Three views from Chicago

Here are some opinions from Chicago columnists, with links to the full stories at the end of each excerpt.

"Rays act like they've been there before"
Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune:

"As playoff baseball established one of its occasional October beachheads deep in the heart of football country, the Rays acted like they had been here before, even though they hadn't. That would not have been possible except for this fact: They are a very solid team, one that has a legitimate chance to imitate the 1997 Florida Marlins by running the table in its first trip to the postseason."

Read the full story.

"Balfour, Rays respond to Sox challenge"
Greg Couch, Chicago Sun-Times

"Balfour is a kook, standing on the mound cursing and screaming at himself, and Cabrera thought he could mess with his head.

"In the last few weeks, Cabrera has emerged as a guy trying to lead but unable to do it. No one is willing to follow."

Read the full story.

From RosenBlog
Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune:

"The White Sox had to beat three different teams in three days to get to the playoffs, and what happens after they pull off that major-league first?

"The Sox have to play inside a pachinko machine that was the franchise's destination when Chairman Reinsdorf was extorting the state for a new park. And worse, the Sox decide to have Javier Vazquez start Game 1."

Read the full blog post. (By the way, a Wikipedia entry says a pachinko machine is a Japanese gaming device, sort of a cross between pinball and a video slot machine.)

Party's at Ferg's

Now that the game is over, the biggest Rays party is back at Ferg's, which is now jammed with hundreds of people eating, drinking and buying T-shirts.

Not only is it jammed inside, but the sidewalk out front on Central Avenue is barely passable.

"Playoff atmosphere. Like a Final Four, Super Bowl. It's very electric. It's a Thursday afternoon, it feels like a weekend party," said Joe Gabriel, 44, of Indian Rocks Beach.

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Fight outside Trop

There was some chatter over the police scanners of a possible stabbing outside the Trop, but one of our reporters, Aaron Sharockman, got on the scene and learned from police that two street performers just got into a fight. There was no stabbing, though apparently both were left a little bloody.

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Fans stream out of Trop chanting, cheering

Rays fans are streaming out of Tropicana Field chanting "Let's Go Rays!" and clanging their cowbells. Many were praising rookie Evan Longoria, who belted two home runs and had three RBI.

"How about that rookie of the year," said Don Stample, 44, a machinist from St. Petersburg. "Two pitches, two home runs."

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All work and no Rays for some

Charles Marco doesn't have to worry about any employees missing work for today's playoff game at Tropicana Field.

"I'm guaranteed a full staff on pay day," he said.

The downtown restaurateur was working on the payroll for Trattoria di Fortunato and Fortunato's Italian Market on Central Avenue while watching the Rays carry a 6-3 lead into the seventh inning. Downtown was barely populated as the Rays took on the White Sox in the franchise's first-ever playoff game.

Marco, 42, is proof that the customer is always right. He admits his allegiance to the Yankees but said at his clientele's request, he started rooting for the Rays as soon as New York was eliminated.

"They even gave me a grudging thank you after the Yankees beat the Red Sox (to clinch the American League East title for the Rays)," he said.

Being the owner, of course he has to be at work. But now a World Series is a different matter.

"If I can score some tickets," he said, "I definitely would (miss work.)"

-- Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer

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Cow bells selling like hot cakes

The only quiet place inside Tropicana Field are the elevators that ferry press, employees and VIPs between floors. When pointing that out during the sixth inning, a Rays employee pointed down to his hand truck filled with boxes and said, "This is why." The boxes were filled with cowbells. "We're only charging $1 a piece. People are buying six at a time."

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

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Some have to leave early for dogs, algebra

Why would people leave during the sixth inning of the first playoff game in Tampa Bay Rays history?

Some people had their reasons.

Fan skipping work can't dodge publicity

Holding red aluminum cans of Budweiser in each hand, John Swartout, 59, of St. Petersburg shook his head and worried he'd be fired from his job at Intrepid Boats.

A Vietnam veteran, he told his boss he had to go to the VA hospital to get an MRI. But at Ferg's earlier today, he was on Channel 13 with Charley Belcher. His boss called while he was at the Trop and asked him if that was him he saw on TV.

"He said, 'You're at the game, aren't you?' " Swartout said. "I said, 'Yeah, sorta.' "

Sierra Mist takes the crown

Breaking news: Massive collision between Pepsi and Aquafina means Sierra Mist wins the fifth-inning soda bottle race.

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Fans want some room, remove blue tarps

Much has been made about the Rays' decision not to remove the blue tarps from about 6,000 upper deck seats.

