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Behind enemy lines

Email|Link|Comments (15) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff October 17, 2008 11:50 AM

(Our look at what others are saying about the Red Sox-Rays showdown)

We'll try to refrain from too much schadenfreude in this space today -- if anyone knows how Rays fans feel this morning, it's Sox fans who were aboard the bandwagon before 2004.

Plus, with two games remaining to get the win they thought they had in the bag last night, it's not as if the series is anywhere near over -- though judging by columnist Martin Fennelly's "Oh, the horrors!"-themed piece in the Tampa Tribune, it's apparent that the Rays are, at the least, somewhat staggered and shell-shocked heading into Game 6:

The Rays, once seemingly moments from the World Series, walked from the field at Fenway Park as Sox danced and fans screamed, victims of what will go down as the great single-game comeback in LCS history -- the greatest collapse, too. The tubs of champagne, which had been sitting in tubs on carts, were quickly wheeled out of view.
"I just can't believe what happened tonight," Carl Crawford said. "It's devastating."

And then, in the next instant ...

"I'm still thinking we're going to close it out."

Fennelly also notes that the last three innings were a flashback to the pre-2008 Rays:

The Rays walked from the field in a daze.
They walked away with nothing but their 3-2 series lead - and it doesn't feel like a lead anymore.

At just the wrong time for the 2008 Rays, the 2007 Rays returned.

First became worst again.

Ouch.

The St. Petersburg Times's Gary Shelton, playing the voice-of-reason role, tells Tampa fans not to abandon their team so soon:

he Rays lost a devastating game Thursday night, 8-7. They didn't lose anything else. They did not lose momentum, they did not lose their confidence, and they did not lose their grip on the ALCS.
Saturday night, Sunday at the latest, they will close out this thing. Just you watch.

I think I liked Fennelly's column better.

Rays manager Joe Maddon has pushed all the right buttons this postseason (including, as it turned out, starting Scott Kazmir last night). Now comes the ultimate test -- getting his team to keep the faith after such a devastating defeat. But as the Tampa Tribune's Joe Henderson reports, Maddon is sticking to his one-game-at-a-time mantra:

"… If we had won it, we'd be in the World Series by now. We'll just have to wait one more day, hopefully, to get that done," the Rays' manager said shortly after the game. "Listen. It is what it is. I don't dwell on it. Nobody feels worse than the guys out of our bullpen right now. Nobody feels worse. They've done a tremendous job all year. I thought we played a great game.
"They just came back and beat us tonight. That happens sometimes. We're going to go home, take tomorrow off and come back, and [James] Shields will pitch in Game No. 6. But you can't dwell on it. Again, we'll lose for a half-hour or so, and then we'll move on. We have another game to play."

One more link from the Florida papers: Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey tried to explain why the Tampa bullpen burst into flames at the worst possible moment. Any answers, Mr. Balfour?

Elsewhere: ESPN.com's Jim Caple wonders if the Rays can recover . . . Yahoo!'s Gordon Edes (hmmm, name sounds familiar) wonders if the Rays can get any relief . . . CNNSI's Tom Verducci retraces the steps of the Rays' late collapse . . . and finally, the great Joe Posnanski blogged in the aftermath of the game, and is a must-read as usual.

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15 comments so far...

A team's fan base is not a right, it's a privilege. The Rays didn't earn its fan base until this season. Can you really call that a "bandwagon"? Unless they unload their roster like the Marlins, I can assure you that Tampa Bay will almost double the average attendance for the Rays next season.

Posted by Jonathan October 17, 08 01:19 PM

I'm not a real Sox fan. I gave up on my team last night.

Posted by Chris October 17, 08 01:54 PM

Rays fans don't seem to grasp that they need to win 4 games to win the series. Surely we Sox fans fully appreciate this. If the Sox can force a game 7, look out! This has potential to be one of the best ALCS's , in spite of the lopsided games 3 and 4. How could Rays fans be sure of a game 6 victory? Total lack of understanding of post season baseball. The Rays and Sox are more evenly matched than games 3 and 4 indicated. Separated by 2 games in divisional and head to head match ups. Rays got very hot games 3, 4, 5. Do you think this might be possible for Sox, while Rays bats cool off even a little? Game 7 nailbiter!!

