No kidding. No one's going to catch up to them in the AL East.

Colin's site is about to get blown up like he did to The Big Lead.

It's too early to declare the Rays the WS favorites, especially when they're not even leading the Wild Card. There has been a lot of mediocre play this year as well as a lot of streaky play. A lot of teams are rolling off 6+ game win-streaks as well as quite a few losing streaks. It's not even the all-star break, and people are already crowning WS favorites. Anything can happen.

I personally think the AL East will turn out to be Sox, Yanks (WC), Rays, Jays, O's.


/Yankees fan

I think you must be from if you think it's about time to make that call.

aba: I personally think the AL East will turn out to be Sox, Yanks (WC), Rays, Jays, O's.

Agreed.
Except.. would it surprise you if the Rangers or Angels took the WC?

Except the Sox had an 11 game streak, the Blue Jays had a 9 game streak, the Yankees are in a 6 game streak...

Basically, you're a shiathead.

I saw Colin's smug little face and empty head on SportsCenter and pretty much destroyed by DVR (which is the DirecTV model, so nothing of value would've been lost). ESPN has become to sports what MTV is to music.

/Praise Allah for myp2p

aba: Colin's site is about to get blown up like he did to The Big Lead.

It's too early to declare the Rays the WS favorites, especially when they're not even leading the Wild Card. There has been a lot of mediocre play this year as well as a lot of streaky play. A lot of teams are rolling off 6+ game win-streaks as well as quite a few losing streaks. It's not even the all-star break, and people are already crowning WS favorites. Anything can happen.

I personally think the AL East will turn out to be Sox, Yanks (WC), Rays, Jays, O's.


/Yankees fan

Identifying yourself as a Yanks fan helps explain the end of that post. I agree with everything except the order of the AL East- either Boston will have injuries derail their year (Lowell going to the DL today) or the Yank's lack of pitching will catch up to them. It's no stretch to think the Rays can finish in first. But they have been EXTREMELY inconsistent and I don't know if the pitching is going to be good enough over the course of the season. I'd love to see them get someone like Houston Street- but at what cost? Right now I'd offer a case of beer and some coupons for the Denver Olive Garden to get him from the Rockies. I don't want to part with any prospects for someone now.

and Cowherd is an ass

Can't stand Coward, but the Rays are loaded and have recovered from the mediocre start. They can rake (check the run differential), and if the bullpen comes close to what it gave them last year they'll be in thick through of it through September.

Living in CT, so tired of Yankees/Red Sox. Go Rays.

This is just an example of someone being able to say I said it before the all star break if they do happen to make it.

I am a Rays fan and the national media payed attention to nothing but empty seats in our stadium last year. Now all of the sudden everyone is clamoring to be able to claim they predicted it first. If they don't make it they will never claim the pick and it will fade into oblivion.

7 game streaks are good. Especially when you are trying to come from 8 back of the division lead.

Rays and Yanks will fight for the AL East title this year. I do not see the depth in Boston for them to compete over the entire season. I could be wrong though it has been known to happen.

My prediction Yanks (AL East Winner) Rays (WC) Redsox 2 games back, Blue Jays 12 back, O's 27 back.

So Colin Cowherd links are getting greens now? Did the SbB check bounce this month?

maybe all the "long-time fans" will dust off their '08 playoff gear and actually purchase those hard-to-come-by Rays tickets now

This is annoying as hell. I hate article/blog entries with no date. Barlett is back, but Kazmir is certainly not leading the Rays pitching staff (just got back from the DL after a horrible start) and Sonnanstine was just sent down to Durham.

/Hate when dumbshiat bloggers list a slew of WS favorites before even the All-Star break.

toonz: maybe all the "long-time fans" will dust off their '08 playoff gear and actually purchase those hard-to-come-by Rays tickets now

Why so we can pay above face value to sit in an ancient ballpark full of mildew and ghosts of losers past to watch our bullpen blow a 9 run lead ....

No thanks! I will say it before .... If you are concentrating on the empty seats you are doing it wrong. The game is played on the field not in the stands.

Speaking of empty seats .... How did fenway look in the 7th inning of game 3,4,and 5 of the ALCS last year? Kinda like Tropicana did at the beginning of last year. With the exception that the home team was winning

1st in the league in runs scored
2nd in the league in BA
1st in the league in steals
4th in the league in HR


14th in the league in runs allowed
10th in the league in ERA
middle of the pack in walks and K's

their projected record based on the aforementioned run differential would be second best in the league behind only the Dodgers

We all know the World Series favorites are the Washington Natinals...

