Or, at least until they fold in the "playoffs" first round again...as has become the norm. 'Course that's on Joe anyway, so it's a moot point. The "little team that could," doesn't, when it counts. A lack of professionalism is the root cause, and that too, is on Maddon.

Yeah pajama and cowboy hat road trips don't get it done come playoff time! A little seriousness wouldn't hurt every now and again! Joe's m.o. is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

Say What?....Burma Shave

Casey you keep repeating yourself, did you move to the greater Carrollwood are or something?

Foley I might when the Rays move to Channelside..Burma Shave

OK I'm done ,The Season is here and from now on I won't feed the animals of negatism..Time to let them talk to themselves..From now on its Rays Baseball..(90-95 wins or bust)

I smell a converted Red Sox/Yankees fan

Suggestion............Stop bending over and sniffing and perhaps the smell will vanish? I was thinking about hitting my Klowwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Key!

I'm with you Casey, from now talk with people who know baseball, understand baseball and are REAL Rays fans, not negative nellies who have no clue!

Art, I think you mean that you will only talk with Joe fans? That's what you appear to be? I am a Ray's fan and, as such, question the decisions of our coach from time to time!

No it means I will discuss things with knowledgeable Rays and baseball fans, not just Joe fans....Joe isn't perfect, no one is, and he has made mistakes, everyone has, but his overall body of work has been extremely successful with the Rays.......

I just don't see any need for the juvenile, sarcastic, childish, ignorant remarks that get made about Joe, certain players or decisions by you and all your alter egos.....If you can't do it like an adult and with some intelligence, then as John Tortarella said, "Shut yer yap!"......Try being a little more civilized, it might help!

I'm quite civilized, I even compliment Joe from time to time; particularly when he takes the spotlight off of himself and lets the boys play ball. I have also said that he manages decently during the regular season, he just can't seem to adjust for the short series. Why is that so terrible to say? I also thinks that he becomes fascinated with certain players that wouldn't even make the worst teams in the league, and if they did, certainly wouldn't see much time on the field. I believe that there are "Joe guys" and guys that could never be "Joe guys" no matter how good they are. He is also certainly apt to find people named Gabe or Johnson to be appealing for reasons that are beyond me. I know D. Johnson hit a couple of big home runs, probably the biggest one in Ray's history; but in the end I think that made Joe a worse manager because his ego really began to get in the way. Subsequent moves, such as using Rocco, Shoppvach, and the long haired lefty have blown up in his face. Agreed?

Honk!!!!

I'm certainly not referring to anyone specific...but this board is starting to get a lot like the "other" board in the fact that if anyone dares to question any aspect of Maddon, their comments are just dismissed because the poster is not an "intelligent Rays fan".

"Lelly"- Scott

lelly, the season hasn't started yet but if there's a repeat of last years first 8 games, it may get a bit rhetorically dicey around here!

Mostly agree with your point regarding the stigma attached to those of us who question or critique Maddon's popularity, managerial qualities, baseball savvy, etc. Beyond that I especially like the inference on this board that unless you're a Rays fan, you're somehow not a "true" fan of the game. Same goes for those of us who aren't on board with more taxation to fund a local stadium to save the franchise. Who cares? As a native Floridian, and on this open forum, I find it amusing that "transplants" feel entitled to assign some diminished status to we uninformed crackers who don't live and die with the Rays...

LOL

You make my point...this is too easy.

Speaking for myself, and as someone who has lived here almost 40 years I think "transplant" does not apply any longer....I have paid property taxes, business taxes and many other taxes to the cities of Clearwater, St. Pete, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor and Tampa in those 40 years as a full time resident and businessman, not a "snowbird".....
As much of a Rays fan as I am and baseball fan, I would vote against a big tax to fund a stadium and have said so....I have also said that when the time comes it WILL be privately funded and no taxpayer money to be voted on or used.......In this economy there is no way to add an additional tax for a new stadium.....

As for Maddon, yes I am a fan of Joe's on and off the field, but it doesn't mean I don't question some of the the things he does, I do! It doesn't mean that I don't get mad or upset when one of his quirks don't work, I do!....However, as a fan and someone in and around the game, I try to look at the whys and wherefores of things that are done, whether I like them or not....What I don't like, and they are unnecessary, are the sarcastic, snide, juvenile remarks and name call of Maddon, some players, the ownership, etc.....Dislike what they do if you desire, but at least act mature when doing so......To quote one immature poster "Stop being a Klowwwwwwwwnnn!!"

The bottom line is this....Regardless of some of the things he has done, Joe Maddon has done an extraordinary job with this ballclub and literally had them rise from the ashes to one of the most successful on field teams and organizations in the game, and that you can not dispute.

Art, on the attack once again!