Why not, they've been going at it all year for supremacy in the AL East.
The Rays were in the enviable position of being a visiting team facing an opponent in the playoffs, but having the overwhelming support of a majority of the opposing city's baseball fans.
Cubs fans turned instantly into Rays boosters after being once again unceremoniously dumped in the first round. Their pain would have been compounded exponentially if the White Sox would have been allowed to advance past the Rays.
The Rays have been the best team in the AL virtually the entire season. Their 97 wins is actually an artificially low number based on their pre-season decision to send Evan Longoria down to the minors to start the season. If you'll recall, the move was made to kick a year of service time down the road to benefit the team. The logic of the move was subsequently made moot when the Rays signed Longoria to a long-term deal after seeing him in action for a whole month after recalling him.
This was about the only loony-tunes type move I can recall Rays management making since taking over, and yet it appears to have worked out in spades for them.
The series against the Sox is for all the marbles. I believe the team that wins should be the overwhelming favorite to win the World Series. The Cubs were likely the best team the NL had to offer, and we know the results. The Phillies and Dodgers shouldn't scare either AL team. I think the Rays may be listed by Vegas as the underdog should they get there, but does anyone believe that after beating the Red Sox, either of the two NL teams would pose as much of a threat to them? The high they would be on might carry them to a WS sweep, much like the W-Sox in 2005.
GO RAYS!!!!
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