Well, John Beatty, 41, of Palmetto and Mark James, 48, of St. Petersburg took matters into their own hands. They pried free the blue tarp from a handful of seats in Section 317.

And, they report, they enjoy the view.

"When I get in an airplane, I like the aisle," Beatty said. "Same thing for a baseball stadium. I don't want to be crowded and sweaty."

The two, whose views are partly obstructed by the D ring, said they actually wish they were higher.

"We'd love to be dangling our feet off the catwalk," James said. "Now that would be fun."

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

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Longoria made history - or not

Evan Longoria hits a home run in the first inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

UPDATE, 4:07: Actually, upon further checking, the Rays said Longoria is actually the second player to do so. The first was Minnesota's Gary Gaetti - who actually works for the Rays now as Triple-A hitting coach - and did so in 1987.

:Rays rookie 3B Evan Longoria on Thursday became the first player in major-league history to homer in his first two post-season at-bats.

Longoria went deep on the first pitch of his first at-bat and the second pitch of his second at-bat.

Fans make run on Longoria T's

Minutes after Evan Longoria homered for the second time in three innings, fans already were heading to the team store to buy Longoria T-shirts.

"The guy's magic," said Kevin Sollie, 30, of St. Pete Beach, as he bought one.

Kourtnie Kolesar, a 13-year-old Burnette Middle School student from Brandon, bought one as well. When asked what she thought of Longoria, she had one word: "Awesome."

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Pena leaves with blurred vision

1B Carlos Pena left the game in the top of the third inning with slightly blurred vision in his left eye, having scratched it at home on Wednesday.

The Rays say it is not serious and he is expected to play on Friday. Willy Aybar took his place, and delivered a sac fly in the third.

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Fans: Trop is louder than ever

Rob Szasz of St. Petersburg cheers in leather row where he has tickets during the Tampa Bay Rays first play off game at Tropicana Field on Thursday. [Chris Zuppa, Times]

You don't need a decibel meter to tell this is one of the loudest Rays games ever.

"It's actually the most electric it's been all year," said Jim Duda, 45, a salesman from St. Petersburg.

Unlike the casual, arrive-in-the-second-inning attitude of many regular season games, virtually the entire stadium was full before the starting lineups were announced.

"It's much louder. Everyone's in their seats already. We're ready to rock. Go Rays!" said Tim Linehan, 39, of Oldsmar.

When the Rays were announced, the arena erupted in one giant cowbell explosion. It was even louder a few minutes ago when Evan Longoria hit a home run.

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Rays fan isn't your typical hot dog

ST. PETERSBURG -- Robbie Maher sensed that this day was near. The playoff-bound Rays. A sold-out Tropicana Field. The first-ever postseason game in Tampa Bay's otherwise woebegone baseball history.

"I knew it was going to be a big year," said Maher, 23, who works at Caddy's on the Beach in Treasure Island.

Today he came prepared: He wore a giant hot dog costume to the game.

"It's a symbol for baseball," he said. "I've been waiting for this for 10 years."

No, not to wear the hot dog costume -- for the playoff game.

At least that's what we think he meant.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Chicago mayor bets sausages, nuts

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has responded to the wager issued by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard.

Daley’s “Take Me Out to the Ball Game’’ wager offers food, soft drinks and sporting goods from Chicago companies.

The package includes 100 Polish sausages from Vienna Beef; chips from C.J. Vitner Co.; Lemonheads candy from Ferrara Pan Candy; a “Pepsi for a year’’ certificate from Pepsi Americas; and peanuts, sunflower seeds and trail mix from Fisher Nuts.

It was love at first pitch

ST. PETERSBURG -- Fans see the words flash on the Trop's video screen all the time:

"Will you marry me?"

Two years ago it was Stu Gutter proposing to his future wife, Patti, during a Rays-Yankees game.

She said yes. And yes, Tampa Bay lost.

"We would have gotten married here if they would have let us," the husband said.

Their official anniversary isn't until November. But maybe today's first-ever Rays' playoff game is their real anniversary. The Orlando couple cut short a vacation in South Carolina so they could be at Tropicana Field today to watch history.

The couple should be easily recognizable today. Stu Gutter is wearing a 3-foot top hat made out of 17 blue and white balloons. It's custom made. He and Patti are balloon-artists.

Written on the hat: "Go Rays."

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Hope TBS is in the right city

TBS waited all of one minute to mess it up. It's one thing to call the Rays "Tampa.'' That was expected and it's not uncommon. It's another to tell viewers the game is in Tampa.

