The Rays magic number now sits at 2 after completing a sweep of the Yankees in last night’s 4-0 victory. During the three-game series, the Rays outscored the Yankees 19-3, with the Yankees only runs coming in Wednesday night’s game.
Evan Longoria had quite the night, going two-for-four with three RBI’s. Wil Myers was able to exhibit some aggressive base running on Longo’s fourth inning single to left, which gave the Rays the only lead they’d need for the game. Delmon Young also contributed with a no-doubter to left-center in the seventh inning.
In the final home game of his career, Mariano Rivera came out to pitch for the Yankees in the top of the eighth with two on and one out. He quickly got two outs and would come back out for the top of the ninth as well. With two outs in the ninth, it was time for Mariano to be pulled from the game and what unwrapped was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever witnessed in baseball. Andy Pettite and Derek Jeter marched out to the mound to pull Mo from the game as the stadium, and the Rays dugout, all gave a standing ovation to the best closer the game has ever seen.
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David Price tweeted this out after last night’s game. Very neat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yes I did grab dirt from the mound tonight...a true role model...unreal what Mariano has done on/off field <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23history&src=hash">#history</a> <a href="http://t.co/HPEBcqMZVb">pic.twitter.com/HPEBcqMZVb</a></p>— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAVIDprice14/statuses/383439536094605312">September 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Unfortunately, the other Wild Card hopefuls aren’t losing either. The Indians held on to the lead against the Twins last night and the Rangers walked it off in the ninth on a Jurickson Profar homerun over the Angels.
The Rays send Jeremy Hellickson to the mound tonight against R.A. Dickey as Toronto hosts the final series of the regular season.
Rays’ Wild Card tickets go on sale today at 1 PM. (Or 10 AM for those of you who were selected for pre-sale) and that game will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd, with the location still TBD. Also, if you haven’t already entered, the Rays are giving away a signed Evan Longoria jersey, just because.
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for…the rookie hazing pictures!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Chris Archer. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RookieDressUp&src=hash">#RookieDressUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/devYidshVF">pic.twitter.com/devYidshVF</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/statuses/383426842218074113">September 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
Best picture of the night, hands down.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Group photo! The nurse is Jeff Beliveau. Banana is coach Jamie Nelson. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RookieDressUp&src=hash">#RookieDressUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/TR9LjJRyeG">pic.twitter.com/TR9LjJRyeG</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/statuses/383427559465033729">September 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Better view of Odorizzi’s outfit. Unnecessary view of Josh Lueke’s. Ew.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Gene Simmons (Jamey Wright) photobombs the group <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RookieDressUp&src=hash">#RookieDressUp</a> shot. <a href="http://t.co/NxGLHubgKu">pic.twitter.com/NxGLHubgKu</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/statuses/383428726349778944">September 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Last year’s rookie hazing was definitely way better, but I quite enjoy the fact that they dressed Wil up like a big baby. Can’t wait to hear his interview today about his thoughts on the outfit.
Links:
-Bud Selig will be retiring in 2015, so will he get a farewell tour next year?
-David Schoenfield of ESPN’s The Sweet Spot examines five important issues for the next commissioner. Tampa Bay’s stadium is, of course, one of those issues.
-Put him in coach, he’s ready to play, today. Look at him, he could be, centerfield. Mo could actually be used as a centerfielder in Houston in the Yankees final series of the year. I’d like to see him make a running grab up the hill.
-Jay Z has 99 problems and Cano’s contract wishes could definitely be one of them. $305 Million/10 years? Get outta here.
-Eno Sarris of FanGraphs recently chatted with Jake McGee about his pitch selection and how it’s changed since the beginning of the season.
-Also on FanGraphs, Jeff Sullivan examines home field advantages.
-The Beard wants his World Series Ring from the San Francisco Giants.
-In an article about how the Red Sox are prepared to face the Rays in the post-season, Boston’s bench coach apparently thinks Jake McGee is a right-handed pitcher. So yeah, they’re obviously pretty prepared for those matchups.
-Over at Baseball Nation, Jim Baker listed off the ten greatest baseball comedy bits. My personal favorite, Who’s On First, came in at number four.
-Matt Moore talked with Cal and Bill Ripken on MLB Network Radio yesterday and you can listen to the interview below. Moore talks about Wil Myers and how he "turns a field into a little league field sometimes."
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