Rays manager Joe Maddon considered playing Rocco Baldelli in Games 5 and 6 of the American League Championship Series, but he opted to save him for Game 7. ...more

October 20, 2008

Much has been made of Matt Garza's improved resistance to pressure and adversity since a June confrontation on the mound with catcher Dioner Navarro. ...more

October 19, 2008

It's not so much that the Rays have squandered two chances to win the American League pennant. No, it's really worse than that. The team that didn't beat itself during the regular season has picked a fine time to become a throwback to the Rays of yore. ...more

October 19, 2008

Up seven runs with seven outs to go, the Tampa Bay Rays blow their first chance at the big dance. Bad baseball, or was something else in play here? Baseball fans and players are notoriously superstitious. ...more

October 17, 2008

Talk about having something to prove. Scott Kazmir couldn't have asked for a higher level of motivation as he took the mound Thursday. ...more

October 17, 2008

Publix is selling a baseball emblazoned with the Rays logo on one side and the World Series logo on the other. ...more

October 16, 2008

Day became night and Game 3 became history at silent Fenway Park. A full moon appeared. At this time of year, there's name for such a full moon. It's called a Hunter's Moon. ...more

October 14, 2008

Star Of The Game: Matt Garza The Rays got 13 hits - and four home runs - in Monday's 9-1 victory against Boston in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. "You can talk about the hitting all you want," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Matt Garza is the reason we won the game. He did not permit them to come back." Garza, who pitched to two batters in the seventh inning before his exit, allowed six hits, walked three and struck out five on 116 pitches. In the first two innings, Garza stranded three runners in scoring position. Garza got the leadoff batter out six times. The Red Sox's 3-4-5 batters (David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew) were 0-for-9 against him. ...more

October 14, 2008

The Rays weren't intimidated by the Fenway atmosphere as they beat down Boston 9-1. ...more

October 14, 2008

Matt Garza made his point Monday. All he heard about heading into Game 3 was his opposite number, Jon Lester, and how everyone expected the lefty to dominate the Rays. Hardly a word was said about Garza, the only Rays pitcher to lose a game in the first round, and it admittedly got under his skin. ...more

October 14, 2008