/of misspellings
//and crap-titude

PewterPirate55: I am a Rays fan and the national media payed attention to nothing but empty seats in our stadium last year. Now all of the sudden everyone is clamoring to be able to claim they predicted it first. If they don't make it they will never claim the pick and it will fade into oblivion.

Then bullshiat you are the most pessimistic Rays fan I have ever met. All I heard last year was the miracle, cinderella Rays. All I have heard this year is how pathetic their fans are for not supporting a WS team, but I really wouldn't expect more from bay area fans.

Listen to sports talk radio down here. Everyone who calls in about the Rays claims they have been a season ticket holder since day one (yeah right), but here is why a lot of people (except them because they are totally awesome fans) don't go. The Rays making the WS was a convenient excuse for everyone down here to claim they have been Rays fans since day one while at the same time talking down to their fellow fans for not supporting the team as much as they do. Something doesn't add up.

Best run differential in MLB, fourth best record in MLB (third in the AL East... that sucks)... They're a really good team. They have as good a shot as anybody, I think.

fark the Rays. We should stop sucking their cock as a city. The owners keep whining that the stadiam isn't full, they want a new stadium or they will go somewhere else. Good! Go!

If you want a full stadium it doesn't matter what condition the stadium is in, field a winning team. You could have wooden bleachers and rusty metal seats, but if the team wins, people will go to the games.

Shut up Rays!

manimal2878: fark the Rays. We should stop sucking their cock as a city. The owners keep whining that the stadiam isn't full, they want a new stadium or they will go somewhere else. Good! Go!

If you want a full stadium it doesn't matter what condition the stadium is in, field a winning team. You could have wooden bleachers and rusty metal seats, but if the team wins, people will go to the games.

Shut up Rays!


Sense, your post does not make.

manimal2878: fark the Rays. We should stop sucking their cock as a city. The owners keep whining that the stadiam isn't full, they want a new stadium or they will go somewhere else. Good! Go!

If you want a full stadium it doesn't matter what condition the stadium is in, field a winning team. You could have wooden bleachers and rusty metal seats, but if the team wins, people will go to the games.

Shut up Rays!

Yeah, the Rays have never won anything. And being 4 out of first? Horrible.

Oh look the Waterfront stadium lackys have arrived.

Rex_Banner: manimal2878: fark the Rays. We should stop sucking their cock as a city. The owners keep whining that the stadiam isn't full, they want a new stadium or they will go somewhere else. Good! Go!

If you want a full stadium it doesn't matter what condition the stadium is in, field a winning team. You could have wooden bleachers and rusty metal seats, but if the team wins, people will go to the games.

Shut up Rays!

Yeah, the Rays have never won anything. And being 4 out of first? Horrible.

How about the AL EAst the the AL Pennant. Granted, they don't have a long winning tradition...but have have won something.

manimal2878: Oh look the Waterfront stadium lackys have arrived.

Oh look Brian Blair's little butt pirate buddy has arrived.

See how much fun making logical fallacies are!

Considering the Sox and Yankees are both 7-3 over the last 10 and the Rays are 9-1 and 4.0 back, they're going to have to keep a pretty strong pace to keep up. They've got a good enough team that can put runs on the board. They'll be alright but I don't get why the Rays fans on Fark, who only show up during win streaks, are getting so cocky.

manimal2878: Oh look the Waterfront stadium lackys have arrived.

Because no other city in the South plays outdoors. Except the Marlins, Rangers, and Braves. No one has ever heard of those teams, let alone attends their games, amirite?

2008 Attendance:

Marlins- 1.3 million
Rangers- 1.9 million
Braves- 2.5 million

PewterPirate55: O's 27 back.

That, and

Jonny Chimpo: We all know the World Series favorites are the Washington Natinals...

/of misspellings
//and crap-titude

that.

// sadly
// DC areas sucks as baseball town
// ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??

GimpyNip: Considering the Sox and Yankees are both 7-3 over the last 10 and the Rays are 9-1 and 4.0 back, they're going to have to keep a pretty strong pace to keep up. They've got a good enough team that can put runs on the board. They'll be alright but I don't get why the Rays fans on Fark, who only show up during win streaks, are getting so cocky.

this.

HERE COME THE RAYS!



Toonz: you're picking some low hanging fruit there swifty.

williamzabka: PewterPirate55: I am a Rays fan and the national media payed attention to nothing but empty seats in our stadium last year. Now all of the sudden everyone is clamoring to be able to claim they predicted it first. If they don't make it they will never claim the pick and it will fade into oblivion.

