Florida Baseball

By DAVID WORTHINGTON

I know if you are a baseball fan in Florida you more than likely have a favorite team in another state. No offense to our home state teams but, their past performances have left many of us to wonder, "why should we root for them?"

Besides the Marlins 2003 World Series win. Nothing much has happened in the Sunshine State.

Hopefully things are about to change.

Right now the Florida Marlins are in first in the National League East, leading the New York

Florida Marlins

Mets by one game.

What a surprise! Leading their league after they lose two of their considerable threats, pitcher Dontrelle Willis, and third baseman Miguel Cabrera in trades during the off season, as well as being predicted to finish in 4^th right above the Washington Nationals.

Hopefully, the Marlins won’t lose focus with all their young talent. Especially their two young stars, Dan Uggla at second base and Hanley Ramirez across the base at short-stop.

The Marlins will look to continue this hot steak as they play a three-day home stand against the Arizona Diamondbacks May 20-22, and then the San Francisco Giants on May 23-25.

Tampa Bay Rays

Not to be outdone, the Tampa Bay Rays are in second in the "Big East" of the American League as well as leading the Wild Card by one and a half games over the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays in the past have always struggled with pitching. However, with the off-season trades and whipping the young pitchers into shape, the Rays have improved their pitching considerably from year’s past.

The offense is not a big problem with the Rays. With veteran players like Carl Crawford as well as young sluggers such as B.J. Upton, the Rays have a very diversified attack front at the plate.

The Rays are hoping to bounce back in Oakland against the A’s starting on May 19-21 and then return home to face fellow East contenders, the Orioles.