Just like that the season is over. Every year it is the same thing, the regular season lasts a lifetime, and the post season is over before you know it. Sometimes I wish we could speed up the regular season and slow down the post. With another year gone, we now have more stories to tell about another incredible season. After exploring the blogosphere, I have chosen to comment on two of what I feel are the most important stories coming out of this season. One of the top stories is the rising of the Tampa Bay Rays a dominant force in the American League East. Before the season they decided that they would no longer be the "Devil Ray's" but only go by the "Ray's". When this happened nobody really cared, because, lets face it they have never been very good. Little did we all know that this little cared about franchise was about to have one of the best turnarounds in a single season, in the history of Major League Baseball. The first blog I posted on "Kreuzer's Korner" is a blog that will discuss anything of interest. Mostly the topics are current issues, that have stirred up some interesting conversation. This week the post was discussing how the Cinderella Story came to an end for the Ray's. I understand what he is trying to say but it still is difficult for me to not call the Ray's season a Cinderella story. Below I posted my comments and thoughts on how I felt about this post. I have followed the Ray's all season long because I love watching a team with a small payroll defeat the Yankees. The next blog I posted on is part of AOL, and it is called "MLB Fanhouse". The post that I chose to comment on was another big story from the end of the season. The post is regarding Bud Selig nearly ruining the World Series by calling the game only after playing 1 1/2 innings in a torrential downpour. I posted my thoughts on how I feel about commissioner Selig and some of the other mistakes he has made throughout his career at this position. Both of these blogs that I posted on give objective opinions on recent news in the sporting world and offer insight that I both agree and disagree with."The Slipper Doesn't Fit...End Of Cinderella Dream For Tampa Bay Rays" Comment
Yes, it is true the Rays fell just short of the Cinderella season. Yet, I find it so incredibly hard to not call it one. Tampa Bay has been the laughing stock of the league ever since they were brought into the league. It doesn’t help that they have been competing in what has been the toughest division in baseball for the last five years or so. How can you not call it a Cinderella season? They went from being the worst team in the league, to American League champions. It was an absolutely spectacular season. To be quite honest with you I don’t even know how it happened. Yes, Evan Longoria had an incredible year once he came back from injury. He carried this team on his back through some tough times, and although he struggled in the World Series, has a lot to be proud of. The pitching was great all year long. If I were to have given you that starting five at the beginning of the year you would not expect them to have done things they did. Now coming back next year you are looking at David Price and Matt Garza who in my opinion will both become stars in this league. How about B.J Upton almost tying his home run total during the season in the playoffs alone. What about blowing a huge lead against the Red Sox, and then still coming back in game seven to win. It was amazing. They just ran out of gas. I think it is safe to say that this Ray’s team under the leadership of Joe Maddon, is going to be good for a while. These young athletes all grew up during this season, and they are going to be making noise for years to come. In my opinion, it still can be called a Cinderella season.It is all just part of baseball. Only one team is truly satisfied at the end of the season, and everyone else just gets back to work. Hopefully this year said something to fans in Tampa Bay, and they can really become a powerful franchise. They had an exceptional season, even when expectations were low as usual. They were exciting to watch, you never knew how it was going to happen, but these guys had an uncanny ability to win. That is the beautiful thing about baseball, money is not always going to put “W’s” up on the board.
"Bud Selig Nearly Ruined the World Series"
Comment
Pat, Thanks for your post. Just like you, I am an extremely dedicated baseball fan. Although neither of the teams competing in the World Series was my team, I will always enjoy the games at the end of the season. Bud Selig has tarnished his reputation once again. Why in the world did these teams play in the ridiculous weather? After the game I spoke to numerous people, and several of them just said I felt bad for the athletes. It was not baseball out there, they were all helpless. The only thing that could have come from this game would have been serious injuries. It is actually a miracle that nobody was seriously hurt. Clearly the players will do their jobs and play, but it was almost unbearable to watch.
This leads to my next question. What qualifications and results should we see in the next commissioner of Major League Baseball? Selig has been okay, but has also made several mistakes that have caused great amounts of criticism. The Phillies were the better team, and fortunately for Selig they came away with the title. The momentum was clearly shifted back to the Rays once this unprecedented rain delay took place. I think at several points in Selig's career as the commissioner he has not been sure about the decision that he is making. Baseball needs a solid commissioner who is not afraid to let his point be heard. Roger Goodell of the NFL is doing a great job with issues like Pac Man Jones and so forth. He is laying down the law and I think that it truly is helping the game.
It turns out that this rain delay made the series even more exciting. I've never seen a game where the teams top set up man start the game in a 3 1/2 inning battle to the finish. For three days the city of Philadelphia was on its heels, just hoping to get this thing over with. For a while it looked like a blind-sided right hook that was thrown by the curse. Luckily for them, it wasn't. It was just one more bump in the road that they had to overcome.
1 comment:
Great post! The thing that really strikes me is the personal nature of this entry. It is clear your writing comes from a passion for the subject material and it does an excellent job of pulling the reader in and not letting go. I actually found myself emotionally invested after reading the beginning of your first paragraph. You evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia with lines like "Sometimes I wish we could speed up the regular season and slow down the post. With another year gone, we now have more stories to tell about another incredible season." It also helps that your first comment is about a real-life "Cinderella story," where the underdog rises to success from the most unlikely of circumstances, which everyone loves to see now and then. The title of your entry is also really strong in its simplicity and also appropriately implies that sense of magic with the phrase "Expect the Unexpected." Furthermore, your evaluation of Bud Selig is supported by clear and logical evidence that you mention in your comment. Overall, there is a very natural flow to the post, probably due to its personal nature. You clearly know what you are talking about and are having fun doing it.
My only suggestion as to how you could improve this entry is perhaps to include a few more external links to events that you mention in the text to allow readers that might not be as informed about baseball to better understand the background. For instance, you could link to a story about B.J. Upton in your first comment or to a story about Roger Goodell doing a good job in the NFL in your second comment. This would bring your post to life even more so than it already is and provide an overall more interactive and perhaps educational experience for those uneducated. Keep up the good work!
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