Tampa Bay Rays Playing With A Swagger

The Tampa Bay Rays were a very odd team last year. They were never really hot nor very really cold. They were just kind of “there” during the season.

Call it a World Series hangover or whatever, but the Rays never seemed to play with a sense of urgency in 2009. This year, the Rays look like a completely different team. They are playing with a swagger.

Now I know what you are going to say; “Hey Adam, it’s only two games into the season.” While that may be true, the Rays looked like they had a different mindset during the earliest days of spring training.

They were the best team in spring training and played like a team possessed. The Rays have carried over their strong play and attitude into the regular season.

The first game of the year was a perfect example of the Rays’ new attitude. I turned on the Rays game two nights ago and they were down 3-2 going into the ninth.

The Rays rallied for a 4-3 victory and it almost seemed like the outcome was never in doubt. The Rays expected to win that game. Carl Crawford went to the plate in the ninth and Orioles closer Mike Gonzalez (unfortunately my fantasy closer) didn’t have a chance.

I really don’t believe that was the case last year.

Perhaps there is more urgency in Tampa this year because Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Pat Burrell are free agents at the end of the year. Perhaps the Rays know this might be their last stand to compete for a World Series title.

Whatever the reason is, the swagger is definitely back in Tampa in 2010.

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