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The Glory. The Agony. The Surprises. The Victories. The Defeats.

All of these words describe the 2008 Postseason.

From the Red Sox to the White Sox who’s dreams were crushed at the hands of the uprising Rays.

The 2008 postseason was an amazing showing of the best and most deserving teams who fought their way through 162 games of victory and defeat.

What it all boiled down to was a showing of champions from each of the two leagues……..

Phillies vs. Rays

In this exiting, edge of your seat battle, it was a combination of hoorays, cheers, boos, and cow bells.

The Phillies did win the series 4-1, despite a vigorous fight from the Rays.

But the postseason is not just two teams squaring off for ultimate supremacy. It is eating 8 inch hot dogs with everything on it (pickle, onion, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and tomato). It is also being able to cheer on your favorite team.

So when you look behind the scenes of the postseason, you find something better than just who won it all, you find the joy and memories that will never abate.

               -Tyler Dysart

Coming in to the 2008 Major League Season, the Rays were the underdogs of the AL East.

Now the Rays are the team to beat.

While winning their last 4 games, the Rays are 65-44 and 42-16 at home.

The Rays have put a huge dent in the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry while polishing a new Red Sox and Rays rivalry.

They are top 5 in the majors in starting and bullpen ERA.

They lead the Red Sox by 3 games in the AL East.

The Rays are dominating baseball and have taken over the AL East. I don’t think anymore has to be proven to say that the Rays are for real.

Approaching the end of the trade deadline, the AL west leading Angels were looking for a big bat to give their lineup some ‘pop’

Well they certently accomplished just that when they picked up Braves first baseman Mark Texiera for Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek.

At 28 Texiera brings over five years of major league experience and power to an Angels lineup.

Without even playing a game, Texiera is the Angels leading home run hitter and RBI producer.

There is, though an obvious reason that the Angels made this trade. The Angels did not go out and get Mark Texiera to help them win their division. the Angels were already going to win their division hands down.

The reason that the Angels went out and got Texiera was to prepare for the postseason, so that they could add another explosive bat to thier lineup next to Vladimire Guerrero.

                               -Tyler Dysart

The Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano has not played in a major league game since he got hit in the hand by a pitch on July 12.

In a game for the Mesa Cubs, Soriano went 0-for-2 with a walk.

After the game Soriano said that he felt no discomfort in his hand and that he hopes to be back in Phoenix for Mondays game against the Diamondbacks.

Despite their loss of Soriano 47 games this season, the Cubs have handled nicely with a 58-40 record.  

Coming into Friday’s play the Rays had dropped 7 straight games and were a half game behind the league leading Boston Red Sox.

But all that seems like ancient history as the Rays have put it all behind them and have won their first two games of the second half.

Tampa Bay opened up in bottom of the sixth with an Evan Longoria grand slam.

With a horrible offensive preformance during their losing streak, the Rays have turned it all around in the start of the second half.

The Rays are now a game and a half ahead of the reigning world series champions, the Boston Red Sox.

                              -Tyler Dysart