on some of the smaller things. What fun is stealing if you're gonna do it at 85% efficiency? It's like a sure thing, and what good is that for EXCITEMENT?
Look, if your main argument for saying this Rays team "deserves" a title more than the Phillies because the Phillies are "boring," you obviously didn't pay much attention to them. I like the Rays. I like their players and I like the way they do business (your manager's name is "Maddon" by the by), but 10 years of existence does not trump the quest for a 2nd title in 12 1/2 times that length.
Go beat Boston for us, but don't spit on everyone along the way.
about 1 month ago
Wow, Phillies and Dodger fans... go easy on me. In my opinion, the Phillies are somewhat boring to watch, but maybe that's just me. Furthermore, it is nothing against just Dodger fans, it's all L.A. fans, no matter the sport... in fact, the Lakers fans are even worse.
As for the White Sox... when you watch those games, it sometimes seems as thought they don't like each other... and with Guillen as a manager, I'm sure the negative energy is easy to catch.
Let me just clear the air as well, I am a Braves fan (a depressed one at that). I just enjoy watching the Rays and I enjoy the way that their organization is run. I think Maddon has done wonders in just three years and I think the front office and the rest of the organization deserves a Championship this year.
I love this website and the chance to interact with all of you... Bleacher Report for life!
about 1 month ago
The Rays deserve to win the World Series "at long last"????? They've only been around for ten years. How greedy could you possibly be? Try being a Phillies fan, or a Cubs fan, or an Indians fan. Wait until the Rays actually have a real HISTORY, then maybe they'll deserve to win a World Series.
from about 1 month ago
For those who have been following the Rays for the last 11 years... "at long last" is no exaggeration.
from about 1 month ago
Also Rick, if the Indians didn't suck, I would write the same for them. If the Cubs had imploded, I would write the same thing for them.
The Phillies won the World Series only 16 years ago... those fans have only been waiting five years longer than any Rays fans... why does that make them so much more deserving?
about 1 month ago
Kyle....buddy....
Before I start, I would like to ask which Red Sox games you've been watching or what baseball coverage you've been watching. At both games in Anaheim, or LA, or wherever it is those schizophrenic Angels play, there were "Let's go, Red Sox" chants that were most clearly audible on television. I also attended a Rangers/Red Sox series in Arlington, Texas about two weeks before the regular season was over, and the Rangers fans were outnumbered 2 to 1 in a full ball park all three nights. It wasn't even close. I don't know where you got that. No one is getting tired of the Red Sox. In fact, and in large part due to the Rays success, the Red Sox are becoming even more popular because of the growing rivalry between the two teams. New bad blood in baseball! Nothing is more polarizing in American sports than heated rivalries, and this one is about to get nasty.
Those are five of the worst reasons for deserving a championship I've ever heard.
1. Home grown talent does not make you deserving of winning a championship any more than the next team, nor is it the "right way." It's another way, and it's a good way, and maybe better for the future of this particular franchise, but it is in no way the "right way." The only reason the Rays don't sign big free agents is because 1) their fan base sucks and they don't make any money and 2) nobody has wanted to play there until this season when 23 other teams were sitting home in October. They did this out of necessity, not because of any belief in the "right way of doing things." They merely had no other option.
2) You are basically saying that the organization deserves a championship because their fan base is the most wishy washy in the league. It actually makes them less deserving. One of the things you always hear from the owner and MVP of championship teams when they are being handed their championship trophy is "This is for you (insert championship winning city)! We have the greatest fans in the world, and no other fans deserve this more!" Should the Rays pull off the WS victory (which is entirely possible) and they say that, they are lying. Lying through their teeth. The Rays players shouldn't sign a single autograph in the playoffs for the fans who immediately snapped up every single ticket for the playoff games. Where were they in the regular season? FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS? Most undeserving fan base in the nation, in any single sport, on any level.
3) Great, Joe Maddon should be manager of the year. Though this is the only one of the five reasons that remotely makes sense, that doesn't mean the team deserves a championship. That means Joe Maddon deserves to be manager of the year. What the Rays and Madden really deserve are smarter, better, more loyal fans, not a championship. It's their first playoff appearance ever. Every single other team in the playoffs this year deserves a championship more than Tampa Bay. Maybe every other team in the ML, minus the Nationals. And what does his drinking of wine have anything to do with it?
