And the choke has begun

[Singabull]

2 crappy games played against the stankees AT HOME.  They are feeling the pressure and are losing it.  Just like I said, september was too difficult for the rays to hold on through.  Making mental mistakes, not scoring with bases loaded and 0 out - not signs of a playoff caliber team.  Tomorrow is a MUST WIN.  If they lose tomorrow then it will be 4 in a row because they're gonna lose friday night - halladay vs. sonnanstine (no chance).

Also, PERCIVAL SUCKS!  His era continues to climb, now over 4 (not good for a closer).

kazmir better learn to throw strikes tomorrow or we're done.

[Who'sYourData?]

This idea might have some merit, if it wasn't the same thing you've said three dozen times since May. 

You know what?  They're still on top!

Over the winter, perhaps you should familiarize yourself with this sport called baseball.  Might I recommend a few books:

The Boys of Summer

Eight Men Out

Moneyball

The Umpire Strikes Back

And a couple of movies:

The Natural

Field of Dreams

Major League

[Velcro]

Who are the yankees pitching against Kaz?

[Bruce Blingstein]

Who are the yankees pitching against Kaz?

Darryl Rassner, should be a W for the Rays.

[BullsWinBucsWin]

Who are the yankees pitching against Kaz?

Some gascan named Rasner.  We need to tee off on this chump and salvage a game from the Yankmees.  Need to chip away at that magic number!

[Economics_Nerd82]

The 6 games vs. Boston is where the season will be won or lost.

[Velcro]

Ahh, Rasner... yep, you should win that one.

[Bullpride08]

The 6 games vs. Boston is where the season will be won or lost.

You should say where the Eastern Division will be won or loss.  At this point I find it highly unlikely the Rays won't make the playoffs at least.  Which is still a huge winning season for the rays.

[flsportsfan83]

The 6 games vs. Boston is where the season will be won or lost.

You should say where the Eastern Division will be won or loss.  At this point I find it highly unlikely the Rays won't make the playoffs at least.  Which is still a huge winning season for the rays.

see NY Mets in 07

[Bullpride08]

The 6 games vs. Boston is where the season will be won or lost.

You should say where the Eastern Division will be won or loss.  At this point I find it highly unlikely the Rays won't make the playoffs at least.  Which is still a huge winning season for the rays.

see NY Mets in 07

We've got 9.5 games up on Minnesota and 8 up on the white sox, today, the Rays could go 8-16 over their final 24 games and have about a 95% probability of making the playoff.  To summarize, we could win only one game in each series and the computers say we should still get in, win 1-2 series and avoid being swept in the final 24 then the team finished with 95 wins.  For example if the Rays do that, and go say 10-14 over their final 24, the Chisox would have to go 18-5 to beat the Rays over their final 23, and the Twins would need to go 19-3 to tie.

Anything could happen but the Rays are in a great position.  Everyone brings up the NY Mets of 2007 but it isn't applicable here to the Rays.  The Mets were 78-61 on 9/5 last year, and at that time were embattled for the Divisional race with two teams (Atlanta and Philly), but they also only had a 2 game lead on the final wildcard slot over the Rockies, who were 74-65 on 9/5 and the Padres who were 76-63.

Different scenarios.  The Rays have an 8 game lead on the final wild card.  For all intent and purpose once the Twins lose 5 games they'll be officially out of the playoff race, and tonight they've got Detroit and 12-4 Galarraga, this weekend the Chisox have LAA...not to mention they both play one another late in the month.

Basically the wildcard is going to the loser of the Eastern division between the rays and the bosox.  The White sox and Twin would need to play almost perfect baseball, which isn't happening since they play each other, AND the Chisox still has the yanks, blue jays, and LAA in their schedule.  Those two will battle it out to see who can win the central and slide into the playoffs.