…that the Tampa Bay Rays are sitting pretty atop the AL East. I’m sure that soon enough the forces of the cosmos will right themselves and cast the Rays back down to the division’s basement where they rightly belong, but for today at least, they reign supreme (by half a game). I have long argued that while the Rays are not the worst franchise in sports, their unfortunate placement in the most difficult division in baseball dooms them to be the most futile. For them to ever win that division would require both the Red Sox and the Yankees, the two highest-paid and most consistently dominant teams in baseball, to have have bad years along with the Blue Jays, who would probably be a persistent playoff threat in any other division. Even a wild card shot would require at least two of those three to shit the bed. And keep in mind the Rays have never finished at or above .500, and actually broke out the champagne for the one and only season they finished above last place. Compare that to the three other expansion teams of the 90’s, who are all lucky enough to be in more competitive divisions: the Florida Marlins, 2-time World Series champs; Arizona Diamondbacks, one Word Series championship; the Colorado Rockies, last year’s NL Pennant winners. Meanwhile, even making the playoffs remains a pipe dream for Tampa Bay. So enjoy your moment, Rays. It may be the best you ever have.

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