Who are you rooting for?

[Erik Bedard]

Phillies or Rays? And why?

[Tenorman]

As much as I'd love to see the Rays go all the way in this Cinderella season of theirs, I have to root for the Phillies only because of Matt Stairs, who grew up less than an hour away from my home town. I was disappointed when he left my Jays, but was glad that he was going to a contender with a shot at the postseason... now that he's there, I hope he gets his ring.

[deadball-era-rules]

I love the National League, and don't like the expansion teams of the 90's, so I'm pulling for Philly.

[NYMets523]

Rays because of the former Met farmhand Scott Kazmir.

[philkid3]

Rays

1. I like progressive front offices, the Rays especially.

2. I'm originally from Tampa.

3. They're really awesome to watch.

4. Bullpen ace!!!

5. The guys from DRays Bay are pretty cool.

6. I was annoyed by people saying they didn't have a chance in the pre-season while PECOTA was picking them to win 90.

7. I really do not like Philadelphia sports fans.


One is the most important. I'll almost always root for a progressive front office. That said, I want an exciting series more than anything. If the Phillies win in 7 great games, I'll be happy.

[KevinWI]

The Phillies knocked out my Brewers, but I gotta cheer for the National League.

[mrakbaseball]

Rays. They play in Tropicana Field and I ate an orange earlier this week.:nod:

[EdTarbusz]

I don't care who wins. I was rooting for the Red Sox and Dodgers not to make it.

[brewcrew82]

First and foremost, I want a tight World Series. We as baseball fans have had to put up with a stream of dull, one sided World Series' for too long.

That being said, I'd prefer to see the Phillies win. The city of Philadelphia has been starved of championship winners for so long it's not funny. If the Rays happen to win and it's a good series I won't be disappointed in the slightest (in fact I hope, win or lose, we see the Rays as a staple deep in the playoffs for the next 5 or so years). As long as I've been entertained.

[108stitches]

A nice 7 game series would be just fine.:dance

[gman5431]

Love this series because its two new teams and they are both young and exciting. Rooting for the Rays but would be happy with a Phils victory as well. Want to see a good long series.

G Man

[stejay]

I would love the Rays to win

[85cards]

I have no ill will toward the Rays but always root for the NL.

Remember, last night the Phils became only the second NL team to win a WS game since 2003.

[rudy]

When the Jays are out of it, I always root for a 7-game series, no matter what. Its only when the Red Sox or Yankees are playing that I am (i) okay with a sweep (assuming they are the ones getting swept), or (ii) actually rooting for one of the teams in the series to win Game 7 (the team not named the Yankees or Red Sox).

When the Jays are in it, I'll take a Blue Jays' series victory over them losing in 7 games, but in an ideal world, I'd like to watch my Jays win it in a 7th game.

[Francoeurstein]

Rays. They play in Tropicana Field and I ate an orange earlier this week.:nod:

Haha. That is one of the greatest posts I've seen in all my years here.

[philkid3]

Love this series because its two new teams and they are both young and exciting.

The Phillies are the oldest team in baseball.

[runningshoes]

The Phillies are the oldest team in baseball.

New: As in one team has never been there before and one hasn't been there in awhile.

[philkid3]

New: As in one team has never been there before and one hasn't been there in awhile.

They are definitely that.

[Seattle1]

Phillies because I like them better. I have a soft spot for the team from the "City of Brotherly Love." I would really like to see Jamie Moyer become World Series MVP!

[Westlake]

My team lost, so there's that. No Yankees, Indians, Cardinals, OR Orioles? There goes reasons to root against them. I guess the Phillies. I'd like to see Chase Utley and Jamie Moyer win a ring... and Brad Lidge is one of my favorite players.

[brewcrew82]

I would really like to see Jamie Moyer become World Series MVP!

I'm sure Phil's fans would rather see Moyer go past 5 inning in a start this playoffs first.

[Lafferty Daniel]

I'd love to see a Tampa Dynasty. The AL East is finally refreshing.

Can't wait to see Jennings, Brignac, Davis, and possibly McGee develop into future stars.

[philkid3]

I'd love to see a Tampa Dynasty. The AL East is finally refreshing.

Can't wait to see Jennings, Brignac, Davis, and possibly McGee develop into future stars.

There's not gonna be a Tampa dynasty, unfortunately.

The next dynasty is going to be led by names like Holland, Feliz, Smoak, Davis, Teagarden, Kinsler, Hamilton, Borbon and Andrus.

:dance

*dreams*

[yamsi12]

easy, the rays.

maddon is a former bench coach of my angels, aybar is erick aybars older bro, and percival, though hurt is a ray.

Go Rays!!!!!

[joshfan]

I like the Rays story, seem like a good bunch of guys and maybe it'll have some other smaller payrolled teams looking at the Marlins, Rays and learn from it
Noone seems to mention Pinellia but didn't he have a solid influence on putting this group together?

[Erik Bedard]

There's not gonna be a Tampa dynasty, unfortunately.

