You guys are awesome.

You and the Umpires should be proud

Bottom line – they made plays when they had to – the .211 batting catcher killed us.

Thank you all on making it even more awesome.

and next year…WE’RE GONNA GET THOSE BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’d like to thank RJ, SRQ, and everyone else. Sternfan1, go to hell.

The strings on Fiddle-Cat’s fiddle broke.

This site and (most of) the people here are awesome. This site gave me loads of info and made the season a lot of fun. I’m not going anywhere, so I don’t know why I’m making this sound like a goodbye letter…but yeah, bring on the offseason.

Just for kicks?

Greater future

from 66 wins to AL Champs and when Price replaces Edwin and maybe Kaz returns to his old self, we will get even better

heres to the next

that he doesn’t really understand

I moved back to Sarasota in ‘06 and the Rays helped build a bond between father and son. I enjoyed 25 home games, a game in Anaheim, and two games in the Bronx this year. My job in Venice is only about 25 minutes from the Rays new Spring Training home. I can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to report. RJ, I have not commented much on this blog much but have been reading religiously for the last two years. You do an amazing job keeping fans informed on all the inner-workings of the Rays. This has been an amazing year!

RJ, do we make an offseason move with all of our starting pitching? Everyday right fielder?

Thanks RJ!
Will Geisdorf

Congrats on a phenomenal season and the AL Championship.

Condolences on coming up short in the World Series. Nonetheless, I think you’ve got a lot to look forward to. Healthy Upton and Crawford, a full season of Longoria, David Price in the rotation….yeah, the 2009 Rays are going to be scary. As a Mets fan, I’m glad you guys aren’t in the NL.

for their insightful and uninsightful comments. It’s been fun sharing the joy this team has brought us with all of you. RJ, well done sir. Thanks for letting me put up stupid pictures, like Darth Vader filtering salt water and pears laughing and asking what.

Please check us out over at BucEm.com and hope the Bucs can give us some NFL playoff excitement. Go Rays. Go Bucs.

Yes, thank you so much to those who maintain this site. I came over here after another, older Rays forum was shut down. I’m glad I did. You guys add another dimension to the game.

Helluva a season, guys. I’ll be looking forward to watching you guys get even better and hoping for some Indians/Rays ALCS matchups in the future!

Make taking pictures more fun.

OT: What WS jersey should I get.

Here’s to a Rays-Mariners ALCS in ’09.

you guys all listening to “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men too?

Great season guys, it’s been a great time, and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it near as much without all you virtual friends to share it with!

Go Rays! Let the off-season begin!

To get us started:

SIGN BONDS!!!!!

"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

Because I really like Alice in Chains.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=pollindex&pollId=62573

Kazmir – Garza – Shields – Price – Sonnanstine(until Davis is ready)

All 4 have Cy Young talent, yes even Price in his rookie season. If we get some more bullpen arms then I don’t care how much New York and Boston spend.

In memorium I will leave my ‘Rays Shrine’ up at work for as long as they’ll let me.
By far the most fun I’ve ever had rooting for any team in any sport. Can’t wait until next year!!!

Thanks to Sternberg and the management team for delivering on your promises, ahead of schedule.
Thank you Joe Maddon for being the most unique manager in baseball
Thank you Jim Hickey for helping pitchers get closer or exceed their full potential
Thank you Steve Henderson for what you did with the bats
Thank you Tom Foli for giving me both fits of anger and moments of excitement with your third base coaching
Thank you Dioner Navarro for becoming that catcher everyone said you would be
Thank you Shawn Riggans for always swinging at first pitch fastballs – Joe Magrane told us that every time you were up
Thank you to Carlos Pena for being the spokesperson for this franchise. You’re 110% class
Thank you to Akinori Iwamura for doing everything the team asked of you with ease
Thank you Jason Bartlett for exercising the demons that were Brendan Harris and Julio Lugo at shortstop.
Thank you Evan Longoria for bringing out all the hot screaming girls at games. We envy you
Thank you Carl Crawford for coming back to be a part of the playoffs – couldn’t have done it without you
Thank you BJ Upton for being the Black Jesus
Thank you Gabe Gross for the timely homeruns this year and good defense
Thank you Eric Hinske for carrying the offense when the team was hurt
Thank you Ben Zobrist for being Sweet Jesus
Thank you Fernando Perez for being fast as hell
Muchas Gracias Willy Aybar. Tu es mi amigo
Thank you Dan Johnson for that one glorious homerun of the Lord of the Jackass
Thank you Rocco Baldelli for inspiring us to keep trying despite how crappy we may feel.
Thank you James Shields your consistency
Thank you Scott Kazmir for remembering your slider when we needed it
Thank you Matt Garza for your ALCS efforts and the new lake you created with all of your spittle in the infield
Thank you Andy Sonnanstine for doing the most with the least
Thank you Edwin Jackson for making strides in the right direction
Thank you Jason Hammel for your beautiful hammer
Thank you Chad Bradford for your efforts and affordable 2009 salary
Thank you JP Howell for being Mr. Strand
Thank you Grant Balfour for your intensity on the mound
Thank you Troy Percival for your belief in the talent of this team
Thank you Dan Wheeler for filling many roles this year
Thank you Trever Miller for the specialization
Thank you David Price for being a badass when it was needed the most

Most of all, I thank the entire organization as a whole for ending the era where the Rays were the butt of all baseball jokes. Not that I was ever ashamed of being a fan of this team, but it brings a smile to my face when I get a thumbs up instead of a chuckle when people see me with my hat on. Hopefully, people will remember the excitement of this past season and the last 7 weeks in particular and carry it over into next season. This organization has done everything expected of them, and more, ahead of schedule. It is now time for the fanbase to show up as much as possible because none of this is sustainable without the support of the fans.

Great job on a terrific season. I fear you guys; you will be back in the future. You have a great young core. Hopefully you don’t get a lot of trolls on here. Best of luck in the future!

But nobody seems to realise that this was maby the only chance of winning a world series.Everybody thinks that we’re going to win every world series from now on. I say this was a missed chance. Congrats to the Phillies for beating us up. You guys played with heart. I hope the Rays will have many of successful seasons. But maybe we missed our chance for glory, because unlike the Phillies we didn’t play with heart.

That city and the longsuffering fans deserve it. I think we all know there are jackass fans in any teams fan base. Seems to be more in the Philly fan base per capita. But as any stats person can tell you there is always an outlier. I am proud of this Rays team. I think losing the series might be a blessing in disguise. In a year in which we were supposed to be .500 at best we made the friggen World Series. If they win this WS I am not sure they would have not had an attitude of cockiness about them next year. I think getting there and losing does two things. One it lets them know … “WE CAN MAKE IT”… on the other hand it serves to light a fire that the mission of 2008 isn’t over. I still see a faint spark left and they will carry that into next season. Unfinished Business will be their Mantra next year. I love this team and this season was so awesome. I can’t wait for next year.

Joined the board sometime back in June or July. I have learned so much from this board and the people here are very knowledgeable and I love the fact that everyone around here can take a joke and has thick skin.

CONGRATS RAYS 2008 AL CHAMPIONS.

Can’t wait to see them raise that banner in the Trop. I think they should wait for our first home series with Boston to do it too.