Sox vs Rays

[shecky]

Yeah, I had that coming. Sorry, it was a druck post.

Honestly, though, I am sick of the Sox the same way the whole country was sick of the Braves for so long. I just want a team to win that hasn't spent a gazillion dollars to buy a pennant.

Oh an Youklis does drive me batty with his goofy batting stance. But, then, so does Craig Counsell with his stance............

I can understand everybody's hatred of the Red Sox. I even welcome it. It means they've accomplished something. Nobody likes a winner.

But surely you can't compare the Red Sox to the Braves. The Red Sox have tradition and a rabid following that goes back into the late 1800s. The Braves were nothing for so, so, so long. And then they get good and proclaim themselves America's team. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that they won the NL East 14 straight times and won the World Series once. ONCE.
Now nobody in the ATL gives rat's patooty about them.

As for the money thing, well, that's the cost of doing business. If you can spend it, spend it. But also remember that Youkilis, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Lester, Pedroia, Papelbon, Delcarmen, Masterson are all homegrown guys.

 

[cclloyd]

I can understand everybody's hatred of the Red Sox. I even welcome it. It means they've accomplished something. Nobody likes a winner.

I grew up a Tiger fan and hated the Red Sox before they won anything. Before re-alignment it was Detroit, Baltimore, New York and Boston with the expansion adding Toronto - but I'm sure you knew that. Not being a smart-a$$ - you are obviously a life long Sox fan and would know that just as I do. I had no reason to hate on anybody but the Rays for the last ten years - cuz they sucked. However, being a sports fan in Florida has a dimension that few other teams have to deal with - fans from up north who live here now but still have allegiance to thier hometown teams. That alone makes all Boston and New York fans hateable (??) in Tampa Bay. I've been to Fenway and if there are a dozen fans total from the opposing team it's an off night for the chowd faithful.
All that being said, Pedroia is a freaking stud. Hate that little *&^%$#@ - but I'd love to have him on my team. Good luck to both teams - I'm sure we're in for a helluva game tonight. Sucks here though because the Bucs are on at the same time. Thank God for the DVR.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I can understand everybody's hatred of the Red Sox. I even welcome it. It means they've accomplished something. Nobody likes a winner.

But surely you can't compare the Red Sox to the Braves. The Red Sox have tradition and a rabid following that goes back into the late 1800s. The Braves were nothing for so, so, so long. And then they get good and proclaim themselves America's team. Yet nobody ever seems to remember that they won the NL East 14 straight times and won the World Series once. ONCE.
Now nobody in the ATL gives rat's patooty about them.

As for the money thing, well, that's the cost of doing business. If you can spend it, spend it. But also remember that Youkilis, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Lester, Pedroia, Papelbon, Delcarmen, Masterson are all homegrown guys.

I certainly can compare the two. The Braves were an outstanding team for a long time, and got all the media attention for all of that time. Now the guys on ESPN blather on about the Sox and the Yanks. It's all you ever hear about, and it gets old. When a different team wins the division (like this year) nobody raves about it. Nobody said anything about the Rays all year. All they talked about was the Sox and the Yankees and there must be something wrong if they are not winning the division. It gets old.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

The funny thing is the Rays did not have fans until 3 months ago. They may have a good team just as the Marlins did in '97 and '03 but when contracts are up the team will fall apart and go back where they started and have been for over 10 years. Look what happened in 2003 when the Marlins won, they had one of the best teams in a long time and look at them now.

 

[the_bird]

I love the Sox, but they did do one thing that annoyed the piss out of me. Like, this seriously bothers me.

They did the whole "spray outselves with champagne!" bit after winning the wild card round against the Angels. WTF? You haven't done ANYTHING yet. I mean, I can understand an upstart young team like Tampa doing that, I'd be cool with that because this is really the first time the franchise had been relevant - but Jesus, Papelbon, you won the damn title last year! Act like you're SUPPOSED to be there!

Think Belichick's teams ever partied like that after beating someone in the first round of the playoffs?

I was just wanting a restrospective on the Celtics season last year, and after they had beat Atlanta and Cleveland on the way to the finals, there was none of that. The coach and the captain both said - let's be happy, let's enjoy this moment, but let's remember this is NOT what we came for, this is EXACTLY where we expected to be!

