http://worldseries.pressdemocrat.com/ iUpload Customer Conversation System en-us support@iupload.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 180 http://www.iupload.com/Asset/iu_images/logos/pp_logo_sm.gif http://worldseries.pressdemocrat.com/ http://worldseries.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?mode=photoalbum&item=2274757 Hello NorCal!
First of all, let me thank you for allowing me to share this (hopefully not, but possibly) once in a lifetime experience with you guys.
Yesterday we had the day off to allow the 2008 American League Championship to sink in. I was invited to a Barack Obama rally in Tampa to attend and meet and greet and announce Obama on stage.
And again, meeting a possible future president is a once in a lifetime opportunity ... what an amazing 24 hours!
Today the flood-gates opened with a 1 p.m. workout at Tropicana Field. When I arrived at 11:30 a.m. (an hour-and-a-half before the workout) the clubhouse looked back to normal (after our fourth champagne celebration of the season!).
When I got to my locker I saw the 2008 World Series emblem stitched onto my jersey and hat. To see that patch on my uniform was breathtaking, to say the least.
For the first 20 minutes it was just players in the clubhouse until the full blown media circus arrived.
While putting my pants on, I was interrupted by 15-20 reporters asking questions anywhere from, "Do you think the altercations with the New York Yankees and the Red Sox are what turned the club around?"; to "What is your favorite World Series memory?"
To the second question I answered that the World Series memory that sticks out most in my mind was the 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's that was abruptly interrupted by an earthquake.
After addressing the media, onto the field for a team meeting which really wasn't any different from the team meetings we've had all year.
The message was no different than ever before, "No added pressure, just go out and win the ball game."
Then we broke into defensive drills for infielders and pitchers to practice bunt plays and bunt situations to prepare us for playing a NL team where the pitchers hit and the small ball game is really exposed.
Then came batting practice: three groups of five players, 15 minutes each.
The rest of the day was optional: hitting in the cage, working out, or watching film.
At the end of the day on my 5-mile drive home, I reflected on how the Rays and I are possibly on our way to rewriting the record and history books.
- Jonny Gomes

]]> http://worldseries.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?mode=photoalbum&item=2274757 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:11:29 EDT undisclosed@pressdemocrat.com (worldseries) http://worldseries.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2274757