Every year the O's tank late in the season and this year will be no different.

And what a momentous day this is.

This is fantastic. They've been a franchise with a great crop of young players for several years, so it's great to finally see that potential realized. That it's taking place within a division that houses two teams with the luxury of spending the type of money Tampa Bay could only dream of, makes it that much more admirable.

I don't doubt the Yankees spend enough to be a contender next season, but it looks like the days of the two-pony AL East are no more.

Congratulations to Joe Maddon, Troy Percival, and the rest of the Rays.

"Hey Yankees... you can take all your trophies and shove 'em straight up your ass!"

"Hey Yankees... you can take all your trophies and shove 'em straight up your ass!"

"...but keep those checks coming, somebody's got to help us make payroll!"

It's the sense of entitlement from welfare recipients that chafes the buttocks of the hard-working and successful.

That it's taking place within a division that houses two teams with the luxury of spending the type of money Tampa Bay could only dream of, makes it that much more admirable.

If the team with the best record in the league could get more than 22,000 fans to come out on a Friday night, maybe they could dream of spending a little more.

I don't doubt the Yankees spend enough to be a contender next season, but it looks like the days of the two-pony AL East are no more.

Predicting is hard, especially the future.

It's the sense of entitlement from welfare recipients that chafes the buttocks of the hard-working and successful.

Yep, lots of hard work that enabled them to be in the biggest market. I guess the Rays are lazy for not trying to play in New York.

"...but keep those checks coming, somebody's got to help us make payroll!"
It's the sense of entitlement from welfare recipients that chafes the buttocks of the hard-working and successful.

Ah Yankee fans. Born on third base and they think they hit a triple.

edit. or what Dan said. Must remember to refresh before posting.

Yep, lots of hard work that enabled them to be in the biggest market. I guess the Rays are lazy for not trying to play in New York.

Perhaps they shouldn't be playing at all. Finding a market capable of supporting your venture seems a fairly obvious aspect of running a successful business, does it not? Removing any aspect of actually risk from the equation seems rather sub-optimal, to put it mildly.

Mike Francesca still thinks the Rays are going to have a losing season.

Perhaps they shouldn't be playing at all. Finding a market capable of supporting your venture seems a fairly obvious aspect of running a successful business, does it not? Removing any aspect of actually risk from the equation seems rather sub-optimal, to put it mildly.

The DRays finished last or next to last each of their first 10 seasons. While unprecedented, it is not that much different from most of the expansion franchises:

Blue Jays - last or next to last first 7 seasons before they got good
Mariners - last or next to last in their first 5, 10 of their first 13, no winning season until year 15, and no post season until year 19.
Expos - last or next to last 7 of their first 9.
Padres - last their first 6, last or next to last 10 of their first 12
Pilots/Brewers - last or next to last 7 of their first 8, and the one non-last or next to last season in that string they lost 97 games (was actually a tie for 4th).
Senators II/ Rangers - 8th or worse (in a 10 team league) 7 of their first 8, then last or next to last 4 of the next 5.
Mets - 9th or 10th their first 7 years
Astros - 8th or worse their first 7 years, then a next to last in the first year of division play.

The Angels, Royals, Marlins, Rockies, and D Backs have had much better early success, but they are in the minority.

Finding a market capable of supporting your venture seems a fairly obvious aspect of running a successful business, does it not?

And the Yankees, I'm sure, would be perfectly fine letting another team set up shop in New York. Wouldn't block it at all.

The DRays finished last or next to last each of their first 10 seasons. While unprecedented, it is not that much different from most of the expansion franchises:

I don't have any quarrel over poorly-performing teams, so long as they're able to pay their own way. Tampa Bay typically ranks last or next-to-last in attendance, so the real question is if there will ever come a time when the team is self-sufficient and can stand on its own, or if they'll be content to suckle on the free money teat indefinitely with no particular sense of urgency to do otherwise.

Perhaps they shouldn't be playing at all. Finding a market capable of supporting your venture seems a fairly obvious aspect of running a successful business, does it not? Removing any aspect of actually risk from the equation seems rather sub-optimal, to put it mildly.

Excellent idea. Lets set up a league where only the big market teams can play. A nice little 8-team league with Boston, the two NY's, two Chicago's, Philadelphia and the two LA teams.

Let's see...that would put the Yankess in 7th, wouldn't it.

And the Yankees, I'm sure, would be perfectly fine letting another team set up shop in New York. Wouldn't block it at all.

I'm fine with it. The Yankees would oppose any encroachment on their territory, but of course that is a right given to every single team in baseball, predating Bolshevik Bud's Billionaire Boondoggle by several decades.

Excellent idea. Lets set up a league where only the big market teams can play. A nice little 8-team league with Boston, the two NY's, two Chicago's, Philadelphia and the two LA teams.

Let's see...that would put the Yankess in 7th, wouldn't it.

Let the chips fall where they may.

Removing any aspect of actually risk from the equation seems rather sub-optimal, to put it mildly.

Most businesses do all they can to remove risk from the equation.

Anyway, revenue sharing leads to competitive balance and improves attendance overall. Everyone benefits. I've often wondered why Yankee fans complain about revenue sharing but I've never heard NY Giants fans do the same. Probably has to do with the salary cap.

I've often wondered why Yankee fans complain about revenue sharing but I've never heard NY Giants fans do the same.

Perhaps because football is an inferior sport to baseball. I've never heard a football fan complain about cheerleaders but perhaps you'd join me in raising a ruckus over half-naked dance squads jiggling through the infield between innings?

I'm just jealous that when the Rays got all their guns pointed in the right direction not only did they win but smacked around a good division in the better league.

The Brewers took forever and when they finally got their act together the Cubs passed them by.

Smartypants Rays.

Nobody likes you!!!

I've never heard a football fan complain about cheerleaders but perhaps you'd join me in raising a ruckus over half-naked dance squads jiggling through the infield between innings?

If they replaced all the crap that normally goes on between innings with half-naked dancing women, I'd be overjoyed. Half-naked dancing women trump dot races, blaring loud music, lame trivia and birthday/anniversary notices combined.

If they replaced all the crap that normally goes on between innings with half-naked dancing women, I'd be overjoyed.

We have half-naked dancing women at baseball games here in Japan. It's nice.

Bunyon:

You should go to a Reds home game. They have Bengals cheerleaders rejects prancing around on the dugout several times a game.

Not half naked. But tight tops and hotpants.

Let's just say the Mrs. was less than pleased.....

It's the sense of entitlement from welfare recipients that chafes the buttocks of the hard-working and successful.

They weren't quite as chafed when $200 million actually bought them a playoff contender.

What's really chafing, though, is the sense that the Yankees and their fans have that they are entitled to the playoffs every season.

If a baseball team reaches first place and no one comes out to the games to see them, do they make a sound?

If a baseball team reaches first place and no one comes out to the games to see them, do they make a sound?

If a baseball team reaches first place and no one comes out to the games to see them, do they make a sound?

Yup, and an echo.

Half-naked dancing women trump dot races, blaring loud music, lame trivia and birthday/anniversary notices combined.

Nothing trumps the sausage race, which is of course fully antithetical to any half-naked dancing women.

Nothing trumps the sausage race, which is of course fully antithetical to any half-naked dancing women.

Perhaps we can have half naked women riding the sausage.

For some reason Harvey's #20 is making me laff out loud.

Esoteric:

Based on your moniker it is only appropriate that you would be the one poster to appreciate my commentary.

Yay Rays! I'm happy for them.