Those Pesky Rays...

  Okay so I am not trying to diminsh what the Rays have accomplished so far, but a look at thier schedule is very telling.  The Rays have played 60 games versus teams that are .500 or better.  However, they have only played four games since July 1 versus teams with a .500 record or better.  The Rays, like most teams in MLB this year have struggled on the road.  However the Rays are currently on thier first ten day road trip of the season.  The Sox have already played five such 10 day road trips so far this season.  The Sox have also played 68 games versus teams with a .500 or better record.

  I understand the payroll difference's between the two teams, however there is less of a difference between the Rays and Red Sox payrolls , than that of say the Sox and Yanks.  The Sox have not even been in the same zip code as the Yankees the last six or seven seasons, and that has never really mattered.

  I think the Rays are for real, however I don't think they have played the same schedule as the Sox. They have not gone out west as much, and they have not had a fraction of the long road trips that the Sox have had.  It will be interesting to see how the Rays react to some adversity the rest of the way.  The Rays have 43 games left this season.  They play 31 of those games against teams with winning records.  They also play 23 of those games on the road.  Finally a 119 games into the season, the Red Sox may have the schedule working for them