Catching some Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — About to hit the sack here to catch a few winks before hopping on an early a.m. flight to Chicago for tomorrow’s workout at U.S. Cellular Field. It’s been a busy week down hear in Florida, taking in the always-entertaining interviews with manager Joe Maddon and watching Tampa Bay make this playoffs thing look easy.

As much as I pull for my home town of Chicago, I’m going to be a tad selfish and hope this ALDS ends on the South Side. As a few of my loyal readers might recall, I’m running the Chicago marathon on Oct. 12, so I’d love nothing more than to chill at home until race day without making a return trip to St. Pete.

So far, so good, with the Rays being up 2-0 and all. It’s been a rough week for Chi-town. Watched as much of the latest Cubs debacle as I could tolerate the other night at dinner and have endured some phone calls from family in light of both team’s problems. Both teams are in a two-game hole. That doesn’t bode well for an October crosstown classic.

For anyone interested in what I’ve been doing this week, here are some of my contributions for the first two games of this American League Division Series:

Oct. 1, Workout:

James Shields Game 1 preview story

Oct. 2, Game 1:

Feature on Rays rookie Evan Longoria

Sidebar on Longoria setting rookie record

Scott Kazmir Game 2 preview story

Oct. 3, Game 2:

Feature on Tampa Bay’s Rocco Baldelli

Sidebar on Rays hoping for a sweep

Matt Garza Game 3 preview story

FYI, the next Blue Jays mailbag will land on bluejays.com come Monday. Get your questions in to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com for possible inclusion. Feel free to ask whether or not Michigan State’s Javon Ringer should be a Heisman candidate. Because the answer is, “Without a doubt.”

With that, I’m off to bed. Goodnight all.

~JB