4) The payroll is small because they are in a horrible baseball market and have horrible baseball fans. The Minnesota Twins are far more deserving because of their small market and small payroll. Again, the Rays have been to the playoffs, and won more than 70 games, exactly one time in their history. The Twins are around almost every year. They are far more deserving than the Rays.
5) This is the one that makes the least sense of them all. What difference does this make? The reason they came out of nowhere is because of their development of talent, which was directly related to their poor support by their fan base, if you can say they even have one, because they simply didn't have the money to sign anyone, or the ability to get a big name player to even consider playing there (and Barry Bonds flirting with the idea in the preseason doesn't count. The man would play anywhere for peanuts right now).
I love it that you are a Rays fan. You may be the only one around. Hopefully you didn't just come out of the woodwork with the rest of the band wagon fans when they actually won half their games and made the playoffs. If you've been a fan since their inception, and have followed them proudly, win or lose, then good for you, I commend you, and honestly, you should be given a medal. The fact is, however, the Rays in no way deserve anything that they haven't gotten, except, like I said, a more supportive fan base. They've only been around ten years, have never been in the playoffs, and have a roster full of really young players. When they've earned their share of knocks, had some playoff experience, and actually earned the right to say they deserve a championship, then please come back and re-write this article. Then you'll have some more sensical reasons why they deserve it.
about 1 month ago
Couple other things.
Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted ahead of Michael Jordan. Hall of Famer. Two NBA championships.
How in the world could you call out any other fan base for leaving early, being band wagon, etc.? We're talking about the Rays. Again, worst fan base in sports. The owners should move the team.
How can you think the Phillies are boring to watch? Paul has a point.
How do you know the White Sox don't like each other? You say that because you think Guillen is negative? Those guys love Guillen. He is absolutely GREAT for baseball, and all of sport. A guy who will actually say what he thinks is rare these days.
The Angels are underachieving? They won a championship not long ago.
The Brewers collapsed? How about the fact that the NL just isn't very good over all. The Brewers didn't collapse, they got beat by a better team.
The Cubs didn't get beat because they are cursed. The Cubs got beat because their players can't play baseball in October. This isn't all that uncommon. Have you seen the Yankees in the playoffs the last few years? A-Rod was the worst October player in history until Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano came along.
Seriously, I'm not mad at you, but nothing you said made any sense, and you basically crapped on the rest of the league with everything you said. I'm a Boston fan, have been for longer than the Rays have been around, and I hope that the Rays don't have to wait as long as the Sox did to win a championship. No one should have to endure that. (Except maybe the Yankees, and only them because they are tearing down Yankee Stadium.) I love Maddon, I love their young players, I love the way they play baseball, and I can't wait for this rivalry to blossom into something huge. But hold up on the "deserving" business.
from about 1 month ago
thought i'd let you know...the author was probably referring to sam bowie, not hakeem olajuwon
about 1 month ago
I know I may sound like a nagging old harpy of a woman at this point. However....
The Rays did not embarrass the Red Sox in the AL East. The season series was 8-10. The Angels embarrassed the Red Sox in the regular season with a 1-8 mark. Then the Red Sox crushed them in the playoffs yet again.
Ok I promise I'm done now.
from about 1 month ago
Drew,
First of all, I'm glad you had so many opinions. I welcome them all.
Second of all.. Sam Bowie was actually drafted right in front of Jordan in 1984... he really had a great career. I was referring to Bowie (drafted immediately before Jordan) Not Olajuwon (drafted two spots ahead of Jordan).
I don't care that the Angels won the World Series in 2002, who on their team now was there when that happened? I meant that the Angels underachieved this year... and you are crazy if you think otherwise.
I'm glad you aren't "mad at me" because I was really worried about that... the Sox... oh the Sox... your point about people being there at these games in other spots is what bothers me the most...
unlike yourself, most of these people buy into the Sox for the image, they aren't real fans... and there are a lot of people who are tired of hearing about them... I'm not the only one.
