Tampa Bay Rays

[Sunstroke]

Since the other thread was locked...I wanted to open one just for general chatter about the Rays, since we do have a few Rays fans on the board, and a lot of general baseball fans.

Tampa Bay keeps winning...now up to 14-11 and 1.5 games behind the NY Moneybags in the AL East. Nice doubleheader sweep of the Twinks yesterday, 15-3 and 6-1. Ben Zobrist reached critical mass with 10 RBIs in the 2 games. Price is pitching well, Shields is pitching well, Wade Davis is pitching better...even the rookie Hellickson is looking pretty solid. Once Tampa Bay gets their best hitter back (Longoria), I think they'll be able to hang in there in the AL East just fine.

Rays: 14-11
Marlins 15-8

Sounds like a nice start to the Florida baseball season to me...

[Landshark]

Since the other thread was locked...I wanted to open one just for general chatter about the Rays, since we do have a few Rays fans on the board, and a lot of general baseball fans.

Tampa Bay keeps winning...now up to 14-11 and 1.5 games behind the NY Moneybags in the AL East. Nice doubleheader sweep of the Twinks yesterday, 15-3 and 6-1. Ben Zobrist reached critical mass with 10 RBIs in the 2 games. Price is pitching well, Shields is pitching well, Wade Davis is pitching better...even the rookie Hellickson is looking pretty solid. Once Tampa Bay gets their best hitter back (Longoria), I think they'll be able to hang in there in the AL East just fine.

Rays: 14-11
Marlins 15-8

Sounds like a nice start to the Florida baseball season to me...

I agree there.  There are a lot of publications that picked the Rays to win the AL East and face Texas for the pennant.  I'll definitely be taking in a few Rays games when I take my boat down to Madiera Beach to see my buddies.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ Any chance you can point to any source for those predictions?  I just don't recall seeing "anyone" pick TB to finish higher than 3rd in the AL East.

[Tenshot13]

Since the other thread was locked...I wanted to open one just for general chatter about the Rays, since we do have a few Rays fans on the board, and a lot of general baseball fans.

Tampa Bay keeps winning...now up to 14-11 and 1.5 games behind the NY Moneybags in the AL East. Nice doubleheader sweep of the Twinks yesterday, 15-3 and 6-1. Ben Zobrist reached critical mass with 10 RBIs in the 2 games. Price is pitching well, Shields is pitching well, Wade Davis is pitching better...even the rookie Hellickson is looking pretty solid. Once Tampa Bay gets their best hitter back (Longoria), I think they'll be able to hang in there in the AL East just fine.

Rays: 14-11
Marlins 15-8

Sounds like a nice start to the Florida baseball season to me...

So, I was going to make a thread about the Rays, then I saw this one, then I saw what you typed.  I think you covered everything, so I'll just say GO RAYS!!!

[MaineDolFan]

The most impressive thing about Tampa's 15-12 record is the fact that they started the season 0-8. They have played 12-4 ball since. Additionally, six of the first eight losses were by 1-2 runs. Tampa could very easily be leading the pack right now and looking in their rear view mirror at the rest of the division. Ultimately I stand behind my 85-90 win range. I don't think that will be good enough to challenge for a playoff spot, but who knows? They have payroll flexibility this year and could easily make a deal or two along the way.

Do not overlook Toronto, either. Baltimore could be over .500 as well. This division is a nightmare!

[Sunstroke]

Baltimore is already starting its slow fade out of the AL East race...I don't think they are going to play any role in the division other than potential spoiler.

The most impressive thing about Tampa's 15-12 record...

The most impressive thing about the Rays is that they apparently resurrected Walter Johnson, and have been running him out there every 5 games, wearing a James Shields jersey...

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yeah, Toronto can be scary, especially with Juicebag of the Decade Jose Bautista. The guy's OBP in April was .560.

Plus, their pitching can be very good if things click for them. I don't think they would make the playoffs, but they can win 85-88 games.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Baltimore has a chance, although that depends a lot on if Mark Reynolds can figure out how to hit 40 HR without striking out 300 times a year. Not to mention, pitching progressing to the next level.

They have a good manager, although his shelf life is around 4 years until ownership can't stand him anymore and fires him.

[Sunstroke]

Since a thread solely about the Padres would basically be me talking to myself, I'll just drop this in here instead.

Congratulations to Padres closer, Heath Bell, for tying the great Trevor Hoffman's team record of 41 consecutive saves without a blown save.

[Sunstroke]

Just a reminder...

MikeO: "How are those young players for Tampa working out.....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

That team stinks!"

Tampa Bay: 22-15, 1st place AL East
Best road record in baseball at 13-5

That team smells pretty good!

[Tenshot13]

Right now, it's good to be a Rays fan.  I love how they're shutting people up, but it is a long season

[Sunstroke]

Now, that said, Stoke - I'll say the same thing to you that I said to Mike.  It's way too early to gloat one way or the other.  Baseball has a way of shutting people up right quick.  Blink and the Rays could lose 10 out of 12 and be in 3rd.

Yes, but the difference is that with anyone else...you, me, just about anyone, if we're wrong on an early prediction, we own up to the missed call. If Tampa Bay wins 100 games and the AL East, MikeO will just call them lucky, and the rest of us idiots for not recognizing how lucky they were.