ST. PETERSBURG The Rays will ruin the image of the American League for good if they keep this up. You know how it is. Come October, AL teams are supposed to be stacked with beasts and knuckle-draggers. ...more

October 24, 2008

It was like Game 2 of the ALCS against the Red Sox, or Game 7. It was like this whole dreamy season, write columnist Martin Fennelly. ...more

October 24, 2008

Star Of The Game: James Shields Maybe it wasn't a vintage outing, but Rays starter James Shields provided the spark behind Thursday night's 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Shields, picking up his first postseason victory since the Game 1 ALDS win against the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 2, took a shutout two outs into the sixth inning before being lifted. Shields surrendered seven hits, walking two and striking out four, but he showed great resolve by stranding six runners in scoring position. ...more

October 24, 2008

Rays manager Joe Maddon sounded indecisive Tuesday when asked who would start in right field for the World Series opener. The answer, when it came, was quite a surprise. ...more

October 23, 2008

Star Of The Game: Cole Hamels Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies' left-handed ace, kept coming up big in the clutch. He recorded his fourth win of this postseason, defeating the Rays 3-2 in Wednesday night's Game 1 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Hamels allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings of work, walking two and striking out five. He had a pair of 1-2-3 innings, while facing the minimum three batters in three other innings (thanks to a pair of double-play balls and one runner caught stealing). For the postseason, he is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA, walking seven and striking out 27 in 29 innings. ...more

October 23, 2008

RAYS WORLD SERIES ROSTER ...more

October 21, 2008

Star Of The Game: Matt Garza The Rays needed an inspired performance in Sunday night's Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field. That's exactly what they received from right-hander Matt Garza, who pitched the game of his life in a 3-1 victory against the Boston Red Sox, sending Tampa Bay to its first World Series. Garza, the ALCS Most Valuable Player, allowed just two hits in seven innings on 118 pitches - he started the eighth, but was immediately removed when shortstop Jason Bartlett booted Alex Cora's routine grounder. He struck out nine and walked three, finishing 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in the ALCS. ...more

October 20, 2008

It's not so much that the Rays have squandered two chances to win the American League pennant. No, it's really worse than that. The team that didn't beat itself during the regular season has picked a fine time to become a throwback to the Rays of yore. ...more

October 19, 2008

For better or worse, Josh Beckett is the man for Boston. Saturday night, Beckett was slightly better and definitely not as worse as his past stints on the mound. ...more

October 19, 2008

Picking a personal walk-up song gives a little insight into a player's personality. Here are some of the theme songs chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays. ...more

October 15, 2008