Still hoping for Rays-Phillies World Series

What a weird day for baseball fans.

This one, anyway.

Wore my Phillies' gear, representing for my favorite ballclub, now that the Marauders' season has been over for a month.

But my attention early was on the Rays.

I was thinking wouldn't it be cool if we met again in the World Series like two years ago?

Of course, you've got to get there first.

The Rays 5-1 loss in Game 1 of the ALDS to the Rangers doesn't mean that can't happen.

Not that the Phillies 4-0 win over the Reds behind Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the NLDS opener guarantees anything.

It's just that winning the first game of a five-game playoff series is most desirable.

Which is why I'm surprised the Rays didn't take advantage of playing at home and ace David Price didn't bring his A-game.

Then again, Cliff Lee -- the Phillies' best pitcher during their 2009 run to the World Series -- showed why the Rangers traded for him in July.

The Rays absolutely, positively have to win Thursday.

Even the team with the best record in the AL doesn't want to go to Texas this weekend down 0-2.