ST. PETERSBURG -- Tampa Bay arrives at the midterm break in a different place than most figured: Competitive.
Finishing the first half at 49-47 is remarkable considering all the Rays have overcome in the way of offseason turnover, in-season trades and injuries. But the vitality of youth has appeared to inject the team with life.
In addition, the pitching has embraced an innovative strategy that has seen relievers start, and scheduled bullpen days. Most of the baseball world snarled as if the sky were falling when Tampa Bay began the strategy -- and then the strategy worked.