Only 6 days until the season starts and well.. I think there is a lot to be excited about if you are a Rays fan.  Sure the Rays were playing really poorly in the early goings of the Spring with the exception of the pitching but on the 20th of this month, the time when the Rays were supposed to be starting to pay more attention to winning and well, the results have been very promising:

In last 8 games, Rays are 6-1-1.

They've out scored their opponents 58-21.
They've out hit their opponents 92-64.

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I was wondering if anyone out there had any information on what is going to happen to Al Lang Field (aka Progress Engergy Park) once the Rays depart the facility for their new Spring Training home.   In my quest for info on Al Lang, I did come across this post to the local fish wrap from our very own Patrick Kennedy:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/10/Neighborhoodtimes/Al_Lang_Field_must_be.shtml

Anyway, I cannot imagine this awesome facility sitting empty with Spring Training happening all around it.  My recent trip to Dunedin's Knology Park to see the Jays and Rays quickly made me appreciate Al Lang.  If you haven't been to to Knology Park well the park is nice looking but navigating down your row is near impossible as the rows are too close together in my opinion and trying to navigate US 19 before and after games, well I wouldn't wish that on my enemy.  

Anyway, any info / rumors at to what is happening concerning the future of Al Lang would be greatly appreciated.  

If you have never been to Al Lang, this is what you are missing:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0703/gallery.mlb.postcards.camp.devilrays/ content.1.html

Long live Al Lang field and Go Rays!

With so much at stake this weekend, the Red Sox v Yankees and Indians v White Sox series are going to be fun to watch.  I predict that the one game playoff between Yanks and Red Sox will come into play and the loser will be eliminated from Post Season play.  If the Yanks lose, I think it will cost Torre his job.  Sweet Lou thanks for the memories and prepare to get a call from Steinbrenner as I predict a Red Sox win. NOTE: Be sure and Vote in Poll on who will win AL East.

Is it just me or does it seem like the Rays are always losing in their new green uniforms?

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A little better pitching would definitely go a long way in getting these Rays turned around.  

If you listened to yesterday's game and during the 5 run 6th you thought you had heard this before... well, you have.  

Recap of D'Rays big inning pitching woes thus far this season:

Date   Opp      Rays undoing           Result
------------------------------------------------
4/5    vs Tor    5 run 6th                 L 6-3     
4/10  vs Oak   4 run 6th                 L 6-1     
4/13  vs Balt   4 run 7th                 L 5-1     
4/15  at Bos    7 run 2nd                L 10-0   
4/16  at Bos    4 run 4th                 L 6-2     
4/18  at NYY  13 run 2nd                L 19-9   
4/20  vs Tex   5 run 4th, 4 run 5th  L 12-10
4/24  vs Bos   6 run 8th                 L 11-3   
4/28  at Tor    5 run 6th                 L 7-4

This will definitely be a very long season if the Rays don't get their pitching turned around.