American League The Battle for the AL East

Daft · August 28th, 2008, 11:43 AM

The Rays have 30 games remaining on their schedule. The have a very small 3.5 cushion between themselves and the Red Sox.

I have a financial interest as well as a baseball fan interest in the quest for the AL East title. Tampa's story is obviously incredible nd Boston is always a fun team to watch with a very loyal following.

Here are a look at some numbers as we head down the stretch:

The Devil Rays have 14 home games and 16 away game.

After tonights contest vs Toronto at home their schedule looks like this:

3 @ home vs BAL (.474 win percentage)
3 @ home vs NYY (.530)
3 @ TOR (.515)
3 @ BOS (.583)
3 @ NYY
3 @ home vs BOS
3 @ home vs MINN (.564)
3 @ BAL
4 @ DET (.481)

A look at some offensive #'s:

Boston .806 OPS
145 HR's

Tampa .751 OPS
143 HR's

some pitching #'s:

Boston 4.01 Team ERA
48 HR

Tampa 3.70 Team ERA
33 HR

It would seem to me that the key stretch for the Rays will be the 3 games @ Fenway then a 3 day "break" vs NYY followed by a 6 game homestand in which they battle BOS and MINN back to back.

I'm rooting for the Rays for several reason but I'm really looking forward to this stretch run.

Anyone's comments or feedback would be appreciated. What is the latest update on Josh Beckett for instance..........

FishFF · August 28th, 2008, 12:44 PM

Josh Beckett had no problems during his bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to start Friday against the White Sox.
"He’s ready to go and it’s exciting," said Red Sox manager/giggling schoolgirl Terry Francona. "Because he’s excited, so are we." Beckett missed his last start with "tingling" in his pitching hand.
Source: Boston Herald

roto

JJ · August 28th, 2008, 12:46 PM

For the Red Sox it is going to come down to how well the key cogs in their now injury beaten down lineup keep hitting down the stretch.

If Pedroia and Youkilis keep doing what they have been doing I think we should take it.

Daft · August 29th, 2008, 03:54 PM

4.5 game lead after 2 close games yesterday.

Daft · August 29th, 2008, 08:52 PM

Rays just mercy-ruled the Orioles in the 4th inning

lulz

Daft · August 29th, 2008, 09:53 PM

Dice K smoked the CWS tonight.

2 hits last I looked.

4.5 game lead as both teams win convincingly

Daft · August 30th, 2008, 07:35 PM

Wow that may prove to be a large win for Tampa.

Down 7-3 at one point, they win 10-9 in the bottom of the 9th.

It's a good thing for Tampa that they did because Boston has jumped out to an early
3-0 lead vs CWS

JJ · August 31st, 2008, 12:15 AM

I've just convinced myself that the Rays are never losing again so I'm not dissapointed every time I see their scores.

Daft · August 31st, 2008, 02:27 PM

DRays are up 3-0 in the 3rd vs BAL

After today's game the Red Sox have 26 games remaining (doubleheader on 09/13). They've got the brooms out vs CWS (who by the way look completely overmatched)

DRays have 27 games left after today (doubleheader 09/23).

Daft · August 31st, 2008, 05:07 PM

5.5 game lead going into September.

It's pure speculation on my part but I think we may see things tighten up a little. Boston has been here before and have zero pressure on them right now.

Tampa is a great team but they have been playing a little over their head lately.

Looking forward to the next 4 weeks. I'm landing in Vegas on the last day of the regular season for both teams. I should be unpacked and at the Sportsbook in time for 1st pitch.

Ramp · August 31st, 2008, 07:43 PM

Rays should be getting back some weapons soon... I think

Ice Man · August 31st, 2008, 07:48 PM

I may jump on the rays bandwagon. my buddy has season tix and playoff priority and has been asking me to go to some games with him. i probably know more about the rays than 90% of their fans.

Daft · September 1st, 2008, 09:44 PM

BAL showed some form of life for a few early innings but they're cooked. 7-4 Sox

Boston moves to within 5 games of Tampa Bay.

Hightlight of the game was easily the screamer that Varitek hit out. Took about .00234 seconds to go over the wall in LF.

Daft · September 2nd, 2008, 10:41 PM

Sox smelling weakness.

4 games back

FishFanInPA · September 2nd, 2008, 10:54 PM

That smell is the Orioles....no worries yet from the Rays.

JJ · September 2nd, 2008, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by FishFanInPA

That smell is the Orioles....no worries yet from the Rays.

We are playing without Youkilis, Drew, Bay (day off but still) and Lowell right now along without Beckett.

We should be getting those guys back in the next week/week and a half with a bunch of games left against the Rays.

