GDT: 2019 AL Wild Card Game: (WC1) Oakland Athletics vs (WC2) Tampa Bay Rays

[Quid Pro Clowe]

White Sox are a joke but you can't throw stones when your last championship happened in 1989 while MC Hammer was still dancing in parachute pants.

Pitching tends to win in the postseason and Tampa had that advantage going in and executed tonight. It just hurts more for an Oakland fan as Tampa is honestly the mirror image of that franchise.

Throw stones? I'm responding to a confused Pejorative Slur that has decided to run his fat mouth despite his team not playing a meaningful game in over a decade.

 

[Sharks2020]

Rays got the better of the A’s.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Rays got the better of the A’s.

The better team tonight won, that's for sure.

Any other narratives are just morons being morons.

 

[c9777666]

Rays got the better of the A’s.

If only the Rays played for a city that actually cared.

 

[TropicalFruitGirl2]

Well...I mentioned "bring on the Astros will crush you" chirps by the talking heads...
Forgot to mention bring on the "but you can't draw fans" narrative because right now, it's the only shot that can be taken at the Rays!

 

[TropicalFruitGirl2]

I actually don't hate the A's
I root for small market teams.
Oakland and Tampa Bay, as an organization, are more alike than different.

I would have rooted for the A's against Houston or New York if it had gotten to that.

But, doesn't matter.
Rays are in the ALDS....and with good play, CAN pull an upset.

 

[c9777666]

Well...I mentioned "bring on the Astros will crush you" chirps by the talking heads...
Forgot to mention bring on the "but you can't draw fans" narrative because right now, it's the only shot that can be taken at the Rays!

They deserve a better ballpark. Heck, if they renovated the stadium or played in a different stadium in the city, they'd draw better. At times, I think back to the Ybor City rumors.

Heck, they only won 3 fewer games than the Bomba Twins (101-98)

I am 100 percent convinced they might be a better fit in the Marlins Ballpark, not just fan drawing issues. Heck, the way they play they actually might be suited for a ballpark that big (i.e. not rely on the HR)

 

[TropicalFruitGirl2]

They deserve a better ballpark. Heck, if they renovated the stadium or played in a different stadium in the city, they'd draw better. At times, I think back to the Ybor City rumors.

Heck, they only won 3 fewer games than the Bomba Twins (101-98)

I am 100 percent convinced if they played in the Marlins Ballpark, they would not have fan drawing issues. Heck, the way they played they actually might be suited for a ballpark that big (i.e. not rely on the HR)

Agree 1000%...they DO deserve better.
St. Petersburg mayor isn't budging on letting them out of their lease however.
Rays were even willing to pay the 20 something million penalty to the city for breaking lease...and the team owners were looking at places like Ybor City, North Tampa...even downtown Tampa near some empty lots near the home of the Lightning.

No dice.
St. Pete isn't letting that happen.

Too many ignorant people just don't understand how horrible a location Tropicana Field is in, and I was born n raised in the area....I do know.
St. Pete is full of gang bangers or old people... Tampa has all the young professionals with disposable income.

Lots of stuff to do before and after a Lightning game or a Bucs game...IN Tampa....
NOTHING to do before and after a Rays game except hang out with the bums on the I-275 off ramps.

And there are scant few ways to get to Tropicana from the city of Tampa and it's "spending money fans"...traffic is a nightmare.

If the Rays ultimately end up losing their team, it won't be because fans don't care, but rather, because they were forced to honor a stupid 30 year contract that the city of St. Pete won't relent on, even though the cash strapped Rays are willing to PAY them to get out of it....its political BS.
Rays have high TV viewership rates....means fans DO watch and care about the team...and those that do make it out to the Trop are loud as a small crowd can be.

Rays have been making lemonade with lemons for years in that dump of a stadium.

