Nobody saw this coming. The Tampa Bay Rays in the Major League Baseball postseason? Unlikely. The Rays outslugging the Boston Red Sox in seven games to win the A.L. pennant? Highly unlikely.The Rays in the World Series? Unheard of.

I think it is surreal to see clips of Tropicana Field in the World Series commercials on Fox; but tonight, this team from Tampa Bay—the worst-to-first surprise from the A.L. East might see its Cinderella story of a season come to an end in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Phillies have a commanding 3-1 series lead.

The Rays' repugnant performance in the World Series is marked by a combined 0-29 effort at the plate from rookie phenom Evan Longoria and long ball hitter Carlos Pena. The Phillies' pitcher Joe Blanton has made a greater offensive impact for his team, hitting a home run in game four. And the three-four, Pena-Longoria combination struck out 15 times in the first four games. What's worse? Cole Hamels is set to pitch the possible series-clinching game tonight for the Phillies, leaving the entire Rays organization and fan base to "feel the heat."

From the fan's perspective, let me say that the officiating in this World Series has not made watching the World Series any less frustrating. The calls are less consistent than desired for either team, but it is becoming clearer now that the officiating crew is close to fulfilling its wish—subconscious as it may be—in returning the commissioner's trophy to Philadelphia. If that does, in fact, happen, then so be it. The Tampa Bay Rays gave the Bay Area a lot to cheer about over the course of the season and certainly exceeded everyone's expectations. The team should be proud for everything that it has accomplished thus far.

But really, it is not over. There could never be a more appropriate time for a Knute Rockne-or Bluto Blutarski-type of speech in the history of the Rays organization than tonight prior to the game. Since spring training, Joe Maddon preached to his players the significance of the enigmatic equation '9=8', that is, nine players playing hard for nine innings and being rewarded with one of eight playoff spots. Tonight, the slogan is reduced to '9= the chance to bring the World Series back to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for games six and seven.

If the Rays are going to win the World Series, it will start tonight. The Rays will send left-hander Scott Kazmir to the mound tonight. Kazmir has not won since the ALDS. Kazmir, Longoria, and Pena will be determining factors in the outcome of tonight's game.