Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The Rays Are Division Series Bound!

It’s crazy when you consider that though the Rays are in the postseason for the fourth time in six years, they hadn’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2008… That is, until last night. Alex Cobb, Joel Peralta, Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney did what they are wont to do, shutting down the Indians in their first postseason appearance since 2007. On the other end of things, the offense did just enough, tagging Salazar and Co for four runs in last night’s 4-0 victory. How sweet it is! I live blogged the game, and you can read all of my annoying witticisms at out Tumblr site.

The New What Next: Rays and Indians, A Preview of Sorts

Here we go. The Rays find themselves in the postseason for the fourth time in six years, as they ready themselves to take on the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday night. The winner will earn the privilege to head to Boston for the ALDS. The loser? Well, they’ll pack it up for the season.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: October Baseball Bound!

It’s been said that perception is everything. For example, take the Rays in the months of April, June, and August — months where Tampa Bay posted a sub .500, 36-44 record. On paper, it seemed unfathomable that the Rays would end the regular season with a 92-71 record, much less clinch a postseason berth. Yet here we sit on the cusp of the Rays fourth playoff appearance in six years, following a huge 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers, Monday night. How sweet it is.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Live to See Another Day

Sunday’s 7-6 — game 162 — victory can be summed up in five words: A tale of two halves. Tampa Bay charged out the gate, tagging a pair of pitchers (Todd Redmond and Neil Wagner) for six runs in the first inning, but almost, predictably, blew it in the late innings. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — a win is a win is a win. However, this win was bittersweet. The pitching and offense looked dominant in the front five, yet they didn’t resemble a playoff team in the bottom four. Be it as it may, the Rays will head to Texas Monday for a one game tie-breaker, ahead of the AL Wildcard game Wednesday, in Cleveland. A few game peripherals are below.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: It All Comes Down to This…

Some 730 days ago, the Rays found themselves in a do-or-die situation that came down to final game of the baseball season. In 2011, a Rays win would have given them at least an opportunity to face the Boston Red Sox in a one-game tie breaker. We’re all well versed in what happened on that glorious final day of baseball by now; The Rays came from behind, late in the game, to beat the New York Yankees, while the Red Sox fell to the Orioles, deleting all hopes of a postseason berth. So much has changed, it seems nothing ever changes.