The Schmuck Stops Here: Rays rested, ready to roll - Some say it’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt. I disagree.

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Rays rested, ready to roll

No one should be surprised that the Tampa Rays opened their Division Series with a relatively stress-free victory over the Chicago White Sox. When you've got the best home record in baseball and you've got the best young player in the game feeling his oats, you're probably going places.

Evan Longoria hit two home runs in today's 6-4 victory and the Rays weathered the loss of slugger Carlos Pena to a scratched cornea for Game 1, so they figure to be in even better shape tomorrow.

The White Sox, meanwhile, had the worst road record of any of the postseason contenders and they were forced to play on both of the offdays between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. Big, big advantage Rays.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just baseball

Comments

I'm a bit torn on this series.

The Rays are without a doubt the best story in sports this year, but I'd love to see Ken Griffey Jr. get a ring before he retires.

That said, the Sox have absolutely no chance of beating the Rays, so I guess Griffey will just have to sign with a contender for the 2009 season.

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Pete's reply: Despite what I wrote, I'm not counting the Sox out just yet. They've been down before.

Posted by: b | October 2, 2008 6:25 PM

I know this has nothing to do with your post Pete but I have a question.

Have you heard anything about the Nationals willing to trade Zimmerman?

I keep reading on MLB Trade sites about the possibility. And I thought if they were willing to listen to offers the O's should be all over it. A core of Markakis, Jones, Wieters and Zimmerman looks good to me.

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Pete's reply: I wouldn't get your hopes up. The Nats know what they have and they can't afford to give up any star power right now.

Posted by: Shawn | October 2, 2008 8:28 PM

Starting pitching, solid bullpen, great defense..... Young bats, with some pop, that show up to play everyday ......Ray's are what the O's want to be.....WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

(but, we know that already, right)

Posted by: jon germany | October 4, 2008 1:18 AM

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About Peter Schmuck

Peter Schmuck wants you to know that, contrary to popular belief, he is more than just a bon vivant, raconteur and collector of blousy flowered shirts. He is a semi-respected journalist who has covered virtually every sport -- except luge, of course – and tackled issues that transcend the mere games people play. If that isn’t enough to qualify him to provide witty, wide-ranging commentary on the sports world ... and the rest of the world, for that matter ... he is an avid reader of history, biography and the classics, as well as a charming blowhard who pops off on both sports and politics on WBAL Radio. That means you can expect a little of everything in The Schmuck Stops Here, but the major focus will be keeping you up to the minute on Baltimore’s major sports teams and themes, whether it’s throwing up the Orioles lineup the minute it’s announced or updating you on the latest sprained ankle in Owings Mills. Oh, and by the way, that’s Mr. Schmuck to you.

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