It's April 28 and the Tampa Bay Rays are in first place. They were waving brooms on Sunday to celebrate a sweep of the Red Sox. Hell hasn't frozen over nor have any pigs flown by my window so what's to explain this never before seen phenomenon? It's pretty simple, actually, they're a good baseball team.Too young to compete in '08 was the conventional wisdom but it hasn't played out that way. 15 games into his career, Evan Longoria looks every bit the big hitter and team leader the hype suggested. Assuming Carlos Pena starts hitting, the lineup doesn't have any massive holes and they've become a good fielding team. That's underrated and a big reason why the pitching staff's taken a leap forward.
Scott Kazmir makes his first start this weekend but his absence hasn't stopped the rotation from getting off to a solid start. James Shields dominated the Red Sox yesterday to cap the sweep and they're getting strong turns nearly every night. And the bullpen, where so many Rays games went to die in the past, has been almost perfect. From the seventh inning on, the Rays have an ERA of 1.73 which means you're going to win some close games.
Tampa's always been disappointing because their ifs never came true. That's what's happened this April and, for the first time, there's reason to be excited about May and beyond. That's a big step for the franchise and a story worth watching as the season progresses.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-28-2008 @ 3:02PM
tom said...
Wait till their pitchig falls apart. Then none of you moron media members will remember that you were calling them in the playoffs on April 28th.
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4-28-2008 @ 4:40PM
alex said...
...sounds like some bitter Boston fans are trolling to get in some kind of victory, considering they couldn't against those "lowly Rays".
Let us few Rays fans enjoy the excitement for once.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:10PM
tobrien28 said...
Actually I'm a Yankee fan, but I have the same disrespect for anyone who thinks the Rays will be close in September.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:36PM
alex said...
It is far to early for *anyone* to be talking about September. Even the Yankees (not so good pitching) and Red Sox (frozen bats and a missing Papelbon). There's no need for Yanks and Sox fans to get defensive about the outrageous and offensive idea of Tampa possibly fielding a decent team and its fans genuinely having a reason to be excited... for the first time since the Giants and Bonds nearly moved to Tampa in the 1990's.
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4-29-2008 @ 9:45AM
KLUGNUT28 said...
Christ, the Rays fans and the Tampa media is already acting as though they're going to the World Series. Surprised Rays management isn't accepting deposits for playoff tickets already. It's still only April Ray fans (the few out there who admit it), it's a marathon, not a sprint. Let's see where you'll be come September.
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4-29-2008 @ 10:32AM
ginny said...
I AM SO EXCITED THIS YEAR WITH THE RAYS.WHAT A TEAM.I USE TO BE A MARLINS FAN BUT IT SEEMS MY FAVORITE PLAYERS WERE TRADED,WHICH MADE ME LOSE INTEREST. WATCHING A MARLINS GAME SEEMS TO BE VERY UNEXCITING,THE PLAY BY PLAY IS VERY LOW KEY,BUT WITH DWAYNE ANNOUNCING IT IS VERY EXCITING AND I LOVE THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR.
GO RAYS!!!
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4-29-2008 @ 7:11PM
richard silverman said...
paleeeeez....get serious. they might make it out of last place...MAYBE...but playoffs...NOOOOOO WAY
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4-29-2008 @ 9:06PM
ken said...
I moved from Boston area to St Pete in 1999 for medical reasons I have sat and watched the RED SOX & Yankee's games and some other teams through out the years since i been here and the last few years the RAYS actually play pretty good but the PITCHING KILLS THEM this year the pitching up till now has been pretty dam good even the bullpen looks good i been to 6 games this year and they have won every game Grant it it is April but if this team stays together and gets a few more good proven pitchers they will move up in the AL EAST may not over take the 2 GIANTS in the EAST but wont be cellar of the EAST anymore i say 80 83 games they win this year if the pitching holds up and they get Scott Kazmir back very very soon also he will add even more dept to the rotation
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