Go rays

[bosoxmal]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

[fxkatt]

These play-in games are a little sad. Last night's game obviously featured two excellent teams, and one had to exit... boo. And Milwaukee did in a very unlucky way which made the one-game series seem even dumber.

 

Tonight's game also pits two surprising teams against each other. Oakland has Mennaia (sp.) going the guy who no-hit us last season. I like both teams for their spunk and low-budget successes, but one will have to go down tonight. And the winner will have to play Houston... tough.

[moonslav59]

These play-in games are a little sad. Last night's game obviously featured two excellent teams, and one had to exit... boo. And Milwaukee did in a very unlucky way which made the one-game series seem even dumber.

 

Tonight's game also pits two surprising teams against each other. Oakland has Mennaia (sp.) going the guy who no-hit us last season. I like both teams for their spunk and low-budget successes, but one will have to go down tonight. And the winner will have to play Houston... tough.

 

I hate the play-in game but going to 8 teams in each league making the playoffs would be worse.

 

Another alternative could be having 3 wild card teams with the worst division record team having a play-in, or have two 3 game series with 2 teams getting a 5-6 day buy. Yuck.

[TylerD]

4-0 Rays

 

Was cheering for the A’s but im ok with tampa doing well.

[harmony]

These play-in games are a little sad. Last night's game obviously featured two excellent teams, and one had to exit... boo. And Milwaukee did in a very unlucky way which made the one-game series seem even dumber.

 

Tonight's game also pits two surprising teams against each other. Oakland has Mennaia (sp.) going the guy who no-hit us last season. I like both teams for their spunk and low-budget successes, but one will have to go down tonight. And the winner will have to play Houston... tough.

Over the past two seasons the "surprising" Oakland Athletics have won more regular-season games than the Red Sox despite Boston's 108 wins in 2018. Over that period the Tampa Bay Rays have won six fewer regular-season games than the Sox.

 

But the World Series flag flies in Boston.

[TylerD]

4-1. Oakland got one.

[moonslav59]

Over the past two seasons the "surprising" Oakland Athletics have won more regular-season games than the Red Sox despite Boston's 108 wins in 2018. Over that period the Tampa Bay Rays have won six fewer regular-season games than the Sox.

 

But the World Series flag flies in Boston.

 

That is a bit surprising.

 

Wins last 2 years:

210 HOU

203 NYY

198 LAD

194 OAK

192 BOS

187 ATL

186 TBR

185 MIL

184 CLE

(Nobody else above 179.)

 

Last 3 years:

311 HOU

302 LAD

294 NYY

286 CLE

285 BOS

272 WAS

271 Cubs

271 MIL

269 OAK

266 TBR

 

Last 4 years:

395 HOU

393 LAD

380 CLE

378 BOS

378 BOS

374 Cubs

367 WAS

 

...

 

Since 2003:

1601 NYY

1532 BOS

1527 STL

1517 LAD

1466 LAA

1451 ATL

1433 OAK

1416 CLE

1406 PHI

1404 Cubs

1403 TEX

16th TBR at 1368

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Because of their minuscule budget, relatively speaking, each year the Rays make the PO's their manager should win manager of the year and their GM should win GM of the year. 60 million dollar payroll; that's unbelievable.

[fxkatt]

Over the past two seasons the "surprising" Oakland Athletics have won more regular-season games than the Red Sox despite Boston's 108 wins in 2018. Over that period the Tampa Bay Rays have won six fewer regular-season games than the Sox.

 

But the World Series flag flies in Boston.

 

Amazing stats. These two teams deserve lots of praise.

[moonslav59]

Because of their minuscule budget, relatively speaking, each year the Rays make the PO's their manager should win manager of the year and their GM should win GM of the year. 60 million dollar payroll; that's unbelievable.

 

That's how I felt when we hired Dan Duquette.

[Jasonbay44]

Anyone but Yankees.

[fxkatt]

Anyone but Yankees.

 

They have a clean slate at least till Friday night. That little series should be very closely contested, but Yanks have home field advantage. So, you gotta pick em. Till they arrive in Houston.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Yankees will Destroy the twinkles who we kiddin ?What the Yankees don’t want is Houston .

[Bellhorn04]

The Rays might shock Houston.

[Slasher9]

Anyone but Yankees.

 

1 billion percent.

if it happens, the MFY vs Astros series will probably be epic. but i wouldnt mind one bit watching a "boring" devil rays v twinkies ALCS....

