View from the catwalk: It’s Opener Day in the playoffs

The Rockies eliminated the Cubs in the longest sudden death game in MLB history.

There’s a lot to read about it on the internet, and probably most of you stayed up to watch, anyway. I wish I did.

Steve Kinsella had an interesting Rays-centric take, that I think I agree with.

The best performance of the game, as far as former-Rays go, was probably Wade Davis, and his one and a third dominant innings.

Oakland and New York play today, with Liam Hendriks serving as an opener.

Rays Links

• Rays Radio ran down what’ll likely be on the Rays offseason plan.
• Before the wildcard game, Topkin wrote about how Ben Zobrist is fighting off Father Time (hint: it involves more rest).
• The Rays bought The Rowdies. Danny and Lizzie explained what that means.
• So did Juan Toribio.
• A thank you to the fans.

Other News

• The Department of Justice is investigating MLB recruitment of foreign players. John Wertheim of Sports Illustrated wrote about the investigation, which right now appears to focus mainly on the Dodgers. But stay tuned. Would be surprised if the illegal activity was/is unique to one team.
• Sheryl Ring explained more.
• In an odd note that MLBTR caught, an article by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald seems to suggest that former-Ray Derek Dietrich might not be tendered a contract. He is arbitration eligible. Dietrich is interesting, and in a boat not dissimilar to Brad Miller: he can hit, but while he can field multiple positions, he’s a below average defender at all of them, it seems, and his bat might not quite carry that glove. Hard to see a fit on the Rays (who have a ton of second basemen in their system), but still an interesting name.
• Josh Bard talked to David Laurila about his role as a bench coach.
• Tim Hagerty profiled an old timey minor league official.
• On Monday, Peter Bjarkman, one of the leading authorities on Cuban Baseball, died at 77. The baseball world is less full for it. J.J. Cooper wrote about Bjarkman.