The MLB thread

[Irish_Shrimper]

Phillies and Rays get on the board nice and early in game 3.

I would stay up and keep watching, but the bitter Boston connection inside me won't allow it. :whistling:

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

What a nightmare - a healthy Percy pitching in the 9th would surely help. The Rays must take Game 4.

 

[dashman]

Stayed up all night to watch the rain delay of game 3, grumpy all day Sunday lol!
Great game, much to take from the game for the Rays so I am positive for games 4 & 5 and I reckon we will be going back to the Trop, there we will bust out and win the World Series - from being the worst and bit of a joke, none to shabby!

Go RAYS!!!!!!

 

[dashman]

i still say anything is possible.........

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Disappointing result last night, with even the pitcher homering for the Phillies.

The big question is did the Phillies ball tamper?

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

i still say anything is possible.........

I'm trying to buy into your positivity dash but we have to beat Hamels in Philly to stay alive, and that's a tough ask even without your number 3 & 4 hitters going hitless in the series so far. Kaz has to pitch at least six flawless innings tonight, because he isn't going to get a lot of run support. I still believe they can do it - they have come too far and defied too many odds to give up on the Rays now. Pena and Longoria must step up tonight - it's as simple as that. If we can go back to the Trop for Game 6 - I am certain that Big Game James can take it to a Game 7.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Disappointing result last night, with even the pitcher homering for the Phillies.

The big question is did the Phillies ball tamper?

Who knows? Madden doesn't strike me as a guy who would search for spurious excuses, so I reckon there probably was an illegal substance on Blanton's cap. But this is not an unusual practice - and when you lose by 8, I'm not giving it much thought.

 

[loz]

was there an illegal substance on Blanton's bat as well? :finger:

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

was there an illegal substance on Blanton's bat as well? :finger:

I shouldn't rise to that - but I will. I think he may have smeared something on the ball, but I'm aware that it's not an uncommon practice and that some of the Rays' staff are no doubt doing it too. I also said it wasn't an issue because we lost by so many. I'm not complaining. We got schooled good and proper.

 

[loz]

I shouldn't rise to that - but I will. I think he may have smeared something on the ball, but I'm aware that it's not an uncommon practice and that some of the Rays' staff are no doubt doing it too. I also said it wasn't an issue because we lost by so many. I'm not complaining. We got schooled good and proper.

still didn't answer my question :whistling:

great performance from the Phils last night (i picked the right time to start staying up and watching the games), and we have to be favourites to wrap it up tonight after handing out that kind of beating- esp. with Hamels coming in tonight. I still have a sneaky feeling it's going to go to Game 6 at least, mind.. but in the meantime, here's Joe The Pitcher coming in after scoring for your pleasure..

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

still didn't answer my question

No there was nothing on his bat. OK?

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Game 5 is scheduled to resume tonight in the bottom of the sixth with the score tied 2-2, but it's all dependent on the weather. The Rays are set to send rookie phenom David Price to the hill to try and shut down the Phillies' bats (which were red hot in Game 4). The general consensus is that this delay is going to benefit Tampa Bay as it takes Hamels out of the game, and the Phillies, despite an excellent bullpen and the League's most 'lights out' closer, don't have an 'extra starter' like the Rays have in Price. If the Rays do win the game (when it finally happens), they can feel fairly confident in taking it to Game 7 as they will be sending 'Big Game' James Shields to the mound in Game 6, and he has been sensational at home this season. One thing to consider though is that the rain delay may well enable the Phillies to start Hamels again in Game 7, if there is a Game 7.

 

[loz]

this one is completely up in the air, in somewhat uncharted territory due to the suspension. I agree that the delay, especially having gone into 2 days, is more likely to benefit the Rays (though i'd definitely expect Hamels to play in game 7 if required). some interesting tactical choices for the 2 teams tonight.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Well done to the Phillies for winning the World Series! :clap:

So I did get to see the World Series winners play....it just wasn't the Cubs:'( Oh well next year maybe! :D

Also congrats to the Rays for having such a fantastic season, the last to first fairytale wasn't to be, but be damn proud of what you acheived :clap:

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Well done to the Phillies for winning the World Series! :clap:

So I did get to see the World Series winners play....it just wasn't the Cubs:'( Oh well next year maybe! :D

Also congrats to the Rays for having such a fantastic season, the last to first fairytale wasn't to be, but be damn proud of what you acheived :clap:

Indeed, well done to the Phillies, but as proud as I am of my team, I feel absolutely gutted today. I recall posting on the Rays board two months into the season, stating that I doubted the team could maintain their winning percentage but I was certain they would crack .500, and that would be a great achievement. This was not a sombre 'let's get real' post - most Rays' fans felt the same way. As the season went on, and the Rays kept hanging on in there, we started to believe, and after defying all the odds and the doubters, I sincerely felt they were a team of destiny, and would win it all.

For you non-MLB fans who may be reading this, imagine that Hull manage to stay in the top two all year, and just fall short of the Premiership title on the final day of the season. This is the equivalent of what the Rays achieved this year. After a few days, I will overcome my disappointment that we weren't good enough over those five World Series games, and appreciate the incredible season that we had. This is a young talented team, with a loaded farm system, and many of its stars are locked into long term contracts. They won't take anyone by surprise next year, but they won't disappoint either.

Our message to the Phillies: Well played, you deserved to win. No excuses, over the five games, the better team won. But here's hoping you make it to the Fall Classic again next year, because we'll see you there, and David Price will be bringing 25 wins to the party.

 

[loz]

Go Phillies! first major championship for the city since 1983 and will be celebrated heartily*. Commiserations to the Rays though- with the exception of Game 4, it was a really tightly fought series.


*see

 

[dashman]

No, it cannot be, it's so unfair. Phillies turn the knife, still congrats etc.
Never make fun of the lowly Rays again MLB, it may well come back to haunt you......
Just remember who they beat to get into the World Series......
Bring on Spring training!

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Go Phillies! first major championship for the city since 1983 and will be celebrated heartily*. Commiserations to the Rays though- with the exception of Game 4, it was a really tightly fought series.


*see

That's insane! We won something, quick let's break everything! haha.

Just imagine what will happen to Chicago when the Cubs finally win the WS...Chicago will be razed to the ground!

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

No World Series for the Rays, but Pena has won the club's first golden glove, Longoria has won AL rookie of the year and Maddon is AL manager of the year. They have won the biggest prize of all - RESPECT.

 

[loz]

No World Series for the Rays, but Pena has won the club's first golden glove, Longoria has won AL rookie of the year and Maddon is AL manager of the year. They have won the biggest prize of all - RESPECT.

The biggest prize that isn't actually a prize, perhaps :P