The Tampa Bay Rays

Posted by James Lincoln Ray Jul 2, 2008

I didn't buy into Tampa Bay when they changed their name from the Devil Rays to the Rays this offseasons. I didn't buy into them when they went 18-8 in the preseason. I still thought they were phonies at the 1/4 mark of the seasons, even though they were just a few games out of first place. But now it's midseason, and Tampa Bay is leading the best division in baseball by two and a half games. Four in the always-crucial loss column. Okay, I'm buying. This team is for real.

Crawford, Longoria, Iawamura, Upton. These guys are for real. Kazmir, Shields, Wheeler, Sonnenstine. These guys are for real. Troy Percival -- I still have my doubts. But with the Yankees re-building and the Red Sox dealing with injuries, I am finally starting to accept that the Tampa Bay Rays might be a legitimate playoff team.

See what happens when you spend a little bit of the Yankees money?