With their 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox Monday in Game 4 of the ALDS, the Tampa Bay Rays are moving on to the ALCS for the first time in franchise history. And as Tommy Rancel of MVN.com puts it so perfectly, the Rays no longer should just be considered a “nice story”, “pleasant surprise” or a “Cinderella tale.” They’re legitimate World Series contenders, no matter who they play in the next round.
The Rays were supposed to contend for .500 at season’s beginning. In June, they were just a nice story, but they were destine to fail. Before the All Star break, they crashed to reality and lost first place and were supposed to never get it back. In August, they were peaking too early and would collapse in September. In September, the pressure would get to them and the Red Sox were supposed catch them and win the East. Once the Rays won the East and clinched a spot in the ALDS their experience was going catch up to them come October.
They would open the ALDS against the more experienced White Sox, who won three straight elimination games to get there. The Sox would have much of their 2005 World Series team in tact and Mark Buehrle, one of the tough lefties that was supposed shut the Rays down, said he wanted to face the Rays because he thought they were the easier matchup. Oops, somebody forgot to tell the Rays all that. The Rays brushed the dirt off their shoulders all season long and now are just four wins away from going to the World Series.
Well now what are they going to say? My bet is nothing. When push comes to shove the Rays have passed every test put in front of them.
Well said. It’s easy for the media to follow trends. The White Sox had the experience and had won recently at this level. But as I wrote after the Rays’ win in Game 2, experience isn’t everything. Congrats to the Rays.
Not to take anything away from Tampa, but it must be noted how depleted Chicago was coming into the playoffs. Not having bats like Carlos Quentin (36 HRs, 100 RBI, 96 runs) and Joe Crede (17 HRs) in the lineup certainly hurt. And the Sox run production in this series is a clear indication of that.