Then bullshiat you are the most pessimistic Rays fan I have ever met. All I heard last year was the miracle, cinderella Rays. All I have heard this year is how pathetic their fans are for not supporting a WS team, but I really wouldn't expect more from bay area fans.

Listen to sports talk radio down here. Everyone who calls in about the Rays claims they have been a season ticket holder since day one (yeah right), but here is why a lot of people (except them because they are totally awesome fans) don't go. The Rays making the WS was a convenient excuse for everyone down here to claim they have been Rays fans since day one while at the same time talking down to their fellow fans for not supporting the team as much as they do. Something doesn't add up.

I am a fan of all of the Tampa Bay sports teams. I am a Buccaneers season ticket holder. Living in this town for 30 years has a tendancy to make you pessimistic. Between the Lightning now and The Bucs decade and a half of dark days to the dark days ahead next year for the Bucs, I have learned to set my expectations low. That way I am never disappointed. That being said I hate it when national media jumps to back our teams here in Tampa because that is when we fold like a cheap lawn chair at a fat camp.

The Rays seemed to win last year to spite what the national media pundits were saying. The national media didn't jump on the Rays bandwagon really until September started. I don't know how many times I heard the asshats on ESPN conclude during the first 4 months of the season that the Rays can't continue winning like they did and they would fade. Now if they are the media darlings they will fade. I would rather see them fly under the radar instead of have all of the pressure on them.

The real problem the Rays are going to have is their division. They had their best month ever last month (19-7 .730). They made up 1 game on the Sox. Put the Rays or the Blue Jays in the AL Central or West, and they are the class of the division.

\4 of us pooled to get 2 Rays and Lightining tickets. Best 2K I ever spent. (Big fights over bobblehead and $1 dog nights.)

I'll believe it after the All-Star Break.

Tradskinzd: manimal2878: Oh look the Waterfront stadium lackys have arrived.

Oh look Brian Blair's little butt pirate buddy has arrived.

See how much fun making logical fallacies are!

Yes.

umm. arent the yankees on a 6 game win streak? so one more and theyd be the favorite? God i hate baseball.

tricycleracer: manimal2878: Oh look the Waterfront stadium lackys have arrived.

Because no other city in the South plays outdoors. Except the Marlins, Rangers, and Braves. No one has ever heard of those teams, let alone attends their games, amirite?

2008 Attendance:

Marlins- 1.3 million
Rangers- 1.9 million
Braves- 2.5 million


What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

PewterPirate55: williamzabka: PewterPirate55: I am a Rays fan and the national media payed attention to nothing but empty seats in our stadium last year. Now all of the sudden everyone is clamoring to be able to claim they predicted it first. If they don't make it they will never claim the pick and it will fade into oblivion.

Then bullshiat you are the most pessimistic Rays fan I have ever met. All I heard last year was the miracle, cinderella Rays. All I have heard this year is how pathetic their fans are for not supporting a WS team, but I really wouldn't expect more from bay area fans.

Listen to sports talk radio down here. Everyone who calls in about the Rays claims they have been a season ticket holder since day one (yeah right), but here is why a lot of people (except them because they are totally awesome fans) don't go. The Rays making the WS was a convenient excuse for everyone down here to claim they have been Rays fans since day one while at the same time talking down to their fellow fans for not supporting the team as much as they do. Something doesn't add up.

I am a fan of all of the Tampa Bay sports teams. I am a Buccaneers season ticket holder. Living in this town for 30 years has a tendancy to make you pessimistic. Between the Lightning now and The Bucs decade and a half of dark days to the dark days ahead next year for the Bucs, I have learned to set my expectations low. That way I am never disappointed. That being said I hate it when national media jumps to back our teams here in Tampa because that is when we fold like a cheap lawn chair at a fat camp.

The Rays seemed to win last year to spite what the national media pundits were saying. The national media didn't jump on the Rays bandwagon really until September started. I don't know how many times I heard the asshats on ESPN conclude during the first 4 months of the season that the Rays can't continue winning like they did and they would fade. Now if they are the media darlings they will fade. I would rather see them fly under the radar instead of have all of the pressure on them.

It was an odd lack of strong coverage because the sports media, especially ESPN with it's 24/7 coverage, are usually always hopping on the new hotness and the team that's doing well at the moment. I think it was a little shocking to see the Rays come seemingly out of nowhere, and no one was sure they could sustain it, especially in a division containing two other playoff mainstays. I think everyone last year expected the Rays to wilt during the homestretch, and it never happened, which is why everyone was a little late to the bandwagon.

This year, anyone declaring the division for anyone at this point is crazy. The trade deadline hasn't come and gone yet, the Yankees always make a move to get better, and the Red Sox and Rays have a good number of quality prospects to use as bargaining chips for that missing piece. I welcome the Rays to the race, but it's very premature to hand anything to anyone yet.

I think this was a clever ruse by subby to put a halt to this current winning streak- down to the Jays 2-0 going into the bottom of the 6th

manimal2878: What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

Have you been in the mausoleum we call a stadium?

It's the most depressing sports experience in the Bay area.

tricycleracer: manimal2878: What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

Have you been in the mausoleum we call a stadium?

It's the most depressing sports experience in the Bay area.

I have been plenty of times. It's fine, what's wrong with it?

manimal2878: tricycleracer: manimal2878: What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

Have you been in the mausoleum we call a stadium?

It's the most depressing sports experience in the Bay area.

I have been plenty of times. It's fine, what's wrong with it?

Also if it sucks, you could rebuild where it stands, build it on the parking area they have now, or put it on the old Toy Town Landfill, you don't need to put it on the Waterfront Downtown. I can't park anywhere as it is.

manimal2878: manimal2878: tricycleracer: manimal2878: What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

Have you been in the mausoleum we call a stadium?

It's the most depressing sports experience in the Bay area.

I have been plenty of times. It's fine, what's wrong with it?

Also if it sucks, you could rebuild where it stands, build it on the parking area they have now, or put it on the old Toy Town Landfill, you don't need to put it on the Waterfront Downtown. I can't park anywhere as it is.

You know we have these things called "parking garages" downtown.
Just a helpful tip if you are in need of parking.

Tradskinzd: manimal2878: manimal2878: tricycleracer: manimal2878: What does that have to do with wanting to move the stadium 2 miles closer to the water to no apparent purpose?

Have you been in the mausoleum we call a stadium?

It's the most depressing sports experience in the Bay area.

I have been plenty of times. It's fine, what's wrong with it?

Also if it sucks, you could rebuild where it stands, build it on the parking area they have now, or put it on the old Toy Town Landfill, you don't need to put it on the Waterfront Downtown. I can't park anywhere as it is.

You know we have these things called "parking garages" downtown.
Just a helpful tip if you are in need of parking.

Is there a free one that I'm not aware of? Otherwise, your snide comment is dumb.

The AL East is second difficult division in MLB. When you have the Yankees and Red Sox battling, it ok. But when you throw two more teams into the mix, there will be a wild card team from the AL East and the Division Champ with the Yankees in butthurt even if they took it up the butt.

Red Sox and Rays need get into a brawl next time they meet.

Vinz_Clortho: Rex_Banner: manimal2878: fark the Rays. We should stop sucking their cock as a city. The owners keep whining that the stadiam isn't full, they want a new stadium or they will go somewhere else. Good! Go!

If you want a full stadium it doesn't matter what condition the stadium is in, field a winning team. You could have wooden bleachers and rusty metal seats, but if the team wins, people will go to the games.

Shut up Rays!

Yeah, the Rays have never won anything. And being 4 out of first? Horrible.

How about the AL EAst the the AL Pennant. Granted, they don't have a long winning tradition...but have have won something.

Your sarcasm dector is broken

Funk Brothers: The AL East is second difficult division in MLB. When you have the Yankees and Red Sox battling, it ok. But when you throw two more teams into the mix, there will be a wild card team from the AL East and the Division Champ with the Yankees in butthurt even if they took it up the butt.

Red Sox and Rays need get into a brawl next time they meet.

Which division is tougher to play in than the AL East?

manimal2878: Tradskinzd: manimal2878: Also if it sucks, you could rebuild where it stands, build it on the parking area they have now, or put it on the old Toy Town Landfill, you don't need to put it on the Waterfront Downtown. I can't park anywhere as it is.

You know we have these things called "parking garages" downtown.
Just a helpful tip if you are in need of parking.

Is there a free one that I'm not aware of? Otherwise, your snide comment is dumb.

You never said free my friend, all you said was you couldn't find parking. My comment may be snide, but it is not dumb. If all you want to do is biatch, then be my guest.

Not biatching, I offered viable alternatives to what I see as a problem with having the stadium on the downtown waterfront.