Live from Fenway

UPDATE, 7:25 The Rays were a little late in arriving at Fenway tonight, but looked smart in their decision to wait until Sunday to travel - the Sox left after the game and didn't get to the ballpark until about 7 a.m.

No major news from the media sessions, as manager Joe Maddon insisted they would stick with struggling starter Scott Kazmir in the rotation. "I'm not backing down,'' Maddon said.

They'll check with Dan Wheeler before Game 3 on Monday afternoon, but expect him to say he's ready to go back to work, despite throwing 48 pitches on Saturday. And Maddon said that although Fernando Perez gives him something to think about, he likely will stick with his plan to start Rocco Baldelli in rightfield and use Willy Aybar at DH against Sox lefty Jon Lester.

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Given the length and emotion invested in Saturday night's win, the Rays pushed their flight back to a little past noon and canceled their planned workout at Fenway.

Instead, manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey will hold media sessions starting at 6, and about a dozen players will be available for interviews in the clubhouse. Otherwise, the players have the night off to relax and get dinner out.

Comments

[Go Rays!]

Summer 2007 when my family went to visit relatives in New Hampshire, we would get the typical "You like the Rays?" question. It wasn't rude, I've yet to meet a rude Sox fan in New England -- they all live here. They were just suprised I guess. I would tell them "Yeah, my family goes to 15-20 games a year." That TOTALLY FLOORS them. I wish I could get a pic of their faces. Sometimes I think the better our team gets, the fewer games I'll get to go to. I wonder if Sox fan wishes he could go to Fenway more than 3-4 times in his life. Then again, they have a team who year in/year out goes to the Playoffs. That's their payoff.

[9equals8.com]

Heading up to Boston tomorrow AM and will be there Tuesday night for the game. I will post pictures, once again, on http://www.9equals8.com. I am very fired up for this game!!! Wish I could be there today.

Anyone else going?

[Anthony]

Most of us have never even been to Fenway before ... but we look cool in our green red sox hats and monstaaaah shirts. My mommy likes the pink sox hat I got her.
Do you know how tough it is to find that stuff here in New Port Richey?

[hockeyjoker]

9=8, I live in boston and tried to get tickets but it didn't pan out. I love wearing my rays hat in this town. (especially the old one with the big purple "devil" ray on it)

[M]

I'll take my "Pachinko Palace" over that glorified handball court any day. I've been there and it's nothing compared to Wrigley. Now that is a ballpark!!!

[Jason]

You know what the difference is between Fenway Park and a Pitbull?

Dipsticks

[Ray Fan]

If you ever get to talk to a real Red Sox fan who attends games at Fenway you will get the real scoop. They love coming to see games at the Trop because they can see 3 games, pay for a hotel and air fare for what one game costs and when the game is over their car is still where they parked it in one piece!!! But let them talk. We love out Rays and are behind them. Go Rays!!

[9equals8.com]

When a park is relatively new (like the Trop) and has "nuances" it's called a bad baseball park. When it's old and has same nuances, it's called historic. No big deal. I love the Trop (it's OUR home and a tough place for visiting teams to play at) and I also love Fenway (except when you have to try to get something to eat under the grandstand seats - that part is very dumpy; and don't buy seats anywhere except the Loge or Field boxes, cause you might be sitting behind a pole...but I digress). That's part of what's cool about baseball, the different parks. No need to hate on each others' ballparks - this has been one heck of a series already and we're only 2 games in. Go Rays!

[FENWAY IS A JOKE]

FENWAY IS A DUMP..All you beloved Red Sox fans who talk it up so much are just dumb... The Gurters all in the way, the seats that dont even face home plate, and a wall thats height had to make up for the short distance they made when they built the dump...And people criticize the Trop for being a dump..Trop is one of the cleanest most fan friendly parks... Only thing wrong is the roof slanting down towards center field...

[Go Rays!]

Oh yes, it's so intimate there, that's why Red Sox fans love themselves so much. Rays have never experienced anything like what they'll see today...except a sellout baseball game where people are cheering for the home team...oh yeah that happens all the time.

They will have to get used to fly balls to left turning into doubles or having a ladder in the field of play-- things that affect the game way more often that the catwalks that Sox fans whine about.

[Charlie G]

I understand Maddon's faith in Kaz and I hope Kaz rewards that faith, but maybe Kaz should focus on getting his slider back instead of whining about fan attendance like he did at the end of the regular season.

On the other hand, 7 home runs were no surprise if you paid attention to how both pitchers were getting squeezed by that idiot behind the plate. If the only pitch that is a strike is straight down the middle, its no wonder balls are leaving the yard regularly.

Novo,
Rays have played in Fenway, Remember? They kicked your @ss!

[Lawrence]

Novangelus;
Last time the Rays were in Fenway they won two out of three. It says here they do it again.

[Razzlegator]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article850276.ece
This guy must be Anthony.

[Novangelus]

The Rays have never experienced anything like what they are getting themselves into tomorrow. Fenway is by far the most intimate park in sports. The young Rays will be shocked by the atmosphere.

Lester, Wake, and Dice.

Sox should go 3-0 at home.

[Roman]

Rays in 5, imagine the beautiful sight of the Rays celebrating on the Red Sox' field? Beautiful. Remember, the Rays are the better team, and they will prove it yet again on this three game trip. Go Rays. Red Sox fans can either grow up with the Rays or move back to the northeast.

[9equals8.com]

I wouldn't mind seeing Perez in the lineup, butI also have issues challenging Maddon at this point. He's been a genius all year long and he has the best information out there. I do hope to see more of Fernando and I suspect we will (if not in Game 3 then Game 4 against Wakefield).

Is anyone making the trip to Boston to see any of the next 3 games?

[Novangelus]

Sox in 5.

[Caleb]

I don't mind not giving up on Kazmir, he's just too big of a player if he's totally on which is just a risk you take when you start him. However, Baldelli flat out BLOOOOOOWS; I realize he's gone through a huge injury, but he's no more then a utility player whereas Perez can be an every day guy.

[Bill]

I'd like to see Perez in the lineup vs. Wakefield. If he gets on he can walk to 2nd on the stolen base.........

[todd;]

It is taking me a couple of days to recover after game 2 so I can imagine the players will appreciate a relaxing night to spend getting rested and ready for game 3 at Fenway.

Congrats to the team for a great effort and also to all the Rays fans who were the 10th man Sunday morning in the Trop.
The game is never over until Perez runs the bases!