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Saturday, September 27, 2008

MLB.com: Rays crowned AL East champions

Anticlimactic, maybe, but take nothing away from the Rays—the 2008 American League East champions. After taking a 6-4 loss to the Tigers on Friday night in front of a crowd of 39,617 at Comerica Park, the Rays were crowned division champs early Saturday morning after the Yankees defeated the Red Sox with a lopsided win at Fenway Park.

“[It] would have been nice to have won it on the field,” Cliff Floyd said. “But any way you get in, you get in. You don’t back in with 96 wins. We’re here. Nobody wants to play us in the playoffs.”
...
The Rays’ Division Series playoff opponent will shake out in the final weekend of the season. Winning the AL East assured the Rays they will begin the playoffs at home against the winner of the AL Central—either the Twins or the White Sox—while Boston, the Wild Card winner, will head to Anaheim to play the Angels, who will finish with the AL’s best record.

NTNgod Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:03 AM | 48 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Rocco's Not-so Malfunctioning Mitochondria Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:09 AM (#2957923)

w00t!

2. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:22 AM (#2957925)

Mike "Talk to me in August" Francesa is a bumbling idiot and certifiable moron
Someone get him enough dog shite in a bag to last him through the end of October

3. villageidiom Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:34 AM (#2957931)

Congrats to the Rays and their fans. I assume it's plural. ;-)

The Rays’ Division Series playoff opponent will shake out in the final weekend of the season. Winning the AL East assured the Rays they will begin the playoffs at home against the winner of the AL Central—either the Twins or the White Sox—while Boston, the Wild Card winner, will head to Anaheim to play the Angels, who will finish with the AL’s best record.

The Angels have announced they've selected the ALDS series starting Wednesday, on the premise that it keeps their bullpen rested. It also means both the Angels and Red Sox can go with three starters on normal rest. But enough about them; this thread is for the Rays.

EDITed for clarity.

4. Orange & Blue Velvet Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:39 AM (#2957933)

Mike "Talk to me in August" Francesa is a bumbling idiot and certifiable moron

Now he's on the, "If the Mets fail to make the playoffs, they have to trade one of the Reyes/Beltran/Wright core."

Oh, and congrats to the Rays. I've enjoyed following them this year. I'll be rooting hard for my man Cliff Floyd.

5. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:46 AM (#2957938)

That's Cliff Floyd, the recipient of the 3rd annual Paul C. Smith Champion Award.

6. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:49 AM (#2957941)

Go Rays!

7. Biff isn't really an apt handle anymore Posted: September 27, 2008 at 05:23 AM (#2957957)

I'm somewhat surprised Francona didn't try a little harder to win this game, but it was always unlikely to get the division after the outcome of the last BOS-TB series.

8. Meatwad is on team keefe Posted: September 27, 2008 at 05:40 AM (#2957964)

congrats rays and the few fans i know of wo have follwed them, winsinki(sp) and co good luck inthe playoffs hope you make it to the world series(cant let you wint it against the cubs though)

9. mashimaro Posted: September 27, 2008 at 06:19 AM (#2957971)

Thank you for not letting the Yankees go to the playoffs (Jeter).

10. Jim (jimmuscomp) Posted: September 27, 2008 at 06:54 AM (#2957973)

Congrats to the Rays! A Halo fan through and through, I am stoked for them. I figured that 2009 was more likely their year, but couldn't be happier about being wrong. If the Halos get through Boston and the Rays through the TwinSox, it will be fun to watch Kazmir, Shields and Garza vs. the Halos. They have owned the Halos this year so it would be an uphill battle for sure...

11. Walt Davis Posted: September 27, 2008 at 06:55 AM (#2957974)

Nobody wants to play us in the playoffs.

The Twins and White Sox would love to play you in the playoffs. :-)

Angels-Red Sox could be a great series.

And of course, technically, the Red Sox can still tie for the division, but the Devil Rays take the division champ spot on the tiebreaker. I hope the Devil Rays take it outright.