Posted by Thomas R October 17, 08 02:33 PM

"The Rays didn't earn its fan base until this season. Can you really call that a "bandwagon"?" Ummm... Isn't that pretty much the definition of a bandwagon...

Posted by Jason October 17, 08 02:33 PM

We the fans of St Pete and Tampa need to be there more than ever for the team. It has been so exciting and yes we may have alot of bandwagon fans, but WE MUST UNITE AND STAND BEHIND THE TEAM. Bring your cowbells, Wear your colors and your voice to be heard for we are the biggest part of this team GETTING IT DONE ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!! LETS GO RAYS!!! LETS GO RAYS!!!!!!
I am loving every minute of this.

Posted by Carol Ragan October 17, 08 03:00 PM

Nobody cares about this series. The Phillies will dominate either team.

Posted by Your mom's box October 17, 08 03:09 PM

As late as September there were stories of how the Rays were not drawing fans. And by then it was fairly obvious that they had a shot at glory. But it cannot be said that they are fair weather fans. They play in a dome.

Posted by Sammy October 17, 08 03:18 PM

Thanks for the link to Joe Posnanski's blog. That was a great read. Through a series of links I also ended up reading Bill Simmons' Page 2 ESPN blog/story and liked that even better.

My daughter and I were there last night. We were at the Mother's Day Miracle game, too and at this point she is getting spoiled (!) but for sure she will never be one of *those* fans to leave a game early.

I wish TBS ran reruns of the games like NESN does because I missed a lot - shots of players' faces, wacky-logic commentary and some replays. But I would never trade that for being there.

Posted by Gracie October 17, 08 03:26 PM

I think is is safe to assume that Gabe Gross has seen his last day in a Tampa Bay uniform, at least for the post season. Blame the pitching if you will, and there's plenty of it to go around. But Mr. Gross, dogging a fly ball that allowed a run to score and set the table for Popi, then came out for his encore by misplayed the game wininng hit to allow the run to score. He certainly isn't in the lineup for his stick, he's supposedly an outfielder.

Posted by Rudeboyelvis October 17, 08 03:28 PM

First became worst again? Are you kidding me... The Rays put a beating on your beloved Red Sox in Fennway Park. The Rays might have let game five slip away but they have nothing to be ashamed of. They played hard and leave Boston with the edge, the series lead and home field advantage.

Let's see what happens Saturday Red Sox Fans!

Posted by Chris Sanders October 17, 08 03:40 PM

Welcome to Red Sox Nation rays fans. We don't go quietly, ask the yankees and indians, might as well ask the 03 A's too, or the 99 indians too

Posted by kmac October 17, 08 04:01 PM

"Tampa Bay will almost double the average attendance for the Rays next season."

Oh, good. That means they'll have SIX thousand show up with their moronic cowbells and mullets.

Posted by heyduke October 17, 08 04:11 PM

mom's box
You are funny! You made me laugh out loud. The likelihood of the National League team beating either of these American league teams is hysterical. Thanks. I really needed that one.

heyduke - you are funny for real. i have attended many games at the Trop when the Red Sox were there and the number of Rays fans was nominal. I would like to do something awful with those cowbells and the "fans" ringing them.

Posted by elccpa24 October 17, 08 04:27 PM

look, it is very simple, this series is not over until one team wins 4.....yes the Rays imploded in game 5, the Sox also imploded in games 3 and 4....however, what really gets me is the parade of Rays fans who all of sudden, (september) decided to buy tshirts and support their team, to me that is really weak, futhermore, I have not had the urge to look at a Tampa Sports blog....these Rays fans must have some real inferiority complex...they want to revel in the so Rays Republic that they cheer their team on through another teams website.....I dont understand it....the true test for this Rays team and their fans is next year....will they show and I doubt they will....good luck to Rays Organization because this rable will defect asap

Posted by redsox1975 October 18, 08 03:10 AM

Hey Chris ( comment #10) "First became worst again? Are you kidding me... The Rays put a beating on your beloved Red Sox in Fennway Park."

That first to worst quote did NOT come from a Red Sox fan or beat reporter, but from YOUR VERY OWN Martin Fennelly in the Tampa Tribune!
So go type a witty retort on the Tribune site.
GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And lets hope Josh B can pitch 6-7 effective innings. He need not do anything spectacular, just keep the Sox in the
game past the 3rd inning .

Posted by Steve G October 18, 08 04:07 PM