Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2008

Rays make believers of themselves, nation

Resting against the wall in a corner of Joe Maddon's office the day before the Rays first-ever postseason game was the children's book, "The Little Engine that Could."

It was there Wednesday but gone Thursday afternoon, thanks to some house cleaning by Chris Westmoreland, the Rays clubhouse manager who felt Maddon's office needed to look a bit more presentable.

The book was a gift to Maddon by a Rays fan. The meaning was simple: The Rays are the little engine in a league filled with powerful engines but could climb their way to the top by adopting the decades old mantra, "I think I can. I think I can."

Maddon brought a similar philosophy to the organization when he became manager before the 2006 season, only he substituted "I know" for "I think."

And guess what?

It worked.

The Rays are headed to the American League Championship Series, a stage normally reserved for the top teams in the league.

They got there by beating the White Sox 6-2 in Chicago on Monday to take the American League Division Series three games to one.

They got there by bouncing back from Sunday's loss in Game 3, something they've been able to all season.

They got there because Andy Sonnanstine, pitching on 10 days rest, won for the first time since mid-August and because B.J. Upton hit a pair of home runs and because the bullpen was its usual brilliant self.

They got there because they believed they could.

Not just Monday but every day this season.

Before making believers out of the rest of us, the Rays made believers out of themselves, which is usually how these things work.

Around the Rays clubhouse you'll find some pretty heavy quotes.

There is one from French philosopher Albert Camus that says, "Integrity has no need of rules."

And another from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden that says, "Discipline yourself so no one else has to."

You don't find too many quotes like that hanging from the walls of a major league clubhouse, but then you don't find too many baseball teams that have achieved what this Rays team has achieved.

They are the second team in baseball history go from having the worst record in baseball one year to winning the division the next. That the Rays did it in the shark-infested waters of the American League East makes it even more stunning.

Seasons like this don't happen very often. In fact, they happen almost never.

But they can happen when a team believes in itself.

Maddon started the playoff talk himself in spring training then convinced his team they could reach the postseason. He did so with a quote all his own: 9 = 8.

That means nine players playing hard for nine innings will make the Rays one of the eight teams in the postseason.

Only in Maddon's deep-thinking mind can nine equal eight.

But his players believed it then they achieved it.

Back in the spring of 2006, Maddon's first year on the job, he handed out T-shirts to his players with this message: "Don't tell me what you hear, tell me what you think."

In other words, don't listen to all those who say the Rays will never win. Form your own opinion.

It took some time and a major overhaul of not only the roster but the mindset of an entire organization, but Maddon's message began to take root.

Improving the pitching and defense helped, too. Let's be honest, you can't win without talent, and this team is talented.

You play as a team, play hard for nine innings, and look at what can happen?

Nine equals four.