Ok ,Ok …..I’ve been reading the newspaper and reading message boards and taking in all the anxiety everyone now feels towards the Rays due to CC and Longo being placed on the DL. I thought I should throw out my 2 cents as well….

First, let me say that OF COURSE we are going to miss these guys. Everyone knows that, from the RFO to the dugout to the fan base and beyond. Let’s not kid ourselves. How do replace these guys and not feel any repercussions? You can’t.

BUT…..I will say that all season long our bench and AAA guys have proven themselves VERY worthy to step on the field and produce time and again. We have had 16 guys head to the DL this season for a total of 562 games! That means that at most times we have multiple starters on the DL at the same time. And look where we are, 4 games above the Red Legs and 9 over those that wear pinstripes! Do you know what this means?

This means we have a TEAM — a complete TEAM. This team does not take too long to feel sorry for themselves when a starter goes down. They know they have the backup to step right in. Remember a guy named Zobrist belting HRs on consecutive nights when JB was down with the knee? Remember a guy named Balfour who stepped up big time when Perci was down? Remember a guy named Aybar who clubbed 2 HRs in a game in Seattle? And you will get a chance to get to know the new kid on the block – Ruggiano. Ruggs is batting .315 with 11 HRs and 51 RBIs in AAA. And Ruggs was no slouch during his stint with the big club earlier this season batting .290 with 1 HR in 15 games.

People this team is complete team. Although we will dearly miss CC and Longo (who will be back in a few weeks) do not forget the rest of the team. This team believes in one another and have proven through out this season they are capable of winning regardless of who is and isn’t in the lineup. This team’s resiliency will shine through!

Just believe!