Well Ray fans here we go!  The second season officially began for the Tampa Bay Rays as the last out was recorded in the Rays 8-7 extra inning victory over the Detroit Tigers Sunday afternoon.  The second season began with the first ever red carpet arrival of the AL East Champs and 1000+ fans cheering on the heroes of the bay.  A rally today at Straub Park in St Petersburg will allow the Ray fans to continue to show their love for the our beloved blue collar grinders.                                           

Who would have ever thought?  Did you really believe at the beginning of this year the Rays had any chance to displace the Yankees and Red Sox atop the toughest division in baseball?  If you say yes I’d say you are either lying or you are optimistic to the point of being delusional.  No one saw this coming, no one.  Did we see the potential for improvement for the perpetual cellar dwellers?  Absolutely yes, no doubts there!  

The Rays have gone about their business game after game not once allowing yesterday’s failure to haunt them.  The Rays have won games late with dramatic walk offs.  The Rays have won games early with hot bats and GREAT pitching.  The Rays have won games by flashing the leather through out.  The Rays have won games. 

The Rays front office has put together a very special group of individuals.  From rookies to veterans who may be playing their last year and every step in between they have all delivered in the clutch.  Injury plagued all season long the guy off the bench made something special happen between the lines.  I cannot think of one guy who did not have a special play to win/save a game at some point in the season.  When they stepped onto the field they all melded together to form a consistent, confident entity.  An entity that was afraid of no one.  They proved that by sweeping the teams considered the best. 

Here’s to our Tampa Bay Rays, the 2008 AL East Champions!  An amazing year for an amazing team!