FanNation

The Rays were created in 1998 and since then have arguably been the worst team in baseball. For ten straight years they have finished under .500 and the organization has been a joke. The Rays have been associated with losing in general.

Now, though, they are 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the Al East and are challenging them for the division. They are in a position to shock the baseball world and possibly end the Yankees- Red Sox dynasty that has ruled the AL East and the AL for ten years. With the Yankees a mediocre team and the Orioles not having the power to win down the stretch, it looks as if the race will be a close one between the Red Sox and Rays.

Even if the Rays miss the playoffs this year, the Yankees are rebuilding and the Red Sox are aging. Tampa Bay has progressively been getting better the past few years. Maybe not now, but next year or later, the Rays could possibly be the best team in the American League, or baseball.

There are a crop of these new teams in baseball, but none of them have the same talent as the Rays. For example, the division-leading Marlins are the best in the NL East but may not have the "staying" power the Rays do. The Mets and Phillies are knocking on their door, both of whom are much better teams and have more talent. Right now the Marlins are driven by their bats, when the Rays are an all-around team.

So think about baseball two or three years from now. The Rays are easily capable of being the next dynasty of the AL East.