The next dynasty is going to be led by names like Holland, Feliz, Smoak, Davis, Teagarden, Kinsler, Hamilton, Borbon and Andrus.

:dance

*dreams*

Markakis, Jones, Wieters.
Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta.

Any questions?

[Westlake]

Let me add the *dreams* to Erik Bedard's post.



*dreams*

[MagsMigs]

I'm pulling for the Rays, but if the Phils took it in 7, at least it was a great series. If the Rays take it in 7, it's already the best Series since 2001 (IMO, of course).

What I want to know is who one earth are the 3 people who voted "no rooting interest, I won't watch"?! You have no interest in the World Series, regardless of the teams.... yet you consider yourself enough of a fan of baseball to have a BBF account?! Shame on you!

[gman5431]

Bruce, Edinson, Homer, Cueto, Votto, Dickerson, Hannigan, BP

G Rizzle

[Imgran]

I want a good series. Both teams have a good story to tell. The Phillies have a 28 year old title drought, and this Rays team is on a run that will go down as one of the greatest turnarounds in baseball history -- as franchise altering as the 1967 Impossible Dream team and the Miracle Mets' run.

[Westlake]

Did everyone know that every team has good prospects? And that the chances of that turning into a dynasty are approximately 0.00003%?

[Erik Bedard]

Let me add the *dreams* to Erik Bedard's post.



*dreams*

Thanks, I forgot that.

Actually, though, Markakis and Jones have had success at the ML level. And Wieters is as close to a sure thing as you can have in the minors. Tillman, Matusz, and Arrieta, though, are as good of a top three pitching prospects as any in baseball, with the possible exception of Tampa Bay. In fact, in terms of top talent, the Rays are the only system that I'd rank clearly above the O's. Other systems have less of a dropoff from #4 to #5, but only in the top four, I don't know that any other team can match Wieters, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta.

BA League Top Prospects:

Carolina League:

1. Matt Wieters
2. Jake Arrieta

Eastern League

1. Matt Wieters
2. Chris Tillman

BA's Top Pitchers, 2008 Draft:

1. Brian Matusz

Not saying they're definitely going to become a dynasty, but there's no denying that that's impressive.

Oh, and Evan, you forgot to add "except the Nats" after "every team".

[philkid3]

Markakis, Jones, Wieters.
Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta.

Any questions?

Hurley, Harrison, Diamond, Ross, Beltre, Mayberry, Main, Beavan, Ramirez, Cruz.

[philkid3]

Did everyone know that every team has good prospects? And that the chances of that turning into a dynasty are approximately 0.00003%?
http://typo.graphr.net/images/owl-nowai.jpg

[Erik Bedard]

Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta, Snyder, Rowell, Reimold, Erbe, Bergesen, Hoes, Spoone, Bundy,

[philkid3]

Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta, Snyder, Rowell, Reimold, Erbe, Bergesen, Hoes, Spoone, Bundy,
Wanna take bets on who's going to be higher on BP's organizational rankings? ;)

If I keep digging I'm going to get to positions I already have filled. :cap:

[Westlake]

stupid internet pic

Well, I actually didn't mean you, considering you know it's a pipe dream. But hey, if you want to lump yourself in with everyone else, go right ahead.

[philkid3]

Well, I actually didn't mean you, considering you know it's a pipe dream. But hey, if you want to lump yourself in with everyone else, go right ahead.
I assumed everyone was a aware of that and no one was taking the posturing seriously.

[Westlake]

I assumed everyone was a aware of that and no one was taking the posturing seriously.

Not entirely seriously, but the whole dynasty thing is why the prospect name-dropping started.

[STLCards2]

Three reason why I am rooting for Tampa:

1. I will root for anybody who will keep the extreme *Red Sox fans from gloating like they are the team with 26 championships ... for an offseason at least.

2. I am not much of a fan of Jimmy Rollins or Brad Lidge (must be all of those close losses to Houston).

3. Living in St. Louis, I hear more about Ryan Howard than just about any Cardinal player who doesn't wear #5. I like the guy personally, but am sick of hearing about him in the local media like he is Stan the Man or something.

* not the Sox fans at BBF - they are mostly all very classy!

[Seattle1]

Are the Rays going to get all broken up after this year like they did with the Marlins?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Are the Rays going to get all broken up after this year like they did with the Marlins?

No........

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

I'm rooting for the Rays.

Reason #1: The storyline! Absolute worst to WS Champs!
Reason #2: IMO they have what it takes to win.
Reason #3: I can't root for the Phils now.

[philkid3]

Are the Rays going to get all broken up after this year like they did with the Marlins?

Why would they be?

There's a few players who are prime candidates for deals, though.

[brewcrew82]

Why would they be?


Because they're from the same state as the Marlins. Guilty by association.

[STLCards2]

Because they're from the same state as the Marlins. Guilty by association.

Most of the Rays' core players are under contract, however.

