# The Definitive 2008 World Series Thread: Phillies vs Rays **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875 "2008-10-21T12:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/1 "2008-10-21T12:10:10Z")
Since I’m biased, I thought it would be nice to have a separate thread that focused purely on the World Series. There has been an [MLB Postseason thread over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485668&page=7), in case anyone needs to get up to speed. Let’s start off with taking a look at Jayson Stark’s [Five Reasons to Embrace the Phillies-Rays matchup](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3653757): 1. Fresh Faces > [@](#): > > So this World Series is about Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and David Price. It’s about Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard. Every one of those men is a charismatic, jump-off-your-flat-screen talent whose run of glory will last for years. Many years. 1. Do you believe in miracles? > [@](#): > > The Greatest Team Turnaround Story in the History of Modern Sports. > > That’s what. > > The Rays are not just another plucky little underdog team that sneaked into the World Series, friends. They’re an official sporting miracle. 1. The city that never celebrates > [@](#): > > In Philadelphia, they’re growing a little tired of hearing about how the poor, downtrodden, cursified Chicago Cubs never win. In Philadelphia, you see, nobody ever wins. 1. The managers > [@](#): > > Terry Francona and Joe Torre are fine fellows. We know them well. We’ve seen them in action. And for those of us who write about baseball for a living, we’ve spent more time in October with them lately than with our wives, our kids, our pets and our house plants put together. > > But we need to prove that it’s safe to have a World Series without those two familiar faces in a dugout near us. So it’s time to move on. To Joe Maddon. To Charlie Manuel. To two men who don’t fit any kind of mold. Not as managers. Not as men. 1. The ballparks > [@](#): > > Like Fenway and like Chavez Ravine, Citizens Bank Park and Tropicana Field have a chance to put their own inimitable stamp on this World Series. And there’s no telling how much fun that might be. > > Citizens Bank Park is one of America’s most beautiful new ballparks. The Trop is, well, America’s most unusual ballpark. Stark put a lot more into this, the above is my two minute synopsis. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/2 "2008-10-21T14:45:40Z")
**But** that doesn’t mean that Vegas or the public thinks they Rays will win. > [@](#): > > LAS VEGAS (AP)—Las Vegas sports books favor the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies and would owe huge payouts if the American League champions prevail. Oddsmakers say enough bettors took the Rays early in the year at long-shot prices to force books to adjust lines to encourage bets on the Phillies. > > Sean Van Patten at Las Vegas Sports Consultants says the Rays are favored at minus-$1.35, meaning a gambler would need to bet $1.35 to be paid $1 if Tampa Bay wins. So the problem is that they stand to lose a bunch if the Rays win, because some folks were insane enough to put money on them at 200-1 pre-season (or early in the season), so they need to lay off that money or they could get really hurt. > [@](#): > > What we’re also trying to protect here is even more Tampa Bay money coming in,” Van Patten said. “What we’re trying to do is maybe get a little buyback on the Phillies.” Las Vegas Hilton race and sports book director Jay Kornegay says before the start of the season the Rays were a 200-1 shot for the title. > > “It’s a significant number for a futures book, but it’s nothing that’s going to shut down the book or anything,” Kornegay told The Associated Press. “It might dim the lights." Kornegay would not specify how much the Hilton sports book stood to lose if the Phillies win, but said other sports books offered even longer odds on the Rays winning a championship. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/3 "2008-10-21T15:36:15Z")
Tampa has gone through a tough division and a difficult post season. It is hard to turn against them now. They should win. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/4 "2008-10-21T17:15:42Z")
If Tampa Bay hits like they have so far in the postseason, this is gonna be a hell of a series! Go Phils!!! Joe ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/5 "2008-10-21T18:10:02Z")
Interesting fact I heard yesterday: A Florida MLB team has never lost a playoff series. The Marlins are 6-0 and the Rays are 2-0 so far in playoff series. If trends continue… ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/6 "2008-10-21T18:49:05Z")
People are definitely getting worked into a fever around here. You see lots of Rays gear and “Rayhawks”. I assume Philly is also getting worked up. I think Philly has a good chance to take Game 1. I’m taking my son to Game 1 and then my daughter to Game 2. It was pretty tough to take a Game 7 in the past series but I think it would be fun for the Series to go seven games this time around. I read that the last few series have been sweeps, except one which went five games. Balance is better for fan interest and ratings. Radio today said that Sunday’s Game 7 was the highest rated ever on cable TV. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/7 "2008-10-21T21:31:54Z")
