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Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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As of late Wednesday night:

CHISOX news

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp...id=3578614&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

ST. PETERSBURG -- For Carlos Quentin's quest to return to live action to be fulfilled in 2008, it appears the White Sox will at least need to advance to the American League Championship Series.

The team did not plan to officially announce its 25-man roster for the best-of-five AL Division Series against Tampa Bay until Thursday. But according to a lineup card posted in the clubhouse, Quentin does not figure into the equation for this round.

Excluding Quentin for the opening level of postseason play makes perfect sense, even with the All-Star left fielder revealing on Tuesday night how he had set a goal of being ready. Quentin broke a bone in his right wrist on Sept. 1, after fouling off a pitch from Cleveland's Cliff Lee and then smacking his hand in frustration on the bat being held in this left had.


Quentin's ongoing rehab and recovery process took him to hitting off of a tee on Tuesday, and he said that he felt good on Wednesday after going through that activity. Quentin planned to hit off of a tee again during White Sox batting practice, and if that went well, he would take some flips.
Through his strengthening program and work to improve range of motion,



Quentin said the pain in his wrist has been tolerable, although he has yet to take live batting practice.


"Tolerable? Yes," Quentin said. "We've been smart about that, using it as a gauge as how to proceed. But the pain has decreased.


"As long as it keeps feeling better, we'll keep pushing," Quentin added.
With Quentin out of action and Rays right-hander James Shields on the mound for Thursday afternoon's series opener, left-handed hitter Dewayne Wise will start in left field and hit second. Wise has gone from a potential deal to play for Somerset, N.J., in the Atlantic League back in February to a valuable piece of the puzzle for the AL Central champs.


Fleet-footed Jerry Owens also will be on the 25-man roster, as will third baseman Josh Fields. The White Sox have no true utility infielder, although both Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe can play multiple positions.


Left-hander Clayton Richard and right-hander Adam Russell join bullpen stalwarts such as Bobby Jenks, Matt Thornton, Scott Linebrink, Octavio Dotel and D.J. Carrasco in the seven-man relief crew. Richard and Russell were chosen over Boone Logan, Horacio Ramirez, Mike MacDougal and Ehren Wassermann for the final two slots.


Ozzie Guillen also announced his starting rotation past Javier Vazquez on Thursday. As expected, Mark Buehrle will pitch on Friday evening, followed by John Danks in Chicago on Sunday. Gavin Floyd will be available out of the bullpen during the first two games, but is set to start Game 4 at U.S. Cellular Field.


Both Floyd and Danks were masterful as part of the White Sox three straight wins over three different teams in order to reach the playoffs. Floyd defeated Detroit on Monday, and Danks won the playoff tiebreaker Tuesday against Minnesota.


"It was tough to put Gavin in the fourth spot, but I want two lefties for a reason," Guillen said. "They have a heavy lefty lineup, and hopefully, those two lefties back-to-back, we can hold them."


Even without Quentin, who finished with 36 home runs and 100 RBIs, the White Sox survived to reach the postseason -- albeit through a 163rd game. The lineup remains potent, but adding a reasonably healthy Quentin only can make it stronger.


That plan looks as if it won't possibly play out until the ALCS.


"My goal is to be able to swing with minimal pain, where I can swing and not re-injure myself or hurt myself," Quentin said. "If there's no pain, that's the best case."


"They have a pretty nice combination of players," said Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli of the White Sox. "They're a pretty dangerous team."
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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Tampa Bay Rays

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp...id=3578545&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

ST. PETERSBURG -- While the Rays won't announce their final 25-man postseason roster until Thursday's 10 a.m. ET deadline, manager Joe Maddon said on Wednesday that the club will go with a makeup of 15 position players and 10 pitchers for the American League Division Series. Maddon also revealed Thursday's starting lineup, which will be, in batting order: Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross and Jason Barlett.
The club announced Tuesday that Crawford would be on the roster for the ALDS, as the left fielder was impressive enough at the plate in instructional league games on Monday and Tuesday. Crawford has made significant strides since undergoing surgery on his right middle finger on Aug. 14, for an injury that occurred on a check-swing four days prior.

