Why the Tampa Bay Rays Will Continue to Grow Their Fan Base Past 2008

The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the majors at this point in the season in 2008. A young, talented squad, their lineup features several budding stars such as Evan Longoria and BJ Upton. Carl Crawford is the franchise's most dependable and reliable position player, though Longoria looks as if he could be the next big thing in Tampa.

With all of the team's success, how will they continue to grow their fan base? Tampa is obviously on a roll, but they have not been good for almost a decade. There are several reasons why their fan base will continue to grow as the team continues to evolve.

1. They are an AL East team.

First things first, the AL East is by far and away the most competitive division in baseball. Not only does the division offer the high priced and perennially powerful New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but they also offer a competitive Toronto Blue Jays team and a Baltimore Orioles team in the midst of a big rebuilding project. The Orioles have had a great start to the season and currently sit in third place, above the struggling Yankees.

The Rays look as if they could be a real problem for the Yankees and Red Sox for years. Their farm system is absolutely loaded with young, top-end talent, and the team is worth less than Alex Rodriguez himself! The crafty Tampa front office has put together a stellar squad of overlooked young and mid-aged players. They are positioned for success for the next decade and should continue on a nice winning streak over the next five to ten seasons.

2. They have established a rivalry with the Yankees and the Red Sox.

As a fan, you have to love the aggressiveness and young passion these players bring to the game. One image that is certainly ingrained in most people's heads from this 2008 season is James Shields taking a big swing at Coco Crisp. There is obviously bad blood between the Rays and their high-priced rivals, and this makes for an attractive option for those who dislike both of them.

3. Their starting pitching is stellar.

The Rays have put together an incredible group of young starting pitchers, led by ace Scott Kazmir and great second hand man James Shields. They strikeout a ton of batters and pitch incredibly effectively. Look for their top pitching prospects to advance through the system quickly, and the Rays will continue to field an exciting, youthful rotation for years to come.