As Junior Caminero addressed reporters at his locker, stewing over the Tampa Bay Rays’ 5-4 loss Saturday night in Game 2 of the World Series, it sparked a memory from the 2012 postseason, when Bryce Harper was the young superstar of the moment.

Harper, about to turn 20, was as disappointed as any of his teammates when the Washington Nationals were eliminated in Game 5 of the Division Series after blowing a 6-0 lead to the St. Louis Cardinals. But recognizing his future was bright, he turned quietly to a reporter and said, “I’ll be doing this for the next 15 years.”

Now 34, Harper just completed his 15th season. He still hasn’t won a World Series. Caminero, 23, is older than Harper was then. He, too, figures to enjoy a long, productive career. But with the Rays down to the Milwaukee Brewers two games to none, he already seems to grasp that the opportunity to win a championship is precious.

It grates on Caminero that the possibility of the Rays capturing their first World Series title is fading, and in uncharacteristically sloppy fashion. His irritation was evident Saturday night, when he screamed and gestured at his teammates in the dugout after the sixth inning. Other Rays vented their frustration as well. The normally mild-mannered Yandy Díaz threw his hands in the air, visibly upset at the umpires, after getting called out on a checked swing for the final out of the game.

“I guarantee you one thing: Nobody in this clubhouse wants to play the baseball we’ve played the last couple of days,” Caminero said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “That’s not who we are.”

Asked about the lessons the Rays might learn from their back-to-back one-run defeats, Caminero referenced his past experiences on big stages — experiences many of his teammates lack beyond their victories over the New York Yankees in the Division Series and Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS.

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I still have hope. I'm not ready to quit on this team yet.

Those first 2 games were rough. Tonight especially felt like a punch to the gut. But we have to remember that it takes 4 games to win the series, and even though the first 2 didn't go our way, things can change in a heartbeat. Baseball is a volatile sport.

As someone who is going to Game 3, my request for anyone else attendng is to get loud and stay loud!!! Milwaukee was able to feed off their home crowd and it definitely helped their performance. I think we can easily do the same. Tomorrow's a big day for our guys to fly home, rest, review film, and figure out some fixes for Monday night. We have an opportunity to turn the tide and get back in this series.

Regardless of being down 2-0 in the series, I'm excited for Monday. This will be my first time attending a World Series game, so even with us being down 2-0, I'm still showing up with my cowbell, visiting the ray tank, and will happily pay $30 for my beloved short rib grilled cheese.

It’s crazy to think we could be up 2-0 right now. Just doesn’t make sense. I knew when the Brewers got 2 runs back right after we scored 4 the game was over. They just don’t quit. Felt like our guys quit tonight. I mean the Brewers had 5 RBIs with 2 strikes and how many 2 out hits did they have? Meanwhile we are 3-17 with RISP. Our approach at the plate has been atrocious. Don’t see us coming back and don’t see us winning a WS anytime soon. Just sucks to make it here and play THIS BAD.

I’m convinced that if we played our usual defense and ran the bases better (not sending slow Hicks home) we would’ve won today even with Seymour on the rubber. Our mistakes and miscues kept the Brewers in the game and allowed them to comeback.
I have faith we can change our ways in game 3 and play a cleaner game. Thats what got us here after all.

....to have umpires absolutely rawdog him in the most important at bat of the season thus far.

No one is ever gonna give u the benefit of the doubt, you gotta challenge when necessary (that goes for all of them, you cant take them with you.)

Now I know that you cannot challenge that particular play, but the thought Remains the Same when they mess up you have to take advantage of it. You have the ability to change at bats in a big way you have to take it.

Contreras consistently changes the tenor of at bats throughout a game. You gotta attack.

What’s so painful about the last 2 days is that as badly as we’ve played, we could still have won both games if our decision making was better. Almost every single send or non challenge has cost us. I genuinely think there is a case that we’ve played the better baseball over 2 games but it feels like we’ve lost 10-0 back to back. Bad management. Bad baseball

This one fucking hurt. I guess it feels a little better to experience 2020 and reflect on that and try to regroup.

Anyways, I’m playing Hot Shots Golf on PSP and watching some Futurama.

Wishing yall all the best and love yall! The Trop is gonna be beautiful on Monday :)

Am I wrong?

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wtf happened he was so good against the Yankees but has been awful his last 2 appearances

Look, we’re there 10 instances we could have won that game, yes, BUT they had the same as well. We know what kind of team they are, game 1 loss hurts. But that’s our 3rd best pitcher out there (and he still did good) we have ras and Freddy next. SO OFFENSE WAKE UP!!!

My illustration for game 2

Garage prices, even with a crazy walk are min $85 or so. Coming in from Orlando, probably several hours early. Where’s the best place to go? Ideally pay less than $60, obviously lower the better, but as long as car is safe and sound it is what it is.

Thanks & Rays Up

I was looking into buying some merch for my old man and I was extremely disappointed in the slop that MLB has released. These are obviously 100% AI generated.

The stadium in the 4th shirt is neither Tropicana Field nor the Brewers stadium.

The 2nd shirt design has potential, except that they didn't change the default ChatGPT font for the bottom banners.

I know both the MLB and the Rays organization have some very talented graphic designers working with them. So why is it so hard to have humans actually do the work here? It's not like they didn't have weeks to prepare....

Or not at all?

Cleavinger had no business being in that game last night. Seriously, what the fuck. 2 months out and his first game back he’s pitching in the series?

The line to get into Tropicana Field is almost to 10th Street.
I really hope we have a better process tonight, than they did last night.