Devil*Rays end season with World Series loss to Phillies

I've been dragging my feet on offering up my final thoughts on the 2008 baseball season. The foot dragging has not been so much because of bitterness but because most of what I'll write has already been said.

The Rays did not play to their potential in the World Series. The team beat the odds by staving off the worst disadvantages of youth until the final series, and I think the home plate umpiring serves as part of the explanation. A team inclined to press while in the batter's box is not going to easily get over it when the home plate umpire rules inconsistently. But who knows how large was the role of the umpires? I don't, so a hat tip to the Phillies, and some other gesture for any Phillies fans who engaged in, abetted, or tolerated the classless behaviors reported in the media.

The season was terrific for Rays fans--almost enough to forgive the idiotic name change. I would not have predicted this team would make the playoffs, and they exceeded expectations once they got there. I certainly would have predicted that the Rays would start contending next year, with a young, good, and maturing pitching staff and solid defense. I did question how the offense would perform without Delmon Young, who was shipped to Minnesota in return for key acquisitions Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza. Offensive production dipped, as a matter of fact, but next year remains difficult to predict. Many Rays players performed below their career numbers, with the notable exception of Dioner Navarro. It at least seems like a good bet that a healthy B. J. Upton will have a better season next year (more like his astounding playoff performance) and that third baseman Evan Longoria will take another step in figuring out major league pitching.

The Rays have a scary amount of potential, but the other teams in the AL East will gear up for them next season. I'm looking forward to it.

World Series moves to Philadelphia tied 1-1

The Tampa Bay Devil*Rays evened the best-of-seven World Series 1-1 with a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. James Shields pitched 5.2 shutout innings to pick up the win. Rookie left-hander David Price finished off the Phillies while allowing two runs.

Because the Hammels-Kazmir matchup was the worst one for the Rays, in my view--because Hammels is that good--I expected the series to return to Philly knotted at one. The next two pitching matchups favor the Rays, though Jamie Moyer can be tough. I expect the Rays to take two of three from the Phillies up there. And if the Rays win the first two they have a shot at a sweep, since I expect the team to hit Hammels better the second time around.

I found this analysis from MLB.com rather intriguing:

A sweep of three games at Citizens Bank Park, starting with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday, would give Philadelphia its second World Series championship, while anything less than a sweep brings the series back to Florida.

Writer Ken Mandel's analysis conflicts with mine. My calculations indicate that the Rays can win the World Series by winning all three games in Philadelphia, and that would mean no more games in Florida.

You might want to have your abacus checked, Ken.