They did it.  The Rays won in game four.  I had my doubts if they could pull it off or not, but in the end they won their first playoff series against the Chicago White Sox in their very first appearance in the post-season.  They beat the Sox 6-2 in Chicago after being beat 5-3 yesterday evening.  It was pitching and timely hitting that did it for the Rays.  Just like they’d been doing all year long.  They play team ball and that’s why they are so good.  They move the base runners over and they earn the runs that they put together.  And yes, they could beat you with the long ball too.  They have some very good young hitters and most of them can hit with power.  Tonight it was B.J. Uptons turn to hit two home runs.  Andy Sorensen had a good outing as well, giving up just one run in 5 1/3 innings.  It was great.  Tampa fans need to enjoy it now, because it won’t be long before these kids are going to want to get paid on the open market.  I have no fear of the Red Sox or Angels.  I think the Rays can beat either one of them.  Right now, it’s anybody’s game to win.  It could be a World Series appearance for the Rays.

The Cubs are not just losers.  The Cubs are not lovable losers.  I think that it has gone past the feel good for the feel bad fans of the Cubs.  Now it’s just sad.  I want to feel sorry for them, but I can’t.  This shouldn’t have happened.  It’s one thing for the superstition, and the curses, and what ever else you want to use to explain their post season futility.  But this year they had a real chance, the were contenders and they lost to a team, no offense LA, that they should have beat.  And it wasn’t a goat,curse, or a loser sticking his glove where it didn’t belong.  It’s worse because it’s all on the Cub’s players this time.  They didn’t choke because that would entail an actual effort and a chance at victory was even attainable.  No, they didn’t choke, what they did was far worse, they flat out didn’t show up.  They didn’t show up at any of the three games.  maybe the pressure of opening at Wrigley as favorites was just too much.  Who knows.  All I do know is that they let a golden opportunity slip away and there’s always next year.  How’s it feel to have to say “There’s always next year” a hundred and one times in a row?

The playoff race is heating up this month.  With about 10 games to go in the regular season, we have a pretty good idea of who’s going to make the post-season.  But, some of the races are close.  Tampa Bay still holds on to a slim 1.5 game lead over the hated Red Sox.  It looks like the Yanks may have run out of season to make a combeback.  Chicago holds the same slim 1.5 game lead over Minnesota, which is trying to make it back to the playoffs.  They have to win the division, I don’t think that they can catch Boston or Tampa.  It would take an absolute miracle.  The National league has a couple of close ones, as well.  Philedalphia just took the lead from the Mets by winning 7 in a row.  The Cubs have a confortable lead over the Brewers in the central.  Arizona is making atrun at LA in the west, the weakest division by far.  With New York and Milwaukee only separated by 1.5 games for the Wild Card, it’s going to come down to the end for all the teams.  It should be fun to watch.

The Tampa Bay Rays are the surprise team of the season.  I wonder if the name change(formally Devil Rays) had anything to do with it.  Or possibly it was the emergence of a young pitching staff with the second best ERA 3.71 in the majors.  It could also be the hot bats of the young up and coming superstars like B.J Upton and Evan Longoria.  Or maybe the timely hitting with players on base.  Not to mention the new found swagger and confidence that comes with winning.  They are currently leading their division with a record of 79-50, second best in the entire league, just the Cubs have a better record.  They also boast the second best home record of 47-18, again, just behind the Cubs.  After more than a decade of losing, it just might be the Rays year.  And if your anything like me, you like to see new, fresh talent succeed against the super powers of the game like Boston and New York which the Rays have always had the misfortune of playing behind since their inception.  Oh, how the mighty fall and I would love to see a Tampa Bay-Chicago world series.  Unfortunately, for the Cubs, I’d have to pull for the Rays.