[MagsMigs]

I'd LOVE to get in on the prospect toting, but we turned them all into Sheffield, Renteria, Cabrera and Willis :banghead:

[Mattingly]

I'm rooting for the Rays. Boston was the only repeating team in the playoffs left, and they took them down. They should be in good shape.

Unless Moyer does better than he did against Los Angeles, I'd say that the Phillies need some help, despite having an excellent team.

[brewcrew82]

Most of the Rays' core players are under contract, however.

It's a shame sarcasm can't be conveyed too well on a message board.

[STLCards2]

It's a shame sarcasm can't be conveyed too well on a message board.

Sarcasm? Most of the key Rays are on board ("contract") for the next few years at least. I guess they could trade some of them away before they demand big contracts, but I would doubt that the Rays will trade away a potential annual W.S. contender before they had to. In 3-4 years, could we see a fire-sale? Sure - but it won't happen the next year like the Marlins did twice. Their team is too good and too cheap right now to fire-sale anything. The 1997 marlins were not young or cheap. The 2003 Marlins had a lot of guys up for contracts. The 2008 Rays are not in either boat.

[brewcrew82]

No, I still don't think you understand me. I was being sarcastic when I implied a fire sale because the Rays share the same state as the Marlins, thus guilty by association. I was referring to seattle1's post about the team being broken up.

[MagsMigs]

I never understood why the Marlins and, to a lesser extent, the A's purge young talent to bring in youngER talent. I know , guys like Beckett, Burnett, Cabrera, Willis, Pierre, Lowell, Lee, Delgado, etc. weren't young studs, but they're not exactly seasoned vets either. I commend the Marlins' scouting and their ability to replenish with just as much, if not more talent, but why not work with what you have? Doesn't this trend tell us that Ramirez, Uggla, Jacobs, Hermida, Willingham, Olsen, etc. are destined to be traded when they get a couple more seasons and are looking for the kind of contract level that their talent warrants?

The A's have started doing that lately too, first with Hudson and Mulder, then they didn't bring back Zito, now Harden, Haren, Gaudin, and Blanton (of course, the hindsight of turning Mulder into Harden worked like a charm). Sure, what they got in return will probably flourish, but then they'll cast off these guys - not to mention Duchscherer and Ziegler - and start the process over again. Why not just build around guys who will give you a decade of all star production.

Sorry, it got a little long and is unrelated to 'who are you rooting for', but I just thought I'd throw that out there and see if there's something I'm missing.

[philkid3]

I never understood why the Marlins and, to a lesser extent, the A's purge young talent to bring in youngER talent.
There's a book that actually discusses in part why the A's do it, so it's not even close to a mystery.

But it's simply because they can't afford them. There's nothing more to it than that, you get what you can out of a player while you can afford to pay for them. You think the A's could match the contract the Giants offered Zito? You think he's worth it? If a player is expendable, they trade him for the prospects to replenish the organization. If he's not, they hold on to him and let him walk when his contract expires because he's going to get more money elsewhere.

Not every team is willing to have a high payroll.

I commend the Marlins' scouting and their ability to replenish with just as much, if not more talent, but why not work with what you have?
Money. The Marlins and A's don't make much of it.

Doesn't this trend tell us that Ramirez, Uggla, Jacobs, Hermida, Willingham, Olsen, etc. are destined to be traded when they get a couple more seasons and are looking for the kind of contract level that their talent warrants?
The Marlins recently locked Ramirez up to a nice long contract, but in general, yes.

The A's have started doing that lately too, first with Hudson and Mulder, then they didn't bring back Zito, now Harden, Haren, Gaudin, and Blanton (of course, the hindsight of turning Mulder into Harden worked like a charm).
It's not lately. It's a tennent of the Billy Beane front office, which goes back to the late 90s. It's written about at lenght in Moneyball and that was written in 2002.

Why not just build around guys who will give you a decade of all star production.
Because they can't afford them. The owners do not want to spend the money it would take to keep those players.

And often it's more than just not being able to afford them, it's also dealing a player at the height of his value to avoid his decline and get rid of him while the getting's good. But mostly it's a money thing.


Sorry, it got a little long and is unrelated to 'who are you rooting for', but I just thought I'd throw that out there and see if there's something I'm missing.
You're not missing much, just an unbalanced system.

Until baseball finds a way to balance their financial structure, be it a cap or whatever, you'll have teams who compete by paying high numbers for talent, including keeping their own, and teams who compete by dealing their talent and letting it walk because they can't afford to pay them.

[STLCards2]

No, I still don't think you understand me. I was being sarcastic when I implied a fire sale because the Rays share the same state as the Marlins, thus guilty by association. I was referring to seattle1's post about the team being broken up.


Gotcha! We are finally on the same page!:)

[aobrien]

The Phillies are not the oldest team in baseball....

[philkid3]

The Phillies are not the oldest team in baseball....

According to this (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rosters) their average age is about a year older than any other team.

[Seattle1]

They should throw B.J. Upton out of the game for arguing about that called third strike. That was a perfectly crafty pitch by Moyer.