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What a Season.
By Jessica | October 30, 2008
At the beginning of the season I started this blog with a lot of trepidation. Would anybody care what a girl had to say? Did I have a different perspective to offer? Could I be entertaining? The biggest question by far was, can I handle writing about ninety losses or will I go off the deep end?
Well, almost nobody cared. I didn’t really have a different perspective. I was definitely not entertaining, but I was blessed with writing about ninety-seven wins. Wins and a post season run that ended in the World Series. All since I started this wee blog. What a season. It’s either coincidence or I’m the Rays good luck charm. I’ll let you decide.
When spring training comes around there’s always the hope of a winning season. The Rays looked real good this year. They were stocked with great athletes. The question was could they put it all together and compete with the big boys?
Right from the start of the season the little team that could just kept chugging along, although everyone expected them to fade away. Even the most faithful fans remembered the previous years and figured it was only a matter of time. Slowly though the magic started to become routine and those faithful fans started to believe.
The better the Rays got, the bigger the dream became. Maybe the little guy could prevail? Then a symbol for that very mantra showed up in the form of Rocco Baldelli. He’s the story within the story. If he could find a way, so could the Rays, and they did.
They believed in themselves and they conquered the AL East. They played baseball in October for the first time. They beat two pair of Sox to become ALCS champions. That was an unbelievable ride. It was such a fight that I really believe they lost some steam. The Red Sox series was a rivalry the Rays had never known to that point, and it took all of their might to defeat them. A trip to World Series was their reward.
The worst team in baseball last season was now playing for it all. The little team that could, did. There was only one problem, the Phillies. A team that none of us had any animosity towards. This was the one component that was missing in this series. There wasn’t that “let’s beat their brains out” mentality. They are a great team that is actually a lot like the Rays in many ways. Hats off to them. They had a great season and they deserve to be champions.
Hopefully the Rays players know they’re lucky to play baseball every day for a living. I’d like to thank them and everyone in the organization. This year they were doing more than just playing baseball. Our country is facing tough times and people are stressed about many things. The Rays gave us something to look forward to.
In a day and age when we are worried about money and finding out our parents have cancer, the Rays shone bright. How many times did you come home stressed out only to watch a miraculous walk-off win and go to bed feeling a lot better. Sometimes it was bigger than baseball. Ironically watching Jonny Gomes tackle David Price reminded us of all that is right in the world.
What a season. It’s one that we’re sure to never forget. They didn’t win it all, but they came damn close. Besides we got a lot of free donuts and even a free taco out of the deal.
I for one can’t wait to take the ride again next year. Thanks Rays!!
Topics: Uncategorized |
October 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Just a note to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your blog for the last couple of months. I’m a Durham Bulls fan, so I have to keep an eye on the Rays. Until this year, it hasn’t been very pleasant. This year was different as we could watch several former Bulls mature (mostly) and watch a team pull itself together for a fabulous season.
As you know, you’re now famous for your unique perspective on the game … and you deserve it. Keep it up! It’s been fun to switch from the statsheads and listen to a fan of the team talk about what she loves.
Until spring training … or before if there are some good thoughts to pass on.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Thanks Chris I appreciate the kind words. It must have been hard to watch so many players get called up this year.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Happy Birthday Barty!
T minus 4 months till springs training!! Cant wait for next seasons blogs! Keep up the entertaining, awesome work, Jessica!!
October 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
We had the same attitude toward the Rays, as far as the hatred thing. Most of us would much rather have beaten in the Red Sox brains, since there is history there and every couple of years they invade our ballpark courtesy of inter-league play.
There was no animosity at all like we have with the Mets and Braves.
Most of the Phils players should return next year, with a good arm or two in the minors, so we’re hoping for a nice little run. We watched the stinking Braves win 14 NL East titles in a row until last year.
Anyway, as a Phillies fan, I can honestly say that most of us up here had a lot of respect for Tampa and the fact that they won a difficult division says a lot for what they accomplished. The hard part for them is going to be competing salary-wise against the Yanks and Sox.
