The Tampa Bay Rays are in first place in the A.L. East!
Stop! Read that again!
In the franchises tenth season since the expansion in 1998, the Rays have seemingly found the elixir of baseball greatness. They are a stunning 49-32 so far in this 2008 campaign, the surprise coming not from the fact that they are an upstart team, but from the fact that in 2007 they went into the All Star Break at 34-53. By the way, this is the first time in the history of the franchise that the rays have been over .500 this late into the season. Having said that, allow them to boast!
What the Rays have accomplished thus far is not a miracle; there are no Virgin Mary faces in grilled cheese sandwiches in Tampa. What you do see is a group of players that are at last taking some pride in their work. It is as if the sunburst on their spiffy new uniforms gave rise to a light at the end of the tunnel.
In this season of high expectations, one question remains. Can this habitually rag-tag team put together a second half of the season which rivals the first half? Can they keep the magic in their back pockets going just a little longer? We will just have to wait and see. With certainty, however, we can say that there is something different about this Rays team. Between the bubble gum and pine tar, amidst the ambiance of what is considered an antiseptic stadium, these players have remembered that baseball should be fun.
This week a series will start that will most likely determine which team will be in first place heading into the All Star break. The Red Sox are coming to Tropicana Field, bringing with them the baggage of a brawl at Fenway, the national spotlight of ESPN, and a desire to regain what is seemingly their rightful place atop the A.L. East.
The Rays may not be the prettiest girl at the dance, but at this point they are the best dancer. Hold on to your hats, because this one is going to get personal! This week Tropicana Field will be filled to the brim, and for the first time since 1998 Rays fans have a reason to be there counteracting the Red Sox Nation. This is a series ten years in the making, and it will not disappoint. The Rays are showing signs of life, and it does not look as if they are willing to be bullied by their older siblings in the division any longer.
Look out big brother, there is a new team playing in Tampa Bay, and this one means business!
Stop! Read that again!
In the franchises tenth season since the expansion in 1998, the Rays have seemingly found the elixir of baseball greatness. They are a stunning 49-32 so far in this 2008 campaign, the surprise coming not from the fact that they are an upstart team, but from the fact that in 2007 they went into the All Star Break at 34-53. By the way, this is the first time in the history of the franchise that the rays have been over .500 this late into the season. Having said that, allow them to boast!
What the Rays have accomplished thus far is not a miracle; there are no Virgin Mary faces in grilled cheese sandwiches in Tampa. What you do see is a group of players that are at last taking some pride in their work. It is as if the sunburst on their spiffy new uniforms gave rise to a light at the end of the tunnel.
In this season of high expectations, one question remains. Can this habitually rag-tag team put together a second half of the season which rivals the first half? Can they keep the magic in their back pockets going just a little longer? We will just have to wait and see. With certainty, however, we can say that there is something different about this Rays team. Between the bubble gum and pine tar, amidst the ambiance of what is considered an antiseptic stadium, these players have remembered that baseball should be fun.
This week a series will start that will most likely determine which team will be in first place heading into the All Star break. The Red Sox are coming to Tropicana Field, bringing with them the baggage of a brawl at Fenway, the national spotlight of ESPN, and a desire to regain what is seemingly their rightful place atop the A.L. East.
The Rays may not be the prettiest girl at the dance, but at this point they are the best dancer. Hold on to your hats, because this one is going to get personal! This week Tropicana Field will be filled to the brim, and for the first time since 1998 Rays fans have a reason to be there counteracting the Red Sox Nation. This is a series ten years in the making, and it will not disappoint. The Rays are showing signs of life, and it does not look as if they are willing to be bullied by their older siblings in the division any longer.
Look out big brother, there is a new team playing in Tampa Bay, and this one means business!
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