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No One Is Expecting Rays To Lose Steam Down Stretch

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - For the Rays, it's 33 games to go.

It's time to start deciding the American League East championship, and an important stretch opens tonight, when the Toronto Blue Jays arrive at Tropicana Field to begin Tampa Bay's nine-game homestand.

If it still seems difficult to focus on this worst-to-first picture - even in high-definition - opposing teams have some advice.

Get used to it.

"I don't know if they Rays will win it or not, but they're legit," Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "If you're pitching, you always have a chance. There may be some flukes here and there, but for the most part, the teams that pitch effectively will be playing in the postseason."

"This is not some smoke-and-mirrors deal," Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter said. "You don't want to mess with the Rays right now. They've got the good karma."

•As in a 79-50 record - best in the AL - and a 41/2 game lead over the Boston Red Sox.

•As in the potential catastrophe of significant injuries to left fielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria at the front of a 10-game road trip, then actually increasing their AL East lead.

•As in a 47-18 home record, best in the AL, and a 32-32 road mark (only four of the 30 major-league teams are above .500 on the road).

"The quality of the job they've done is apparent," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "They've been growing it for a while and now they obviously have a consistent plan. Fans in general usually love this kind of story. But make no mistake, this is an organization that is built to last."

"Let's face it, timely hitting, solid defense and consistent pitching will carry you a long way," Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore said. "That's what the Rays have going for them now. It's what every team wants going for them."

But a story like this wasn't supposed to happen in the AL East - where the Red Sox and New York Yankees generally rule - especially for an organization that never had surpassed the 70-victory mark.

Even when the Rays teetered slightly before the All-Star break, nobody sensed a collapse.

"The Rays are going to be there," Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina said in July. "They don't have a history of winning, but once you believe you're a pretty good team, you can do a lot of things."

Even down the stretch, nobody is predicting a fold.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they finished first," Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz told the Boston Herald. "Since the beginning of the season, I've been saying they have the players to do that."

"They have a lot of young guys, they play hard every night, and they can taste the playoffs," Angels pitcher Jon Garland said. "They're gunning for it. They want it bad."

You don't have to convince Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

When the Rays took the first two games of their weekend series in Chicago - becoming the first team ever to reach 30 games over .500 after finishing last in the previous season - Guillen offered glowing words.

"They deserve to be noticed," he said. "I'm not surprised. It surprises me how the rest of the teams in that division play."

Guillen spouts the party line. In the short term, the Rays are extremely dangerous.

And as for the future?

"They are going to make Boston and New York spend a lot more money, believe me," Guillen said.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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