Go Rays!!!

[Jeff Westover]

I'm not a Red Sox fan but I gotta admit -- that game the other night was some great October baseball (another great sign that christmas is coming).

So I'm going to sign off here for a bit to watch tonight's game. Go Rays! Can't wait to see you beat the Sox...and then lose to the Phillies...who will be destroyed, as will all of the NL, by the Giants next year.

[Ms_Speedy_Elf]

Sorry Jeff ! Gotta say GO SOX!!!!!!!! Also gonna watch the Missouri ~ Texas game GO MIZZOU!!!!!!!!!

[dvdelf]

I'm not a Red Sox fan but I gotta admit -- that game the other night was some great October baseball (another great sign that christmas is coming).

So I'm going to sign off here for a bit to watch tonight's game. Go Rays! Can't wait to see you beat the Sox...and then lose to the Phillies...who will be destroyed, as will all of the NL, by the Giants next year.

sorry we want the rays to win everything. Good for the economy

[MrsH]

It was a great game the other day.

The Rays are moving their Spring Training facility to the baseball stadium where I work, so we're VERY excited right now.

[irishsnow]

Dont understand baseball at all. Never seen a full game.

I do have a world series jersey signed by one of the players from 2005.

Not sure of the team though lol

[Mumof2]

Go Bosox!!!!!!

[Jeff Westover]

It was a great game the other day.

The Rays are moving their Spring Training facility to the baseball stadium where I work, so we're VERY excited right now.

You work at a baseball stadium? Sheesh, no wonder Mikey married you.

[dvdelf]

No if she worked at a best buy wouldve been ideal

[MrsH]

I work for the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department of our county. Our office is located at Charlotte Sports Park (the old Texas Rangers Spring training location). My office window looks out on the baseball stadium, so I will have a front row seat to all the practices and the games. We just had Cal Ripken and his baseball company sign on to bring in a triple A affiliate of the Rays too. I actually got to meet Mr. Ripken, which was kind of weird. I didn't recognize him right away because he is just soooo BIG in real life.

[dvdelf]

and shes soooooo short


hehehe

not that short really

[melindasue]

Although I do admit the Rays really want it this year, I've gotta root for my sox <333 GOOOOOOO REDDSOOXXXX WOOHOO!!

[Jeff Westover]

I work for the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department of our county. Our office is located at Charlotte Sports Park (the old Texas Rangers Spring training location). My office window looks out on the baseball stadium, so I will have a front row seat to all the practices and the games. We just had Cal Ripken and his baseball company sign on to bring in a triple A affiliate of the Rays too. I actually got to meet Mr. Ripken, which was kind of weird. I didn't recognize him right away because he is just soooo BIG in real life.

Have you any idea who he is??? WOW.

[dvdelf]

sure she does. The big tall baseball guy:hello:

[Jeff Westover]

If TB loses this game tonight this series is all over. That's 7th inning the other night is going to haunt them forever then...

[Jeff Westover]

Varitek...that dude and Pedroia are money in the bank.

[Jeff Westover]

ph, man...big hit by Big Papi

[Jeff Westover]

Youklis up....more money in the bank...

[Jeff Westover]

dude looks like a lumberjack...

[Jeff Westover]

whiffed...whew! Rays still in it.

[trackrebel]

too bad they don&#180;t show much baseball over here in Germany....only channels You got to pay extra for....we might start that next tho...and then I can watch College Basketball and Baseball.....btw...my team are the Dodgers

[Jeff Westover]

The Dodgers? Blasphemy!

Jeff <--Giants fan

[MrsH]

Ummm....Jeff....aren't the Giant's a football team????

[dvdelf]

oy

[MrsH]

<blush> embarrassed...hubby just told me there is a San Francisco Giant's baseball team. Go figure

[officepro4u]

I was in Tampa last night even though I did not attend the game. The city was PUMPED for this game. Very disappointed that they couldn't pull of a win. GO RAYS tonight!!!!

