MLB team, sports
When the 2008 season began, not many people thought the Tampa Bay Rays would come close to winning the championship for the American League East, much less make it to the World Series. Now, the big question is can this MLB team go at least that far again in 2009?

Yes, they can, if they have a solid bullpen and don’t get too cocky.

One of the problems in major league baseball is that once an MLB team climbs as high as the Rays did last year, there is a tendency to forget that talent and skill requires some good luck to repeat past successes. If the sports team should decide that where they were as far as a working unit at the end of the season is good enough to make it through this season, then life is going to hold some mighty harsh surprises for this MLB team.

On the other hand, if they try to see the consistent improvement they made from the beginning of the season to the end, and decide they want to become better, tighter, and more committed than ever, they just might have another shot at winning the World Series.

At least at present, it looks like this MLB team is managing to balance confidence with reality. There is a lot of talk from team members and coaches alike about the need to build on what they started last year. They are also aware that the element of surprise will not be theirs this time around. Everybody, from fans to opponents, has high expectations for the Rays.

Still, the season for this MLB team has only just begun. It will take a few more games to see just how serious the Rays are about making a good thing better and going all the way this year.