There’s even some speculation now that Baldelli could be the Phillies left fielder in 2009, with Burrell’s contract running out.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Jessica…I was surfing the web hoping to find ladies who loved baseball and the Rays as much as I do and came upon your site. When I read your blogs it’s like you are in my head … but you do a much better job putting it on paper. You are an amazing writer and I look forward to next year watching the Rays and reading your blogs! It was an AMAZING and unexpected year. I am optimistic that we will be a serious contender next year. Like I told my friends and family after the loss last night, I am not mad or angry. Just mildly disappointed because I refuse to ignore that we were in the freaking WORLD SERIES!
October 31st, 2008 at 2:12 am
Jessica, I read your blog every day and its one of my ritual bookmark checks every morning. I especially have enjoyed the human side of what you write, right down to hangovers and mohawks
Speaking as a mom of a Tampa Bay Ray, and having watched them for the past seven years, this season has been sublimely enjoyable and exciting from beginning to end. It was incredible and almost surreal to watch the whole process…I literally stood in the team store sobbing (my wonderful boyfriend diverted my attention so it wasn’t TOO noticeable!) because my boy’s name was on the back of an ALCS team shirt….and to have the chance to sit at The Trop and watch those first two WS games from behind home plate, while at the same time heartwrenching to watch missed opportunities that were less meaningful during a 160+ game season, more meaningful in a 7-game series. While we don’t know what the off-season holds, or what the roster is going to look like next season, I think all Rays fans will agree that the 2009 Rays have a tough act to follow. This was one wildly amazing ride!
And another good thing about playing in October is that it shortens the off-season for us die-hard baseball fans!
October 31st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I loved your writing. I did not comment much for ya, but it beat Draysbay and raysindex most of the time..damn statheads.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Congrats on your team’s good season. I’m a Red Sox fan but enjoyed reading your blog during the seaon to get “the other side” and always found your stuff well written.
As for the Rays, you have a lot to be proud of with them. I am one of the people who kept expecting for them to fold under the Sox pressure but I give them full credit that they never did and outplayed the Sox in the ALCS and deserved to win.
I also think the Rays will be back strong next year (as a Sox fan, the idea of Price in their allready strong rotation all year scares me a lot). But I’m looking forward to reneweing the rivalry next year and hopefully the Yankees will miss the playoffs again
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hi Jessica,
I just found your blog last week and I love it! You’re a great writer, especially the article from June about those awful beards. I definitely don’t think a guy could have written from that perspective, or would have even thought it a worthy topic (but it surely was!). I’m really looking foward to next year! Keep up the good work!
BTW, do you know whose mother Cathy is?
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thanks everybody. It was my rookie season blogging so there was a lot to learn. Next year should be even better.
Aimee - I do know whose mother Cathy is. I’ll give her a couple days to tell you, otherwise I’ll give you a clue.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Sorry Jessica, I couldn’t wait to see what your clue would be ha ha…Aimee, I am proud and honored to be Jason Hammel’s stepmom. His dad and I raised him here in Washington state from age 10 until, after his dad died in 1999, he joined the Rays out of college at age 19 in 2002. While he didn’t make the playoff roster, he suited up and was in the bullpen for every game and was honored, humbled and thrilled to be a part of what turned out to be an underrated but incredibly talented Rays team.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
My clue was going to be “he’s super tall, coming from the pen and his name rhymes with Mason Trammel”
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
That would’ve been a pretty good clue.
Cathy - I don’t think I’ve seen him play (we don’t get many Rays games on TV here in Nashville), but that’s so cool to have your son playing MLB. Hopefully I’ll see him next year.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
You were great Jessica! It was my first year too and I hope we’re both doing this for a long time. I really appreciate what you bring to the table. I enjoy reading your stuff and I tell every woman I meet they should check you out. Keep up the good work!
November 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
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