Okay, obviously the Cubs didn't lost to a Billy Goat... thanks for pointing that out... I realize that a Billy Goat didn't make the errors and didn't forget how to hit against the Dodgers... I was obviously being sarcastic... you'll catch on.
Why wouldn't home grown talent make a team deserving a win? In my opinion, they did it the right way. Buying a team doesn't make you deserving... it makes your rich. The payroll is a great reason why they deserve it... look what they've done compared to what others have done with much more money... more proof that home grown talent is key.
Thanks for the comments, I loved them (honestly), you seem like a very devoted Red Sox fan. (I'm a Braves fan by the way... just love the way the Rays play ball).
Peace Drew.
about 1 month ago
When the Sox are in town, there is usually more fans for them than for the Rays. The biggest reason they don't deserve to win, is the way they wouldn't do anything to bridge the gap before the youngsters started coming up. They were talked about being disbanded just a couple of years ago, because they were so pathetic; no matter what division they play in. I am a Red Sox fan, and I do like the Rays so don't take it that I hate them. I also happen to live in Cincinnati, and the stuff they have done here to the fans is just as bad. With Tampa they seemed to not care at all. With the small payroll they have they should have been able to add a closer, starting pitcher or Jason Bay. If the Rays fail, all their supposed fans will be screaming about this fact. One other thing about the fans. Why did Scott Kazmir call out the fans for not showing up, if there were so many of them? They have been in first place almost all year.
about 1 month ago
On your point #2, let's look at how Floridians responded to the Marlin's success:
[remember, the Marlins won their last world series in 2003]
Ave. Attendance:
2003: 16,290 (28th)
2004: 22,091 (26th)
2005: 22,792 (28th)
2006: 14,384 (30th)
2007: 16,919 (30th)
2008: 16,688 (30th)
Only two seasons removed from the defense of their championship, their average attendance fell to last in the league and has stayed there ever since.
I agree the Rays look to have a solid enough foundation to challenge the Sox and the Yanks for the AL East title and the AL wild card spot for the next couple years. But I'd be afraid that ownership looks at how the success of their neighbors failed to fill seats and sell off for profit.
from about 1 month ago
Let's also look at what the Marlins did following both their World Series win... they sold the farm. They bought their Championships... I'm saying that the Rays will bring in fans because they are going to have the same guys for a while (provided they all extend) and that is exciting to be emotionally invested in an organization and to feel like you know the guys on the field.
about 1 month ago
Kyle... I think you're missing the point. If Sam Bowie wouldn't have had a bum knee, he would've been just as good, if not better than MJ.
As for Red Sox fans, I realize that you may have been with your team through Buckner and the disappointing years earlier this decade, but you can't deny the fact that since 2004 the Red Sox morphed from the lovable "idiots" to the Yankees 2.0, outbidding other teams to field a team of All-Stars. Look, I was so happy that the Sox won in 2004, especially in the manner that they did. But this isn't the same organization anymore, and you can't argue that it is. You can thank the pink hats and the bandwagoners who buy them for pumping revenue into the organization so the Red Sox can make like the Yanks and buy their talent.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, that knee really held Bowie back... he was destined for greatness.
from about 1 month ago
When you refer to the Sox outbidding other teams to field a team of All Stars which guys are you referring to, Matsuzaka, Beckett & JD Drew or their home grown talent? Remember that a solid chunk of the core of this season: Lester, Lowrie, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Papelbon, Youkilis, Varitek, Masterson & Delcarmen all made their major league debuts with the Sox...and Ortiz was claimed off waivers. Lowell was forced on the Sox if they wanted Beckett & Jason Bay was taken on as a form of clubhouse chemotherapy. The Red Sox have done a fantastic job at growing organically. If a team drafts well and develops their prospects in the minors, shouldn't they be allowed to keep that talent without criticism?
from about 1 month ago
Bierut,
Varitek is hardly a product of the Red Sox farm system. He may have made his debut in the bigs with the Sox, but he was drafted originally by the Twins, then went back to college before being drafted again by the Mariners, where he played for their AA farm club team.
As for your others, you are right, those are good players who have come up through the system. Seven good players to be exact... considerably less than the 15 on Tampa Bay's roster.
