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The Rays Are Going to Win the AL East, No, Really.
Just putting it out there, because I feel like being quasi-bold. I guess you could call it Cass's Rant for the day.
No, this is not a reverse jinx. This is simply my observation that this is the way a baseball team should be playing in a pennant race...not trying to do too much, just playing their game and taking it a game at a time. I've been waiting for the pin to drop, and it hasn't.
Since I can't take anymore of Favre, and because I have nothing better to do when the heat index is 105 (seriously), I flipped over to watch the 9th inning of the Rays and Indians. Indians are up, 7-4.
I'm thinking, sweet, Rays are gonna lose, Sox have the chance to pick up a game.
The Rays score 6 runs, without making an out, to win, 10-7. Couple of doubles, infield hit, a 2-run homer from Gabe Gross and and a 3-run walkoff shot from Carlos Pena. They scored those 6 runs in less than 10 minutes.
There is a certain giddiness about these guys. They have It. Like the idiocy of the '04 Red Sox, without the stupidity. They're just fun. That's the only word I can use to describe them. Sheer, unadulterated, baseball fun. They have the Rookie of the Year (not debatable), a burgeoning BAMF in Matt Garza, a still very young Scott Kazmir, and a bunch of other guys who you don't expect a lot out of, but play extremely well together.
Even if the Sox miss the playoffs (I am accepting this as a legitimate possibility), as a baseball fan, I will thoroughly enjoy watching these guys in October.
Namely a big bat and a left handed reliever?
My thoughts are:
A big bat could still clear waivers
As for relievers? Same scenario...Scott Eyre comes to mind...perhaps to even block the sox
Additionally, all things holding equal for the season, I think their rotation matches and beats any other AL East rotation. That being said, both the yankee and sox rotations are significantly more experienced (as are their entire teams)
I'd be most concerned that they flame out...though when rosters expand to 40, it'll be interesting to see who they bring up