These Rays bring about anew outlook to Tampa Bay.

9/8/08 - 9/14/08


This is amazing, what's amazing? Amazing is the fact that these Rays of new, are not only in the playoff hunt. But they are also in the picture to win the American League East Division Title.


That's right, as of now it seems like a real possibility of a title, to a team in which has finish at the bottom of the Major League Baseball standings for the past ten years!! Was it the uniform change of this year that cause this or just the right time? Their is something just as little as changing your uniform in the Tampa bay area for sports teams in which has brought major gains in returns. Look no further then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.

But It could also be just the right time after 10 years of heartbreak, it was enough for everyone or at lest for the ones in the stands That's another thing I will talk about later. but for now the players seem to be playing at such a high level even without the face of the franchise (Crawford) as he is on the DL.


This year has brought amazing results, so far for the fans of the Rays, with that comes the national baseball media critics of the fan base. Is it a shame for the fan base of the Rays, to have to deal with all of the outcry critics of the baseball media? Yes and no.


Unlike many areas of the baseball landscape, their are other things to watch and then Baseball in August and September. Not to mention the fact, that these games are not played in Tampa like many of the critics seem to think. You See from my House in Tampa, its a 64 mile round trip drive. Not to mention the total time of driving, which turns out to be one hour and 30 minutes.


But that alone is not the only vocal point of my argument. Also, Florida is a Football State, we crave our football down here like the rest of the south.


Sorry Baseball media and world.


Florida has been bless with three and maybe four powerhouses of college football as well as three National Football League teams. Tampa also is pretty close to Gator country, by that I mean it would take you the same time in a round trip from where the Rays play in Saint Petersburg, to get to a Florida Gator's football game up in Gainesville.

Now lets move on, to on why the fan base of the Rays myself included. Should be a shame for not going to the games. For one, football games are only on Saturdays and Sundays and sometimes on Thursday. For two, the Rays are by far the best story in baseball.

And for third, the tickets are still pretty cheap. Anyone can go online and buy a 20 dollar upper deck ticket and then scope for better seats once when you get in the "Trop." I myself have done that, along with other fans who know that is the best deal in all of baseball.

So now you the reader, and hopefully someone in the baseball world read this. Knows the facts now as to why you see so many blue seats, on TV during the games. With that these Rays have now all the sudden with its success a new outlook for baseball in Tampa Bay.

The only two question that remains now is how long will this magical ride last for the Rays and with this new outlook, will the fans be in the stands come October?

RJINTAMPAWSA@AOL.com