Rays Stay Hot With 9-0 Game 1 Rout Of Rangers

It looks like the late season surge of the Tampa Bay Rays was no fluke as they stayed hot with a easy 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 1. Kelly Shoppach homered twice and drove in five runs, Johnny Damon also homered and Tampa Bay dominated the whole way. The Rays started a 22-year old rookie pitcher named Matt Moore. He was able to keep the Rangers in check and the Rays bats came alive early and often for them.

Texas will have to hope for better luck in Game 2 as they do not want to go down 2-0 in this series against the Rays. Tampa Bay plays well at home, so getting the series even right now should be foremost on the minds of the Rangers. It will be tough as the Rays will be starting James Shields another tough Rays pitcher.

Francona And Boston Part Ways Best For Both Sides

There comes a time when you have to know when it is time to move on. After two World Series championships Terry Francona decided it was best for him to move on. There were many problems with the Red Sox and we will probably not hear them all, but when a manager leaves that tells you a lot.

Boston has a collection of players with egos and from what I seen of them they did not listen to their manager as much as they had in the past. Yes, injuries played a part in the Red Sox missing the playoffs, but so did not giving it your all. There were times it seemed the Red Sox players did not give their best effort.

With Terry Francona gone it will be interesting to see who is brought in to manage them. It is a high-profile job, but it also comes with very high expectations. Will the Red Sox promote from within or go outside the organization. Either way they lost a good man in Terry Francona.

Blame The Red Sox Collapse On The Players No One Else

It is a somber mood in Red Sox Nation today as their Red Sox's are trying to make sense of what happen to them. The Red Sox had a nine game lead and looked like a lock for the playoffs, but it is the Tampa Bay Rays who made it and not them. The Red Sox went 6-18 after that and did not win consecutive games at any point in the month after building a nine game lead. The only people you can blame for this epic collapse is the players.

The Red Sox players are the ones out on the field making the plays or not making the plays. There really is no excuse for playing as bad as they did at times. I will admit I have never seen such a epic collapse like this from such a talented team. This will stick with Red Sox Nation for a very long time. Many people want to point fingers and those fingers better be pointed at the players because that is where the blame needs to be.

NHL Schedule Sept 29, 2011

Minnesota
Columbus
7:00pm ET

Ottawa
Boston
7:00pm ET

New Jersey
Philadelphia
7:00pm ET

Tampa Bay
Montreal
7:30pm ET

Colorado
St. Louis
8:00pm ET

Florida
Dallas
8:30pm ET

Phoenix
Calgary
9:00pm ET

Vancouver
San Jose
10:30pm ET

NHL Scores Sept 28, 2011

Washington 1
Nashville 4
Final

Detroit 3
Chicago 4
Final

Carolina 1
Winnipeg 3
Final

Los Angeles 6
Colorado 0
Final

Vancouver 2
Anaheim 3
Final

MLB Scores Sept 28, 2011

Cincinnati 0
NY Mets 3
Final

Toronto 3
Chi White Sox 2
Final

Colorado 6
San Francisco 3
Final

Washington 3
Florida 1
Final

Boston 3
Baltimore 4
Final

Cleveland 4
Detroit 5
Final

Philadelphia 4
Atlanta 3
Final 13

NY Yankees 7
Tampa Bay 8
Final 12

Texas 3
LA Angels 1
Final

St. Louis 8
Houston 0
Final

Pittsburgh 3
Milwaukee 7
Final

Kansas City 0
Minnesota 1
Final

Chi Cubs 2
San Diego 9
Final

LA Dodgers 7
Arizona 5
Final

Oakland 2
Seattle 0
Final

Are The Fans And Florida Ready For Their New Manager Ozzie Guillen

It didn't take the Florida Marlins or Ozzie Guillen long to agree on a contract as he was introduced as the next Florida Marlins manager. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria wanted to make a big splash with the opening of a new stadium 2012 season, and what better way than hiring a manager like Ozzie Guillen.

No matter what anyone thinks about Ozzie Guillen he has proven to be a winner and that is what he will bring to the Florida Marlins. It will be interesting to see how he handles Hanley Ramirez and some of his antics. Ozzie is a guy who pulls no punches and will tell Ramirez the way it is going to me.

Florida has a goods manager in Guillen, but are they ready for all that comes with hiring him. It will be interesting to see how Guillen does in Florida as the expectations are not as high as they are in Chicago year after year. Yes, Florida wants to win, but they will give Guillen time to make the Marlins a championship caliber team. Should be an interesting ride for Marlins fans.