If it wasn't for the greatest collapse in MLB history, we'd have never won.  A 7 game post season series does not make for the greatest collapse in MLB history, Mr. zero for infinity. That dubious distinction belongs to the greatest season collapse in MLB history, the 2011 Boston Red Sox. Still waiting for Tim Wastefield's 1 million dollar contract offer, along with Ortiz to sit v. LHP in 2011.
Posted by hankwilliamsjr

I'm looking at it this way: I'd rather be a team that scores 800 runs and lets up 700, than one that scores 900 and lets up 800. The former will almost always win more games even though they have the same run differential. I don't have the data in front of me, but I'd even bet that a team that scores 800 and lets up 700 will win more than a team that scores 900 and lets up 780.
Posted by moonslav59

In Response to Re: Tampa Bay Rays Will Not Go Away: Part III : Hate to enter in the middle but I have to say that for all it's faults, the Tampa teams (Rays and Lightning) have character and heart. They struggle with lower payrolls, weak attendance and a lack of respect among the fans of other teams. The impression of Tampa is stuck about 10 years back which makes me wonder if people like you, Mr. Hank, actually watch the Tampa games or just rely on posting what you hear and read from others. You are stuck in the "greatest collapse groove" like a broken record and unwilling to concede that there was more to that. Did Maddon know on Sept. 1st that your team would collapse? The answser is NO. Yet he pushed his players to believe they have a chance and by gawd, the team showed up to play baseball. Your team played the field, not baseball and that is a lesson to be learned. Stop using the collapse as an excuse, you're whining.  "never been a contender". Are  you kidding me? Have you not paid attention to anything south of Fenway? They played in the WS in 2008 and have been in the playoffs the last 2 seasons. And there is good reason to believe they are going to be competing quite strongly against your Sainted Sox this year (assuming two healthy teams).  I, for one, am looking forward to an exciting season and I hope both teams come out strong in April. It'll make for a great summer - and we'll be sitting in A/C in our ratty stadium, cheering for a winning team. 
Posted by vcec

In Response to Re: Tampa Bay Rays Will Not Go Away: Part III : He's admitted he doesn't "bother to watch the games", so there's your answer. His hatred towards the Rays is most likely based on the same reason he hated Theo.
Posted by moonslav59

They struggle with lower payrolls, weak attendance and a lack of respect among the fans of other teams. Unlike the Marlins, they have earned the label of losers from many years of being losers or pretenders. They have never been contenders. You need to be humble and admit that the greatest collapse in baseball history allowed your lousy team to make a quick entry and exit from the post season. And Moonshwemp uses hatred like all Leftists, to crybaby about people who say what he doesn't like to read. I don't hate InEpstein or the Rays, but InEpstein is an entertainment business idiot who was gifted a baseball job. As for the Rays, I pulled hard for the Rays to beat the Yankees, late last year, when they claimed to be playing with a sense of urgency and lost 3 out of 4 games in Yankee stadium. Yes, they backed into it playing lousy baseball, and you and a few others are the only delusional minds who called them "contenders".
Posted by hankwilliamsjr