Rays-ing the bar in Tampa

Bartlett confident with trip to World Series on the line

While the baseball world may be full of skeptics of the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that went from being the worst in the major leagues in 2007 to the American League East Champions this year, Jason Bartlett and his teammates aren't listening to them.

The Rays' starting shortstop, as well as the rest of the Rays, will open up the American League Championship Series today against the Boston Red Sox. Bartlett's squad, with the second lowest payroll in the majors, is ready to silence the team's critics.

"It has been an awesome year. No one expected this," Bartlett, a Lodi native, said in a phone interview from Tampa Bay on Thursday. "We had a good spring training and everyone thought, 'they had a good spring but we'll see what happens.' But we know we are the best team. As long as we keep winning and we get to the World Series, maybe they'll stop doubting us."

It has even taken awhile for fans in Tampa Bay to get on the Rays bandwagon. After ranking near the bottom in team attendance for years, the Rays sold out both home games of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, who Tampa beat in four games in its first postseason appearance in the team's 10-year history. Bartlett said it has been a process, but the city has definitely climbed on board.

"Right now I think everyone in town is pretty psyched about it. Right now everything is awesome," he said. "You see Rays jerseys and Rays gear everywhere and you walk down the street and everyone tells you good luck and it is an awesome feeling."

Bartlett, a St. Mary's graduate and former San Joaquin Delta College baseball star, has played a pivotal roll in the team's success this year. After being traded from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason, Bartlett has put together his most consistent season in his five-year MLB career. He is hitting .286 with 48 runs scored and 37 RBIs. He's also played solid defense at shortstop.

"I just hadn't jelled in big leagues, but things are finally coming together this year and I am to the point where I can get out there and just play and not put too much pressure on myself," Bartlett said. The Rays wrapped up the White Sox series with a 6-2 win on Monday. After three days off, they'll return to the diamond against AL East adversary Boston today at 5:37 p.m. Bartlett, who had four hits and scored three runs in 14 at-bats against Chicago, said the break in action was a blessing.

"It's good. We all needed it," he said. "It was a good time to rest up and we have been coming to field and exercising and lifting and taking BP and ground balls, so it has been good."

The Rays won the regular-season series with the Red Sox 10-8 as the matchup between the squads took an interesting turn. Things got hot when there was a bench-clearing brawl on June 5 that led to eight suspensions. Bartlett said the team doesn't look at Boston any differently than they do any other opponent.

"The media makes a big deal about it because some things have happened this year, but it really doesn't matter who we play," he said.

Bartlett's parents, Delie and Jeff Bartlett, flew down to Tampa to catch their son play in the ALDS, but they headed back to Lodi on Wednesday. They'll be watching the from home, but Jason still plans on seeing them very soon.

"They are coming back when we go to the World Series," he said.