New slogan: '09 > '08
UPDATE, 2:20: Manager Joe Maddon said that is indeed the slogan, though he'd prefer to say '09 is better than '08 because he doesn't like to actually use the word great, or greater. But since there was no symbol for better than, he had to go with greater than.
"Of course I wanted to re-emphasize that 9 will always equal 8 in our math, but furthermore, this year, '09 is going the be greater than '08,'' he said. "And we want it to be hopefully better by at least three games, which we missed last year. Of course we did wonderfully last year and of course it was all good, but I keep talking about building this new road and you just can't rely on 9 = 8 all the time. You have to better than we were in some areas last year.
"I'm not talking about being great. Although that phrase is greater than, and you look at the greater than sign, I'd prefer it equalled "better than" as opposed to "greater than." ... I just want us to understand that in order to build this new road we have to be better than we were last year. I did say “greater than,” but then I reduced it to “better than, and eventually I would just like to get that (the > symbol) working for us, just the symbol, "better than." There’s no “better than” symbol. I was thinking of creating my own symbol with the “greater than” sign maybe with a circle around it, equaling better than. Just a new Rays culture kind of symbol , but I didn’t want to get too nuts, so I just chose to go this way.’’
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According to a couple players coming off the field today, here's manager Joe Maddon's new motivational slogan, at least unofficially: '09 is greater than '08.
And in shorthand, we're guessing: '09 > '08.
More, as they say, when it becomes official.
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The only question about this confirmation I have is...
Is it said as "oh-nine is better than oh-eight" or "2009 is better than 2008" and it's just being abbreviated here?
Posted by: McLovin | February 18, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Guess that pretty much says it all...Joe is setting the ultimate expection for the AL Champs to win it all in '09!!!
You Go Joe!
Posted by: joeknowsbaseball | February 18, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Gotta love Maddon!! Very clever.
Posted by: RaysforaBuc | February 18, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Jeff=Troll?
Posted by: McLovin | February 18, 2009 at 02:26 PM
How about 2009=BTR?
Back to reality.
Posted by: Jeff | February 18, 2009 at 02:15 PM
From worst to first, chumps to champs, D-Rays to thee Rays, in oh-nine it's mine ... that trophy from the Commish will be more than just a wish.
Go Rays!
Posted by: mumbles | February 18, 2009 at 02:08 PM
I have to say, the old slogan was pretty stupid, if inspiring. If what it stood for was "nine players playing nine innings could mean one of eight playoff spots" then it should have been 9x9=8.
That said, "09 > 08" is pretty good except that it's a classic case of Asking For It. Last year's slogan was true, regardless of whether they won or not. IF 9 players work hard for 9 innings, they should make the postseason. If they hadn't made the postseason, you could say, "We simply didn't work hard enough as a team." But saying "09 > 08" is basically guaranteeing a World Series win. Guarantees have a way of coming back with sharp teeth a chompin'.
Careful, Rays. It's good to get inspired. It's dangerous to get cocky.
Posted by: Willientropy | February 18, 2009 at 01:40 PM
That was along the lines of what I would have come up with.
I was thinking 2009 = 2008, but of course the "greater than" symbol that apparently Joe has added in instead takes into account that we aren't satisfied with just winning the ALCS.
Posted by: McLovin | February 18, 2009 at 01:15 PM