A World Series loss doesn't change what became apparent somewhere in the middle of the 2008 regular season: The American League has a new force to reckon with in the Tampa Bay Rays.

The question is can the frugal Rays keep this talented bunch together?

Okay, Philadelphia, celebrate like you've never celebrated before. Skip school and work and dental appointments and court dates to go to the parade. You've waited long enough. You've earned this.

Just don't go and get all soft now that you've finally had a reason to pop the champagne for the first time in 25 years. Come Sunday, I want to see you in front of your TVs at home and down in the sports bars booing the Eagles the first time they go three-and-out in Seattle.

I'm confident you won't let us down.

Jamie Moyer has waited 22 seasons for this World Series moment. Some of these other guys barely have been alive that long.

From Santa Claus to Sarah Palin, it's been going on for at least 40 years. Philadelphia may be known as the City of Brotherly Love, but its sports fans aren't exactly warm and fuzzy. In fact, they'll boo anybody at anytime. Rays fans, on the other hand, couldn't be much different.

NBCSports.com's Bert Blyleven, who pitched in the majors for 22 seasons, breaks down the best way to attack each hitter in the lineups of the Phillies and Rays.

Can these offenses be stopped? Yes. Blyleven explains how.

For approximately the 532nd time this season, the Tampa Bay Rays were counted out. The psychological damage had been done. They couldn't possibly come back from this. Could they? They could. Boy, could they.