2013 Rays

[LITTLE NELL]

After the Sox the Rays are my 2nd favorite team but I wonder what some of you think of their chances this year. The hype in the Tampa papers yesterday along with the pre games shows were just about proclaiming the Rays as World Champions. I just don't see it. They lost a damn good center fielder in Upton and their second best starter in Shields. Sam Fuld was the starting right fielder in the opener, wow. After Longoria and Zobrist there is just not a lot to get excited about with the offense. If they have a chance at the postseason they will have to pitch lights out.

[soxnut1018]

I love their pitching, but their lineup is abysmal. If they're going to make the playoffs, Wil Myers is going to have to be a stud from the moment he's called up.

[mzh]

Originally Posted by soxnut1018

I love their pitching, but their lineup is abysmal. If they're going to make the playoffs, Wil Myers is going to have to be a stud from the moment he's called up.

It seems like this is said every year, and they still manage to get it done. Even in the stacked AL East I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt.

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by mzh

It seems like this is said every year, and they still manage to get it done. Even in the stacked AL East I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt.

I agree. The Blue Jays should be much better and the Red Sox marginally better than last season, but the Yankees are a mess and the O's won't be as lucky in close games than they were last season. I think the Rays are still the team to be beat in the division.

[Red Barchetta]

I think the Rays will always have a strong on-field product with Madden managing the team. They seem to lose players and bounce back with a level of consistency.

I think the pre-season hype is based more on the problems the Red Sox and Yankees have vs. the status of the Rays.

Just like Baltimore last year, I expect another dark horse contender out of the AL East this year - The Blue Jays!

[vinny]

Stay classy, Rays fans...

[doublem23]

In my opinion, the Rays are clearly the favorites in the AL East.

[TheVulture]

Originally Posted by vinny

Stay classy, Rays fans...

Wow.

[Bobby Thigpen]

Because obviously no one has ever acted or had signs that were inappropriate at USCF or any other MLB ballpark.

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by Bobby Thigpen

Because obviously no one has ever acted or had signs that were inappropriate at USCF or any other MLB ballpark.

Not the point.

[Bobby Thigpen]

Originally Posted by RKMeibalane

Not the point.

What is the point other than trying to assert superiority?

If that's not the point, you could've just said- This sign is pretty classless- instead of trying to indict all Rays fans in a thread about how the team may do in the standings this season.

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by Bobby Thigpen

What is the point other than trying to assert superiority?

If that's not the point, you could've just said- This sign is pretty classless- instead of trying to indict all Rays fans in a thread about how the team may do in the standings this season.

I don't think the point was to put down Rays fans as much as it was to indicate that the sign wasn't necessary, and that making fun of someone who has been dead for several years doesn't serve a purpose.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by RKMeibalane

I don't think the point was to put down Rays fans as much as it was to indicate that the sign wasn't necessary, and that making fun of someone who has been dead for several years doesn't serve a purpose.

I don't know, it's a little funny, right?

Although, a lot of the comedy comes from the fact that the Rays mascot is no longer the Devil Ray, but rather sunshine. Stupid Tampanians.

[RKMeibalane]

Originally Posted by doublem23

I don't know, it's a little funny, right?

I'll admit that I cracked a smile, but I wouldn't have made the sign myself.

Originally Posted by doublem23

Although, a lot of the comedy comes from the fact that the Rays mascot is no longer the Devil Ray, but rather sunshine. Stupid Tampanians.

That's true, but there's nothing catchy about making a sign with a giant sun on it, and as sun exposure is known to cause skin cancer, one would hope no one makes a sign about that.

[Bobby Thigpen]

Originally Posted by RKMeibalane

I don't think the point was to put down Rays fans as much as it was to indicate that the sign wasn't necessary, and that making fun of someone who has been dead for several years doesn't serve a purpose.

Fair enough.

I just kind of take the stance that as a group of fans, we don't really have a lot of reason to put down many other fanbases.