 

[TropicalFruitGirl2]

At any rate...it's Houston...it's Tampa Bay...
And with any luck it will be Tampa Bay at Minnesota and my biggest problem will be I will have to root against the Twins (my second team) for a trip to the World Series.

Long shot. I know.
But I am excited at the possibility.

First gotta take care of the odds on favorite in the AL to reach the World Series again.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

A's fans aren't taking shots at your attendance.

I would have picked Houston even if the A's won. I've been singing their praises since that one fan left and they acquired Greinke.

 

[c9777666]

Agree 1000%...they DO deserve better.
St. Petersburg mayor isn't budging on letting them out of their lease however.
Rays were even willing to pay the 20 something million penalty to the city for breaking lease...and the team owners were looking at places like Ybor City, North Tampa...even downtown Tampa near some empty lots near the home of the Lightning.

No dice.
St. Pete isn't letting that happen.

So this sounds like a 'St. Petersburg is trying to keep on keeping on with this lease ' situation since you mentioned the owners were looking at other places in the area.

 

[Terry Yake]

like i said, if i had to choose any team for the A's to lose a game to it'd be the rays

hope they can tire out the astros in the LDS

A's are in such a s*** spot though. 194 wins the past two seasons and two WC game appearances to show for it. no team has ever won that many games in two seasons and not won the division

 

[darko]

like i said, if i had to choose any team for the A's to lose a game to it'd be the rays

hope they can tire out the astros in the LDS

A's are in such a s*** spot though. 194 wins the past two seasons and two WC game appearances to show for it. no team has ever won that many games in two seasons and not won the division

And what makes it worse is that Astros aren't going anywhere any time soon.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

And what makes it worse is that Astros aren't going anywhere any time soon.

That's fine and dandy because the A's will have (presumably) Luzardo, Puk and Montas for the full season. Add the fact they aren't losing any key players in fa while it is very possible Houston loses Cole.

A's will challenge for the division next year. Won't be surprised at all if they win it, and I'm not slighting Houston whatsoever.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

And what makes it worse is that Astros aren't going anywhere any time soon.

While I don't expect Astros to fade away anytime soon they do have to be a bit concerned with pitching staff going forward

Cole is likely to leave as FA
Verlander and Grienke are both over 35
Miley and Peacock are both in 30's
Sanchez is ? especially after latest injury

And Valdez took step back this year so he isn't sure thing to slot into rotation and thrive

José Urquidy looks good going forward though for them

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

I think Cole would be a fool to leave Houston, but I know the Yankees are going to back the truck up at him.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I think Cole would be a fool to leave Houston, but I know the Angels are going to back the truck up at him.

Fixed

 

[Terry Yake]

I think Cole would be a fool to leave Houston, but I know the Yankees are going to back the truck up at him.

angels fans are already acting like cole has signed with them

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Fixed

angels fans are already acting like cole has signed with them

Well, he does fit a major need. Plus, Sharte loves throwing money and term at problems.

 

[Terry Yake]

the A's failed to get a XBH in TWO games in the regular season

last night was #3. first time since july 24th. unreal

 

[robert terwilliger]

the older i get, i find myself being more forgetful. i know it might be me but i'm starting to be convinced that the white sox never actually won the world series in 2005.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

I only remember a war over false pretenses and rich people taking advantage of the deregulated banking/housing market.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This playoff format sucks. Teams bust their asses for 162 games to win 90+ games to only be out in 1 game. It's not right, IMO. And sometimes, you can win 90 games but not even be in the playoffs. I don't know what to do.

 

[Terry Yake]

This playoff format sucks. Teams bust their asses for 162 games to win 90+ games to only be out in 1 game. It's not right, IMO. And sometimes, you can win 90 games but not even be in the playoffs. I don't know what to do.

i prefer the old WC format

these 1 game WC games suck when you know your team just won't win them ever

 

[EpochLink]

i prefer the old WC format

these 1 game WC games suck when you know your team just won't win them ever

A's need to win the division.