The most consistently awful franchise in sports is four wins away from the Fall Classic. This means that Bread is four wins away from some potential cash. At the start of these playoffs, I grabbed the Rays to win the AL at +265. If they ever came close to developing a rival with anyone, it would be the Boston Red Sox. There has been bad blood between the two for several years, and obnoxious Red Sox fans have used Tropicana Field as a second home when Boston played there. This series should be a lot of fun to watch. I’m hoping to ride the Rays season-long success once again, taking them at +110 to eliminate the defending champs.
I have manufactured some homemade lines to backup a few of my thoughts. You can grade the actual relevance yourselves.
Will there be a sweep:
No -1600
Yes +1300
These teams played each other tight this season, with the Rays winning 10 of their 18 meetings. Eight of the finals were decided by a margin or two or less runs, so runline players beware. Excellent starting pitching, bullpens, clutch and power hitting, and base running on both sides should keep this series super-competitive from beginning to end.
The Rays are batting .295 in the postseason to Boston’s .250. One big lift for Tampa Bay is that outfielder B.J. Upton has finally found his swing again. If his three homers in the LDS is an indication of things to come, it gives even more hope to this young team. Recently I spotted a young girl at the Trop wielding a sign that read “MY DAD LOVES BJ!” As do we all sweetie...as do we all.
Dads love B.J.
Will I even be able to watch Game 1:
No -150
Yes +130
I’m flying up to Michigan this morning, then driving up somewhere in the sticks to visit my wife’s family. We’re not even sure if they have cable or internet, and there is rumor that I have to attend a high school football game. Sometimes, life can be so cruel.
Will the home team win every game:
No -200
Yes +170
I feel there is a decent chance that this could be done. Both teams were marvelous on their home fields this year (TB 57-24, BOS 56-25). They have almost identical records on the road as well (TB 40-41, BOS 39-42). Fenway is one of the most storied parks in all of sports, and toughest places to steal a win.
Meanwhile the Rays have always struggled with attendance at the barren dome. When they actually pulled in crowds this year, they were virtually unbeatable. They went 21-2 when the attendance surpassed 30,000. Eight of those games were against Boston, where undoubtedly many of their own fans went home unhappy. I’d only seen the Trop get rowdy once, and that was for an Ozzfest concert about ten years ago. That Marilyn Manson drives the kids wild I tell ya. I’ll be throwing some cabbage on the Rays to win the series in seven games at +350. Imagine the crowd at that game if it happens. Even Marilyn himself would need earplugs.
Will a drunken Sox fan get tasered in the head:
No -1000
Yes +700
Chris Sciesinski learned a hard lesson on 9/17.
Will there be a heated altercation:
Yes -500
No +400
The James Shields-Coco Crisp battle is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Even before that, these teams have a long history of beaned batters, umpire warnings and emptying benches. Having the hard-nosed Jonny Gomes on the Rays active roster really increases the chances of a flare-up. He will charge anyone at anytime. Equally loose-screwed teammate Grant Balfour could also incite a full scale riot. It’s probably going to happen.
If and when this does happen, I implore one man to remain on his team’s bench. The Red Sox have used him as a bowling ball before, and I’d hate to see it again. Stay on the Rays’ bench Don Zimmer!
Will Ben Affleck pull a Steve Bartman:
Yes -110
No -110
Who is Ben Affleck +1000
I can’t believe they still let this guy in the stadium. When the Sox were in the middle of their historical series against the Yankees in 2004, he had the nerve to bring J-Lo to Fenway, sporting Yankees gear. He lost his Boston card forever with that move. He can make all the chowdah-heavy Gone Baby Gone’s that he wants. I see through his veiled efforts. Then in last year’s playoffs, a high foul ball started to drift in the direction of his front row seat. As he reached up to grab it, Jason Varitek had to snag it away for the out. It’s just a matter of time til an entire city of sloshed guys named Sully have this guy running through the streets for his life.
Will Jon Lester become a household name:
Yes -250
No +210
You would think that a guy who has made a successful recovery from lymphoma, pitched a no-hitter and won a deciding World Series game would already be a household name. But when you are on a team loaded with superstars, it’s pretty easy to get buried. I think this series, and the World Series should they advance, will do for Lester what the 2003 playoffs did for Josh Beckett.
Lester has emerged as a true ace on this club, going 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA. He should really shine in Game 3 which he is scheduled to start. He was 11-1 at home with an impressive 2.41 ERA. He would probably be slated to start a possible seventh game. I will be hoping that his legacy takes a slight detour at that point, but we shall see.
Will I get to party with Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria:
No -5000
Yes +3600
No trickle down effect for me.
Will Carl Crawford be a factor:
Yes -300
No +250
The speedy leftfielder almost didn’t make the active roster due to an injured tendon in his finger. In a rare instance of life not being so cruel, he recovered in time to play. For the past six dismal years, Crawford has been the only thing worth watching at the Trop. It looks like he might be lacking some of his usual bat speed, but as long as his legs are working, many groundouts magically turn into infield singles. Then those singles can turn into doubles real quick via the stolen base. I’m glad that Carl is back.
Will Jason Bay come up big:
Yes -500
No +400
Bay is looking pretty good in the first playoffs of his five year career (2 HR, 5 RBI). The Rays knew what he brought to the table, because they pushed hard to acquire him back in July. The trade details could never be ironed out, and the rest is history. You get the feeling that will come back to bite them in at least one of the games. Stay tuned.
