Is Tampa Bay Legit?

We are 2 months deep into the 2008 Boston Red Sox schedule . A total of 55 Remy Scorecards have been filled out. While it may not be the gorilla in the room yet, it’s got to be a small monkey. So let us ask this, does Red Sox Nation have to start “considering” the Tampa Day Rays as a legitimate threat this season?

Let’s some go through some of the yeas and nays, shall we?

Yeas: Take the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays seriously

1. As we all know, pitching wins. Tampa Bay’s young pitching staff has a 3.78 ERA with a stingy .243 BAA.
2. Scott Kazmir, who missed a good month to start the season, is already 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA. He has yet to give up a home run this season, and threw his 15^th double-digit strikeout game Monday against Texas.
3. 12 year veteran, Troy Percival, is doing well in the closer role for Tampa Bay. His best year as a closer was arguably 2002 with Anaheim with 40 saves and a 1.92 ERA. Through most of May, Percival has 14 saves on 16 attempts and looks pretty dominant.
4. B.J. Upton is leading the team in batting average (.304), RBI’s (31), and OBP (.397).
5. Dioner Navarro, in 115 AB’s this season, is batting .374 with a .415 OBP and slugging .470.
6. The once solid Red Sox bench player, Eric Hinske, is working his magic all over the field this year for the Rays. They have him playing some 1^st , some 3^rd , DH’ing, and playing some right field. His numbers so far this season are - .257 BA, 10 HR’s, .340 OBP, with a .542 SLG.
7. If this stays a close race, the Red Sox finish up the season series in Tampa Bay for 3 games – September 8^th through the 10^th .

Nays: It’s still May, the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t going to contend for the AL East

1. The Tampa Bay Rays ERA against the Boston Red Sox in six games this season is 5.09.
2. Besides Troy Percival and Dan Wheeler, how trustworthy is their bullpen?
3. Taking away the low number of start from Kazmir, the rest of the teams starting pitchers have an ERA of 4.44
4. Manny and Ortiz have yet to bring the wrath.
5. Tampa Bay, as a team, is batting .266. Similar to the slumping offense of Detroit.
6. We do have the Anti-Ray, Tim Wakefield.

Weigh in. Don’t be shy! Just use the comments box below and let’s discuss. Give us your yeas or nays.