Too much Lee not enough cowbell for Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays packed around 50,000 into the Tropicana stadium in St Petersburg for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers. At the doors to the stadium officials handed out miniture cowbells, and the noisemakers filled the stadium as the fans roared in the hopes of watching their team advance to AL championships. But it didn’t take long before those cowbells became very quiet, mostly in part due to the dominating performance by Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee, who for the second time in the series took the hearts of the Rays fans.

Lee pitched a masterful 9 innings, scattering 6 hits and giving up just one earned run. He’s already solidified his place as one of the best post-season pitchers in the game, but last night took him up another level. Lee is undefeated every time he steps to the mound in the postseason. It was damn near embarrassing for the Rays hitters. Lee looked like so comfortable on the hill and he seemed to have all the Rays batters mesomorized by his nasty stuff.  B Molina who caught Lee, barely had to move his glove as he sat the in rocking chair all night long.  The Rangers brought Lee in for the post-season and his performance is the reason why the Rangers were able to make history.

The Rangers game 5 win made history in two ways. First, it’s the first time in the ALDS that the road team has won all five games, so much for homefield advantage. Secondly, it’s the first postseason series win in Texas Rangers franchise history. The Rangers looked fired up from the start of this game, and ironically, it’s small ball and savvy baserunning that won this game for the Rangers, as they gave the Rays a taste of their own medicine. Next up for the Ranger is the New York Yankees for the AL Championship.

Since the MLB is in no hurry to start this series or the NL Championship, Sportsbooks have plenty of time to come up with the most creative and interesting props for the pennant championships, this year’s postseason, bolstered by Halladays no hitter has garnered plenty of television buzz and high ratings, which makes it all that more important for Sportsbooks to really capitalize on bettors looking to get in on the action.