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Joe Maddon: No offense taken

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Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon (pictured at left) did not dispute David Ortiz’s postgame comments Friday night, when the Red Sox designated hitter, after the Devil Rays failed to come up with a clutch hit in a 2-0 loss in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, essentially said the Rays succumbed to pressure.

“The playoffs are totally different than the regular season,” Ortiz said. “I saw some faces tonight that were different than I saw in the regular season. There’s a lot of pressure because you know if you don’t win, you go home. … I’m not saying anyone was scared, but when it’s your first time in the playoffs, you put a little pressure on yourself.”

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In an interview before Game 2 today, Maddon said, ‘I agree, and I did see it. That’s why I thought it primarily manifested itself in the pitches that we swung at. However, they had kind of the same look themselves. It was a very close game. It was 2-0. I think both teams played a relatively good game. Neither team played well on offense. That happenes sometimes.’

The Rays have played only five playoff games in their 11-year franchise history, and this is their first trip to the ALCS, but Maddon didn’t feel a need to address his players as a team today and remind them to stay loose.

‘Sometimes you take for granted that you believe people will be [loose],’ Maddon said. ‘But we’re going through this uncharted territory right now, and I just keep preaching the same thing. Part of it is to not bring it to their attention. Then you’re going to force the thought. For instance, I did talk to [Evan Longoria] today primarily because I want him to organizae his strike zone again more than thinking.

‘But I have those private conversations with different players at different times, as opposed to group settings. So for right now, I didn’t really want to get the group together and give them the old Knute Rockne thing. I don’t think it’s necessary.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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