Was there any other way for this thing to go? Oliver Stone couldn’t have written a more obvious script for the final game of the ALCS. The Rays looked like they were left for dead, out matched and out priced by their more experienced foe- one that just doesn’t know how to die when October rolls around. After coming back from a 7-0 deficit in Game 5, I think everyone expected the Rays to lie down and die.
Then after dropping Game 6, and with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of Game 7, it appeared that this was it for Tampa Bay. Boston knew all about JP Howell’s curveball, having seen it over and again all season long, and they had locked in Dan Wheeler’s fastball like a sniper on a two-legged deer in an open field. The cubbard was completely empty, the bases loaded, and the only guy left had only 15 innings of Major League experience: David Price. Talk about pressure. Talk about drama. The hopes of an entire franchise riding on the golden arm of the golden goose, if he comes up big his career will forever be defined by that moment, if he chokes, well, he might have ended up going the way of Rick Ankiel- the 2001 version.
It was nothing to him, though. He walked into the game, cool and composed, and promptly struck out JD Drew, one of the games purest hitters. Inning over. Crisis averted. Bring on the World Series.
Could he end up being this year’s version of K-Rod or Adam Wainwright? Who knows. That’s the thing about these Rays, they always, always, find a way to persevere. No matter how bad things look, someone is always there to step up.
During the regular season BJ Upton was playing with about as much effort as Manny Ramirez had in his final days with Boston. Fast forward to October and he’s on a record setting pace along with teammate Evan Longoria for home runs in a postseason. They trail only Barry Bonds and Rich Aurilia by one.
Can they keep up this pace, though? Was the Boston series too much of a draim? We’ll soon find out this week. Every logical cell in my body tells me that Philadelphia is the team to side with here but I just can’t bring myself to say it. There’s something about this Tampa Bay team that won’t allow me to state it.
Position by position, Philadelphia is more solid. They have more star power. They have Brad Lidge. Their pitching staffs were pretty comparable throughout the regular season. But it doesn’t matter. You can throw any stat at me. Tell me that Philadelphia has three MVP caliber players in their infield, and maybe a few more in their outfield. That they have a Cy Young caliber pitcher that Tampa Bay does not. That they have the best closer in the game- none of that matters.
The Rays have that it factor. Numbers don’t matter here. This is a team of destiny. A team that will not lose.
Bet on that.
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