While Crawford voiced his displeasure with batting lower in the order, saying he felt like he had to "prove himself all over again", Maddon felt the move was necessary, particularly for Thursday's Game 1.


"I don't want to apply that kind of pressure," Maddon said. "I just [want] him to go play. ... Just basing it on everything I'm seeing, I thought the appropriate thing to do was to start him a bit lower."
Crawford was originally under the impression he would bat sixth, but Maddon announced during Wednesday's press conference that he wanted Crawford to follow Longoria in the five hole.


"There's the fact that he hasn't played in a while," Maddon said. "The fact that I think he is a better RBI guy than people give him credit for, and last, I like him setting up Cliff and Navi."


Crawford was hitting .273 with eight home runs, 10 triples and 57 RBIs at the time of his injury. With 25 stolen bases, the speedy Crawford is a threat on the basepaths that could potentially impact the pitch sequence Floyd sees from opposition.


Although there is no official word, the Rays' decision to go with an extra position player instead of an extra pitcher likely solidified a spot for Fernando Perez, a recent callup whose speed and switch-hitting bat could prove useful in the postseason.


"We do pinch-run and we do pinch-hit," Maddon said. "And we do those different things so having enough guys there [on the bench] kind of made more sense, right now."


With Thursday's starting nine locked in, the six bench players will likely be utility players Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist, outfielders Eric Hinske, Rocco Baldelli and Perez and backup catcher Michel Hernandez.


None of those six bench players have been officially announced on the roster, but Maddon did confirm that outfielder Jonny Gomes, catcher John Jaso and reliever Jason Hammel were told they will not be on the Rays' postseason roster, at least for the ALDS.


As reported on Tuesday, pitcher and fifth starter Edwin Jackson is also off the postseason roster, unless injuries occur. Maddon said the Rays are not waiting to see anything else, but since things are always subject to change, the Rays will wait until Thursday's deadline to make the 25-man roster official.
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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Additional notes from the Bar n Grill

The lineup for Rays vs LH starters is likely the same, with Baldelli replacing Floyd and Perez replacing Gross.

Batting CC in the fifth slot is an outstanding decision if he can deliver his usual level of offense. He has never been notably impeded by LH pitchers so he can remain there even vs LHP

Or it's not a bad move to swap him down to sixth and have Baldelli bat fifth.

Either way, his speed presence in the middle of the order creates fresh "lead off" punch for the very balanced 6-9 slots in the TB lineup.
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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Chisox are 1-3 in past four Vazquez road starts wherein he worked 18.1 IP, allowed 28 Hits, 8 BB and 16 ER

Chisox 5-12 in past 17 Vazquez road starts vs teams playing above .500

TBay 14-3 this season in Shields home starts, with eight of those wins by 2+ runs. (current price for -1.5 is about +125)

In Shields past 41 starts, the Rays have lost twice in a row only one time. This might be worthy of note should the Chisox win Game 1 and then see Shields again in a Game 5 in St Petersburg.
 

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I think I'm taking your Rays today despite the chalk. BoL and hope they win for both our sakes.
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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I packaged the -1.5 with LAD Gm 2 ml

Encourage consideration of the -1.5 for Game 1

Not so in Game 2 vs Buehrle (kazmir)....a likely pass for me, though it's the game Barman Jr and I will attend live

And regardless of what happens in Game 1, if Rays win Game 2 I'm likely hitting them Game 3 pretty solid with Garza v Floyd
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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Solid...GL to us all

===
Bonus Fun Fact - Rays this season are 24-1 at home when the attendance tops 30,000
 

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hey steve .......wanted to say congrats on your home team .....
you are a true fan who has never given up on there team .........bol today an the rest of the season .....
 

Honey Badger Don't Give A Shit
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thanks for noticing Douglas

My first fan team was the Texas Rangers starting in 1972 and I waited 25 years for them to make first playoffs.

Great to see Rays in October during their 11th season.
 

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