Sox-Rays III Postgame: For Whom The Cowbell Tolls

by 0157H7 on Sep 3, 2009 11:35 PM EDT in Game Stories

Coming into the final Sox-Rays series in Petrograd, all the pressure was on the Rays. Boston was five games ahead of Tampa in the Wild-Card race with a month left to play. If Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett and co. wanted to see the playoffs, their best shot was a series sweep.

Luckily, the once-listless Sox have suddenly found their list - with last night's game they took the series, 2-1. Considering that they were facing Sox killers Andy Sonnanstine, Matt Garza, and David Price, this was no little task.

Boston struck quickly tonight, with two runs in the 1st, which the Rays answered in the bottom of the inning. Boston took the lead again in the second, on a home run by recovering Ray Rocco Baldelli (I think go-ahead homer against your former team is step #11). Tampa tied it again in the 4th, but a Lowell sac fly put Boston ahead again in the 6th. Two insurance runs came in the 7th off of Chad Bradford.

Buchholz was solid, registering a quality start, allowing six hits and only one walk over six innings. Just three K's is a little distressing, but given his 2008 walk woes, pitching to contact isn't all bad. By contrast, David Price was unimpressive, ceding 4 runs in 5.1 innings; hardly what we'd expect from the phenom who shut down the Sox in Game 7 of the '08 ALCS. Best of all, the bullpen did nothing to embarrass Tito, as Wagner, Bard and Paps combined for three shut-out, no hit-innings.

Player of the game is Buchholz. Youk and Bay combined for 5-9, 8 total bases, but a strong starting pitching performance was the key tonight.

The Sun is setting on the Rays' playoff hopes. You ask me, it couldn't have happened to a nicer team.

Poll

Are the Tampa Bay Rays' playoff dreams finished?

Yes. 6 games is too much ground to try to make up in just a month.

196 votes

No. I believe in you, Pikachu! Heart of the Cards! Power of the Cowbell!

28 votes

I hear Bud Selig's going to move both the Rays and Marlins to Canada. Reason: there are more baseball fans in the desolate frozen tundra than in all of Florida.

90 votes

314 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I hate hate hate missing the end of a game due to work.

Especially when I leave during a tie.

But by God if a win doesn’t make up for it.

Should be noticed that Buck suffered from a lot of crap calls and luck.

by Ben Buchanan on Sep 4, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

I totally agree about Buchholz

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 4, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Frozen Tundra????

Takin’ shots at Canada? Yer walkin’ a fine line, number and letter boy.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 4, 2009 6:21 AM EDT reply actions

On the other hand...

…you get major props for the post title. Let’s call it a wash. :P

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 4, 2009 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I rationalize it as follows

I’m a Canadian citizen, so I can make fun of the country occasionally.

Canadians love to make fun of Americans’ ignorance of the country. Check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_to_Americans

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Sep 4, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Of course, I was joking....

…but I didn’t know you were Canadian. CANUCKS UNITE!

And Mercer’s “Talking to Americans” bits were always killer.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 4, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Reasons I would consider moving to Canada....

1. If I was poor and could not afford US health care.
2. Tim Hortons
3. Montreal Strip Clubs
4. Trailer Park Boys
5. Hockey Night

by upCHUCK on Sep 4, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I DETEST Tim Hortons

The rest is pretty awesome, though. :)

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 4, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

You forgot Poutine...

I would also put down…

Rogers Pass
Coast Mountains
Columbia Icefields
Banff, Alberta
Vancouver on a late Spring day..

Montreal is a pretty fun town, weather aside. I liked Vieux Montreal..

Reasons to avoid Canada

Black Flies
Vancouver weather 8-9 months of the year
wet suits in the summer,
Tim Hortons
Most of Alberta east of the Rockies.

by superferret on Sep 4, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Another reason to avoid Canada:

Celine Dion. AHHH!!

Well, Yankee fans, there is ONE thing we can agree on: We're all smarter than Madonna.

by BoSox415 on Sep 4, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but doesn't she live in Vegas now?

You can have ’er.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 4, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yo ferret, you ski Rogers Pass? I hear it is about as good as it gets.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Sep 5, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Get a reservation at the Asulken hut

thru the Alpine Club of Canada.. Just make sure your avy training and beacon are up to par..

If you want something more pedestrian, there is a Best Western on the Trans Canadian at the pass…

It is pretty good, to put it mildly for snow quality and quantity…

A great book for planned routes is Chic Scott’s Summits and Icefields.

by superferret on Sep 7, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

The Rays still have a chance..

They don’t have much of a chance, , it looks like they are out of it, because they have a four game series with MFY, besides another round with the Sox at Fenway.. They need to win like the Rockies did in 2007 before the end of the season.

Right now, the Rangers have a better chance of winning the division if the Angels falter.

by superferret on Sep 4, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions