Talk to me in August!

Talk to me in August!

LOL! Will do Mikey!

No way they can win. Mike Francesa says it's impossible since they are the Tampa Bay Rays. Apparently there is a little-known law of the universe which prohibits them from finishing above the Yankees.

I think I remember reading this article every year about the Cubs.

Huge series against the Red Sox this week - I'm looking forward to it. I think we miss Kazmir as well which is a relief - though he'll probably pitch on 3 days rest just to screw with our heads.

The Rays could skip Jackson on Thursday, letting Kazmir go on normal rest thanks to the off day. I doubt that'll happen though.

This whole road trip is huge for the team. 9 games, against the teams expected to win the AL East and West as well as going to Texas where visiting teams often have some trouble. I've kept my enthusiasm tempered throughout this season (before the season I was sure that they would be at least .500 but didn't have much of any chance at the playoffs) but them going at least 4-5 in this stretch would be huge and remove any doubts for me about their ability to contend and maybe even be the current favorite for the wild card. Fun stuff.

I think I remember reading this article every year about the Cubs.

I was thinking Blue Jays. but yeah .. Cubs works too.

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

Perhaps because the guy they signed to handle the gig is acquitting himself well at the moment (even if he may be more of an injury risk than BB).

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

Guess I missed the memo that stated in order to truly contend, you have to sign Barry Bonds.

Marlins-Rays in October? Finally, a World Series I'll be able to get tickets to see!

Marlins-Rays in October? Finally, a World Series I'll be able to get tickets to see!

Depends on who's singing after the game.

Depends on who's singing after the game.

Tony Orlando has the perfect name for the gig.

"Game 2 of the 2008 World Series was attended by 40,000 fans, filling Tropicana Field with more than five times as many fans as attended Game 1. The extra spectators were attracted by a free concert after the game featuring A Flock of Seagulls and Matthew Wilder."

now having read the article, the exercise at the beginning is pretty good way of looking at things, I find it strange that Mariano Rivera didn't get unanimous vote. I also think it's a stretch to say Cano helps the team right now(note I'm just looking at his stats for this season) I find some of his choices not to make sense though.

I mean Damon is having a very good year for him to take a back seat to pretty much anyone is ridiculous, but he has him behind a pitcher that isn't even on the active roster for the Rays and behind a hitter that is a dh that is hitting worse than him this season.

Ok, just for fun look at a potential lineup from these two teams.


c Posada
1b Giambi
2b Cano (having a worse year than Iwamura but higher upside I imagine)
ss Jeter
3b Arod
OF Crawford
OF Damon
OF Abreu
DH Matsui

offensively speaking I just don't see too many Rays on that list, and only Upton I think has an argument to being legitimately left off) Longoria of course is just overshadowed and Matsui is currently a better hitter so I couldn't put him at dh either. Of course I'm probably underrating defensive value which may help a couple of the Rays players, but right now it looks like only Crawford could break the starting lineup of the Yankees.

Rotation
Kazmir
Shields
Garza
Wang
Jackson (surprised myself here, only Yankee that I'm currently probably underrating is Mussina and both of the young pitchers have upside that is possibly realizable this season, but I'll take the ones who are currently performing)

Pen
Rivera (is this guy ever going to age?)
Chamberlain
Wheeler
and whoever else you feel like adding.

It's kinda funny looking at this and seeing that the Rays strength is pitching when that has been what everyone has been worried about them developing prior to this season. But man it looks to me like the Rays have the talent to be good for several years, just not really sure they are better than the Yankees this year. (over 162 games that is)

Depends on who's singing after the game.

Gloria Estefan

Upton doesn't just have an argument against being left off, he's a better overall player than the three outfielders you put on.

Howell has to be added to the bullpen there. His ERA is a bit inflated from one disasterous outing early this week against Texas where he gave up a full third of his runs for the season but he has been 10 kinds of awesome out of the 'pen for the Rays. He has come up huge so many times already in just a third of the season.

lets go rays!

Upton doesn't just have an argument against being left off, he's a better overall player than the three outfielders you put on.

yep, I somehow looked at uptons line and thought it was Crawford (yes I'm having medical issues that is causing concentration problems, but didn't realize I completly missed the line)

Scary Thought Department: A World Series win by the Rays would give Tampa Bay their third championship (in three different sports) in six years...