Will I laugh so hard that I spit out beer:
No -150
Yes +130
Not unless the White Sox heckler returns and yells “Swing the bat, Suzuki!!” at poor Rays’ second baseman Akinori Iwamura. This should be a great series.
I have manufactured some homemade lines to backup a few of my thoughts. You can grade the actual relevance yourselves.
Will there be a sweep:
No -1600
Yes +1300
These teams played each other tight this season, with the Rays winning 10 of their 18 meetings. Eight of the finals were decided by a margin or two or less runs, so runline players beware. Excellent starting pitching, bullpens, clutch and power hitting, and base running on both sides should keep this series super-competitive from beginning to end.
The Rays are batting .295 in the postseason to Boston’s .250. One big lift for Tampa Bay is that outfielder B.J. Upton has finally found his swing again. If his three homers in the LDS is an indication of things to come, it gives even more hope to this young team. Recently I spotted a young girl at the Trop wielding a sign that read “MY DAD LOVES BJ!” As do we all sweetie...as do we all.
Dads love B.J.
Will I even be able to watch Game 1:
No -150
Yes +130
I’m flying up to Michigan this morning, then driving up somewhere in the sticks to visit my wife’s family. We’re not even sure if they have cable or internet, and there is rumor that I have to attend a high school football game. Sometimes, life can be so cruel.
Will the home team win every game:
No -200
Yes +170
I feel there is a decent chance that this could be done. Both teams were marvelous on their home fields this year (TB 57-24, BOS 56-25). They have almost identical records on the road as well (TB 40-41, BOS 39-42). Fenway is one of the most storied parks in all of sports, and toughest places to steal a win.
Meanwhile the Rays have always struggled with attendance at the barren dome. When they actually pulled in crowds this year, they were virtually unbeatable. They went 21-2 when the attendance surpassed 30,000. Eight of those games were against Boston, where undoubtedly many of their own fans went home unhappy. I’d only seen the Trop get rowdy once, and that was for an Ozzfest concert about ten years ago. That Marilyn Manson drives the kids wild I tell ya. I’ll be throwing some cabbage on the Rays to win the series in seven games at +350. Imagine the crowd at that game if it happens. Even Marilyn himself would need earplugs.
Will a drunken Sox fan get tasered in the head:
No -1000
Yes +700
Chris Sciesinski learned a hard lesson on 9/17.
Will there be a heated altercation:
Yes -500
No +400
The James Shields-Coco Crisp battle is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Even before that, these teams have a long history of beaned batters, umpire warnings and emptying benches. Having the hard-nosed Jonny Gomes on the Rays active roster really increases the chances of a flare-up. He will charge anyone at anytime. Equally loose-screwed teammate Grant Balfour could also incite a full scale riot. It’s probably going to happen.
If and when this does happen, I implore one man to remain on his team’s bench. The Red Sox have used him as a bowling ball before, and I’d hate to see it again. Stay on the Rays’ bench Don Zimmer!
Will Ben Affleck pull a Steve Bartman:
Yes -110
No -110
Who is Ben Affleck +1000
I can’t believe they still let this guy in the stadium. When the Sox were in the middle of their historical series against the Yankees in 2004, he had the nerve to bring J-Lo to Fenway, sporting Yankees gear. He lost his Boston card forever with that move. He can make all the chowdah-heavy Gone Baby Gone’s that he wants. I see through his veiled efforts. Then in last year’s playoffs, a high foul ball started to drift in the direction of his front row seat. As he reached up to grab it, Jason Varitek had to snag it away for the out. It’s just a matter of time til an entire city of sloshed guys named Sully have this guy running through the streets for his life.
Will Jon Lester become a household name:
Yes -250
No +210
You would think that a guy who has made a successful recovery from lymphoma, pitched a no-hitter and won a deciding World Series game would already be a household name. But when you are on a team loaded with superstars, it’s pretty easy to get buried. I think this series, and the World Series should they advance, will do for Lester what the 2003 playoffs did for Josh Beckett.
Lester has emerged as a true ace on this club, going 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA. He should really shine in Game 3 which he is scheduled to start. He was 11-1 at home with an impressive 2.41 ERA. He would probably be slated to start a possible seventh game. I will be hoping that his legacy takes a slight detour at that point, but we shall see.
Will I get to party with Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria:
No -5000
Yes +3600
No trickle down effect for me.
Will Carl Crawford be a factor:
Yes -300
No +250
The speedy leftfielder almost didn’t make the active roster due to an injured tendon in his finger. In a rare instance of life not being so cruel, he recovered in time to play. For the past six dismal years, Crawford has been the only thing worth watching at the Trop. It looks like he might be lacking some of his usual bat speed, but as long as his legs are working, many groundouts magically turn into infield singles. Then those singles can turn into doubles real quick via the stolen base. I’m glad that Carl is back.
Will Jason Bay come up big:
Yes -500
No +400
Bay is looking pretty good in the first playoffs of his five year career (2 HR, 5 RBI). The Rays knew what he brought to the table, because they pushed hard to acquire him back in July. The trade details could never be ironed out, and the rest is history. You get the feeling that will come back to bite them in at least one of the games. Stay tuned.
Will I laugh so hard that I spit out beer:
No -150
Yes +130
Not unless the White Sox heckler returns and yells “Swing the bat, Suzuki!!” at poor Rays’ second baseman Akinori Iwamura. This should be a great series.
Not Ichiro