12. Phil Coorey, You Won't Posted: September 27, 2008 at 07:13 AM (#2957976)

I hope the Devil Rays take it outright.

Me too

Congratulations rays fans - I knew they were for real just before the ALL Star Break - we have ourselves in one hell of a division next year.

13. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: September 27, 2008 at 09:23 AM (#2957987)

Here's to the Rays; every fan's second favorite team (behind their own)!

14. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 10:35 AM (#2957993)

Congratulations to the Rays players, the organization and all 173 fans.

Go get'em boys. Keep sticking it to the man! (Aptly represented by FOX and Hank Steinbrenner)

15. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:31 AM (#2958005)

The Red Sox can still win a Kevin-style division title, so hopefully the Rays finish them off.

16. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:33 AM (#2958006)

"we have ourselves in one hell of a division next year"

It was quite a division THIS year. the top four teams woul When the third place team could end up with 90 wins and the fourth place team with 86, that is a sick division.

17. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:33 AM (#2958007)

Sorry, the above should say that the top four teams could all win the NL West easily.

18. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:36 AM (#2958009)

Actually, that's a good question: since the three division format, has any fourth place team finished 10 games over .500?

19. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:45 AM (#2958011)

Actually, that's a good question: since the three division format, has any fourth place team finished 10 games over .500?

It could happen in the NL Central as well.

20. bunyon Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:55 AM (#2958014)

I suspect all 5 AL East teams could win the NL West. Four definitely would while the O's would make it a competitive race but don't discount what their record would be not playing the 4 teams above them over and over again.

21. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 11:59 AM (#2958019)

Wow, I had no idea how strong the NL Central was as well.

22. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: September 27, 2008 at 12:02 PM (#2958021)

Funny, the Cardinals have more wins than they did in their championship season.

The Yankees also have more wins than the 2000 title winner.

23. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: September 27, 2008 at 12:10 PM (#2958024)

To answer #18, no there never has. The previous best is 83, so the Cards and the Jays are already the best 4th place teams in the 3 division format. Whatever that's worth.

edit: There have been 3rd place 90 win teams before, most recently the 2006 White Sox, so the Yankees won't be breaking any new ground there.

24. McCoy Posted: September 27, 2008 at 12:32 PM (#2958037)

Since three division play there have only been 3 4th place teams with winning records. All in the national league.

2000 Rockies, 2003 Expos, and 2007 Dodgers.

The 2002 Royals were the worst ranked 4th place team with 38 games below .500.

25. McCoy Posted: September 27, 2008 at 12:34 PM (#2958040)

Anyway, I think it is awesome for the Rays that they made it in but I doubt they make it back in next year. 85 to 88 wins for them next year.

26. Jim Wisinski

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 12:36 PM (#2958043)

winsinki(sp)

Wow :-D

27. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:05 PM (#2958054)

Since three division play there have only been 3 4th place teams with winning records. All in the national league.

2000 Rockies, 2003 Expos, and 2007 Dodgers.

Also the 2005 Mets or Marlins, who tied for 3rd with 83.

28. bunyon Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:08 PM (#2958055)

Congrats Jim.

29. mike f Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:19 PM (#2958064)

Thank goodness. We got tickets for the second game at the Trop, which should be on Friday, and is easier for me to get to from across the state. But it may not even have been played if they won the Wild Card. Now I finally get my first taste of playoff baseball.

30. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:38 PM (#2958074)

I hope they go deep into the playoffs, otherwise the magnitude of this achievement will be overlooked.

31. Jim Wisinski

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:41 PM (#2958077)

Thanks Bunyon, and on behalf of all Rays fans (really, there are a lot of us!) I appreciate the congratulations of everyone.

32. bunyon Posted: September 27, 2008 at 01:53 PM (#2958088)

So that leaves only the Marlins who haven't won a division, correct?

Of course, they likely don't care too much.

Or have all of the Rockies' appearances been wildcards, too?

