Congrats to Tampa!

I'd like to preface this post by reassuring any readers of Tulo Trader that I really am not dead. As I have said before, I am working for a candidate running for Florida State Senate and free time comes my way sparingly. Once November 4th comes and goes, I'll be back with some more relevant content, but for now that will have to wait.

I write to you all today to congratulate the Colorado Rockies, err... Tampa Bay Rays on a great run to the Series. I'm just happy they won't have 9 days to sit prior to going into Game 1 of the Series like my Rox did last year and even more happy that the Sawx are out of the run to repeat.

As a baseball fan, I've been high on this team all year. Going into the '08 season, I was heard saying "look out for the Rays in '09." I thought they were missing that one piece on the hill to get the job done and figured that David Price could be that answer after honing his skills for a full year in the minors.

So I was a year off... oh well.

Looking at this Rays squad, I can't help but be impressed at how well it is built. Yeah, they've had some great draft picks over the course of the last decade or so, but they drafted to near perfection. Every player on this team is a role player. They all have their strengths, each of which pick up for the weaknesses on the team. This is a team that's hard not to fall in love with.

I must say that the most underrated component of this team is, well, me. I think it's quite apparent that I was given some sort of power prior to the 2007 MLB season as my proximity to certain ballparks seems to help the most unlikely of teams get to the Show. In '07 it was Colorado... in '08 it's Tampa. If this post ever makes it to any of the screens in the Rays' front office, I'd like for them to know that they can send some sort of compensation to my PayPal account.

All joking aside, congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays on a great showing in their first postseason and best of luck versus the Phightin' Phils in the Series.

Also, in most counties nation-wide (outside of New York), early voting polls open today and will be open 7-days a week through November. No matter your politics, get out and vote early as November 4th is sure to be one of the most chaotic days in election history. Miss the lines and awkward conversations while waiting to cast your vote and get out to your local library or other polling place and get it done! Check out your local county's elections commission website for specific early-voting polls. You'll be thanking me later.

That's all I got...

- J.C.F.