Monday, October 20, 2008

Setting the tone

Before Tampa Bay's game against the Red Sox last night, 30-year-old Rays first baseman Carlos Peña called a team meeting that "was instrumental in setting the tone for the evening."

"That was big," said outfielder Carl Crawford, the longest-tenured Rays player, soaked in champagne at last. "When one of your peers gets up and says something, it means more. Carlos said, 'Don't try to do too much, just do the things you always do.' "

"Carlos said, 'You know what, let's play our game like we did all year and if we do the little things we usually do, we can win this ballgame,' " Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton said.