Reality check: Rays just might be for real

It was thought that the Tampa Bay Rays would be improved this year. Maybe fourth place. Maybe even a winning record.

But this is getting to be something very special, graduating from a cute little first-half story to a captivating development.

Three games past the midway point of the season, the team with the quirky little dome and the second-lowest payroll in baseball has its best record, leading an American League East division that's been a two-team Boston-New York race for more than a decade.

A team that's never had a season better than 21 games under .500 is suddenly 20 games over (52-32) after a home sweep of last year's champion Red Sox. The Rays won in comeback fashion on Wednesday.

According to Stats, Inc., Tampa Bay has the most victories midway through a season by a team that had the majors' worst record the season before. The only team with a better half-season winning percentage than the Rays' .605 after having the worst overall record the previous season was the 1903 New York Giants, who were 45-25 (.643). The 2001 Cubs were 48-33 at midseason after going 65-97 in 2000. (However, neither team made the playoffs.)

The baseball-sleepy Tampa area is noticing. Tropicana Field is no longer a haven for Northeast transplants who normally come to the park to cheer on the visitors. The Rays' game on Tuesday on Fox Sports Net won its time slot in Tampa against every other program - cable and broadcast.

Before Wednesday's game, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz was asked about the Rays, who suddenly have a 3 1/2 game lead. From the St. Petersburg Times:

"I'm not saying that they will drop, but if you go by the numbers, that's normally what happens in baseball. It's always the guys with more experience and the guys used to being in the same spot at the end of the year that take over.

"It (would) be good to watch those kids come through and watch them in the playoffs. It would be good for baseball. It would be good for people to believe that it doesn't matter how much money you pay or how big your payroll is, (that) those teams still have a chance to be in the playoffs and make a difference. But at the same time, you know how it is. You guys know better."

But maybe we don't. And this little dig at them could keep the fire going. The Rays have great young starting pitching that could hold up in a playoff series and some young hitters coming through in the clutch. We'll certainly see some growing pains in the second half. The third-place Yankees have a run in them. But if the Rays' bullpen hangs in there, look out.