August 28th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	The Battle for the AL East The Rays have 30 games remaining on their schedule. The have a very small 3.5 cushion between themselves and the Red Sox. I have a financial interest as well as a baseball fan interest in the quest for the AL East title. Tampa's story is obviously incredible nd Boston is always a fun team to watch with a very loyal following. Here are a look at some numbers as we head down the stretch: The Devil Rays have 14 home games and 16 away game. After tonights contest vs Toronto at home their schedule looks like this: 3 @ home vs BAL (.474 win percentage) 3 @ home vs NYY (.530) 3 @ TOR (.515) 3 @ BOS (.583) 3 @ NYY 3 @ home vs BOS 3 @ home vs MINN (.564) 3 @ BAL 4 @ DET (.481) A look at some offensive #'s: Boston .806 OPS 145 HR's Tampa .751 OPS 143 HR's some pitching #'s: Boston 4.01 Team ERA 48 HR Tampa 3.70 Team ERA 33 HR It would seem to me that the key stretch for the Rays will be the 3 games @ Fenway then a 3 day "break" vs NYY followed by a 6 game homestand in which they battle BOS and MINN back to back. I'm rooting for the Rays for several reason but I'm really looking forward to this stretch run. Anyone's comments or feedback would be appreciated. What is the latest update on Josh Beckett for instance.......... Last edited by Daft; August 28th, 2008 at 11:46 AM.

August 28th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
JJ MVP Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 13,831 T&B $: 9,972 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 5910419 My Teams:	For the Red Sox it is going to come down to how well the key cogs in their now injury beaten down lineup keep hitting down the stretch. If Pedroia and Youkilis keep doing what they have been doing I think we should take it. __________________ $10 = 33¢ a Day for a Month jj[at]tealandblack.net Have a problem with how I'm doing my job? Please post it publicly or PM me. Notice something wrong with the site? Report it. Something you would like to see on T&B? Ask for it. Reputation System Explained

August 31st, 2008, 12:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
JJ MVP Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 13,831 T&B $: 9,972 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 5910419 My Teams:	I've just convinced myself that the Rays are never losing again so I'm not dissapointed every time I see their scores. __________________ $10 = 33¢ a Day for a Month jj[at]tealandblack.net Have a problem with how I'm doing my job? Please post it publicly or PM me. Notice something wrong with the site? Report it. Something you would like to see on T&B? Ask for it. Reputation System Explained

August 31st, 2008, 07:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ramp I'm clearly the strongest one in the row Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,821 T&B $: 1,108,058 Reputation: 2143219 My Teams:	Rays should be getting back some weapons soon... I think __________________ i live in new york, i don't have time for public restrooms

August 31st, 2008, 07:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ice Man Well, we'll just see about that Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,018 T&B $: 959 Reputation: 891735 My Teams:	I may jump on the rays bandwagon. my buddy has season tix and playoff priority and has been asking me to go to some games with him. i probably know more about the rays than 90% of their fans. __________________ "When this baby hit's 88 MPH, you're going to see some serious shit."

August 29th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	4.5 game lead after 2 close games yesterday.

August 29th, 2008, 08:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	Rays just mercy-ruled the Orioles in the 4th inning lulz

August 29th, 2008, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	Dice K smoked the CWS tonight. 2 hits last I looked. 4.5 game lead as both teams win convincingly

August 30th, 2008, 07:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	Wow that may prove to be a large win for Tampa. Down 7-3 at one point, they win 10-9 in the bottom of the 9th. It's a good thing for Tampa that they did because Boston has jumped out to an early 3-0 lead vs CWS

August 31st, 2008, 02:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	DRays are up 3-0 in the 3rd vs BAL After today's game the Red Sox have 26 games remaining (doubleheader on 09/13). They've got the brooms out vs CWS (who by the way look completely overmatched) DRays have 27 games left after today (doubleheader 09/23).

August 31st, 2008, 05:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	5.5 game lead going into September. It's pure speculation on my part but I think we may see things tighten up a little. Boston has been here before and have zero pressure on them right now. Tampa is a great team but they have been playing a little over their head lately. Looking forward to the next 4 weeks. I'm landing in Vegas on the last day of the regular season for both teams. I should be unpacked and at the Sportsbook in time for 1st pitch.

September 1st, 2008, 09:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	BAL showed some form of life for a few early innings but they're cooked. 7-4 Sox Boston moves to within 5 games of Tampa Bay. Hightlight of the game was easily the screamer that Varitek hit out. Took about .00234 seconds to go over the wall in LF.

September 2nd, 2008, 10:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
Daft Human After All Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 4,095 T&B $: 2,870 Reputation: 719378 My Teams:	Sox smelling weakness. 4 games back

September 2nd, 2008, 10:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
FishFanInPA All-Star Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,214 T&B $: 656,939 Reputation: 817644 My Teams:	That smell is the Orioles....no worries yet from the Rays. __________________ "Philly has passionate fans. Someone told me you know they booed Santa, right? I said there were 30,000 people there and he brought no gifts, what were they supposed to do" -- Elton Brand. "It speaks to everything we are trying to do here," he said. "What I mean by that is, it's easy to punt the ball. Anybody can punt the ball. It's conventional wisdom. But you know what? We are trying to change 30 years of this crap, and I want to show them that we are going to go for it and make it right here. There is going to be a day, I pray it's sooner rather than later, that we are going to make that yard." -- Al Golden on why he went for it on 4th and 1.