Links:

• After being shutout in game one, the Chicago Cubs came storming back last night to take even the series with a 5-1 victory, thanks to a stellar performance from Jake Arrieta and the Cubs bullpen, while Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist had multi-hit games
• David Ortiz and Kris Bryant won the 2016 Hank Aaron Awards for their respective leagues, the award is given out to the league’s top offensive player.
• Know thy enemy, Baseball America has the top ten lists out for the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays top ten will be released on the October 31st.
• Everyone pretty much already knew this but Yeonis Cespedes is expected to exercise his opt-out clause with the New York Mets and will become a free agent.
• The Boston Red Sox received some good news as Drew Pomeranz will not require surgery
• Max Scherzer’s wife tried to throw out one of his historic no-hitter jerseys.

Stadium news:

• Per the Tampa Bay Times, the baseball commissioner is optimistic about the Rays talks regarding a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area. But no deadline and no details.
• Oldsmar will make their pitch to land the Rays stadium later today

Whether anyone else is convinced remains to be seen, but the city of Oldsmar will show it's serious about landing a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium when it reveals to the public a master plan developed by an architectural firm. A 2 p.m. news conference is scheduled at the Oldsmar Council Chamber, 101 State Street W. The presentation will be made by Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis and Francisco Semsch, president of FSA Inc. architects.

Source — http://www.tampabay.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-for-thursday-oct-27/2300180

Rays History:

On October 27th, 2008 the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies were playing game five of the world series in absolutely dreadful conditions as temperatures were in the low 30’s and the weather had turned the playing field had flooded to the point that the infield looked like a small pond. After BJ Upton forever immortalized the moment by swiping second base and scoring the tying run in the sixth inning, the game became the first ever in the World Series to be suspended and resumed at a later date.

Trivia:

The answer to yesterday’s question was Travis Harper, answered correctly by nomo.red.evil

Wrong answers included Rick White, J.P. Howell, Cesar Ramos, Esteban Yan, Dan Wheeler, and Lance Carter

Former Prospect:

The good news about [Prospect] is that he's the hardest thrower in his team’s system. The bad news is that his fastball is straight as an arrow. Even so, 98 mph is 98 mph. [Prospect] is difficult to hit, limiting opponents to a .238 average last season. He started 10 games, but that was so he can get innings and develop more pitches. The fear was that his fastball is so good that he would use it to overpower Class A hitters and wouldn't throw his breaking ball and changeup if he was used only an inning at a time. He's viewed as a potential closer because of his fastball.

Hint: he was never a top-10 guy, but was in the top-30 for four straight years in the early 2000’s