Make or Break...the next three games vs. NYY

by GatorSphere on Jul 27, 2009 11:03 AM EDT Comment 8 comments

It's my belief the series set to start tonight at the Trop is the make or break series of 2009. It has a very similar feeling to it as last year's Boston series in late June/early July where the Rays swept the three games and told the baseball world they were in it until the very end.

The Rays did a pretty good job answering the post-All Star game bell with a 6-4 mark in the 10 game road trip. Aside from having a perfect game pictched against them, they did sweep KC (a team they had to sweep), the did take 2 of 3 in Toronto and had an awesome comeback win Saturday from down eight runs. I posted during the AS break I felt the Rays needed to go 47-26 to close out the season, earn 95 wins and be right there for a wild card spot. I still contend that is the case and winning 6 of 10 on the road is what they needed to do.

And that brings us to the Yankees series, the start of a 10-game homestand in which it's practically imperative they accomplish both of the following:

1) win at least 2 of the NYY games.

and

2) win at least 7 of the 10 home games.

Rays win two NYY games and they are only 5 1/2 out, lose 2 and they're 7 1/2 out, get swept and they're 8 1/2 out.

Win 7 of the 10 games, they would be 61-48 and still must maintain a 13 out of 20 win pace for that 95-win mark.

So this series is a make or break series in terms of winning the division. The Rays make this series and they are still in the race, break this series and they are pretty much resigned to chasing Boston for the wild card. And oh, in case anyone forgot, Boston comes to town for games 9 and 10 of the homestand next week.

Go Rays!

Now let the trades start, that's always fun to follow.

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Comments

Who else is going to any games this series?

I am going to try to make it to all of them. These games should all be close to soldout. Why do I have the feeling we will have 20k there.

Just can’t get swept, would be 9.5 back not 8.5 if we got swept BTW

want to take at least 2 of 3 bad

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 27, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going Tuesday. I really hope we sell out all 3.

We’re competing for a playoff spot and the first place Yankees are in town. No good excuses for not selling out.

I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer to drink WAY too much of it.

by stpetelawyer on Jul 27, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

They have already said that ticket sales have been disappointing

I know the location of the stadium is an issue for some, but these are very big games. I can understand people not wanting to drive to catch a Rays-A’s game on a Tuesday night, but if this series draws poorly I don’t think you can use the location as an excuse.

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 27, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

They're trying a different tactic with the shirts...

They’re giving out a different All Star shirt for the first five games of the homestand. Promotions have helped crowds in the past and this seems like an effort to give the attendance a little boost.

by tallyray on Jul 27, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm going Wed.

I’ll also be at the Sunday game. I too would like to see big crowds – with the vast majority WEARING RAYS GEAR………sigh.

by Deepdoodle on Jul 27, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Need to win 2

6.5 back in August is a good deal, especially with another team ahead of us. We need to use a little Toronto momentum, and the fact that we’re at home, to win at least 2.

Don’t forget about Texas either, they’re not going away in the wild-card hunt. They’re bound to have an easier remaining schedule than we do. (just looked, and interestingly enough, we still have 6 game remaining vs Texas.)

We need to start this homestand off right – gotta win the first series.

by TallMatt on Jul 27, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I didn't mention Texas....

b/c the Rangers aren’t in the East. I was focusing on the division championship.

But yes, if you start to forget about winning the East and focus on Wild Card, then yeah Texas is right there. However, Texas has a 10-game roady coming up and another 9-game roady with the last 7 games on the road to end the year. My gut feeling is the Rangers either get RED HOT and end up winning the West or ICE COLD and end up a few games out of the wild card. Again, just a hunch, but playing in Arlington, Texas is a hot place to play in August so we’ll see what they have. Historically though they don’t have much and some have given credit to their location.

Texas has 35 road games left, 30 home games left and the Rangers are below .500 on the road. I see them going 22-13 at home, 12-18 on the road and finishing 88-74 and not making the playoffs. Rays should do better but it looks more like 90 wins for TB and that would mean increasing the road win pct. and maintaining the 2 of 3 win rate at home. We’ll see.

by GatorSphere on Jul 27, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok, so 1 out of 3.

I suppose it’s time to start thinking Wild Card for the Rays. I’m not disappointed in the Rays, they didn’t get swept, and Matt Garza showed he has a pair in hitting Texiera (sp?). But the Rays, I believe have too deep of a hole to climb out at this point to win the division.

The Rays, however, with Boston coming into town next week and not playing particularly well, can make a very bold statement by winning that pair. I would still like to see a trade made for a bat, because Burrell is flat out not getting the job done. Go Rays!

by GatorSphere on Jul 30, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions