You Say It Best

Sometimes the smartest decisions that you can make is to say nothing at all. A lot of times the opposite of this thinking ends relationships or turns you into Ozzie Guillen; Either way, not good. But the recent run of the Tampa Rays has led me to believe that I am a genius when I say nothing.

Just before the dormant period of the blog, I had compiled a list of what I thought to be projections for the Major League Baseball season. On there, I had that the Yankees would miss the playoffs and that the Detroit Tigers would win more than 110 games. Very hit and miss. However one thing I was dead wrong on, were those Tampa Rays whom I predicted as the worst team in baseball. I've been pretty close so far, right?

Looking then and even now on paper they are average. The pitching staff is a venerable who's who of castaways bunched closely to Scott Kazmir to make them look good. Offensively, their best addition was Eric Hinske, a player who has not been a factor on any team since his rookie season in Toronto. Now with almost two months of ball in the books, the Rays sit alone in first in the top heavy AL East.

There is still quite a bit of season left, but the best off season pick up may be the Rays deal with Troy Percival. While Percival may not have the lights-out stuff that turned him into a top tier closer in Anaheim, he does bring an attitude that is accustomed to winning. A presence that had seemingly lacked even throughout the now forgettable Lou Pinella era in Tampa. Watching them play a home series against the Yankees and game one of a weekender in St. Louis, the effort and determination does remind me of the 2003 Anaheim Angels.

Do the Rays have enough to win it all? That is definitely a stretch, even for a hypothetical. But regardless of the fan turnout in Tampa or lack there of, this will be their first winning season in franchise history. While that may seem like baby steps, it is eons beyond where this team has been before. With key players like Kazmir, Pena, Upton and Longoria signed for five or more years we could be quickly approaching the era of the Rays.

Hypothetically.