[notin]

Over the past two seasons the "surprising" Oakland Athletics have won more regular-season games than the Red Sox despite Boston's 108 wins in 2018. Over that period the Tampa Bay Rays have won six fewer regular-season games than the Sox.

 

But the World Series flag flies in Boston.

 

Point?

[notin]

THe Rays are nice, but GO TWINS!!!

[TylerD]

Over the past two seasons the "surprising" Oakland Athletics have won more regular-season games than the Red Sox despite Boston's 108 wins in 2018. Over that period the Tampa Bay Rays have won six fewer regular-season games than the Sox.

 

But the World Series flag flies in Boston.

 

Oakland is a fantastic story as a regular season team, with their payroll and they constantly compete and fight for the playoffs. Trouble is, that is usually where the fun ends for them. They have had a lot of playoff failures and one and done seasons. I figured Tampa would win last night, but was hoping the A's would pull it out. Oakland would have given Houston a damn good series in my opinion. But who knows, maybe Tampa will too, granted I think I will cheer for Houston as I think they have the best shot to knock off the Yankees than Tampa.

 

That's if Minnesota doesn't do it first.

[Maxbialystock]

I sort of rooted for the A's because of Moneyball, but am more than fine with the Rays win. Well deserved. I usually tune out if the Sox aren't in the postseason, but not this year. I live in N.Virginia so was happy with the Nationals winning. Yes, the winning run was a fluke, but tying the game off that clean single to RF was not a fluke. With two outs, the runner on 2b went with the crack of the bat and was not going to be thrown out at home. without the error, there would have been runners on 1st and 3d with 2 outs and the Nats would still have had an opportunity to get the go ahead run in the 8th. Also, the Brewers rightfielder was a 22 year old August 1 call up.

 

The Nationals are in the NLDS, but start tonight in Chavez Ravine against a pretty good Dodgers team. Houston won 107 games this year and now play the Rays. The Dodgers won 106.

 

 

I preferred the old 4 teams format with no play-in game, but this year I think the "new" 5 team playoff format has been fair--and interesting. And I will root for both the Nats and the Rays.

[bkzwhitestrican]

I am also rooting for the Rays in the ALDS. Go Rays!

[moonslav59]

As much as I love baseball, I rarely watch any games that don't involve the Sox.

 

I watched about 4 innings of the Rays game last night. I hope they win, but I'll probably catch the highlights.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree, let's go Rays.

[fxkatt]

I agree, let's go Rays.

 

I'm sure that you're the greatest Rays fans on this board... but only for a week, right.

[Larry33]

Let's not kid ourselves the Yankees have a damn good team nobody lost more man games than they did and they still managed one of the best record in baseball. Some of the players lost were their key guys but their depth proved to be excellent given the circumstances. Boone deserve some credit also juggling his roster will all the injuries wouldn't be easy for any manager. I feel bad for some of the guys that will be probably left off the playoff roster because they're the ones who carried the team through all the injuries. I like watching October baseball no matter who's in it as long they're good competitive games I'm fine with that and let the best team win.

[Slasher9]

Let's not kid ourselves the Yankees have a damn good team nobody lost more man games than they did and they still managed one of the best record in baseball. Some of the players lost were their key guys but their depth proved to be excellent given the circumstances. Boone deserve some credit also juggling his roster will all the injuries wouldn't be easy for any manager. I feel bad for some of the guys that will be probably left off the playoff roster because they're the ones who carried the team through all the injuries. I like watching October baseball no matter who's in it as long they're good competitive games I'm fine with that and let the best team win.

 

boone can juggle my balls

[OH FOY]

I'm getting to like Kevin Cash more and more as a Manager. He really thinks out a game.

[Thunder]

I am rooting for the Dodgers and the Astros. My favorite player of all time is George Springer, for reasons I have reiterated on here many times. I am rooting for the Dodgers to win it all since AJ Pollock went to my HS and my coach (also his coach) would probably convince him to bring the trophy here.

[Kimmi]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

 

Nope.

 

I will only pull for the Rays if they are playing the Yankees.

 

Otherwise, it's anyone but the Rays.

[Kimmi]

1 billion percent.

if it happens, the MFY vs Astros series will probably be epic. but i wouldnt mind one bit watching a "boring" devil rays v twinkies ALCS....

 

Astros vs. Twinkies works for me.

[notin]

Nope.

 

I will only pull for the Rays if they are playing the Yankees.

 

Otherwise, it's anyone but the Rays.

 

I hope the Rays don’t win. I don’t want the Opener Strategy to catch on...