Not so fast, Rays fans.
By OWEN DYCHES
SNN Staff Writer
“Beasts of the East” and “9=8”. Anywhere you go in St. Petersburg you’ll see these slogans on t-shirts. These shirts are worn by Rays’ fans, promoting their “winning” ways. Most people in the area wouldn’t mind these shirts, except Red Sox fans.
I was born in Boston, so you can expect that I’m a fan of all the city’s teams. I’m not trying to trash all the Tampa Bay area sports teams here – oh, wait, yes I am - but I really only have to worry about the Rays.
The Red Sox and unfortunately the Yankees dominated the American League East for the first eight years of the Rays franchise. The Rays first winning season was when they changed their colors and name. They wound up making the playoffs that year, and reaching the World Series, ousting the Red Sox in a close game seven win. The thing some Rays fans don’t realize is that the Rays only won a single game in the World Series. Congratulations.
After witnessing the Sox first World Series in 86 years during the 2004 playoffs, Red Sox nation felt invincible. Three years later, we swept the Rockies to win our eighth World Series. After we lost the American League Championship Series to the Rays, we struggled for the next couple of years. In 2011, we were nine games up on the Rays for the Wild Card spot in the playoffs, heading into the pivotal month of September. The Red Sox wound up going 7-20, suffering the biggest collapse in Major League history. On game 162, the last game of the regular season, magic happened for the Rays. The Sox lost to the Orioles in extras, and Evan Longoria went deep to vault the Rays into the playoffs.
Now, it’s an obvious fact. The Rays made the playoffs, Boston didn’t. But if you think about it logically, the Rays still had to mount a huge comeback. They didn’t win the division. And if you think about it, the Rays almost didn’t even make the playoffs.
The Red Sox fired long time manager Terry Francona because he couldn’t control the team, as some of the players were eating chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse before and after the games. With the absence of a great manager, the Sox decided to hire Bobby Valentine.
The only problem I have with Rays fans is how excited they get about one little thing. The Rays swept the Yankees to begin the season 3-0. They took to the message boards the next day talking of a World Series appearance this year. After three games.
A little pre-mature, no?
It’s still a very, very long season. And history shows that the Rays tend to struggle more in the months of June, July and September. So, Rays fans, let’s wait a little longer before we start buying our World Series tickets.
