AL East Race: Red Sox and Yankees, and...Rays? Oh My!

When is the last time anybody got excited about the Tampa Bay Rays?

I recall listening to a game last season between the former "Devil" Rays and the Cleveland Indians. In about the sixth inning, the D-Rays broadcastor completely stopped talking about the game and began discussing what type of cookies he and his partner like the best.

Being a Tribe fan, I quickly became irritated by what I was hearing, but later realized that this was just Rays baseball and nobody cared.

But to quote the great Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend."

The Rays are out to a 14-4 start and have a half game lead over the Oakland A's in the Grapefruit League this spring. I know it's spring training, but that's impressive seeing as the Rays have only won 14 games in the spring once since their existence.

Not only are the Rays winning—they are also kicking up dust and stirring up bad blood in the AL East. Who honestly thought that the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays would enter the 2008 season in an epic feud? 

Well, guess what folks.  It happened. The Rays have shown more life and passion in this single spring than they have since becoming a professional baseball team. Winning ballgames, starting brawls, talking trash. I hate to say it, but the Rays look pretty exciting.

Now, am I saying that the Rays are my pick to take home this year's World Series? Come on, I'm not that crazy. There is nothing that shows the Rays have the potential to compete with the likes of the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Indians or Angels.

I do believe that come October, when the Central claims the wild card and only one team makes the playoffs out of the East, the Rays will have played a role in the annual scrum between the Yankees and the Red Sox. 

Who knows?  Third place might not be so far off.