The most heartbreaking “what if” in Tampa Bay Rays franchise history are tied to two things: losing the World Series, and trading away your favorite players.
Unfortunately, that gives us many moments to choose from.
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Lat’s take it back to the 2008 World Series. After a Cinderella run that transformed the perception of the club from perennial losers to American League champions, and even though the Rays pushed the Philadelphia Phillies to a Game 5, it was agony—a double rain-delayed, suspended contest that had the deciding game paused on a Monday and resumed two days later, culminating in a Phillies walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Game 3 ended at 1:37 am due to rain, I remember falling asleep and missing much of it. The Rays had to be battling sleep too, either only a hotel in Delaware giving them rooms. It was 40 degrees! The whole experience felt dumb.
If I could change one moment in Rays history, thought, it would be this: rewind to the bottom of the ninth in Game 5, with the score tied 3-3 after the Rays had rallied back from a deficit.
Instead of Eric Hinske striking out against Brad Lidge—the final out of the Phillies’ championship—imagine a different outcome. A base hit for Ben Zobrist instead of an easy out in right, or perhaps a line drive off the bat of Hinske. Fernando Perez comes around to score from second. The Rays pick up a save, win Game 5, force a Game 6 back in St Pete, maybe the Phillies have to find a hotel in Lakeland. and suddenly the momentum shifts in their favor for a potential championship.