MLB - Sports Rumors

Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:04 am EDT

Pitching gives Rays a chance to win against Red Sox

By Joe Zedalis

James Shields

Getty Images

Tampa Bay reliever Trever Miller calls them "rocking-chair moments," the ones that will come to mind decades from now when you're regaling your grandchildren with tales from your playing days.

"Some guys are afraid of the big moments," Miller said.

Not James Shields, the Rays' 26-year-old right-hander who will start Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox tonight in Tropicana Field.

"He wants the ball," Miller said. "I think that's what separates him from a lot of guys. You can see it in his eyes, that determined focus."

The strength of Tampa Bay's rotation has been depth — though the Rays lack that front-of-the-rotation hammer such as CC Sabathia or Johan Santana, they have five quality starters who give them a chance to win night after night.

But Shields has emerged as the team's ace, not so much because his stuff is overpowering, but because his mental makeup is. Fuming about Coco Crisp's hard slide into Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura on June 4 in Fenway Park, Shields drilled the Red Sox outfielder in the hip in his first at-bat the following night, touching off a wild benches-clearing brawl.

Shields drew a six-game suspension for the incident, and four teammates were suspended, but the fight helped galvanize the Rays, who went from a major league-worst 66-96 in 2007 to 97-65 and an AL East title in 2008.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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51 Comments

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  1. davfied
    1. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Crish should have expected to be hit. That's baseball. Just as Shields should have expected Crisp's reaction. That too is baseball.
  2. Older_than_Moses_Shaq
    2. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    They wouldn't have gotten this far if they didn't have a chance to win it. Dumb article.
  3. eplaya42
    3. Posted by eplaya42 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Bad Article- They are all kids who can't pitch compared to boston.
  4. The Bog
    4. Posted by The Bog Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    #3 Bad Post - They are all quality pitchers who can pitch well enough to keep them in the games with the Red Sox.
  5. tito (eight and oh)
    5. Posted by tito (eight and oh) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    This will be the difference. If Tampa's starters get it done...it's going to be a long series.
  6. scott
    6. Posted by scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Moses, I'm not a Sox fan but you make a good point. Neither team got here because they suck.
  7. Cameron P
    7. Posted by Cameron P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    johan u said ya well rays and right know the mets a far apart from eachother friend dont put losers with winners it dont mix well also on the mets story line needs 2 read dumped in ny get out wile your still youg lol good players will always get craped on lol in ny lol
  8. stewie
    8. Posted by stewie Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    Have to give the Sox pitchers the edge , based on playoff experience, not saying the Rays pitching will fold, just that the sox have been there, done that. Hi dav having my times with the fake stewie you know my styles and 1:00am is not one of them. The beaver is slick or should I say sick
  9. Cameron P
    9. Posted by Cameron P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    lol o ya huge mets fan lol truly
  10. Benny
    10. Posted by Benny Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    Well, if the media is correct I guess it's a done deal. Tampa Bay is going to the World Series. Perhaps someone should inform Francona not to bother to show up with his team. Of course they did say the same thing about the Angels. I guess Boston might as well play the games, see what happens anyway.
  11. RSNation
    11. Posted by RSNation Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Rays have had a great season and it is still going, but much of it has been clutch performances and a great bullpen with some breaks of course. If you look at it by the numbers, man to man, they are not as good. I do not think they will be as good next year. They remind me of last years Rockies or the 2001 D-backs (except they had Schilling and the Big Unit) Hopefully, it will catch up to them in this series, but I have been thinking that all year and they just keep going.
  12. scott
    12. Posted by scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Real Deal, sorry to say, I think you're right. I think the media has jumped on the bandwagon.
  13. davfied
    13. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    The faker is on you for some reason. I have reported it as fraud. That it is not you. This will probably be the best series. Again, I have to give Boston the slight edge. The Rays have surprised the hell out of me though.
  14. RED SOX R#1(in my heart]
    14. Posted by RED SOX R#1(in my heart] Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    LOL watch out davfied beaver or whoever he is at the momment will say your a bandwagon fan instead of a smart baseball fan. man he was something yesterday!!
  15. Benny
    15. Posted by Benny Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    Scott,
    The media has been on the Ray's bandwagon all season. It's a feel good story. The Ray's bandwagon is getting a bit crowded. Practically all baseball fans outside of Red Sox Nation ( and a few Pirate fans) are rooting for Tampa . Too bad they don't seem to have many real fans.
  16. tito (eight and oh)
    16. Posted by tito (eight and oh) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Here's a better question: More Sox fans or more Rays fans at the Trop tonight?
  17. jd 1
    17. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    real, its human nature. But this team is very good, and with Spencer Tracy coaching them, they will be hard to beat. Kinda like Boys Town.
  18. davfied
    18. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    R #1,
    The faker didn't use my name yesterday I don't think. He was fake stewie the most. You should know by now I don't say the things he does. Good luck tonight BTW. I say things like:
    faker DROP DEAD
  19. jd 1
    19. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    16, Rays are 22-2 at home when in front of 30k or more fans. Tell the Sox fans to stay home.
  20. jd 1
    20. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    Latest news from Tampa, Mohawk bikini wax are all the rage. A new way to support the Rays. Ya Gotta love that. Where do I get a ticket. Beats freezing you a$$ of at Fenway. LOL
  21. stewie
    21. Posted by stewie Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    dav the faker is on my case because I really put him down hard on tues Beaver man ram and fake stewie posting lit it up thurs. he knows who I talk sports with and tried to come down on them. for instance you and I share similar views and we post with some good sox fans. this riles him to the max and he goes nuts on us.
  22. darby
    22. Posted by darby Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:59 pm EDT

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    I seriously think it will be a split going back to fenway with tampa probably winning tonight cause dicek always walks lots of guys.Go redsox.
  23. tito (eight and oh)
    23. Posted by tito (eight and oh) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Yea i hear that JD.
    Sox fans, stay home. LAWD knows there won't be 30,000 "Ray's Fans" in attendance.
  24. tito (eight and oh)
    24. Posted by tito (eight and oh) Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    I wish intelligent people like dav and stewie would talk more about baseball and less about a$$ clowns :(
  25. davfied
    25. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    JD
    That is almost as bad as Acorn registering voters. You are right. Being cold in baseball isn't cool.

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