I never once said the Sox didn't have a good group of young guys that they have developed. The Rays don't have a monopoly on reasons why they deserve the Championship, Sox fans can feel that they deserve it for their home grown talent as well.
I am pointing out, however, that the Rays have a significant number of big time players who are home grown... they haven't bought many guys (this season).
from about 1 month ago
Boston's formula for winning has worked. If it works, go ahead and do it.
My point is that the Red Sox have morphed to a team that, to me, is no different than the Yankees.
That's why I'd like to see the Rays beat Boston, because they are a great example of the anti-Red Sox/Yankees. If you have the resources to build a team like Boston does, more power to you. It's just refreshing to us non-bandwagoners to see an underdog beat that system and knock off one of the big boys. Wilt said it best when he said, "Nobody roots for Goliath."
from about 1 month ago
couldn't agree more Tyson
from about 1 month ago
Kyle, my comments were directed at Tyson..
..but since you mentioned Varitek, you've gotta admit that even though he spent time in the Mariners farm system he was still added to the Sox before he had any major league experience and was far from a sure thing. That's a whole lot different than buying an All Star, right?
The Rays are a great underdog story this year, and I love that the AL East is guaranteed to represent the league in the series. If I hadn't been born into a Sox household in the mid 1970s, I would be pulling for them right now too. I will pull for them to finish top 2 in the AL East along side the Sox again next year.
about 1 month ago
Great article...I agree with all your saying, its great to see an organization build a team from its farm system, and spent little money, in comparison to everyone else.
about 1 month ago
In response to your response, Kyle... the Phillies did not win the World Series sixteen years ago. They were IN the World Series in 1993, but lost to the Blue Jays. The Phillies have only won ONE World Series in their entire 100+ years history, and that was in 1980. THAT is what makes them more deserving than the Rays. Being ten years old does not constitute having a history. Get your facts straight next time.
from about 1 month ago
My bad about the World Series comment. I knew they were in there in 1993 but forgot that the Jays got them. I should have researched it before leaving the comment, but I was on my phone and didn't. Thanks for pointing it out.
I hope we can still be Bleacher Report friends Rick.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, I guess the Rays will be deserving to win a World Series once they first lose 10,000 games huh Rick?
from about 1 month ago
Absolutely! LOL
It takes real character to be a Phillies fan. That, and a real tolerance for punishment.
about 1 month ago
I would like to believe that a win would get Tampa Bay some more fans for next year but...I'm just not sold. Its great that some people are finally showing up and supporting the team, but they have quickly become some of the most annoying fans in baseball. Only Rays fans could have taken a concept that is already been overdone and proven to be annoying (thundersticks/stadium noisemakers) and turn it into something much more annoying; cowbells. If they win every home playoff game from here on out, it will not be because of how well the team played, all the talk will be about those annoying cowbells and how they have no place in baseball.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, see the thing about professional sports is that no one DESERVES to win, you have to earn it. Do the Cubs deserve a World Series? Probably, but it's won't be handed to them.
The Rays have eight games to win to EARN a championship.
about 1 month ago
Actually I would love to see the Rays win a World Series. It would be a great story. Just not this year because this is the Phillies' year. ;)
from about 1 month ago
haha. We all want the good story to happen... until it directly affects our team. I'm a Braves guy, if they were even good enough to be in the playoffs, I would only want them to win...lol.
about 1 month ago
Well, I liked your article. Though apparently you seemed to have pissed in some people's cheerios in the process.
about 1 month ago
This is very messy
about 1 month ago
hey kyle.
i know you were talking about sam bowie, but hakeem was drafted before michael too. just making a point.
ok, so it's been a few years since the angels won. they're not really underachieving this year though. they won 100 games in one of the worst divisions in baseball, and then got trounced by the defending world champs, of which almost all of their players are back.
i wasn't worried about you thinking you were mad at me. i just didn't want to sound like a jackass. i had a lot of negative comments. your article was well written and i obviously enjoyed it. if it gets responses like that then you're doing a good job.
