FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Let me start this blog by apologizing to the entire Rays organization.  I live here in Tampa and like 95% of the Bay Area I went to a total of 5 games during the regular season.  When my Twins came down here and I went to a Red Sox game and a Yankees game.  Although if you look back in my blogs from Spring Training I did say they would be a scary team.  I didn't think they would be this good though.  Now in Tampa the Rays are the "Kewl" (thats cool for the rest of the country) thing to do.  For every playoff game I have either been at the Trop or at a bar and I can tell you that even in Minneapolis when the Twins were going nuts, I have never seen a city embrace its team like this.  You can not walk anywhere in Tampa without seeing a "Rayhawk".  But for good reason, these guys are going to win the World Series.  Thats right, the Rays will win the World Series and challenge again for a few years to come.  Here is why......

David Price is a stud.  If you didn't watch game 7 of the ALCS then you missed a 23 year old kid come into the game with the bases loaded and promptly shut down arguably the best comeback team of all time.

B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria can both hit the crickets out of the ball.  These two kids are going to be allstars for a long time.  Longo is locked in for another 9 years at $44 million. 

Picture this starting rotation.  James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza and David Price with either Andy Sonnenstine or Edwin Jackson throwing together for at least another 3 years.  (Shields is locked in for 6, Kaz for 3)

Navarro will continue to improve on this all star season, with Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, Aki Iwomora (sorry Aki spell check doesn't work on Japanese names and I am too lazy to go look it up) Carlos Pena and whoever you want in right field these kids are good!!  And Bartlett is one heck of a trading chip whenever Tim Beckham (another number 1 draft pick) is ready out of the minors.

Now lets just throw in the fact they have the best rated farm system in the majors and you can see why it looks like the Bay area will continue to see great baseball for years to come.  As far as the media and the attendance complaints.  You are right Tampa should be out there more.  Except this, have you ever tried to drive back across the bridge with 30,000 other people?  You know they are voting on a new stadium in November for them if you really want to have sell outs every game put them in Tampa where you can take the bus home instead of in St. Pete where you have to drive for 3 hours getting home.  (Just so you know I live in Tampa and it takes me 25 minutes to get to Clearwater which is farther than St. Pete.)  I for one am not making that drive to go see the Kansas City Royals.

Well after reading the blog again I realized I never really explained why the Rays will win the World Series.  Here you guys go and everyone take notes.  Its a Tampa team playing a team from Philadelphia.  Oh yeah and the Rays are a better team.  Nice talking to you again FanNation and don't worry it won't be another 8 months before my next blog.