MLB: Rays are Shining Brightly

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve had my doubts about the Rays.

I thought they’d cool after their hot start and fade to the basement of the American League East. And then when they hit a losing streak just before the All-Star Break I had them buried. It was the beginning of the end.

Everytime the Boston Red Sox have charged I predicted the Rays would never see first place again. And everytime the Rays suffered an injury, I thought they were done.

Now I’m here to tell you I was wrong – obviously. And I stend behind my recent prediction that the Rays will make it to the World Series 100%. There is not a doubt in my mind. Well, there’s always doubt but I am pretty sure about this.

The Rays are for real. They’ve handled every challange by the Red Sox. They’ve taken injuries in stride. And now here they are taking on the Anaheim Angels – the obvious best team in baseball – and beating them the first two games of the series.

Now, I know that the Angels have nothing to play for. They’ve lost 2 straight games and their 15.5 game lead in the AL West has remained the same, With the way the rest of their division is playing, the Angels may not have to win another game for the rest of the season. Seriously.

So the Rays have a lot to play for than the Angels. But still. Wins like Tuesday night’s win – when the Rays came back to take a 4-2 win – do nothing but give this young team confidence. And a young, talented, and confident team can do anything, including win the World Series.

So am I predicting the Rays to win it all this year? You bet I am.

If they get out of the American League, which I believe they will, then who in the National League will bea them? Sure, the Mets or the Cubs could beat them but I don’t think they will. The Mets won’t make it the World Series and the Cubs are too comfortable with losing to fulfill supposed curses that involved goats and fans catching fly balls that over-hyped and under-talented left fielders claim they could’ve caught.

So yeah, I am picking the Rays to win the World Series. And with the way they’re playing right now, I feel totally comfortable with that pick… at least for now.