[MrsH]

I've never been one for wearing clothing with team logos or stuff like that...but I've been tempted to wear something with GO RAYS on it lately.

[Jeff Westover]

Ummm....Jeff....aren't the Giant's a football team????

What's football?

[Jeff Westover]

I was in Tampa last night even though I did not attend the game. The city was PUMPED for this game. Very disappointed that they couldn't pull of a win. GO RAYS tonight!!!!

Ain't going to happen. It's over. Time to become a Phillie's fan.

[MrsH]

GO RAYS!!!! Go Eva Longoria...um...I mean Evan Longoria.

[trackrebel]

The Dodgers? Blasphemy!

Jeff <--Giants fan

sorry to disapoint You...but I love the dodgers...have that thing for L.A. Teams...I love the Lakers as well...and am sorry that Raiders went back to Oakland

[Jeff Westover]

sorry to disapoint You...but I love the dodgers...have that thing for L.A. Teams...I love the Lakers as well...and am sorry that Raiders went back to Oakland

You ever spend any time in LA? The fans leave Dodger stadium before the 7th inning. You ever seen the Clippers? Dreadful. You need to rethink this. LA is the armpit of America.

Have you noticed how many members we have here from the LA area? ZERO. Total plastic losers.

But you can take the Raiders back, speaking of losers.

[Jeff Westover]

RAYS WIN! I'll bet Tampa is going wild tonight.

Thought for sure the Sox were destined yet again.

Guess I'm a temporary Phils fan now. World Series starts Tuesday!

[trackrebel]

You ever spend any time in LA? The fans leave Dodger stadium before the 7th inning. You ever seen the Clippers? Dreadful. You need to rethink this. LA is the armpit of America.

Have you noticed how many members we have here from the LA area? ZERO. Total plastic losers.

But you can take the Raiders back, speaking of losers.

Yeah, I´ve been in L.A....and I loved it....The Clippers...well...who cares about them? HOnestly...in the early 2000 they had quite some talent over there...but didn´t make nothing of them...

Lakers are my main team...and I love the Dodgers as well....just cos the fans are bad doesn´t mean I can´t like the team...if I was there...I´d stay the whole game :D

[Santa's Helper]

Be glad you guys have baseball teams that you can actually cheer for to win! All I have is the Pirates. I haven't cheered for them since 1992. I miss the Pirates of the 70's-80's. I'm not into watching baseball on tv, I'll go to a game though. But, you can hate me if you want but, I just think the season is too long for me to stay interested in. I don't like that it goes into 3 seasons. It's boring to me and I used to play baseball/softball for years so you'd think that I would like it but, I don't.

[trackrebel]

I&#180;ve heard many people say watching baseball is boring...but playing is a lot of fun!!!

[whychristmas]

I'm sitting in the UK with a laptop on my lap watching the game off tape (well dvd actually!). And reading this thread now I know who won, ahhhhhhhhh (I've got to the top of the 3rd as I type).

My AL team are the Blue Jays (keeping it in the Commonwealth!) and my NL team are the... Phils!!! I was actually wanting the Redsox to beat the rays (as much as it pains me to say that) simply because I figured the Phils would have a better chance on beating the Sox than the Rays (pitching match-up wise).

But now, well go Hamels, Myers, J-Roll, Utley et al ;)

And Jeff, the Giants... If you keep up that kind of the talk, the guys in the white coats will be round!!! (And I'm a Raiders fan in the 'other sport')

Back to the game...

[Santa's Helper]

I´ve heard many people say watching baseball is boring...but playing is a lot of fun!!!
I agree, I'll play but, I don't want to watch!

[MrsH]

Other than having to watch Yankee games (and I wasn't really watching even though it looked like I was) when I lived with my parents, this is the most baseball I've watched on TV EVER!!! What a game! Work is going to be NUTS today!!! Now we have to prepare a Spring Training facility for a team that is going to the WORLD SERIES!!! Let's just say that traffic control planning is going to get crazy now!!!

