Who else is suprised with the Rays???? (pitching, dark horse, win)

[BioAdoptMom3]

I cannot believe the Rays this year! They never even ended the season with a winning record and now they're in first place? I have to say I am a bit proud living two and a half hours away from Tampa (I feel like they should be my team for that reason), but I am kind of in shock. I just cannot believe they are ahead of my beloved Red Sox! Gosh, some players make more $$$ than the entire D-Rays team!

Nancy

[Canes2006Champs]

Not really, it was about time they started to get good.

[dxiweodwo]

Originally Posted by Canes2006Champs

Not really, it was about time they started to get good.

yea, I agree. this year is the year where they finally met their potential, and I think it's great

one thing that does surprise me is that Dioner Navarro is hitting .316 and that Eric Hinske has 13 HR and a .526 slugging %.

[JMGC]

Originally Posted by Canes2006Champs

Not really, it was about time they started to get good.

I agree. The Rays before each year were always picked as a dark horse that can surprise people. Their pitching this year is amazing.

[j760]

I hope they continue having success, and hopefully win that division. It's time for someone else besides the Yankees & Red Sox to be winning that division, I'm sick of those two teams. It was nice seeing different teams coming out of the A.L. recently like the White Sox & Tigers.

[case44]

It's most definitely a surprise year for the Rays, and a pleasant surprise at that. It's also a breath of fresh air for a division that badly needs one, particularly for fans sick and tired of the Yankees and those who can't wait for the Orioles to improve. We'll all be interested in the second half of the season and what it will bring. That's when we'll see the Red Sox and Rays slugging it out, and wouldn't it be something if the Rays do come out on top??

[The Northerner]

I'm happy for them, but the Suncoasters down there need to start supporting that team. The players have to be sick of seeing 15,000 people show up to watch a first place club, with half of those people cheering for the visiting team. My philosophy has always been that you support your literal home team first and foremost. It's not just being a fan, it's being part of your community. Hopefully more people will come out as the season progresses, and especially once they move out of that awful tomb they play in.

It was probably not a good idea to put major league teams in Florida to begin with. Too many transplants to support a local team, as has been proven with the Rays and Marlins.

[captaincatfish]

Heck, I'm a Reds fan, and I enjoy the rise of the Rays! I've learned to love the RedSox over the years, but (at the risk of making a lot of their fans mad LOL) I absolutely detest the Yankees...I'm very much aware of their 26 titles, and their place in baseball history, but they get on my last nerve trying to buy a title each year---thus I will root fervently for any team that gives Hank 'I'm Just An Opinionated Pinhead Like My Annoying Daddy' Steinbrenner sleepless nights...thus---GO RAYS...GO REDSOX...GO METS...go anybody but the Yanks LOL

[case44]

Originally Posted by Northman

I'm happy for them, but the Suncoasters down there need to start supporting that team. The players have to be sick of seeing 15,000 people show up to watch a first place club, with half of those people cheering for the visiting team. My philosophy has always been that you support your literal home team first and foremost. It's not just being a fan, it's being part of your community. Hopefully more people will come out as the season progresses, and especially once they move out of that awful tomb they play in.

It was probably not a good idea to put major league teams in Florida to begin with. Too many transplants to support a local team, as has been proven with the Rays and Marlins.

We'll also be watching the progress of the proposed new ballpark downtown on the waterfront, and it still has to clear a few hurdles. They're hoping to get this new yard open by 2012.

[NewToCA]

The talent has been there the past few years, but they just couldn't seem to put it together. My assumption is they would continue to struggle, but they have really turned it around.

Good for them!