I'd say it's unlikely to happen but if it did I'd have to give the Rays their props, they've had an awesome season and are totally deserving. On the other hand I'd like to see the Red Sox win tonight and put the last nail in the Yankee coffin (I was really hoping the birds would do the job last night but no such luck.)

I'll be there Wednesday. And yes, I will stand and applaud. When teams with low payroll and young stars out-perform high payroll teams, it's good for the game. The Rays and Marlins have a good formula for building contenders, and I hope the Orioles are taking notes.

Pete - Back in '97, I was at the final game of the ALCS when Julio Franco hit the HR off of Benitez to advance to the WS. And my reaction now towards the Rays would be the same reaction then - I wouldn't boo nor applude.

I just hope that the Orioles are taking notes right now. Because the Rays are a model of what the Orioles SHOULD be in 2-3 years. No, I wouldn't be upset at all. In fact, it should be viewed as a lesson.

Walk out shaking my head just like everytime I leave the Yard.

Its going to be a long 4-5 years before we are competing.

Sure, it is good to see that a team in the O's position can make the leap to contention. But I think you have to walk out shaking your head any time the Devil Rays celebrate on your field.

Pete, is there any legal action Angelos could take against TB? I'm pretty sure they are violating the 'Irrelevancy Clause' of their charter. I thought they are required to finish every season in last place or below the O's...whichever is lower.
(I think KC & DC also follow this guideline.)

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Pete's reply: Yes, I believe a classless action suit is in the works.

I hope the Rays do clinch here. That should provide enough incentive for the O's for 2009.

In fact, I think the O's should give away free cases of bubbly to all fans who show up for this series, so while the Rays are celebrating we can drown our sorrows. After all, wasn't it Sinatra who sang:

"Give me a case of champagne.
More alcohol 'cause I just wanna bawl
Because I realize that it's true
Eleven straight years of this (poo)."

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Pete's reply: I'm sorry Chris, but I really don't like people who are funnier than me.

I'd stand and applaud. At least it's not the Yankees or Red Sox winning the division. Plus, you have to like the youthful exuberance of that team from Tampa.

I'd just walk out shaking my head and anything else I could get a hand on. I'm not going to openly root for a club that just kicked our butt..... Just not gonna happen. To alleviate any fear of you having to make that decision, all this bunch of mediocre misfits would have to do is win one game.... Winning, WOW... That's a novel idea. If they tried it, bet they'd like it.

Tampa Bay is a classy organization which completely turned itself around (thanks to Andrew Friedman et al.) If they clinch in Baltimore I'd applaud them. Contrary to the obnoxious fans in New York and Boston, Tampa Bay fans had to suffer through the last ten years by watching bad baseball. They deserve to be celebrating for that reason alone. Hopefully Baltimore fans will be in the same position two years from now.

If I could be there I would stand and applaud. Probably 50-50 for them and for them and NOT the Red Sox as division champs. I don't have any problem with them leapfroging over the O's, as they started doing it the right way before we did. They have proven that O's fans need to have another 2-3 years PATIENCE. It will take that long to get the right attitude from top to bottom of the organization.

"Pete - Back in '97, I was at the final game of the ALCS when Julio Franco hit the HR off of Benitez to advance to the WS. And my reaction now towards the Rays would be the same reaction then - I wouldn't boo nor applude."

Actually, it was Tony Fernandez, but I'd like to forget that, too. ;)

On topic, I wouldn't exactly give the Rays a standing ovation, but I'd be happy for them breaking through that Boston-New York stranglehold. How can you not smile at that?

Pete,

So now that the Orioles season is just about over, I need something else to root for in the baseball world... So tell me:

In order to win the Mark Tiexiera sweepstakes, would the Angels winning the World Series or losing in the playoffs make the Orioles more likely suitors?

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Pete's reply: I would think if the Angels win the World Series, Arte Moreno will try even harder to sign Tex.

Appearently KC isn't listening either unless the O's go on a winning streak KC should end up with a better W-L than the O's.

Well it just goes to show that when you change your threads you win right?
I am glad for the Rays, but Tampa/St. Pete seem to stink in supporting a team, on a year in year out basis. Buc's Lightning, and Rays have real issues with getting fannys in the seats. They could have a real Dome field advantage if people would show up!

The starting pitching got half way decent and the O's stopped hitting. How timely.

With each game, we work our way into a better draft pick. Not that it is a good thing to do, but a small consolation since nothing else is going well right now.

Mixed feelings? I've been rooting for them all season, still am. The Rays have nothing to do with our inadequacies. I'm glad the AL [North] East might finally have a new champion. I'm going to Wednesdays game, I hope Tampa clinches the division that night. I'd rather it be the Orioles, but you know...

If the Rays want to go wild in our turf, I could care less. It's still better than seeing all the obnoxious Red Sox and Yanks fans take over our stadium time after time. Besides, I expect there will only be a few thousand die-hards in the stands, which should make the Rays feel right at home!
As far as 'mixed feelings' the only ones I have are about the supposed 'rebuild'. If the O's aren't in the playoffs, then I still watch and I'll probably cheer more for the Rays than the RedSOx or Mets or Dodgers. I've gotten kind of used to not seeing us in the post-season anyway so you have to cheer for someone. I don't see the rapid turnaround as cause for hope for us because Tampa had more decent starters than us. I really think all the stars aligned for them however and while they will likely remain a solid team in '09, they Jays will be the surprise team next year. We will once again for fighting to win 70 games and the O's will continue the We are rebuilding!" to justify the ineptitude. I am honestly hoping I am proven wrong but whne the dust settles, I feel we took steps backwards this year.

Pete,

No matter how good or bad the Rays do in the playoffs, you can't take anything away from that team. That team and front office did what it took to get to this position. The Rays never gave up night in and night out (and we as oriole fans weren't spared..) But, I think if it does happen hear in Baltimore, I won't be upset, because what I see on the field is just evidence that if the rays can do it, then the orioles are next.

I would applaud if I were there - to see a low payroll club leap over the red sox and yanks and take the division - at least it would show it can be done despite some teams spending 150 to 200 million dollars -- of course as long as the yanks have a-rod they will not win

Are you kidding me? I'd turn a bitter middle finger toward the clubhouse. We can appreciate the baseball history made last night at Yankee Stadium, and the success of a long-hapless franchise like the Rays, without having to gush for them or trade in our loyalties to our team, now in year 11 of its own hopeless captivity.

The sad shame of it all is that the Orioles used to be a proud and storied baseball franchise with every reason to believe it would forever field a competitive team; that losing years were simply quick transitions to a new style of winning. Now it's just a party clown renting itself out to anyone who needs to look good on a special occasion. So the Baltimore Orioles will always be remembered as the team that graciously allowed itself to get swept so Yankee fans could enjoy their last weekend in the House that Ruth Built; and now maybe as the team that let the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate their first ever playoff berth on its home field? No thanks. Boo, Peter Angelos. Badly done. Hang your head in shame.

At least we used to be able to say we owned the Rays. Now even that has been taken from us. Can it get worse?

My midwestern-born wife and I have been married nine years. Neither she nor our five children know what a competitive Orioles team looks like. Kinda hard to get them excited. Doesn't anyone in the front office care that they're losing a whole generation of potential fans? I don't think I can bear watching my kids grow up cheering for the White Sox.

I actually hope Teixiera goes 2 for 22 in the playoffs, that way the Angels will not want him back and his price tag will be lower. If he goes 9 for 22 with a couple of homers,even the Yankees may not afford him.
As for the Rays, I would applaud them for sure. They have had the top 5 pick ever since they came into the league, its about time actually.