Just got back from Tropicana Field.  Had a chance to talk to a multitude of Rays players and Manager Joe Maddon.

    Cliff Floyd stood out.  I enjoyed listening to him.  Here's a veteran who's seen just about everything, but he's not seen a team such as the one he is on now. He rebuffs the nay sayers.

    Floyd speaks of a young team made up of exceptional talent.  That is not a surrpise to him.  It's how the team has carried itself in the postseason that has pleased Floyd.

   You never really know with a young team, which brought up this question I asked him today:  "With all this youth, do you see these young players playing more for the love of the game, not worried about batting averages and home runs hit."  He agreed.  In fact he went so far as to say that all you aspiring young little leaguers out there, look at this Rays team and mimic it.  It is the recipe of how the game should be played and conducted. 

   Manager Joe Maddon added in on the fun factor:  Maddon says he wants these players to take it all in, after all it is a GAME. It's suppose to be fun.  Especially with all that is going on around us, how can you take this GAME so serious as life and death.  This game is not that, nor is this ALCS series.  Continue to have fun, bring the fundamentals learned in Spring Training, and do what you do best. 

    No more needs to be said.

    James Shields will start game one against Boston. Kaz will be the game two starter, Garza game three, and Sonny is penciled in for game four, but Maddon said he has the right to chance it up if need be.