Almost immediately after TBS's pregame show started, it was pitched to game analyst Harold Reynolds, who is at Tropicana Field. Underneath Reynolds was a graphic that said, "Tampa, Fl.'' We're hoping Reynolds actually is at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and not some ballpark in Tampa.

-- Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer

Crist arrives at Trop, says he knew all along

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist arrived at Trop short after 2 p.m. with fiancee Carole Rome.

Crist, wearing a white dress shirt, blue pants and a green tie, said he predicted on opening day that the Rays would go far this year.

He said that on the first day of the season, someone asked him if the Rays would have a winning season. He predicted playoffs.

“I was right,” he said.

Way up here in section La-di-da!

They say nothing beats a hot dog at the ballpark, but invited guests to the Batter's Eye Restaurant were enjoying more refined cuisine: seared ahi tuna with sesame crust, crab cakes, grouper nuggets, anitpasto on a stick and bruschetta with goat cheese and tomato.

The rolly-polly guy in the Miller High Life commericals would have a field day at this event.

Staats' hair blows in the breeze

As we get within an hour of game time, you can tell it's a beautiful day in St. Petersburg by watching the hourlong preview show on Fox Sports. Dewanye Staats, Joe Magrane and Todd Kalas are talking from a studio set up outside the Trop. The dog-day humidity is mostly gone, temperatures are tolerable in the mid 80s and a soft breeze blows, which even those stuck in the office can tell by watching Staats' hair billowing in the wind. It kind of makes you wonder what a day like this would be like with an open-air stadium.

Chris Tisch, Times Staff Writer

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Tampa Bay mayors offer bet to Chicago's Daley

As the Rays got ready to play the Chicago White Sox, the mayors of St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater announced a friendly bet with Chicago’s mayor, Richard M. Daley.

Rays owner: '09 attendance needs to rise

Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg talks with Bobby Ramos during batting practice before the ALDS game one. [James Borchuck, Times]

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg spoke to reporters for about 10 minutes by the Rays dugout early this afternoon.

Surrounded by about 40 reporters, Sternberg said he was pleased with increasing ticket sales this year, but said ticket sales need to increase next year. He said he hopes the team's performance this year will prompt better ticket sales in 2009.

St. Pete City Hall celebrates the Rays

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mayor Rick Baker proclaimed 2008 the Year of the Rays today during a City Council meeting full of pennant excitement.

The meeting began with council members, some with blue fauxhawks, others with RayHawk wigs and nearly all with Rays apparel, booing Baker for not changing his hair for the Rays.

"We expected a lot more out of the administration side," said council Chairman Jamie Bennett, who sported a blue fauxhawk.

"I'm wearing a hat," Baker protested, gesturing to his baseball cap.

Baker and the council members then gathered in a row at the center of the council chambers, threw their arms around one another and broke into a verse of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. They chanted, "let's go, Rays!"

"This is the first time I ever sang a song with my arm around a guy with blue hair before," said Baker.

Baker announced last week that city officials would began every council meeting for the rest of the season with the song.

The Rays spirit took hold of the council chambers even while the room stood silently in prayer.

State Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, ended his invocation at the start of the meeting with, "let us say amen and go, Rays!"

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Rays fans are in the building!

Scott Sawyer, 24, of Lakeland, above, tailgates outside Tropicana Field today. Sawyer has been a fan since he was 15, "ever since I came to the second game. I don't think it'll sink in until they run out on the field."

As hundreds of fans waited outside, ticket takers opened Tropicana Field at noon. Fans in blue mohawks and all manner of Rays gear swarmed in and let out an enormous cheer.

Scenes from inside the Trop before gates open

ST. PETERSBURG -- More than four hours before the game, more than 50 servicemen are standing around a huge American flag covering left and center field.

Behind home plate, St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon is giving his cadre of officers their final instructions. Gov. Charlie Crist, an officer says, will be sitting in Section 110. "We'll have some people with eyes on him," another officer says.

Harmon tells his officers to be respectful and friendly to fans, "but don't forget the safety aspect."

An officer in the back makes a joke about using a Taser. Some officers laugh. Some don't.

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

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With all the attention, Kalas relegated to outfield

ST. PETERSBURG -- Todd Kalas, the television man who covered the Tampa Bay Rays all year, has been relegated to the auxilary press box high above the left field fence.

"Postseason baseball is a little different," Kalas tells his colleagues.

