RealGM

Rays are presently in first place, a half game up on the Red Sox.

They are becoming the lead MLB story in 2008.

They own the best record in all of baseball, and now enter into a pennant race for the first time.

Here is mid season report on the Rays.

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_teamarti ... on_report/

it looks like the rays fans have let the early success get to their heads, the red sox are receiving several death threats for the upcoming series in tampa..with a payroll like the rays, how young they are, its great to see a team competing at this kind of level....AROD makes more then the entire marlins team, so does jeter and giambi

Yea they're doing great. But I hope their fans don't get too excited. If I were a betting man I'd bet they don't even make the playoffs, just because of their history. I hope they do, because that'd be great for the area. But I'm not getting my hopes up yet.

GO WHITE SOX!

History doesn't matter.....lol

Every day is a new day.

BTW- the death threats apparently came from Tennessee....nobody knows who gave the threats....

Now, if only they can get more of a fanbase.

This could help a bit in the FSN Florida dispute with Bright House.

Even though I am a Yankee fan, I will not be upset if the Rays make the playoffs. Their fans deserve something after all these bad years.

Craig: Keep up the great work on our Rays forum.

Thanks Howard,

The fan base will come.......it just takes more time than people are willing to give.

Even the Yankees and the mighty Red Sox won't draw fans if they are not winning over a period of time.

The Yankees in the late 1960's and into the mid 1970's barely drew a million, the Cubs in the early 1980's were drawing just over a million, and the Red Sox in the 1980's were drawing around 20,000 per game.

The Rays drew 1.3 million last year, and are headed towards nearly 2 million this year. It is the largest increase in all of baseball.

The Rays are still working on their first generation of fans that have yet to see third place.

Keep winning and they will come.

In baseball, they always do.....no matter where the team or stadium is.

I was a huge Braves fan because of my grandfather and the fact that Florida didn't have any teams when I grew up. But since I haven't been able to go to any Braves games with my grandfather, and the fact that not only are they not that enjoyable to watch, but they aren't that good anymore, I just don't follow them that much.

So since the Rays are an AL team, they're in Florida, I did go to their very first game, and I'm hoping to move my family to Tampa, I started following them closely last summer.

I enjoyed watching them play even last year, except for when the pitching would absolutely collapse, and they're playing the same great style this year but with better pitching and defense.

I'm a little disappointed in Pena and I think Floyd has been a bust overall, but you can't help but be excited about Longoria, Iwamura, Crawford, Upton, even Navarro and the whole starting rotation, with the possible exception of Jackson.

I'll be interested to see if Baldelli really does come back and if Price or one of the other minor league pitchers gets called up.

Also, it looks like the Rays and Red Sox are headed for a playoff clash, which could be a really interesting series.

The only problem is with TV coverage as Howard mentioned with FSN, its affecting even Dish Network. Plus, even ESPN gets blacked out for some of the Rays games they show.

What many do not realize, is that despite the handful of "magical" wins this year, this roster may be the worst one the Rays will have for the next 4-5 years.

With the exception of Upton, the most of the core will remain intact through 2012.

Add to the fact that the Rays minor league system is loaded at all 3 levels (and was named the best minor league system in baseball two of the last three years).

Yankees appear to be the odd man out.........

Good point on the youth, though I'm hopeful Upton sticks around.

On another note, as a guy who went to school in Tampa for two years, I pretty much hate the Trop. Its not pleasing asthetically, it was a 1.5 drive from Tampa suburbs, and the catwalks are killing me. I can't believe they couldn't figure out how to build an indoor baseball stadium that could handle high fly balls.

The new stadium renderings are interesting and I have mixed emotions. The water front location looks cool, but its still about 1-1.5 hours from Tampa, and the design reminds me of Expo Stadium, and that's not a good thing. I think the smaller size is fine, but I wish they could move to the Tampa side of the Bay.

Just Plain Mark wrote: but I wish they could move to the Tampa side of the Bay.

We all do.

I truly believe that Rays ownership wishes that as well.

craig01 wrote:History doesn't matter.....lol

Every day is a new day.

