There’s No Shame In Losing … But It’s How You Lose That Can Be Cause For Concern ……………

Now I’m not one to be overly critical when a team loses. However, I’m of the opinion that if you lose , you ought to be able to learn something from the loss . And that it ought to be something of a learning process for the future. For those of you who weren’t able to witness the perfect game pitched today by the Chicago White Sox’s , Mark Buehrle . Then you missed a gem of a performance .

Mark Buehrle is congratulated by teammates Josh Fields and catcher Ramon Castro after pitching a 'perfect game' against the Tampa Bay Rays at US Cellular Field in Chicago , Ill,. The White Sox would defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Scott Boehm .................

On the receivng end of this all were the Tampa Devil Rays . And unfortunately for the A L East team , they put up a goose egg on the scoreboard. Which in ofitself was another dubious distinction to be a part of. The end result was a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of the White Sox. Now I’m no fan of the Rays , but proudly living in the vicinity of the area. Where the fans here are about as knowledgeable about this team. As the members of Congress are about as insightful as to the effects , as to what pulled the country into a downward spiral of unimaginable proportions. It’ll be very interesting to hear the post-game analysis as to the reasons why the Rays lost this game.

Buehrle is congratulated by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on the concourse outside the team locker room after the game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ M. Spencer Green .......................

I’ve always maintained in order for any team to prevail in the AL East division. They’ve got to play the game at a consistently high level. As we know the triumvirate of teams within the division are merely fighting amongst themselves merely for supremacy within that very division. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Devil Rays , themselves are merely now hoping to be part of the postseason. It’s a privilege to be a part of it all. But how one accounts for themselves in the playoffs even more.

As for the Rays , it’s now do or die, or nothing at all. You just can’t think because having won the division , the AL Pennant and then having made it to last season’s World Series. Then that will be enough for your peers to show you enough respect. To get that respect then one has to earn that respect. And that’s something that this team hasn’t really yet done. In all of their existence they’ve but one winning season. And that winning season was n last year , when all of the stars were aligned for the team. Much of the change we’ve all witnessed has to have been from the mindset brought to the franchise by their manager Joe Maddon. Though not viewed as a hard task master , he’s seen as a player’s coach. They’ve bought into Maddon’s system and it has brought a tremendous change to the franchise. And with it , has come the acclaim and recognition. And with it has also has come the recognition of the team’s players , such as Evan Longoria , B J Upton , Carl Crawford , James Shields and Ben Zobrist . But these are but a few of the players on this roster that’ve contributed greatly to the team’s success.

As to the events of today, it’d be remiss not to acknowledge the achievement of Mark Buehrle. There’ve been but seventeen other players to have achieved the distinction of throwing a perfect game . One should also remember that the player was also the recipient of pitching a a no-hitter as well in the course of his career. A rarity as such amongst today’s pitchers . So it’s a very great accomplishment for the player, his teammates and for the fans of baseball to have witnessed this altogether. To undescore it would be do the feat a great injustice. And as I’d alluded to earlier in this piece. If the Devil Rays cannot learn from this event then truly whatever lies ahead for them . Be it good , bad or indifferent. Let’s hope that they can actually learn from it all. And as young as this team and the refreshing attitude that they’ve brought to the game. Moreover, the way in which they’ve exhibited their prowess on the baseball diamond gives their fans hope that they go one step further than last year.

The Devil Rays (52-44) have a great deal to play for as the season progresses. They’re looking at usurping both the New York Yankees (57-37) and Boston Red Sox (55-39) , in order to make a successful defense of their AL East title. The wildcard berth no longer a misnoma for many. It’s still viewed as a viable way for an entry into the postseason. As to whether or not this’ll be the way the Rays make their entry into the postseason . It remains to be seen.

The realization is not lost on Buehrle after his achievement . The crowd reacted wildly after the player's astonishing performance. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Scott Boehm ............