33. tfbg9 Posted: September 27, 2008 at 02:14 PM (#2958103)

Congrats!

This is very very good for baseball.

34. tfbg9 Posted: September 27, 2008 at 02:18 PM (#2958106)

Nobody wants to play us in the playoffs

I do. It would mean we advanced a round.

35. Darren

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 02:37 PM (#2958116)

Great team. They've embarrassed Boston and NY.

36. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: September 27, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#2958147)

So that leaves only the Marlins who haven't won a division, correct?

Of course, they likely don't care too much.

Or have all of the Rockies' appearances been wildcards, too?

Yeah, Marlins and Rockies, who do have a combined 3 pennants, which is one more than the combined efforts of the Rangers, Brewers, Astros, and Natspos and Mariners.

37. Mike Emeigh

Posted: September 27, 2008 at 03:24 PM (#2958148)

Or have all of the Rockies' appearances been wildcards, too?

Yes.

-- MWE

38. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: September 27, 2008 at 03:25 PM (#2958150)

Congrats to the Rays and their fans. After years of guys like this they certainly deserve it.

39. Brian White Posted: September 27, 2008 at 04:15 PM (#2958195)

Any talk of tough divisions needs to include the 2002 AL West. It doesn't feature an impressive record for the fourth place team, since they only have four teams to start with, but the Mariners, who finished next-to-last, had 93 wins.

40. Walt Davis Posted: September 27, 2008 at 07:37 PM (#2958516)

Not impressive from a divisional standpoint but don't forget the 1999 NL when the 96-win Reds had the 5th best record in the league and missed the playoffs.

Of course 3 of those 5 teams won 85 games or less the next season so it's not like it was the dawn of a golden age of NL baseball. :-)

41. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: September 27, 2008 at 07:49 PM (#2958553)

Other than fans of teams also in the playoffs, and divisional rivals (i.e. Yankee fans) who here is not rooting for the Rays to win the World Series, and if so, why do you not have a soul?

42. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: September 27, 2008 at 08:20 PM (#2958616)

I'm rooting for the Brewers cuz I put some coin on them at 15-1 a little after they got Sababthia.

43. Rocco's Not-so Malfunctioning Mitochondria Posted: September 29, 2008 at 02:58 AM (#2959651)

Congrats to the Rays and their fans. I assume it's plural. ;-)

Jim and I resemble that remark...

44. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: September 29, 2008 at 03:03 AM (#2959655)

Other than fans of teams also in the playoffs, and divisional rivals (i.e. Yankee fans) who here is not rooting for the Rays to win the World Series, and if so, why do you not have a soul?

Actually, I think a lot of Yankees fans are rooting for the Rays. At this point nothing would be sweeter than a Rays Brewers WS.

45. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: September 29, 2008 at 03:04 AM (#2959656)

Other than fans of teams also in the playoffs, and divisional rivals (i.e. Yankee fans) who here is not rooting for the Rays to win the World Series, and if so, why do you not have a soul?

Even if I weren't a Yankees fan, I generally make a point of rooting for original 16 teams, so Philly, the Cubs, the Dodgers, and Minnesota/White Sox would all jump ahead of the Rays.

46. Delorians Posted: September 29, 2008 at 03:13 AM (#2959659)

I assumed most traditional fans without a specific rooting interest would be rooting for Cubs over Rays in the series, one curse lifted and one first pennant, just like 2005 (WSox/Astros).

47. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: September 29, 2008 at 03:30 AM (#2959667)

Actually, I think a lot of Yankees fans are rooting for the Rays. At this point nothing would be sweeter than a Rays Brewers WS.

Yankee Redneck, presumably, is not among them.

48. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 29, 2008 at 03:37 AM (#2959671)

Out of principle Yankee Redneck is presumably rooting for the other teams which have the misfortune of lots of revenues and profits and therefore are mercilessly stomped by the boot of revenue sharing. The Red Sox of course, and either the Cubs or Dodgers I suppose.

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MLB.com: Rays crowned AL East champions

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