There is nothing hotter than a pile-up of guys! Rays go to the World Series! -Sports Illustrated.com
I was so excited when my boyfriend told me Cinderella was going to the 2008 World Series and that the game will be like a fairy tale. I love the Disney Princesses!
OK….so maybe he didn’t really say Cinderella herself. I think he actually said that the Tampa Bay Rays’ story was like a Cinderella story. And I did read on one blog that it is like fairy tale! In sports, a Cinderella may not get to wear the sparkly dress and glass slippers but they do get a happily-ever-after. And I’m a sucker for happily-ever-afters.
The Sweetest Story Ever Told
“A Cinderella” is most commonly talked about in college basketball during the March Madness tournament because it happens more frequently. But it basically means a team with that doesn’t have the best track record the previous seasons (or a really shady past/the underdog/team used to scrubbing the floors of the other teams, etc.) that comes out of nowhere and kicks some serious butt and gives the other big, bad, well-known teams (the ugly stepsisters in this analogy) a run for their money. The longer they stay in the tournament, the closer they get to the ultimate fairy tale: getting their Prince Charming! Oh sorry, wrong fairy tale. I mean, winning the championship and getting a shiny trophy and usually, really bling-bling rings to taunt the other teams with.
The Tampa Bay Rays are certainly this year’s Cinderella team of baseball. They might not have Derek Jeter as Prince Charming but don’t worry, there are some definite hotties! Their story actually is exciting and a bit magical, and I’m not saying that because I live in the area and I’m trying to get you to support them. I swear!
Once upon a Time….
In a little town of St. Petersburg, Florida (right outside of Tampa for those out-of-staters), the Tampa Bay Rays were created. Born The Devil Rays in 1998, they grew up struggling. Almost every year, they finished the season in the very bottom of their Division. But through it all, they maintained their hope and youthful optimism, because they believed that one day, their dreams would come true. And on October 19, 2008, when they beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, they did: The 11-yr old Rays were going to the World Series!
The magic began back on March 31, 1998 when the Devil Rays played their first game. And on the very first pitch of that very first game ever, the Devil Rays Wade Boggs hit a home run! But there wasn’t enough magic in the pixie dust. They lost the game and proceeded to lose 99 games that season (reference point: there are 162 games/season. Losing 99 is not good!). In 2000 they prematurely nicknamed their line-up “The Hit Show” thinking they finally got some key players. But, yeah, they were a bunch of old guys past their peak and once again the season failed miserably. They tried everything over the first 8 years: Four different managers (aka coaches). New owners. An official change of team colors. They tried trading all their vetern players mid-season in 2006 (who does that?). They even poured $10 million into revamping their stadium, Tropicana Field. But nothing worked long-term and in 2007, they finished last in the American League East for the 9th time in 10 years.
Have faith in your dreams, and one day…
The record books reflect a losing season in 2007 but if you actually read the story, you see there is a lot of potential growing! That mid-season trade-off of all the old veterans was aboutto pay off. The Rays’ 2007’s line-up was the youngest in the MLB in over 20 years but those young stars like Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Akinori Iwamura, Carlos Pena and pitcher Scott Kazmir were growing up fast. They were posting personal and team record numbers all season. Even though they finished last, they kept on belieiving and developing. And, as Cinderella said, “if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish, will come true.”
A little bibbidy, bobbidy Boo
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Champioship Series
Enter the fairy godmother. In this case it’s team owner Stuart Sternberg who transformed the team, from a new name to a new wardrobe.
Before the 2008 season, the Tampa Bay team was changed from the “Devil Rays” to just “The Rays,” as in the rays of sunshine of Florida (Yeah I know. Sunshine rays hardly strike fear into the hearts of the opposing teams like a devil ray does but they had this crazy notion that having “devil” in their title was causing them to be cursed. And instead of opting for sting ray, the other name for a devil ray, they decided they wanted to be “the beacon that radiates throughout Tampa Bay and across the entire state of Florida.” Did you snort out loud too? They really said that! At least they aren’t called the Rainbows like the teams in Hawaii are!)