BTW- the death threats apparently came from Tennessee....nobody knows who gave the threats....

by history i meant experience, just used the wrong word, lol. I don't know anything about the players though, so I have no idea how experienced the team is. I assume they're a younger team, but baseball works so much differently than other sports (with players changing teams so often).

Does the team have a lot of experienced players that have been down the stretch and know how to perform in a playoff race? That's what I'm getting at. Even more specifically their pitching staff.

Experience is overrated in baseball. Players playing well will rise to the occasion.

What is more important is leadership on and off the field, along with good health, solid pitching and defense.

Troy Percival and Cliff Floyd were acquired to provide veteran leadership, and everything else is falling into place.

This team is young, dynamic, deep, and is just a couple of hot bats from becoming dominant.

Just Plain Mark wrote:I was a huge Braves fan because of my grandfather and the fact that Florida didn't have any teams when I grew up. But since I haven't been able to go to any Braves games with my grandfather, and the fact that not only are they not that enjoyable to watch, but they aren't that good anymore, I just don't follow them that much.

So since the Rays are an AL team, they're in Florida, I did go to their very first game, and I'm hoping to move my family to Tampa, I started following them closely last summer.

You quit being a Braves fan to become a Rays fan?

Weak dude. When will the Magic be next...

MagicMadness wrote:

Just Plain Mark wrote:I was a huge Braves fan because of my grandfather and the fact that Florida didn't have any teams when I grew up. But since I haven't been able to go to any Braves games with my grandfather, and the fact that not only are they not that enjoyable to watch, but they aren't that good anymore, I just don't follow them that much.

So since the Rays are an AL team, they're in Florida, I did go to their very first game, and I'm hoping to move my family to Tampa, I started following them closely last summer.

You quit being a Braves fan to become a Rays fan?

Weak dude. When will the Magic be next...

Nothing wrong with that.

There should be a geographical alliance if he chooses. At least he's not donning a Yankee or Red Sox cap, as many of their nation of bandwagon fans do.

JMO.

Nothing wrong with dumping the team you're a "huge" fan of?

I guess that's why so many here still loved Iggyemu after McGrady was traded.....

If he meant that he's a Braves fan first and a Rays fan second, then I could understand that.

He was a huge fan of the Braves "because" of his grandfather.

No doubt, the Braves were in the midst of their great run of excellence. Had the Rays been competitive or around when he was younger, I doubt this would be in a debate.

His geographical ties are to here......so why shouldn't he become a fan of the local team first, and put his prior allegiance second? It's natural, really. Some do, and some don't....what matters is their interest and support.

You will see many more flip the switch too.

I don't respect front runner fans as you don't, but this isn't the case imo.

Well, in the interest of arguing, most kids (boys) grow up becoming fans of the teams that their dads (and/or grandfathers) root for.

Personally, I was introduced to the Braves by my grandfather as well. And that man used to watch them when they really sucked...

However, I guess this is a different situation. Still seems rather frontrunner-esque to me, at least the way the post was worded. Or maybe I'm just bitter because the Fish and the Rays are taking away Florida-based Braves fans, and also because TBS went mega-corporate and dropped Braves telecasts. *sniff*

MagicMadness wrote:Well, in the interest of arguing, most kids (boys) grow up becoming fans of the teams that their dads (and/or grandfathers) root for.

Personally, I was introduced to the Braves by my grandfather as well. And that man used to watch them when they really sucked...

However, I guess this is a different situation. Still seems rather frontrunner-esque to me, at least the way the post was worded. Or maybe I'm just bitter because the Fish and the Rays are taking away Florida-based Braves fans, and also because TBS went mega-corporate and dropped Braves telecasts. *sniff*

I grew up an LSU, Redskin, and Senators fan.

My kids like the Bucs, Rays, and UCF despite my attempts at mind manipulation during their formative years.

Go figure.....LOL

wow they did it again

Rays win 7-6 tonight, sweeping the mighty Boston Red Sox.

A sixth run 7th inning was the difference.

Rays are 52-32........ 24-15 against the AL East.......16-11 in one run games.

The Rays have played the most difficult schedule in the majors this year (opp winning pct .532).

The Rays and Red Sox have split the season series at 6-6. Neither team has lost at home.

This team is playing like and is reminiscent of the 1969 miracle Mets.