growing your own talent makes you deserving if you had an option about doing or not. it's a different deal when it's your only course of action. i'm not saying they're less deserving because they've never signed a free agent. growing your own talent is key to winning only if that's the way you build your organization. i think the rays deserve better than they are ever going to get in tampa. baseball belongs in florida like palin belongs in the white house. the owners need to pick up and go.
the red sox aren't quite the yankees in the payroll department, not yet at least. they have several guys that have already been mentioned here that they've grown as well, and their payroll is currently still (if i'm not mistaken) $70 M behind the yankees.
again, you can't compare red sox fans with rays fans. when was the last time fenway wasn't sold out, or at least reaching maximum capacity? pretty sure it was well before we won the series in 2004. when was the last time the rays stadium wasn't sold out? hmmm.....a week and a half ago? there may be loads of bandwagon sox fans, and honestly, i think they are as ridiculous as you do, but the red sox aren't a team who've built their fan base solely on success. it's been more on painful, infamous losing.
man i love the way the rays play ball too. i honestly like their style better than the red sox right now, though they are somewhat similar. there is just more small ball being played by tampa, which i love. when you can hit the long ball and play small ball, it's awesome, and though the sox can do both, the rays are probably better at manufacturing runs.
i don't know if the sox can beat the rays. i'm not sure how much confidence i have in it after tampa rolled in and took 2 of 3 in boston at the end of the season. i'm ready to see where this rivalry goes too. new bad blood in baseball is something that's been needed. it might even bring more fans to the game than steroid munching long ball hitters.
sorry about your braves, man. i've been a cox/mazzone/chipper fan for years.
really did love the article. i just like to argue, and with someone who is intelligent. hard to find sometimes. keep it up bro.
about 1 month ago
Good article Kyle, seems like some people were hating on you for your opinions.
Honestly guys, who "deserves" a championship. Whoever wins it. That's it.
It's not how you get into the playoffs, it's what you do when you're there. Whoever takes the crown, deserves the crown.
P.S Quit knockin on L.A. fans. When our teams are bad, their expensive ticket prices keep us away. Don't think it doesn't mean we're not watchin on TV. As far as the showing up late and leaving early comment....Dodger fans should not be faulted for the crappy freeway system that was designed here, causing gridlock from 3-8, and also for pour design for their parking lot, which holds 16 thousand cars that are only allowed out of 5 entrances that dump on to slow moving freeways and side streets.
Ranking in the top in attendance for having terrible teams pretty much every year since 1988 says a lot about Dodger fans...we averaged 47,000 a game in 07, and looked where we finished.
Sorry Phillies fans, you will have to wait at least one more year, L.A. is hungry.
from about 1 month ago
The Phillies are hungry too! Especially after getting to the playoffs last year and getting swept by the Rockies. Especially after not having won a postseason game in 15 years, before this year. Especially after not having won a World Series in 28 years. And especially after only having won 1 World Series in the entire history of their franchise, which is one of the oldest in baseball, and yes, having lost over 10,000 games. So don't talk to me about who is "hungry" and who isn't.
This is going to be a very tough series. Both of these teams were extremely evenly matched during the regular season.
from about 1 month ago
Rick,
Relax. Can you tell me where I said the Phillies weren't hungry? Seems like Phillies fans have an inferiority complex.
about 1 month ago
Drew and Andres,
thanks for reading and commenting on the story guys. This website is so great because it allows us die hard sports fan the opportunity to talk to each other. Hopefully you guys no that no hard feelings are ever intended... opinions are great and they are fun to argue.
I can't go with the traffic reason for Dodger fan to be late to a game and leave early... traffic is an issue almost anywhere there is any type of fan.
I live in Provo, Utah... BYU football is huge here! (BCS busters!). That stadium seats 65,000 people and it is full to capacity each game. It is completely off the freeway (at least 2 miles) and we have no mass transit... yet the place is packed each game... well before the game.
I get it that it is on a Saturday (or a Thursday sometimes), but the point is still the same... it is possible to arrive early to a game and stay for the whole thing. I have been to games in L.A., I know it is crazy, but it can be done... I get the L.A. culture though and I get the mindset.
from about 1 month ago
True... Provo is the worst for getting around on a football Saturday. Thank goodness for tailgating~
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