Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

Back in Spring Training, the preseason predictions and projection systems were skeptical of the Rays. After consecutive fourth-place finishes, they were widely picked to finish last in the American League East this year. Those doubts persisted throughout an up-and-down start to the season. They seemed to reappear every time the Rays stumbled through a brief losing streak. Slights surfaced in other ways, too, with pundits repeatedly referring to other clubs as the team to beat in a division led by Tampa Bay. Now, there can be no doubt. The Rays are once again AL East champions, and the road to the World Series in the AL will run through Tropicana Field. “I don't think anything was handed to us all year. Obviously, I think a lot of guys expected \[the Yankees\