There has been a lot of buzz about the hats that the Rays have been wearing in Philadelphia. People want to know how to get their hands on them. I have looked around and have only found some New Era caps that are similar. They are called the Downflap 39THIRTY Cap. They are not official MLB game caps (no MLB logo on the back), but it’s a good start.

Apparently the caps were unveiled in Spring Training and now that the weather is terrible in Philly, the  Rays are wearing them. I think they look great. I’m definitely interested in getting my hands on one. This year I sat in the snow on Opening Day here in Seattle.

There are some caps on MLB.com available for the Blue Jays, Red Sox, White Sox, Yankees and Mets, but I couldn’t find any for the Phillies, Rays or more importantly the Cubs and Mariners. Because of the huge demand for these caps, I’m sure that New Era and MLB will sell and market the crap out of these hats. There’s something about Joe Maddon, with his black-rimmed glasses and the Elmer Fudd ear flap hat that hearkens back to yesteryear.

Somehow Boston always seems to find a way. They’re scrappy and they have a ton of talent. But I think this year is not the year for them. The Angels are stacked in all facets of the game. The midseason pickup of Mark Teixeira sealed this for me. The Angels are too much for the Red Sox this year.

My Pick: Angels in 5

Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Who would have thunk these two teams would meet in the playoffs this year? Not me. I’m still a little amazed at how the youth of Tampa Bay has proven to be so solid all year. I look at the White Sox and really wonder how they won their division. They’re not that good. They have decent starting pitching, a terrible bullpen and an old lineup. Kudos to them for actually making it to the playoffs, but I think their stay will be short.

My Pick: Rays in 3

It’s not full-featured yet and there is work to be done to make it better and easier to use. But it’s up, and it works. I’d love your feedback.

The site currently works with iPhone and iPod touch (for sure), Windows Mobile (I think). Support for the Palm Treo is in the works, but just haven’t gotten there yet.

Posada is locked in and, oddly, Rivera isn’t.

You’ll all think I’m eating cannabis for lunch, but I’ll throw out the idea that Rivera and A-Rod end up here. Not saying I like it, I’m just looking at things… (I’m not saying I even expect it, I’m just saying that even though it’s way out, it is out there). I know it’s not even on the radar, and I would be surprised, but not stunned if the Sox make a run at Mariano Rivera. I know, he’s a closer; not just a closer, but the all-time prototypical HOF closer. But ever since Mariano smiled that time he was introduced to the Fenway crowd (after a rare blown save in NY their previous meeting), I feel like he could be an 8th inning pitcher here for a longer time – with more even pressure distributed among other pitchers – than he could be a closer elsewhere (wherever else he goes, he’s the guy for the next four years, with little to no safety net. I would argue that at this stage of Rivera’s life as a whole, he’d be happy to be a large but not the only cog in a fire-breathing machine). And he could be the other stellar closer when Paps isn’t available.

If things remain the same, I think we’ll have Shill, Dice-K, Lester, and Clay pitching an average of 6 innings per game. Then, Okey 7, Rivera 8, Paps 9. Allowing for pitchers’ rest, the Sox could probably set up about two-thirds of all games to go that way. Four out of six pitchers is two thirds of the rotation (you see how I just assumed they will go with a six man rotation – there’s one of many glaring flaws in the discussion to begin with, but whatever).

The Rivera notion has more holes than swiss cheese, but I do think it points to the direction the Sox will go — instead of worrying about stretching their pitchers out to do more innings, they will not just have 8 & 9 inning stoppers, but a queued up 7, 8, & 9 stoppers. I’m not sure they’re comfortable with a 7th inning rotation of Timlin and the Bullpen Percussion Orchestra to provide the lights out 7th they want.

A-Rod is another story – the reason I could see him coming here (ugh), is that the Sox would rather drop the money, as opposed to trading hot prospects in any kind of Miguel to first, Youk to third move. If they just drop the boatload of money (although I think it will end up being for less yrs and less $ than A-Borad is talking about), they keep all the up and comers, lock in third base for the future, and keep the Gold Glove at first. Oddly enough, if A-Borad ever happens, I would like our chances less to go on to the WS.

The thinking behind all of this is that with lights out pitching, all you need is above average hitting. Since the Sox can afford even better than above average hitting – and I think they are trying to make a serious dent in baseball history, they will try to add A-Borad (did I say ugh?) to the dugout.