Winter is back

by Aaron Giddens

Snow-covered Kauffman Stadium.
Courtesy: royals.mlblogs.com

Last night the summer officially came to a close for baseball fans across North America as the San Francisco Giants won the World Series to claim their second championship in three years.

With that the 2012 season is no more. We have entered the off season and what a doosy it will be for Rays fans. This year we likely loose BJ Upton and Jeff Keppinger.

Mayor Foster rejects Rays' request to explore Hillsborough

by Aaron Giddens

As if we should be shocked, today St. Pete mayor Bill Foster rejected the Rays' request to explore all possible stadium sites in Tampa Bay (specifically those that are in Hillsborough were rejected), TBO.com reports.

The specifics of the deal that Foster rejected would have given St. Pete final say on any potential stadiums, in Pinellas or Hillsborough.

By a result of this decision by Foster, this means the Rays won't discuss with CityScape who proposed a stadium in the Carillon business park area. Why? Because the Rays have said they will not talk specifics of a new stadium there unless they are able to talk to everyone in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

In the end, this is just another example of the reasons Bill Foster is single-handedly writing the plane ticket for the Rays to move elsewhere. To which I have one word: Idiot.

Expanded replay possibly to be in place for 2013

by Aaron Giddens

In a very telling Q&A with Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Bud Selig has just given hope to those that want expanded replay in MLB for 2013.

Here's the important section of the interview:

Yankees fail to sell out Game 1 of ALCS

by Aaron Giddens

One of the Rays' biggest critics of attendance are Yankees fans. Usually they say things like "Tampa doesn't deserve a team." "They can't even sell out a postseason game." "Contract/Move the team." Well, tonight the Yankees fans are a shining example of hypocrisy. Per Steve Carney of WDAE on Twitter:

For those that asked, @yankees indeed did NOT sell out Game 1 of #ALCS.Official attendance was 47,122.Capacity (per MLB): 50,287

— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) October 14, 2012

The Bronx doesn't deserve a team. They can't even sell out a postseason game. Contract/Move the team.

Did I cover everything?

A's win; Rays eliminated

by Aaron Giddens

Coco Crisp celebrates with teammates.
Courtesy:MercuryNews.com

It's over. The Athletics won tonight in a crucial game 160 and eliminated the Rays (and Angels) from postseason contention.

Tonight, hopefully the Rays and Rays fans learned an important lesson. As meaningless as one game can sound in the context of a 162 game season, 1 loss can crush your entire hopes. The Red Sox learned that last year, we learned it this year.

Win or go home

by Aaron Giddens

It's all down to this. Games 160 through 162. If the Rays sweep they do their part, but A's also have to be swept. It only takes 1 A's win or 1 Rays loss to end it all for 2012. That is, the A's magic number is 1.

This is why I don't buy in to the argument that "it's only one game". If we had one or two other games we would have more life in us. But people made excuses and now we're learning the lesson that the Red Sox learned last year: that one loss can make or break your season, even in April.

Tonight the Rays have their work cut out for them. Facing the Orioles and Wei-Yin Chen. Chen has not been an easy opponent for the Rays statistically speaking. He's been practically average. An ERA over 3 versus the Rays.

It's literally one game at a time. Play ball!