To the two-time AL East champs.

To the sharpest front office in the business.

To the best manager in the game.

To Zo and CC.

Longo and Los.

Balf, Benoit and MFIKY.

MVB and Briggy (both!).

The Great Pumpkin and Kaps.

Wheels and Sonny and Corms.

Price, Garza, Shields, Davis, Hellboy and The Big Nyquil.

Puffy and Boots.

Joyce and Beej.

Jaso and Shoppach.

Choate, Qualls, even Ekstrom.

Navi and Hawpe.

Deezy and Rocco and everyone else who was a part of this season.

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He who wrote the first chapter of his own legend with a mighty game-winning, pinch-hit grand slam.

He who crushed another grand slam to spare his brothers the indignity of a no-hitter, and gave his pitching comrade all the support he would need for a no-hitter of his own.

He who smoked a game-winning double the very next day.

He who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat three days later with a game-winning, three-run smite, against that most hated and feared of enemies.

He who showed his nation the power of the opposite-flank attack, lifting his army to victory once more.

He who revitalized an ancient band, and an ancient song, so that others may know of his mighty tales.

He who emerged from the bowels of the Trojan Horse, to strike fear into the hearts of American League opponents.

(Three of them about B.J. Upton)

1) I was at the game, so didn't have the benefit of announcers: Is Rafael Soriano hurt? He went those 4 outings in a row, then Maddon bent over backwards to give him...not just ample rest, but excessive rest before the All-Star break. Last night's decision making made me wonder if he was nursing an injury that the Rays hadn't discussed.

If he wasn't injured, then Joe Maddon lost that game. Unacceptable not to bring in Soriano - if for nothing else than to face Nick Swisher with the game on the line.

2) Randy Choate's FIP/other advanced stats vs. left-handed hitters still look good. But the Rays either need a true lefty hammer, one who can dominate hitters on both sides and doesn't need extremely limited usage patterns, or Joe Maddon has to think about more aggressive usage of his three best relief arms, Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, and Soriano. The Rays see enough low- and medium-leverage situations in the course of a season that Dan Wheeler, Randy Choate and Lance Cormier (or someone from the minors or outside the organization - Andy Sonnanstine is a wild card who's exempt from the laws of nature) should be able to get plenty of work. Balfour, Benoit and Soriano have shown they can retire hitters of all stripes. If it's a high-leverage situation, there's no reason to ever be cute - unless the bullpen's big three have been worked really hard in the previous few days. LaRussa managing isn't helping. You've got three great weapons, use them properly.

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The big "news" tomorrow on mainstream sites will be about B.J. Upton being lazy or combative or a bad teammate or whatever other euphemism writers want to use. Don't listen to any of it. Upton has his flaws, including struggles vs. elite right-handed pitchers with good fastballs (see below). Everything else is noise.

The secondary headline will focus on the Rays' atrocious hitting. Of course this audience is sharp enough to know that the line drives we've seen hit right at fielders will eventually find holes, and that warning track flyballs will eventually clear the fence.

Even with positive regression on the way, the Rays should still be looking for ways to upgrade both their roster, and their usage of the players they already have.

After the jump, 10 moves I'd like to see the Rays make.

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