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Playoff Tickets On Sale Tuesday

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 21, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Fans will have their first crack at purchasing tickets for Rays home division series games this week.

Those who have pre-registered on raysbaseball.com will get the chance to buy tickets beginning Tuesday. Registration remains open through 11:59 p.m. today. Unsold tickets for the Rays' first two home division series games will be put on sale to the public on raysbaseball.com beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, followed by regular Rays ticket outlets beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.

If the Rays win the division, tickets for a potential third Rays home game in the division series would go on sale at that time.

Should the Rays win the division, MLB's tentative schedule would have them hosting Game 1 on either Oct. 1 or 2, followed by Game 2 on Oct. 3. Game 5 at home, if necessary, would be Oct. 8.

If the Rays are the wild card, they would open on the road in Anaheim against the Angels and play Games 3 and 4 at home Oct. 5 and 6.

LONG NIGHT: Clubhouse manager Chris Westmoreland and his staff sprayed beer and champagne with the rest of the players and staff Saturday night, but they were the only ones who stayed to clean it all up.

"It'll be an all-nighter," Westmoreland said. "Unfortunately we've got a day game today, so we'll probably be finishing up when the guys are coming in."

Not a problem, said Westmoreland, who has been here since the beginning.

"This is all worth it," he said. "It's been a long 11 years."

PERCIVAL IS FINE: Despite another truncated ninth inning Saturday, closer Troy Percival isn't suffering from any new physical problems, both he and Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

"He's fine," Maddon said. "I didn't want him to get into a high number of pitches."

Percival allowed a single to Denard Span on his 18th pitch, and Maddon didn't see the need to push him further than that. Percival lobbied to stay in, but conceded it was fitting Trever Miller had to come on to wrap things up.

"I was like, 'You know what, these guys have carried me the whole second half anyway, so let them come in and finish it off.'"

B.J.'S BACK: For the first time since he strained his left quadriceps in Boston on Sept. 8, B.J. Upton saw game action Saturday. He pinch-hit for Eric Hinske in the fifth, grounding into an inning-ending double play, and remained in the game in center field. He is expected to start today, either in center or on one of the corners.

ENVELOPES, PLEASE: The Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America handed out its annual awards before the game. SS Jason Bartlett was voted the Rays' 2008 Most Valuable Player, 3B Evan Longoria was a unanimous choice as the Outstanding Rookie and DH Cliff Floyd received the Paul C. Smith Champion Award, which goes to the player who exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field.

WAITING: Maddon said the Rays have not determined whether LHP David Price or RHP Mitch Talbot will start the second game of Tuesday's twin bill in Baltimore.

Marc Lancaster

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