Rays-Red Sox: Tampa Bay Loses Battle but Hangs in the War

For the first time in their existence, the Tampa Bay Rays are competing for the American League East in June. After years of imminent failure, high draft choices have begun to pan out, and the 2008 Rays became the first in franchise history to be six games over .500, let alone 12 games over .500 at the end of May.

Being a Yankee fan, I have seen a lot of the (Devil) Rays for the past few years, mainly since those were the easiest games to get tickets to. It is no understatement to say, from firsthand experience: they have been bad.

Clearly this year is different. However, with early success comes one important question: Can the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays stay in the playoff hunt all season long? Thursday against the Red Sox, they answered yes, at least with their passion.

Losing, much like hitting, is contagious. Year after year, Tampa’s baseball squad knew their jobs ended in September, and most of the time they had their October vacation booked by Memorial Day. Win a few games, and people look up. Win a few games and lead the impossible AL East in early June, and people have all eyes fixed on this enigma.

Beating the Yankees never should come as a surprise to the Rays; the Yankees seemed like the only team Tampa Bay has handled in years past. But sweeping the Angels? Winning six straight against the Blue Jays and Red Sox in late April? Now it is time to really question the lasting power of this year’s Colorado Rockies.

The Rays have now just been swept by the Boston Red Sox, turning a 1.5 game lead in the division to a 1.5 game deficit. How will they react? Can they bounce back and continue to fight for the division? We now should believe they have enough talent, having the league’s best record at Memorial Day, and that is nothing to laugh at. After tonight’s actions by James Shields, it is clear they have the heart and determination to compete.

Late in Wednesday’s game, Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp slid through second base and into the leg of Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura. The play was clearly intentional, with Crisp adding after the game that someone was going to take a “lickin’” for an incident earlier in the game. The play he was referring to was a stolen base by Crisp in which Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett blocked second base with his knee, a common practice done by infielders.

After the game, Rays manager Joe Maddon was visibly upset with the situation, but expected no retaliation in Thursday’s finale. He was wrong.

In the second inning, trailing 3-0 to the new AL East leaders, Tampa's young pitcher James Shields defended his teammates in veteran form. Early on, he drilled Dustin Pedroia with a pitch, but did not draw a warning. Finally, when Shields met Crisp the day after his teammate got taken out, he greeted him promptly with a fastball in the leg. He stood up to Crisp but did not try to injure him by throwing high at his head.

Crisp, seemingly looking for a fight, took one step toward first before charging Shields and sparking an all out brawl. Both Shields and Crisp were ejected after the melee.

Both will be suspended, and it is likely that the punishment will be too harsh. The league tries to suppress fights for obvious reasons. However, retaliation is as old in baseball as nine innings played between two teams.

Fights like this actually bring teammates together. Ask Jason Varitek how the ’04 Red Sox reacted to Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez midseason fight. James Shields became a veteran pitcher tonight, and has absolutely earned the respect of his teammates.

Now the Rays have something to take away from this recent sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. They now trail in the standings but have an experience to rally around.

Thursday’s game was hopeless after the early deficit and ejection of their starting pitcher, but going forward, look for the Rays to come together and play more solid baseball to fill the void made by James Shields’ forthcoming suspension.

The Rays now have to play from behind, but the fire has been lit to ignite a potential run at the American League East division.

Mario Mergola writes at The Digital Blitz