At first glance, there wouldn’t appear to be many similarities between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. The Yankees regularly top the league’s payroll, shelling out $206 million in player salaries to lead the way once again in 2010. This year the Rays have climbed to number 21 on the list and their payroll is still barely a third of New York’s. The Yankees make a habit of throwing as much money at as many big names as possible, landing blockbuster free agents every offseason as opposed to developing their farm system. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has been led this season by homegrown talents Evan Longoria (3b, drafted by Rays in 2006) and the AL’s All-Star Game starting pitcher, David Price (drafted by Rays in 2007). The Yankees also happen to be the most storied franchise in baseball, if not all sports, and have won a record 27 World Series titles. The Rays only became a Major League team in 1998 and lost in their only World Series appearance. Yet despite these seemingly overwhelming differences, at the All-Star break both teams share one important trait: winning games.

Continue Reading ‘Evan Longoria and the Rays Battle Baseball’s Evil Empire’

As I eluded to in Part I, the second installment of, “The Best Baseball Commercials,” is dedicated to my favorite baseball, video game commercials. The first baseball game that I remember becoming totally obsessed with was ‘Sports Talk Baseball’ for Sega Genesis. I know that Rob possesses a similar endless love for this game, considering we spent most of the summer of 2008 barricaded inside, playing it non-stop while screaming at each other. Since ‘Sports Talk’ burst onto the scene in 1991, I think that it’s fair to say that the quality of baseball games has improved, a lot. As games have become more complex and sophisticated, the marketing has followed suit by producing witty commercials starring some of baseball’s most popular players. The genuine quirkiness of each player gives the lasting impression that they are having a blast, and proud to be a part of it. Each commercial is a constant reminder that major league baseball players are human.

(more…)

NL East: Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Astros, Pirates
NL West: Rockies, Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres
NL Wild Card: Giants
NLCS: Cardinals def. Phillies

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
NL Cy Young: Tommy Hanson
NL ROY: Stephen Strasburg

AL East: Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles
AL Central: White Sox, Tigers, Twins, Indians, Royals
AL West: Rangers, Angels, Mariners, Athletics
AL Wild Card: Rays
ALCS: Rays def. Yankees

AL MVP: Evan Longoria
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
AL ROY: Austin Jackson

World Series: Cardinals def. Rays in 6 games.
World Series MVP: Adam Wainwright

NL East: Philly, Atlanta, Florida, New York, Washington

NL Central: St. Louis, Milwaukee, Houston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh

NL West: Colorado, Los Angeles, Arizona, San Francisco, San Diego

NL Wild Card: Atlanta

NL Pennant: Colorado

NL MVP: Troy “Too Legit” Tulowitzki

NL Cy Young: Ricky Nolasco

NL ROY: Jason Heyward

AL East: New York, Tampa Bay, Boston, Toronto, Baltimore

AL Central: Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Kansas City

AL West: Texas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland

AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay

AL Pennant: Rays

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

AL ROY: Austin Jackson

World Series:

Colorado beats Tampa Bay in 6 games.

Tulo is the MVP

April 6, 2010

AL East: Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays

AL Central: Twins, Sox, Tigers, Indians, Royals

AL West: Angels, Rangers, Mariners, A’s

AL Wildcard: Rays

NL East: Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Nationals

NL Central: Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Astros, Reds, Pirates

NL West: Rockies, Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Padres

NL Wildcard: Braves

ALCS: Rays def. Yankees

NLCS: Rockies def. Phillies

World Series: Rays def. Rockies

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
AL ROY: Austin Jackson

AL MOY: Ron Gardenhire

NL MVP: Albert Pujols

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

NL ROY: Jason Heyward

NL MOY: Bobby Cox