Center of the Sports Universe

The Rays have sold out both games of the ALDS (not the NLDS as ESPN first reported). That is great news. They sold out roughly 24 hours after going on sale. I am glad to see the fans getting behind the Rays like this and I see no reason why it won’t last throughout the playoffs and spill over into the 2009 season.

In other related Rays new:

- Jason Bartlett was named team MVP by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. This is quite ridiculous to me. Yes he basically changed the face of the defense even though his defensive numbers say otherwise. Check out Joe Posnanski’s blog for a breakdown of Bartlett’s numbers and then you tell me how Bartlett is team MVP. Those defensive numbers aren’t the best measure but I do heavly rely on +/- system which has Bartlett, surprisingly, at -1. I prefer a scouts take on a defensive player over numbers but those numbers coupled with his awful hitting does not equal team MVP.

- The Rays reduced the Magic Number to 2 with their first ever sweep of a double header in 14 tries (they split 7 and got swept 6 times).

- The Rays haven’t decided the playoff roles for David Price and Troy Percival yet. The link also says that Carl Crawford is close to returning.

- If you don’t have plans for the Rays-Tigers game on Friday night you can watch it on the Riverwalk. The game will be shown on a giant screen in Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, adjacent to the Waterside Marriott in downtown Tampa. Parking will be free and concessions (and Raymond) will be on hand. Bring a chair, blanket, or whatever and relax and watch the game.

- Joe Maddon had great things to say about Brian Anderson who was a Spring Training hopeful this year. Here is one snippet from the article: “He’s been invaluable,” says Maddon, who was a coach with the Angels when former first-round pick Anderson pitched there. “I told Andrew (Friedman, Rays general manager), even if this guy blows out, he’ll probably be worth keeping around.” Maddon then said “He’s going to make a good pitching coach for somebody.”