With the baseball season reaching its halfway point earlier this week, it's the Tampa Bay Rays that find themselves with baseball's best record, 50-32.

Tampa Bay has been a refreshing team to watch, as they've matched a great core of young talent with the right mix of veterans to acheive a winning chemsitry.

With their win on Tuesday night over Boston, the Rays are now 2 1/2 games up in the AL East, their largest lead of the season.

"These guys aren't like they used to be," Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield said. "They're pretty good over there."

The Rays have done it with good pitching, improved defense and timely hitting. They have also avoided getting caught in the highs and lows they have experienced during the best start in franchise history.
    
"It's still a long road, and we have to take it day to day," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. 

A closer look at the stats, bring an even greater appreciation of Maddon's team.  Of the core players in the line-up, only one, catcher Dioner Navarro (3.16), is hitting above .300. However, four different players - Evan Longoria (47), Eric Hinske (44), Carl Crawford, and B.J. Upton (41) - have over 40 RBI's.

The team lacks a 10-game winner, but has five pitchers with 6+ wins - starters Andy Sonnanstine (9-3), Matt Garza (7-4), Scott Kazmir (7-3), James Shields (6-5), and reliever J.P. Howell (6-0). Reliever Troy Percival (19 saves) was just placed back on the 15-day DL due a nagging hamstring, but the team has depth in the pen as they boast three other players with 2 saves a piece - Howell, Grant Balfour, and Dan Wheeler.

There is a long way to go, but count me as Rays' believer.