See, Now, I Don't Think This Is Wise

I've always said that if I ever hit for a big lottery or powerball win, I wouldn't tell anyone... not until I'd cashed in (and maybe not even then)... but definitely not before hand.

Because if you win, the only way you're getting your money is to turn in your winning lottery ticket. And this guy in Tampa (shown here wearing a "Devil Rays" shirt) put down $100 at Bally's in Vegas before the season on the 250-to-1 shot Rays to win the World Series. So the ticket he's flashing about is worth $25,000 if the Rays win three more games.

I think I'd put that in a safety-deposit box, wouldn't you? But no, this guy is taking the ticket to games with him. Uhhh, not wise, fella, not wise. Do you not think there are people in the parking lot of Tropicana Field who would beat you up for $25,000? I think there might be.

If this were Detroit, the dude woulda been clipped by now.

World Series Predicto -- Rays versus Phillies

[Yes, I know theses lasses were featured in an earlier playoffs post but they're just too good to pass up on and remind us all what's great about having a Florida team in the World Series.]

Tampa Bay Rays versus Philadelphia Phillies

So here we are, with the World Series beginning tonight in Tampa Bay. Well, more accurately, in St. Petersburg. I've never really understood why they're called "Tampa Bay" since "Tampa Bay" isn't even a city. Tampa Bay is just that... a freakin' bay. I can't think of another pro sports franchise that's named for a body of water instead of either a city or a state -- can you?

And raise your hand if you had Rays-Phillies in the World Series. Now, if your hand is up, close it into a fist... and now bring it down quickly and slam it into your testicles. Because you're lying and we punch liars in the balls.

What's even better, though, is that to mock the "experts" on ESPN, we don't even have to go back to the beginning of the season... we can go back to... October 1. Of 2008. When they were all asked to make their playoff predictions, now with the helpful knowledge of which eight teams actually made it in. And backed with the knowledge one assumes baseball analysts at ESPN have -- which is to say, thousands of baseball games' worth of viewing during the season, thus knowing more about the teams in play than any of us schmos. And out of 18 "experts," here's their collectively wonderful showing:

-Zero of them got the World Series matchup correct.
-Zero of them picked the Phillies to make the World Series.
-Two (out of eighteen!) picked the Rays to make it to the World Series.
-ONE (Keith Law) picked the Rays to win the World Series.

So if the Rays win it, Keith Law is officially the only guy at ESPN who knows anything about baseball. And if the Phils win, then they all should be fired.

As for me, I thought the Rays were the AL champs when the playoffs started -- really! -- because they were clearly better than the ChiSox and I thought that, in the end, they had outplayed Boston all year and would have home field... plus Boston was really banged up. I had the NL all wrong, but hey, so what. Each round I've been 50% correct, which should qualify me to be at ESPN.

As for this series, it's hard for me to pick because I've been so consistently wrong about the Phils. They just don't strike me as that good of a team, plus they've got half-witt Charlie Manual running the show and I just can't imagine him winning a World Series.

In addition, the Phils were a second place team for almost all of the past two seasons and if the Mets were not complete and utter chokers wouldn't have made the playoffs (or won the division) in either of the past two seasons. Think about that -- if the Mets don't make an historic collapse last September and then follow it up with another nearly-historic collapse this September, then the Phillies aren't even a playoff team and Manual is probably history by now.

But the Mets did collapse twice and the Phils are here. So then you look at how they've performed in the playoffs. Well, last year, they barely showed up and were probably spent from chasing down the Mets, and they got swept in the first round against the Rockies. Then this season they got to face the Brewers -- who were the ones who eeked by the Mets for the Wild Card and, thus, had to be exhausted, too. Hell, CC Sabathia was pitching on three days rest for a month. And then they faced a talented Dodgers team that... well, how talented were they? They were a .500 team all season until Manny arrived. And then they become a trendy pick. So if you want to be anti-Philly, it's easy to feel they haven't had to go through much to get here, plus it's not like anyone on the team has eye-popping stats this postseason.

