Tampa Bay Rays Are Here To Stay

By Jeff Freedman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 7/1/08 – Talk about a Cinderella story. They’ve changed their name, but judging by the standings that’s not the only thing that’s different about the Tampa Bay Rays, who defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Monday night to secure first place in the AL East. Gone is “Devil” from their name, and gone too is the perception that this is one of the worst teams in baseball. It now is one of the best.

Led by Carl Crawford, the perennial All-Star is no longer the only notable player on a very talented and well put together team. To his left in center field is former No 1 draft pick B.J. Upton, who started things off for the Rays last night with a first inning home run. An emerging superstar with power and speed, Upton is symbolic of the team’s rise. And he is not the only one. Rookie third baseman Evan Longoria has already slugged 15 home runs and is a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year honors.

Then there are catcher Dionner Navarro, who came from the Dodgers for left-handed starter Mark Henrickson, now with the cross-state Florida Marlins, and slugging first baseman Carlos Pena, who has blossomed after several up and down trials with other teams, notably the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. Journeymen Eric Hinske, who signed with the team in the off-season and waiver pickup Greg Gross have been solid contributors.

But it all comes down to pitching, of course. The Rays absolutely stole former first round pick Scott Kazmir from the New York Mets. Last year he led the league in strike outs and has been a stellar performer again this year. James Shields has been nasty all season, and Matt Garza, obtained in the winter from the Minnesota Twins has been solid. Put hard throwing Troy Percival at the back end of the bullpen and the Rays keep the leads their starters give them.

Things may also be breaking their way after so many lackluster seasons as well. Last night after a Gross homerun and a hustle play by pinch hitter Johnny Gomes had given them a three-run lead heading to the 9th Boston began to rally against Percival. A one-out double up the gap by Mike Lowell was followed by a Kevin Youklis single off of Longoria’s glove. Then Brandon Moss hit a normal fly ball to right field. But few things are normal in the Tropicana dome. The ball hit a catwalk and landed in short right field for a double, scoring Lowell and putting the tying runs in scoring position. Now, in other years Jason Varitek would follow with a hit and the game would be tied and you’d just know that the Rays would go on and lose. But not this year. Varitek flied out to right as the runners moved up. Percival also seemed to hurt his hamstring backing up third base on the play. So J.P. Howell was called in. No problem, ex-Ray Julio Lugo was struck out with the tying run on. Rays win.

Last time the Red Sox were in Tampa the Rays swept the series and they’ve keep their chances alive to do the same. Quite a devilish situation for the rest of the American League.