Rays are out...

Cliff Lee pitched a hell of a game, but the real let-down was that the Rays allowed 3 runs that shouldn't have scored...and one of those needed help from the 1st Base Umpire. This brings us to the nasty little dark secret of Major League Umpiring: Major League Umpires are grossly incompetent. Check out a couple of the most grievous issues:

Pena called for a "foul ball" in the 1st inning of Game 1:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12756591

Blatantly blown call on Michael Young, resulting in a 3-run homer in Game 2:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12766341&topic_id=14873500&c_id=mlb

Andrus comes off 2nd Base and is tagged out in Game 3...unless you're an umpire:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12790473&topic_id=14871222&c_id=mlb

Finally, Guerrero scores after the umpire denies the Rays the 3rd out:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12815307&topic_id=14872768&c_id=mlb

For the sake of objectivity, I looked for umpiring mistakes that favored the Rangers, but couldn't find any that were as blatant as the first few. In short, MLB umpires can't do their job. There has been a lot of discussion over the last year or two about replay in baseball, and I think that this one 5-game series proves that it is necessary. We have been seeing a ton of these kind of mistakes over the past few seasons, and I think this makes it very clear that the umpires, by themselves, simply aren't good enough. No Major League Baseball game should ever hinge on a blown call. If the officials can't get the plays correct, then they should be augmented with replay. Let's get it right, people!

ALDS Game 5 starts tonight at 8!

Big left-handers David Price and Cliff Lee square off again in a rematch of Game 1. The difference is that last time the Rays' cold offense let Lee off a big hook in the 1st inning, while this time around they are far from cold. Here's hoping the Rays can keep this momentum flowing in Game 5 and even into the ALCS against the Yankees! :)

Well that game was just pathetic...

We had an excellent shot to jump on Cliff Lee early, but the Home Plate umpire decided that wouldn't be nice, so he invented a foul tip on Carlos Pena's check swing and eventually called him out on what should have been a 4-3 count. Needless to say, that put a hitch in the momentum of our offense, and Cliff Lee used the opportunity to regroup. The umpire continued in that vein, expanding the strike zone for Lee whenever the Rays threatened to piece together a rally. The good news is that this umpire can't possibly be behind the plate more than once more in the ALDS.

Here's hoping the Rays put together some momentum tomorrow afternoon.

Rays win the AL East!

New York lost to Boston while the Rays' game was in progress, officially clinching the division for Tampa Bay. This sparked a rally for the Rays' offense; Carlos Pena hit a game-tying 2-run double in the top of the 9th off outstanding Royals Closer Joakim Soria, and the Rays went on to win it in the 12th on the strength of Rocco Baldelli's first stolen base of the year and Rafael Soriano's franchise record 45th Save.

Rays play the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in St. Pete. 2 years out of three we've won the Division title!

The AL East crown comes down to the wire!

The Rays find themselves tied with the Yankees on the last day of the season, though thanks to their 10-8 record against New York this year they command a much stronger position. The Rays' magic number is 1: if they win today, they win the division title. If the Yankees lose today, the Rays win the divisional title. The Yankees' only hope of owning the East is for New York to win, but the Rays to lose. And since the Yankees are in Boston and the Rays in Kansas City, Tampa Bay fans can't help but feel optimistic.

In other sports news, my 3-0 Steelers play their longtime black-and-blue rival Baltimore Ravens today. And I finally get to see them on TV! :)