Although it is technically past the midway point, the All Star Game is considered the halfway point in the season. It is a time when teams can take a step back and look over the first three months while planning ahead. This time off can be a chance for teams to lay the groundwork for upcoming trades, and to set a course for the future.
It is also a great time to take a look back at the season thus far. We can appreciate those surprising performances even more while looking forward to the second half. For the Tampa Bay Rays, there have been a few surprises that have led to their excellent start to the 2017 campaign.