A Ray of Hope

The 2008 American League Championship Series waits.

That is what now crosses the minds of the Tampa Bay Rays after their 6-2 victory tonight over the Chicago White Sox in Game 4 of the Division Series. It has been an implausible season for the Rays, who have gone from worst to 1st in a manner only seen by the equally unlikely 1991 Atlanta Braves. For the afore mentioned Braves that ’91 season would go on to show them 14 straight division titles and 1 World Series title, for the Rays however predicting such a run would be somewhat premature. On their mind right now is the next series; they have to be played one at a time.

It was an impressive victory for a team experiencing their first taste of October baseball. The Rays are showing little signs though that they have never been here before. They are a team on a mission and have been since manager Joe Madden first convened spring training.

It is yet to be seen how deep this team can make it in these playoffs, what is known for sure is that this team has something to prove. They are no longer content to be the basement dwellers of the American League. Each player has made a commitment to thrive no matter what the cost.

The Kool-Aid has been made and the players have enjoyed gallons over the course a season in which they are playing with as much gusto as they have shown in the entire tenure of this young franchise.

Interestingly, the Rays have not been led by one specific player, or even a small group of players, each one has taken their turn at the top with the common goal of winning no matter who the hero.

In tonight’s game the hero comes in the form of B.J. Upton, who led the game off with a home run in the 1st inning, which was followed by a 2nd home run in the 3rd. The rest of the offense took their cue from Upton, which resulted in the six runs which were scored.
When you combine a young potent offence with a starting pitcher in Andy Sonnanstine who went 5 2/3 innings only giving up 3 hits, and you have a winning combination.

Standing in the way of the Rays is the winner of tonights game four between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Either team will pose a true test for this upstart team. At this late stage, Joe Madden will need more than Kool-Aid to help his players move on to the Promised Land. He will need a game plan and a prayer; luckily for the Rays this season it seems as if though he has both.