This, from a team that's sucked for 21 years!

It just struck me as ridicoulous, to celebrate like you've won the title when you haven't even won the pennant.

 

[the_bird]

I certainly can compare the two. The Braves were an outstanding team for a long time, and got all the media attention for all of that time. Now the guys on ESPN blather on about the Sox and the Yanks. It's all you ever hear about, and it gets old. When a different team wins the division (like this year) nobody raves about it. Nobody said anything about the Rays all year. All they talked about was the Sox and the Yankees and there must be something wrong if they are not winning the division. It gets old.

Love them or hate them, though, the Sox have fans across the country (same as the Yanks). Maybe not as many as ESPN would have you believe, but you see large contingents in every opposing stadium.

No one likes Atlanta. They were only on TV every freakin' night because Ted Turner owned the team and the network. They were a good team for a long time, but I don't know anyone who ever considered themselves a Braves fan.

So, there IS a difference.

 

[shecky]

I certainly can compare the two. The Braves were an outstanding team for a long time, and got all the media attention for all of that time. Now the guys on ESPN blather on about the Sox and the Yanks. It's all you ever hear about, and it gets old. When a different team wins the division (like this year) nobody raves about it. Nobody said anything about the Rays all year. All they talked about was the Sox and the Yankees and there must be something wrong if they are not winning the division. It gets old.

Ah, but that is not the fault of the Sox nor the Yankees. Stop watching ESPN. I did years ago.

I actually like the Rays and how they went about winning with all that young talent. I respect the hell out of them. Problem is, the organization doesn't have the revenue streams (mostly thanks to a fan base that was apathetic until 3 weeks ago) to keep all that talent when free agency rolls around. They might be good for a few years, but they will unfortunately crumble when they can't dole out money. They'll be the Twins of the south, picking and choosing who to keep and who to jettison all in the name of staying competitive.

That is the unfortunate nature of baseball right now.

 

[shecky]

I love the Sox, but they did do one thing that annoyed the piss out of me. Like, this seriously bothers me.

They did the whole "spray outselves with champagne!" bit after winning the wild card round against the Angels. WTF? You haven't done ANYTHING yet. I mean, I can understand an upstart young team like Tampa doing that, I'd be cool with that because this is really the first time the franchise had been relevant - but Jesus, Papelbon, you won the damn title last year! Act like you're SUPPOSED to be there!

Think Belichick's teams ever partied like that after beating someone in the first round of the playoffs?

I was just wanting a restrospective on the Celtics season last year, and after they had beat Atlanta and Cleveland on the way to the finals, there was none of that. The coach and the captain both said - let's be happy, let's enjoy this moment, but let's remember this is NOT what we came for, this is EXACTLY where we expected to be!

This, from a team that's sucked for 21 years!

It just struck me as ridicoulous, to celebrate like you've won the title when you haven't even won the pennant.

I disagree here. They had accomplished something. Baseball is a long, grinding season. Surving that, especially the way the Sox did with Papi, Lowell, Drew and Beckett, among others, all going down for long stretches is a huge accomplishment.

I want the teams, any team, to celebrate. It shows they care about winning something. The Yankees had such a staid, businesslike approach for so long that they got boring. I'm a huge Pats fan, but I don't like the robotic approach they take to things because of Belichick. Let them celebrate. They are human beings with emotion.

Having been there once doesn't mean you can't be ecstatic to be there again. I think it's what part of what makes the Sox so much fun. They're playing a child's game after all. It's OK to celebrate like a child.

 

[shertz]

Does it really all matter? Cause the Phil's are going to smoke either team!!!

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Does it really all matter? Cause the Phil's are going to smoke either team!!!

Bring it.

I was a DRays fan back in the day. Went to games back when the only team they could beat was the Yankees.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

The Phillies are a good team but I doubt they are going to smoke either team.
If the Sox win it will be a good World Series. If the Rays win then the World Series will suck the the Phillies will win.

 

[shertz]

Bring it.

I was a DRays fan back in the day. Went to games back when the only team they could beat was the Yankees.