Mayors Frank Hibbard of Clearwater, Rick Baker of St. Petersburg and Pam Iorio of Tampa have offered up a Florida Beach Picnic, including: Coconut shrimp from Cha Cha Coconuts at The Pier Stone crab claws from Clearwater’s Frenchy’s restaurant Cuban sandwiches from the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Cortez Cigars from the J.C. NewmanCigar Company Key lime pie from the Fourth Street Shrimp Store in St. Pete. Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael A. Nutter wagered Philadelphia cheesesteaks, delicious Tastykakes, Philly soft pretzels, mac-n-cheese from Delilah’s Southern Cafe and a Rocky statue. I think the Florida folks are getting the short end on that one, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/8 "2008-10-21T22:57:25Z")
Nutter will have to pay off 3. He loses bigger. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/9 "2008-10-22T13:43:45Z")
[From ESPN Page 2](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri/081021&sportCat=mlb): Sampling: “31. The Phillies’ Game 3 starter made his major league debut when the Rays’ two star rookies were less than a year old. Also, Jamie Moyer will be making the first World Series start of his 22-year career.” “29. Because the Phillies have won fewer World Series titles than the following teams: The cursed Cubs, the formerly cursed White Sox, the no-winning-record-in-16-years Pirates, the expansion Blue Jays, and the far more recent expansion Marlins.” “16. Pat Burrell: Lady-killer, or unintentionally hilarious? You decide.” ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/10 "2008-10-22T19:03:34Z")
Not really relevant to the game, but to the perception of the game here in Tampa: I just picked my son up from after-school care. I would guesstimate that about 80% of the kids there were wearing Rays shirts (dark blue t-shirts, mostly) today. There was nothing like that last week. Now I know that some areas, like Philadelphia, for example, that have had a major league team for many years would sneer at these bandwagon fans. But these are all kids between the ages of five and eleven, in their “baseball formative years”, many of whom may become lifelong fans out of this. I thought it was kind of cool, and it was definitely surprising to me. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/11 "2008-10-22T20:46:40Z")
This is the “death is not an option” World Series. The Rays have been an embarassment to baseball since their inception. Meanwhile, the Phillies can kiss the New York Mets logo on my hairy, white ass. I hate them and their ugly ass uniforms too. Where’s manic Manny when you need him? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/12 "2008-10-22T21:30:33Z")
Just leaving for Game 1 now. I’ll let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/13 "2008-10-22T23:14:55Z")
Just checking in as a Philly Phan. On the way out the door to the bar. Good luck to the fans on both sides. GO PHILLS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/14 "2008-10-23T00:43:12Z")
Amazing that these teams are in the Series, but they earned it and the strangeness will keep me watching. I think the Rays are going to take this one in five - to me, they’re that much better. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/15 "2008-10-23T00:45:25Z")
… and Utley whacks a first-inning homer. Knew it was coming as soon as I made my post. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/16 "2008-10-23T00:58:03Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Not really relevant to the game, but to the perception of the game here in Tampa: I just picked my son up from after-school care. I would guesstimate that about 80% of the kids there were wearing Rays shirts (dark blue t-shirts, mostly) today. There was nothing like that last week. > > Now I know that some areas, like Philadelphia, for example, that have had a major league team for many years would sneer at these bandwagon fans. But these are all kids between the ages of five and eleven, in their “baseball formative years”, many of whom may become lifelong fans out of this. I thought it was kind of cool, and it was definitely surprising to me. And they’ll be right off that bandwagon the second the team starts doing poorly. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@Big\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/17 "2008-10-23T01:10:26Z")
**Go Phils!** (I was one of those 11 year olds in 1980!) (My first post, Who-hoo!) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/18 "2008-10-23T02:00:48Z")
Is it just me, or does Cole Hamels look like John Cleese? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/19 "2008-10-23T02:04:55Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > This is the “death is not an option” World Series. > > The Rays have been an embarassment to baseball since their inception. Mets were an embarrassment until they won too. I consider the Rays to be brethren ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/20 "2008-10-23T02:55:26Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > And they’ll be right off that bandwagon the second the team starts doing poorly. And fair enough. Makes the team want to succeed. [QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] The Rays have been an embarassment to baseball since their inception. [/QUOTE] That stopped being true about six months ago. So far it’s a great game. We’ve had a couple of home runs, a guy thrown out at home, a controversial call, it’s close in the late innings. Aren’t yoy guys ENJOYING this? It’s friggin’ great! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875.md?page=2)