On the Rays side, they actually did have to go through a hot Chicago team and then through a really determined Red Sox team that is always a tough out. They also held off the Sox and Yanks all season and, if ever a young team was battle tested, this was it.

Sure, it's possible that they'll let down and just be happy to be there. But I don't think so. Not after taking out the Red Sox and coming within a few outs of humbling the Sox at Fenway in three straight. After that, I don't think there's anything in Philly that's going to scare them.

As crazy as it sounds to be talking about the Rays being in the World Series, start getting used to the idea of the Rays being World Series champions.

Rays in 5.

Breaking News -- Sox-leaning Site Says Rays Don't Deserve World Series

Shockingly, there's a Sox site out there that says the Rays don't deserve their trip to the World Series and that's why you should root for the Phillies. I love this kind of stuff after a team loses. Nothing brings out the true class of a fan base like this.

From the post:

The Rays? Let's just say they haven't exactly earned this as yet. That shiny new team merchandise you saw those 15 year old kids and 70 year old Grandparents wearing at 'the Trop' (can you believe they are going to hold series games at that monstrosity?) will be on show again. Endless shots of spotty faced Tampa teens sporting brand new Rays caps with the silver MLB merchandise label still shining bright on them, yeah that's a fan base alright.

Ah, yes, because nobody bought shiny new Red Sox caps after they won in 2004, right? And why do the Rays not deserve to win even if you think their fans aren't legit?

Oh, there's more:

At the end of the day, when all is said and done, I am not prepared to live in a world where people like BJ Upton, Jamie Navarro, Matt Garza or the arrogant, ignorant Aussie Grant Balfour are king. Maddon, Pena and Crawford certainly come across as classy guys, however those mentioned initially have a little bit of learning to do before they come across as anything but punk, spoilt, brash NBA star types.

For starters, "at the end of the day" and "when all is said and done" are hoary, cliches used by mouth-breathers. You used both meaningless space-fillers to start your sentance because you think it made your sound more worldly. You're a shitty writer. Now, as to your assertion in that paragraph... well, seriously? You're "not prepared" to live in that world? Well, you might want to get prepared.

And a Sox fan -- a fan of guys like Jonathan Papelbon -- claming the Rays players are "arrogant" is kind of laughable. And they have "a little bit of learning to do"? They won the division from your precious Sox this season, took 10 of 18 against the Sox in the regular season, held off the two regular winners of the AL East all season and then just beat the Sox in seven games, under intense pressure at the end... to get there. What more do they have to do to gain your respect?

Thing is, I imagine this kind of Sox blogger is the exception rather than the norm. From the short perusing I've done, most of them seem like you'd expect a vanquished team's fans to be -- disappointed, but not upset at their team or at losing to a good club like the Rays. So I don't think this guy is the norm or represents all Sox fans -- I just noticed the link to him on Deadspin and thought it was worth pointing out how pouty he was being.

[UPDATE: Yikes, just read this one, too.

Oh and as for the World Series, I'm throwing my support behind the Phillies... here's hoping the Phils give the Rays some unholy hell. Especially that punk-ass Carl Crawford, who you know is just an injury away from boosting car stereos.

Wow, that's not racist or anything.]

I'm Glad The Rays Won

Obviously, I'm glad the Rays won... because I don't like the Sawx, their fans, their players, etc. But more than that, seeing the joy exhibited by the Rays players after they won last night was just one of those really cool things in sports. They were thrilled, relieved, joyful.... and many of these guys were part of the worst team in baseball last season.... and to be part of that journey has got to be just amazing.

