Tampa Bay Rays are the New .... ?

i still dont see them being and elite team

But who saw the '91 Braves as an elite team midway through the season? Just a thought.

that's a good point, because yes, the 91' Braves are real similar, as it was before they had a big payroll, as Tampa is a mirror image up to this point...good call

wild card, but not advancing...next year if they keep core

I'm just not sure now(as of today July 6th) as TB just keeps rolling!,...ok, anywhere from Wildcard to Series appearance if juggernaut continues, modified by still too early in season...so yeah, TB could be this year...simply too premature to tell, i.e. trade season/moves...intriguing thread BlueWork

Yea I'm very curious to see what they do at the trade deadline. One commenter on the article argued the Rays shouldn't make a major deal this year, and now with Sabathia going to Milwaukee, I don't think there is a major move they should make. However, I think they have to make a small move or two (extra bat off the bench & shoring up the pen) for the best results down the stretch.

yup, Rays: two solid caliber bench players and Sox: Middle relief and a power Bat (Texiera, Holliday)...Tampa set on O and Bullpen...3 weeks to go to the 31st, weak to moderate market with CC gone like You said

they are a good team and i think they will be very good in the years ahead but as far as right now i dont see them beating the red sox the angels or the white sox in the playoffs

ya know, no-one is talking about Angels, quietly a top 3 team in bigs

NYY took it to the young Rays tonight, AL East could be shaping up as a whopper of race the second half

ya the angels play the game the way it is suppose to be played get your lead off runner on steal a base then they can hit a fly ball over to right and get the runner over to third then the next batter can drive the other run home. They do a very good job of manufactoring runs. They have great starting piching great bullpen. Look out for the them in the playoffs.

yup, a versatile team that can play both league styles....agree, nasty bullpen and the best closer to date this year...a well-balanced lineup where with Vlad, teams can't pitch around....really, the Angels have always had a potent lineup going back to 02' and the title...an AL fan of course, first, but always enjoy an AL club like Angels that can chisel runs like a good NL club as you pointed out...and I'm sure they don't mind the lack of attention

I'm curious to see how the young arms, that have performed so well during the first half, hold up the remainder of the season. Combined Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders have two seasons with more than 150 innings pitched (and only 1 season with more than 200 IP). Plus, Santana, Saunders, and Jon Garland are all either having their best ERA season or are close to it. Do they revert back toward the median in the second half?

If Texas was to pick up some pitching at the deadline (even though there really isn't anyone dominant remaining), this could be a really fun race down the stretch, but unfortunately, I don't see Texas going after anyone.