With the name change came a change of team colors, uniforms and team insignia. The colors are now Columbia blue, navy blue (there are about 100 different divisions of blue for baseball teams. Remember the scene in the The Devil Wears Prada where Meryl Streep tells Anne Hathaway “It’s not blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis. It’s actually Cerulean …”) and a “splash of gold.” You know, to represent those great rays of sunshine shining down on the whole state….
But once again, that magical ole’ fairy godmother was working her (or in this case, his) magic. The changes worked. The 2008 season was the best season in Rays–and Devil Rays–history. From spring training on, the team was on fire. By Memorial Day (which is the marker for being 1/3 of the way through the season), they were already breaking records. They had the record in THE LEAGUE. Not just their division, the whole league! And, they were the first team in MLB history to be the leader at Memorial Day after having the worst record in the league the year before.
The magic stayed with them all summer long and two days after my birthday—oh, I mean, on August 29—they won their 82 game of the season, making it their first winning season in franchise history! And they finished the regular season in second place in the whole league with a 97-65 record. Last year their record was 66-96. Talk about a turnaround!
They won their division title by posting the best record in the American League East Division. They beat the Chicago White Sox 3 games to 1 in the American League Division Series. They won the American League Championship Series 4-3 against the Boston Red Sox.
And now they are taking on the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
Prince Charming, Gus-Gus & Jaq, Bruno the Bloodhound and the rest of the cast
Gotta love hot guys standing in a row! The Rays line up for the National Antham to kick off Game 1 of the ALCS against the Red Sox.
The Rays aren’t like a lot of teams out there with the superstars carrying the team to victory. This is a total team effort, despite the players approaching big name status rapidly. Just like Cinderella, they wouldn’t have made it to the championship ball (I know…it brings up images of big gowns and sparkles, which are suspiciously missing in such an event) without the support of everyone.
Players to Know:
Evan Longoria: Who knew scruffy could be this yummy? Flickr.com
Evan Longoria. EvaN not EvA. I used to think he was her brother but sadly, no, there is no relation. He is the rookie that almost didn’t make the team.
Baby Face but a man's body! 24-yr-old Scott Kazmir is my fave pitcher to watch--or at least look at!
But thankfully he did because this little 23-year-old cute was definetly hot, hot, hot this season and not just in his looks! Plus, he is definitely a fan favorite. The third-baseman even made it to the All-Star Game this year, beating out big-name Jason Giambi in a fan vote!
Scott Kazmir: He’s the team’s two-time All-Star pitcher! He was also 2007’s American League Strikeout Champion. And he’s only 24. Did I mention he makes over $3 mil? What a catch! I mean, pitch!
Carl Crawford: He’s also a two-time All-Star and an AL Stolen Base Champ! The left fielder is also the eigth player in MLB history to have 1000 hits and 250 stolen bases befoer he turned 27 (The MLB has millions of these weird little facts. I have no idea where they come up this stuff. So random).
B.J. Upton: He is definitely a name to know for the post season. Against Chicago: Scored 3 runs and drove in 4. Against Boston: Scored 4 runs and drove in 11. Looking forward to seeing what this center-fielder is going to do in the final series!
B.J. Upton is emerging as quite a shining beacon of light for the Rays. In other words, a star
Cinderella’s Castle and the Ugly Step-Sisters
Some Facts to know about the Rays, their home and their rivals!
-The Rays “castle” is Tropicana Field.
-Tropicana Field had major renovations in 2006 and now includes a 10,000 gallon sting-ray tank. You can actually go and touch them!
-Raymond the seadog Is the team’s mascot.
-Rays’ fans are known to bring their own cowbells to ring to taunt the other team. More cowbell anyone?
-The Rays hate the Red Sox and vice versa. They are step-sister #1.
-They also hate the Yankees, step-sister #2.
-The rivalries are mostly sparked because the Rays are located in Florida, aka the transplant/winter home to many Northeasterns.
-There was also this little incident in 2000 with the Red Sox where, well, let’s just call it a catfight.
-The Yankees spring training camp is also in Tampa.
At bat Next: The Philadelphia Phillies, Snow White’s Tale
Return to: Tips to Surviving the World Series of Boredom
or: There is Only One October: A quick Guide to the MLB Playoffs
About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!
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