And as much as I hate the Red Sox, I do have a grudging respect for them. Bill Simmons, who jumped the shark a long time ago in most peoples' eyes, wrote a column after the 2001 World Series, when the Yankees lost in seven games to the Diamondbacks on a bottom-of-the-ninth rally. Simmons wrote about how much he respected the Yankees and that you can tell the mettle of a champion not only when they win, but in how they are toppled. Like when a dynasty ends, the mark of a champion is in how hard they fight to the bitter end. Those Yankees struggled to push that series to seven games and almost pulled it out in the end... and they fought to the last second.

The same can be said of the 2008 Red Sox. Through the Manny disaster and trade, Ortiz slumping badly this season, Lowell not even being on the ALCS roster, injuries all over the places, etc... this team still played hard to the end and did not give the Rays anything. Down 7-0 in the 7th inning of Game 5, with TBS and everyone else already talking about the Rays versus the Phillies, and with Sox fans (who likely became Sox fans in about October 2004) the Sox players had to be the only ones who still believed they could do it. And they almost freaking did. Incredible.

Back in October of 2004, on my old site, when the Yankees were initiating their collapse to the Sox, I wrote that you couldn't ever take your boot off the Sox throat. Here's what I said on October 18, 2004:

"The Sox are a team I just don't feel comfortable around until they're gone.You need to run them over with the bus, then back over them, then run over them again. And then get out and hit them with the tire iron. Repeatedly. And then back over them again."

And they're still that team. They're still hungry, they still believe they can win no matter what the situation. And last night, if a few things had bounced their way... or if Drew wasn't called out on strikes on a pitch a foot outside that even the pitcher said he thought was a ball in the postgame.

I still don't like them or a lot of their players, but they refused to give up their throne easily and I respect them for that.

"Dude! I know! We was rahbbed! I can't believe the Sawx lost! I'm gonna go home and beat my girlfriend now... should cheeah me up."

You Can StickItUpYourAaaaaaaaaaaaaass...YES!

While Boilerdowd reveled in the Cubs flaming out, I rather enjoy the fact that the ChiSox also lost, giving the combined Chicago teams a stellar 1-6 postseason record (conversely, New York teams are hovering right at .500 this postseas -- 0-0).

I actually don't have too many problems with the White Sox -- well, except for Ozzie Guillen, who I do think is an idiot. And, as my headline references, perhaps no homer broadcasters out there incite hate the way Hawk Harrelson does.

But really, it's more that I'm happy to see the Rays move on, as I think they're probably the only team that can beat the Red Sox, who continued to totally own the Angels.

LCS matchup predictions coming soon. (Hey, I went 2-2 in the first round.)

Another Brilliant Idea By The Best-Run Franchise is MLB

Oh, sure, you thought you wouldn't have to deal with my inane ramblings on baseball. Sure, sure, you thought you could duck it. But you can't. And pretty soon, college basketball will be over and it'll be wall to wall baseball. And you know you'll read because you're just as bored at work as anyone else.

Anyway, in case you haven't heard, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are at least considering signing Barry Bonds.

Oh, that's just brilliant. I think the "Rays," as they now insist on being known, would consider this. I mean, an aging superstar clouded in controversy and well-known to be a complete prick who demands leather recliners and multiple lockers... yeah, he sounds like a perfect fit for a team that has finished in last place 9 out of the 10 years they've existed. He's definitely the final piece of the puzzle for a title run.

What the hell are the Rays thinking? From the article...

Manager Joe Maddon said Monday he knew "little" about what was going on, but acknowledged some thought has been given to the career home-run leader.

I think you could just stop that sentence at the comma.

It gets even better, too, because the Rays brass is apparently huddling and considering offering contracts to Kenny Lofton (almost 41 years old) and Mike Piazza (40 in September and completely washed up). I think they should sign them all. And maybe lure Fred McGriff out of retirement so they could have an outfield that all falls asleep during games because they're so old.

What else do you expect from a franchise that renamed itself because old people in Florida didn't like "devil" in the name of the team and then chose to rename themselves after sunshine rays despite playing in a dome?