Well, anyone who doubted the Tampa Bay Rays, raise your hand. Go ahead. Raise it high. Anyone? Of course, everyone. Who in their right mind wouldn’t doubt the Rays? But if you’re still doubting them now, you need your head examined.

The Tampa Bay Rays - yes the Tampa Bay Devil Rays minus the “Devil” - have gotten rid of their demons (so to speak) and are now sitting a top the AL East and atop all of Major league baseball. And the thing is: They don’t look like they’re going to go anywhere anytime soon.

The Rays are coming off a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox. That means the Red Sox are now trailing the Rays in the AL East by three and a half games. It all but ensures that the Rays will head into the All-Star Break with the lead in the AL East. So I don’t care if they collapse and give way to the Red Sox or the Yankees, they are still a legit team. When’s the last time we could say that about these Tampa Bay Rays? Ummm, never.

So the Yankees and the Red Sox will begin a series on Thursday night and you know what? It’s for second place. It’s to see who can gain ground or at least keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays. How bizarre is that? Well, get used to it. Because with the young talent and then pitching this team has, they don’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox have hit another one of their hot patches (winners of 8 straight) and they are keeping distance between themself and second place Minnesota. And oh by the way, the Twins are coming off a series win against the Detroit Tigers. Sure, the Tigers were without their top two offensive players but a series win is still a series win.

Things are a lot of fun in the American league right now.