Oh sure, the Yankees are still going to make headlines. Steinbrenner keeps making a fool out of himself, and now with A-Rod and Madonna apparently an item, the Yankees are still great theater.

That's all they are. They're an old, mediocre team, and they seem to be sleepwalking through this season.

Look closely at these Rays, at B.J. Upton in center and Longoria at third, at Kazmir and Garza and all those relievers, and they might just remind you of those early Joe Torre teams in New York.

They're excitable and have no idea how good they can be. All they know is that they're having the time of their life.

Some people will focus on the low payroll and think it can't be done. These people failed to get the memo that succeeding in baseball is no longer about spending the most money.

Baseball's three biggest spenders -- Yankees, Mets and Tigers -- could all miss the playoffs while the bottom three -- A's, Rays and Marlins -- could be in.

Maybe it'll be different for the Rays in the second half of the season. Maybe opponents will focus a little more energy on them. Maybe some of their holes will look bigger.

That's exactly what Ortiz predicted during a chat with reporters before Wednesday's game.

"I'm not saying that they will drop, but if you go by the numbers, that's normally what happens in baseball," he said. "It's always the guys with more experience and the guys used to being in the same spot at the end of the year that take over.

"It (would) be good to watch those kids come through and watch them in the playoffs. It would be good for baseball. It would be good for people to believe that it doesn't matter how much money you pay or how big your payroll is, (that) those teams still have a chance to be in the playoffs and make a difference. But at the same time, you know how it is. You guys know better."

When St. Petersburg Times columnist John Romano relayed those words to Percival, he got a quick answer.

"He's right. History backs him up," Percival said. "But it's not going to happen to us. If we don't win this thing, it's not going to be because we fall. They will have to come and take it from us. There's a difference."

Indeed there's a different. After a decade of wandering in the desert, it feels like baseball finally has arrived in Tampa Bay. Get your ticket now.

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