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Finally, A Second Half Worth Watching

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

Usually by now, fans of the Tampa Bay Rays are gearing up for the Bucs' training camp because another losing baseball season has been assured. But not this year, and we're not talking fantasy baseball either.

The Rays begin the second half of the season today against the Toronto Blue Jays with a record of 55 wins and 39 losses. No, those numbers aren't transposed. The team is an incredible 16 games over .500 and only a half-game behind the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox in the American League East Division.

It's the most wins the team has ever had at this point in a season, thanks to a phenomenal first half that created Rays' fever and sent three players - pitcher Scott Kazmir, catcher Dioner Navarro and rookie third baseman Evan Longoria - to the All-Star Game. It was the Rays' best showing.

Yes, the Rays ended the first half on a sour note, losing their last seven games to fall from first place to second. But that blip - and it was a minor one considering the team played 94 games - does not diminish the remarkable progress the team has made.

The Rays must win only 15 more games to tie the team's record of 70 victories in a season, which shouldn't be a problem if the first half is any indication. It was only six seasons ago that the team won a total of 55 games. They only won 66 last year.

What a difference a year makes, indeed.

Some fans already are talking playoffs and nobody's laughing, which illustrates how far the team has come. While such talk may be premature, the Rays have positioned themselves for a pennant race - yes, a pennant race - after 10 years of dismal baseball.

Boy is it going to be fun.
Football season can wait.

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