ST. PETERSBURG — Saturday was about frustration.
The Rays woke up feeling down, knowing that losing Friday's game, and the chance to sweep the A's, had pretty much ended their long shot hopes of actually getting into the race for the final American League playoff spot.
And the pace of Saturday's game, the novel first matchup of two teams using openers, where the first pitcher is scheduled for just an inning or so, combined with expanded September rosters, provided a stupefying glimpse at the potential future of the game. The teams combined to use 14 pitchers, make 10 mound visits and six midinning pitching changes over the course of 8½ innings in 3 hours and 19 minutes.