I know I'm talking crap, but come on, I'm a Phillies phan and haven't been to the WS since '93, the year Mitch Williams blew it for us. I can barely remember '80 when we beat the Royals and Geoge Brett's hemorrhoids. I'm afraid this layoff may have a negative effect on us though. Either way, I'm stoked for Wednesday night

 

[cclloyd]

I see the Phillie fans are from the same cloth as the Eagles fans - shoulda figured. What's up battery chuckers?

The biggest difference between the Rays and the Marlins (other than the fact that we speak english in Tampa) is that Huizenga is a turd and the Rays ownership has thier main talent locked up for the next four years plus. Get used to it BTB. Even if the Sox pull it all the way out of thier collective a$$es tonight, the Rays are gonna be a pain in that same a$$ for several years.

 

[shertz]

I see the Phillie fans are from the same cloth as the Eagles fans - shoulda figured. What's up battery chuckers?

Battery chuckers? Sorry, but I was there a month ago and saw some guy get thrown out for calling Manny Ramirez a *****, no kiding! For whatever reason, the media likes sensationalism. I'm also a Cowboy's fan(Yeah, figure that out) and have gone to many Boys-Eagles games and never had a problem. If you act like an ass, you'll get treated like one. Those stories are so blown out of proportion.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

Manny sucks at life

 

[Professor Frink]

I see the Phillie fans are from the same cloth as the Eagles fans - shoulda figured. What's up battery chuckers?

Battery chuckers? Sorry, but I was there a month ago and saw some guy get thrown out for calling Manny Ramirez a *****, no kiding! For whatever reason, the media likes sensationalism. I'm also a Cowboy's fan(Yeah, figure that out) and have gone to many Boys-Eagles games and never had a problem. If you act like an ass, you'll get treated like one. Those stories are so blown out of proportion.

I grew up as a Mets fan right outside of Philly. And I have to say - generally Phillies fans are scum. I went to three Mets-Phillies games in April at Citizens Bank Park and I couldn't believe the number of unintelligent, belligerent a**holes that were trying to fight me for wearing a Mets shirt. When I grew up and the Phillies sucked, you couldn't give away a Phillies ticket. One winning season and now every half-wit has a Chase Utley jersey T-shirt and feels it's their right to spew every explitive they can think of.

 

[shertz]

Ahhh....a typical disgruntled Met's fan!! Well, since you are a HBT member I'll give you some slack, but man, your team has tanked 2 years in a row. I think this town is hungry for a championship, whether it be football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. It certainly is a love/hate town. But I will say, that when the teams are good the fans are more supportive than most fans! Wait till you hear that crowd next Sat and Sunday.

 

[Bulls Beers]

Gonna be a tight one..Both pitchers are on.. Whoever wins this game should take the world series...But I did predict the Patriots were gonna win...

Oh shyte, I shouldn't have said that. olllllo might put me in his signature...

 

[Professor Frink]

Ahhh....a typical disgruntled Met's fan!! Well, since you are a HBT member I'll give you some slack, but man, your team has tanked 2 years in a row. I think this town is hungry for a championship, whether it be football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. It certainly is a love/hate town. But I will say, that when the teams are good the fans are more supportive than most fans! Wait till you hear that crowd next Sat and Sunday.

Haha, have we ever. I really want to root for the Phillies, it's just that so many of them have really rubbed me the wrong way. I probably should have mentioned I'm an Eagles and Flyers fan also. What I'm probably most worried about is that the Phillies will win the series and I'll be stuck with my sucky teams.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Rays Won!!!!!!!

 

[paulthenurse]

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

Well it took until 20 minutes of midnight in game seven for the Sox to finally get beat. Not a bad season at all. Congrats to the Rays, they are a talented team.


Here we go Bruins, here we go! bang bang

Here we go Bruins, here we go! bang bang

 

[Boston]

Congratulations to the Rays, great team, I'll be pulling for them in the WS

 

[niquejim]

Not to insult the Red Sox(they spring train here), but when a teams young talent all peak the same year you could throw $1 billion into salarie and still not win.

Although it does make me happy when the big spenders don't win

 

[Joe C]

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

Well it took until 20 minutes of midnight in game seven for the Sox to finally get beat. Not a bad season at all. Congrats to the Rays, they are a talented team.


Here we go Bruins, here we go! bang bang

Here we go Bruins, here we go! bang bang

It is officially hockey season! Can't wait to see dancing guy at some bruins games and head to the harp and the greatest bar.