(I'll try to take and post a picture of the view from my office window so you can see what I will be watching in the Spring!)

GO RAYS!!!!!

[trackrebel]

that would be cool


to the Baseball lovers....how come the MLB is parted in the American League and the National League...I always thought it was like East Coast/WestCoast....like in the NBa...but it&#180;s not...I just checked the teams.....We there two different baseballs leagues that united at some point?

Jeff...or any other person who knows about this...that would be really interessting for me to know.

[whychristmas]

Have a read of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball#League_organization

It's a historical thing from two different leagues. (kinda like how the AFL and NFL joined together and we've now got the AFC and NFC within the NFL)

Nowadays, the only rule difference in the two leagues that in the National League pitchers (the guy who throws the ball) have to bat, whereas in the American League they have 'designated hitter' (or DH) who bats instead (and doesn't field).

So the Rays won the American League and the Philies won the National League and now they play each other in the World Series (best of seven games) to find the overall winner of MLB for 2008.

[Jeff Westover]

Be glad you guys have baseball teams that you can actually cheer for to win! All I have is the Pirates. I haven't cheered for them since 1992. I miss the Pirates of the 70's-80's. I'm not into watching baseball on tv, I'll go to a game though. But, you can hate me if you want but, I just think the season is too long for me to stay interested in. I don't like that it goes into 3 seasons. It's boring to me and I used to play baseball/softball for years so you'd think that I would like it but, I don't.

You know what you need? Fantasy baseball. You'll never see a game the same way again. I love the games within the game.

[Jeff Westover]

I'm sitting in the UK with a laptop on my lap watching the game off tape (well dvd actually!). And reading this thread now I know who won, ahhhhhhhhh (I've got to the top of the 3rd as I type).

My AL team are the Blue Jays (keeping it in the Commonwealth!) and my NL team are the... Phils!!! I was actually wanting the Redsox to beat the rays (as much as it pains me to say that) simply because I figured the Phils would have a better chance on beating the Sox than the Rays (pitching match-up wise).

But now, well go Hamels, Myers, J-Roll, Utley et al ;)

And Jeff, the Giants... If you keep up that kind of the talk, the guys in the white coats will be round!!! (And I'm a Raiders fan in the 'other sport')

Back to the game...

This series is going to be a home-run fest. Are you more an AL guy or an NL guy?

Personally, I'm a NL guy. I'm very opinionated (understatement, I know) about the designated hitter. I think it lessens a lot of teams.

The Giants are a boyhood thing for me. I was an Oakland A's fan for a long time while I was in little league but when Reggie Jackson ignored me on Bat Day I switched teams and discovered the Giants.

Times are tough for the Giants these days. That means they could make the series next year.

[whychristmas]

Times are tough for the Giants these days. That means they could make the series next year.

LOL it worked for the rays! Perhaps the Giants need to follow the Rays example and cut the name done a bit. I think the SF Ants has got something going for it!!!

Although my 'main' team are the bjays, I prefer watching small ball and the NL. I think it indeed will be a HR fest. I'm not a huge fan of the DH but if you didn't have it then you wouldn't get to see the likes of big papi and frank thomas doing their stuff.

The UK presenters of baseball have nick named the world series 'worst to first'. The rays well because... and the phils were the club that had been the longest between penant wins.

I hope it will be a good series, although I'm sure fox wish it were dodgers/sox!

[MrsH]

As promised, here are the views from my office window of the Tampa Bay Rays 2009 Spring Training facility...

[Santa's Helper]

You know what you need? Fantasy baseball. You'll never see a game the same way again. I love the games within the game.
My brother gets into the fantasy stuff. There's a guy at work that is really into baseball and he drives me nuts! I think he's on a fantasy league because he listens to the game at work and then every time something happens he runs to the computer! He's so annoying. I don't know if I can do the fantasy thing, I'll think about it!

[Head Elf]

I wanted the BOSOX to win, but its nice to see a new team at the dance. But my choice for homecoming king is the PHILLIES. I was so hoping that it would have been the White Sox and the Cubs, but if the Cubs ever win a series there is going to be a lot of funerals in Chicago and down in Phoenix. Old timers from Chicago who have migrated to the warmer climates will never survive a Cub world Series. The ex is from Philly so I have a little loyalty for them. The hubby wants any team from the AL to win. He's from Minnesota so its the AL all the way. It should prove to be interesting in our household.


GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!! You just got to love the Philly Fanatic....... he rocks!!!!

[Jeff Westover]

My brother gets into the fantasy stuff. There's a guy at work that is really into baseball and he drives me nuts! I think he's on a fantasy league because he listens to the game at work and then every time something happens he runs to the computer! He's so annoying. I don't know if I can do the fantasy thing, I'll think about it!

to be honest with you, I had to give up my fantasy teams a couple of years ago to support my Christmas sites. It was a terrible thing to have to wean myself from because I really, really loved it.

Fantasy baseball does turn you into a psycho. If you watch a game in a crowd such as at a ballpark or in a crowded place you do nothing but invoke befuddled stares. And that's because you either root for and/or hate everyone you see.

You "own" different players on different teams, so if you watch a game you invariably "own" someone on both teams. That means you have a whole new level of interest in any game you see.

The worst situation possible is when one of your pitchers is pitching to one of your hitters. That's a totally unnerving experience. You win no matter what...but you also lose. I'm telling you, it drives you mad.

Man, do I miss it.

But it inevitably gives you a real love for the games within the game. Positioning of outfielders, running games on the bases, communication between catcher and pitcher, whether to bunt or do the hit-n-run, stealing signs, etc, etc, etc.

Baseball is the greatest game EVER. NEVER, EVER, EVER is it boring. If you think it is, then you just don't know enough about it.

[MrsH]

Today they announced the name of the Tampa Bay Rays minor league team that will be playing at Charlotte Sports Park where I work. They will be called the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs. (what will the nickname be?? The Stoners or the Crabs?)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27312456/

[Head Elf]

Crabs or Stoners!!!! Hmm! That's a toss up. Stoner's, right on Dude!

[Jeff Westover]

I can see it now filling out my fantasy lineup == I got crabs!

[Jeff Westover]

I'm not a huge fan of the DH but if you didn't have it then you wouldn't get to see the likes of big papi and frank thomas doing their stuff.


I think the big leagues would be better without these types of players. they play long beyond their time and they give an imbalance to the competition. The DH has extended the career of many a player....to the detriment of those players and of the game.

[DoubleA]

Still very irked that my Sox didnt make, it so I have stopped talking baseball till next year :-D

[whychristmas]

I know what you mean about DHs. Do you think if the DH scrapped that there would still be differences in play style between the leagues or would you get some big ball and small ball teams in both?

I've played a bit of fantasy baseball (I normally call my teams 'coopers townies' - my name being cooper!). The guys that present ball on tv over here run a league for the UK viewers. It's pretty simple compared to most. No drafts or trading between players, you just pick a team from a budget and can trade players on Sundays: http://fantasybaseballuk.com/

This was me this year: http://fantasybaseballuk.com/fantasy_show_team.php?team_id=2845&Hold_Period=167
pretty average!

Cole Hamels pitched a good game - one great fact though; Jamie Moyer was in the majors before Cole Hamels was born!!!

[sugarplum fairy]

I can see it now filling out my fantasy lineup == I got crabs!


LOL! I just spit tea all over my computer!!!!cheesy

[MrsH]

I can see it now filling out my fantasy lineup == I got crabs!

Oh believe me...we've been giggling about it ever since they made the announcement. A lot of people in town thought it as a joke...but...it's not.

[Mumof2]

Still very irked that my Sox didnt make, it so I have stopped talking baseball till next year :-D

Me too Double A! Can't wait till spring lol