After the All-Star break, it becomes that much more difficult to use the phrase "It's early" and still get away with it.
The Red Sox and the Rays would really be stretching if they try to use such sentiment when the second half of the season begins. For both teams, Tampa Bay in particular, the stretch run begins with a series of incredible importance Friday night.
Like a dog standing underneath the kid's high-chair just hoping for some food to fall to the ground, the Rays are waiting for someone to slump. They stare up at Boston and New York, the top two teams in the American League. Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League outside of their two big division rivals, percentage points better than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Any slip up top and Joe Maddon's bunch is in position to steal the wild card.
Whether that remains the case or not depends on the next week or so. After hosting the Red Sox for three games, the Rays welcome in the Yankees for four. Sure, there will still be 65 games left on Tampa Bay’s slate after the homestand is complete, but if the stretch does not go according to plan, the Rays could face difficult odds.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have an opportunity to "bury" one of the teams waiting to pounce if they ever start to slump. Tampa Bay, Detroit, Cleveland (the Tigers and Indians enter Friday tied atop the AL Central) and Anaheim all enter the second half within striking distance of the wild card spot, in addition to the top spots in their respective divisions. By dropping the hammer on Tampa Bay this weekend, Boston would give itself a little more separation from one of those teams in the event that the Yankees surpass the Sox at some point and Terry Francona's group is forced to hang onto that final entry.
The nine games against New York in the second half will get all the ink. The 13 remaining against the Rays may be even more important if and when that slump ever comes. Boston is done with the Angels and Tigers, but has four games left with Cleveland.
The A.L. East has had the wild card winner seven of the last eight seasons. With the Sox and Yanks leading the way in the overall standings, that may be the case once again. Tampa Bay lurks, hoping to steal one of those spots. For that reason, the coming week at Tropicana Field is about as big as it gets.
It’s no longer early for the Rays and Red Sox.
