The Tampa Bay Rays are Serious

Remember when the Tampa Bay Rays defense was like a circus act and their lineup was kind of a joke? Like... two years ago?

Well, don't let the sun-shiny logo fool you. They are straight us business now.

Coming off a weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, the Rays pounded the New York Yankees 7-1 Monday night for their fifth consecutive win, inching within a half-game of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. This last victory was a bit sweeter, as they defeated evil nemesis Andy Pettitte, who allowed five runs on eight hits over just four innings of work after a previous record of 8-1 at Tropicana Field.

Hand It Over, Akinori Iwamura

With two outs in the second on a 2-2 count to Tampa Bay Devil Rays' lefty Akinori Iwamura, New York Yankees' manager Joe Torre emerged from the dugout to speak with the home plate umpire.

D'Rays manager Joe Maddon was then called out onto the field, and after a conference which questioned the flatness of the end of his bat, Iwamura was forced to hand it over. As the lumber was on its way to the commissioner's office for inspection, the confused-looking infielder struck out swinging to end the inning.

Not to be outdone, Maddon approached the umps during Alex Rodriguez's next plate appearance. Questioning the legality of his bat, Maddon said there must be something inside of it since the third baseman has 45 homers on the first of September.