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Maddon's Strategy: 'It's About Tonight, Period'

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - As is his custom, Rays manager Joe Maddon turned to radio reporter Whitney Johnson of The Sports Animal in Tampa for the first question at his pregame news conference.

Johnson is an old rock 'n' roller at heart and always asks things of Maddon like, "What was the song you listened to on your iPod on the way to the park."

Maddon likes that kind of stuff.

Johnson got in a two-part question today Monday as the Rays prepared to play Philadelphia in Game 5 of the World Series He asked whether Maddon had gone with the Rolling Stones standard "Start Me Up" (one of Maddon's favorites) and then who would be his right-fielder in the starting lineup.

Maddon answered succinctly.

"Yes, Stones."

"Baldelli, right field."

He amplified.

"I just wanted to go with Rocco today," he said. "I feel like he's capable of something special."

Maddon did shake up his batting order, dropping the slumping Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria down a spot to No. 4 and 5, respectively, and moving Carl Crawford up to the No. 2 spot previously occupied by B.J. Upton, who will now hit third.

"It's pumping Carl up as much as anything," Maddon said. "I wanted to get Carl up there. He's been a very successful 2 person [in the batting order] in the past, and he's swinging the bat very well right now."

Everyone is aware of the Rays' predicament tonight. Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in the post-season and beat the Rays 3-2 in the opening game of the Series. The Rays need to win three straight to keep the Series alive.

Maddon, however, says they can't afford to think that way.

"I just want us to win today's game," Maddon said. "I want us to focus on today, not getting very big on the next couple of days, because I do believe it will take care of itself. So the message today to the group is go out there and win tonight's game. We've done it many times. ... It's about tonight, period, with me."

The weather forecast doesn't look good. Rain is moving in around game time, and forecasters say it will get heavier and colder during the night, with the heaviest rain expected about midnight. Most people say they expect the game to be played, however.

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