Someone asks if Joe Magrane will be joining Kalas in the TBT Party Deck. "No," someone else pipes in. "He'll get a nose bleed."

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Scalping business slow so far

ST. PETERSBURG -- Life along scalpers row outside Tropicana Field can be lonely. Just ask Mike Nerad. The 45-year-old season ticket holder had an extra ticket to sell for Thursday's game. By 11:15 a.m., no nibbles.

Dad: Not a bad day for kids to play hooky

Sure, it's a school day, but the first Rays playoff game is a "once-in-a-lifetime thing," says Rob Lima, 39, a real estate appraiser from Lutz. That's why he brought his twin sons, Zach and Tyler, and their friend Chris Cerreta to the game today. All the boys, 13, are eighth-graders at Martinez Middle School.

Rays Fans piling into Ferg's

Brad Robinson of St. Petersburg celebrates at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill before the Tampa Bay Rays first playoff game in the team's history. [Chris Zuppa, Times]

ST. PETERSBURG -- The game may not start until 2:30 p.m., but about 150 Rays fans had piled into Ferg's sports bar by 11 a.m. to start getting ready.

St. Petersburg woman wins Rays essay contest

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rhonda Thompson's daughters' baby books are stuffed with memories of the Tampa Bay Rays, including recollections of their first game in 1998, the years of struggle and now, a playoff berth.

Thompson's devotion to the Rays paid off Thursday when the St. Petersburg City Council named her the winner of the "Why I love the Rays" essay contest.

Rays lineup and roster set

The Rays just released their official 25-man Division Series roster, and it was just as expected, with rookie LHP David Price in the bullpen and RHPs Edwin Jackson and Troy Percival on the sidelines. Also, rookie OF Fernando Perez is on the roster, as the Rays opted for 15 position players and 10 pitchers.

The full roster is below; what's interesting is that Ben Zobrist is listed as an outfielder, which could be a hint at who is starting in rightfield on Friday against lefty Mark Buerhle.

The lineups for today's first-ever playoff game in Rays history have been posted, and they look like this:

RAYS
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Crawford, lf
Floyd, dh
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Shields, p

WHITE SOX
Cabrera, ss
WIse, lf
Dye, rf
Thome, dh
Konerko, 1b
Griffey, cf
Ramirez, 2b
Pierzynski, c
Uribe, 3b
Vazquez, p

There is already activity on the field, as the color guard is practicing with an American flag that literally covers the entire outfield. Fans are already hanging around outside, TV crews are setting up stages for live remotes, and the national media are filing in. An example of what's different - rather than have their bags checked by a Trop security guard, reporters have to put them on the ground so they can be checked by a bomb-sniffing dog.

RAYS ROSTER

Starters
James Shields
Scott Kazmir
Matt Garza
Andy Sonnanstine

Relievers
Grant Balfour
Chad Bradford
J.P. Howell
Trever Miller
David Price
Dan Wheeler

Catchers
Michel Hernandez
Dioner Navarro

Infielders
Willy Ayabr
Jason Bartlett
Akinori Iwamura
Evan Longoria
Carlos Pena

Outfielders
Rocco Baldelli
Carl Crawford
Cliff Floyd
Gabe Gross
Eric Hinske
Fernando Perez
B.J. Upton
Ben Zobrist

Marc Topkin answers your questions

Over the past week, we solicited questions from you about the Rays, which we passed along to Times beat writer Marc Topkin. Here are the questions and answers, in preparation for today's playoff opener:

Q: Marc, Any idea if the Rays will be having a "Blue Out"? I had tried to get the idea of a "Paint Em Blue" going when we played Boston in July, but it just never seemed to catch on. I thought the Trop would look pretty cool if we all wore blue Rays gear. I also hope there is at least a cowbell giveaway, if blue shirts aren't handed out. -- Paul
    
MARC: Sounds like an interesting idea, but the Rays have made no such plans, at least not publicly. The White Sox did something similar the other night with a “Black Out,” and college football teams do it all the time. Maybe it’s something you could get started for Friday’s game.

Q: Can you explain why the ChiSox and Twins had to have a one-game playoff, while the Rays and BoSox would not have, if they finished with the same record? The Rays were going to be awarded first place based on more head-to-head wins against the BoSox, right? Why didn't the same thing apply for the Twins, who I believe had more head to head wins against the ChiSox? -- JDCMV

MARC: The difference is that both the Rays and the Red Sox had already qualified for the postseason, so since they both would be in anyway, they use the “paper” tiebreaker to determine seeding and who wins the division title. But since the White Sox and Twins were battling to get in, they had to play it out on the field.

Game One, American League Division Series

Rays 6, White Sox 4

See you tomorrow.

Enjoy  

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3+0= 1

Bottom of the eighth, 6-3 Rays.

Three more White Sox batters in the ninth + no baserunners = Game 1 playoff win for Rays.

This just got interesting

Rays and Sox coaches and players exchanged unpleasantries after Grant Balfour struck out Orlando Cabrera to end the seventh with the bases loaded. Cabrera, possibly responding to Balfour's typical self-directed jawing, had earlier made a kicking motion at the mound, prompting Balfour to take several steps toward the plate. The situation settled by home plate umpire Joe West, Balfour went on to whiff Cabrera, at which point he stormed off the mound, fist-pumped and began yelling to no one in particular again.

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen stepped from the dugout and began screaming, as did Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. Sox catcher A.J. Pierzysnki, who had been a first base, expressed his feeling all the way back across the diamond as Rays catcher Dioner Navarro first stepped in front of Cabrera, then Martinez.

Stay tuned.

Up Down Under

Grant Balfour is entering the game.

And now presenting, more great Australians.

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Rays playing the Hulk Hogan card

A lengthy mid-inning spot was dedicated to letting Hulk Hogan, Knobs and John Cena pump up the crowd. Didn't work too well. The masses seemed a little lukewarm on the Hulkster. Question: Has that shipped sailed, in your opinion?

Javier Vazquez has been sufficiently Longo'd

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has removed starter Javier Vazquez for reliever Clayton Richard. Vazquez will likely see Evan Longoria in his slumber tonight at the Vinoy.

Longoria's line so far:

3-for-3, 2 home runs, three RBIs.

Vazquez's line: 4.1 innings, eight hits, six runs, earned, 86 pitches, 54 strikes.

Longoria mannishness update

His third-inning homer hit the C-Ring 125 feet above the field

According to SABR, he is also the SECOND player ever to hit homers in his first two postseason at-bats. Gary Gaetti did it with the 1987 Twins.

He's up again in the fifth. Duck, Gulfport.

Pena update

Rays first baseman Carlos Pena left the game with what the team called "slightly blurred vision in his left eye" after scratching it at his home last night. A team spokesman said the injury is not considered serious and he is expected to play in Game 2 tomorrow.

Memo to Carlos Pena: Don't use that new woodchipper without goggles again until after season. (I'm kidding. I have no idea how he scratched his eye).

End of three, 4-3 Rays: Huge, huge, huge inning. Tying it with some great hustle by Akinori Iwamura (triple, run) and Jason Bartlett (run) was one thing, but Evan Longoria's second homer after the game-tying sac fly by Aybar ... well, huge.

(Pictured: Akinori Iwamura slides home safely. Times photo -- Dirk Shadd. Click to enlarge.)

Uh-oh alert

Willy Aybar just entered the game at first base for the Rays. Starter Carlos Pena struck out swinging in the first inning.

Also, will be interesting to see how Shields attacks this inning after sitting awhile.

Re: Prediction time:

Anyone have Evan Longoria in the pool? Home run to left.

Smokin:

James Shields is, dare we say, feelin' it right now.

Two innings, no hits, two Ks, one ball out of the infield.

Prediction time:

Amaze the blogosphere with your smarts! Who will have the first base hit in Rays postseason history?

Trivia question to get you free beer at The Green Iguana forever

First pitch, Rays postseason history: James Shields to Orlando Cabrera, 2:38 PM. Strike.

Introductions

Here's the introduction of the entire Rays team for your listening pleasure.

The White Sox were introduced to what would be described as just less than a smatter of applause. Former Ray and Odessa resident Toby Hall got a couple cow bell clunks. Sounding like a partisan crowd today.

Ouch. Former Ray and Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got booed. Nice hand for future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. ... A.J. Pierzynski ... not so much.

An hour and change til game time. Goosebump practice.

And did you ever notice Kevin Costner's character was named 'Ray'? Just sayin'

- BRANT JAMES

Going to Chicago? We want to hear from you

We're looking for Rays fans who are headed to Chicago to catch the first series of the playoffs. If you're such a fan that you just can't miss it, we want to hear from you.

If you can't make the trip, we still want your playoffs stories. Have a superstition that explains why the Rays are winning this year? Live in Chicago but root for Tampa Bay? Spend your last penny buying postseason tickets?

Contact metro reporter Stephanie Garry at sgarry@sptimes.com with your name, story and contact information.