Evan Longoria

Dallas Braden has been all over the media by pitching only the 19^th perfect game in the history of major league baseball on May 9^th, 2010.

The accomplishment rightfully overshadowed a possible code violation, but it should be pointed out.

I can’t believe it has already been a full month of baseball. Here are the guys who knocked the cover off the baseball this past week.

This is an All-Star starting lineup, as would be voted by the fans (if the fans actually knew what they were doing), plus a starting rotation and one relief pitcher.

But this is one fan's opinion: mine. It was an easy exercise. There were several somewhat close calls, but nothing which I had to wring my hands over.

All numbers displayed are from the month of April only, and nothing these players did in the first couple of games in May had any impact.

Sitting in a doctor's office waiting room in mid-2007, I grabbed a magazine whose headline article read:

2010: The Devil Rays Are the Best Team in Baseball

I read the article, and the only thing I could think of was "yea, right, like that'll ever happen." Three years later, here we are, April 19, 2010, and the Rays (10-3) have the best record in the majors. Sure, only 13 games have been played in this very young season but it has been very clear to anyone who has watched a Rays game that these guys are on a mission to be the best team in the league.

This series is devoted to spotlighting each week’s top fantasy producers. Each player awarded a position is determined by their statistics for the last seven days. Game changing contributions are also considered.

Top Stat Stars

Now that the rosters are set, we’ll take a look at what should be a very prolific Rays offense in 2010.

Manager Joe Maddon likes to shift his lineup around more than most, but this is a good guess as to what the typical batting order will look like. The first six spots are more sure-things, while the bottom three will be moved around more as everyone in those bench spots should see significant time.

1. Jason Bartlett – SS

2. Carl Crawford – LF

For the Tampa Bay Rays, there is no tomorrow. The Rays head into the 2010 season having put together a terrific spring, winning a club record 20 grapefruit league games. Their winning percentage was best in the majors at .750 and they won seven of eight to enter the season with some momentum.

All that Spring success doesn't mean a hill of beans now, though, because in a few days, the bullets fly for real and the team embarks on a 162 game escapade to ruin Boston or New York's hopes of a ticker tape parade.

What’s that smell?

Ahhhh, yes. Spring Training is in the air.  Christmas comes early for baseball fans across the country.

15 teams call Florida home for Spring Training.

Charlotte County Sports Park doesn’t have the flashy name of other ballparks, such as "Legends Field."  The Park is simple.  It houses 7,000 seats and sold out everyone of those seats in 2009 Spring Training.

Welcome to the seventh edition of "Daily Random Sports Thoughts."

For those not familiar, I pick a team, player, or any other topic in sports that I have five random thoughts about.  If you like 'em, read 'em.  I'm trying to get 'em on here every day!

Today's lucky random sports topic is...the Tampa Bay Rays!

1) Hopefully, you guys can have another cinderella season like 2008!

The hot corner was once the place of royalty in Major League Baseball.  Some of the greatest players to ever play the game manned third base, including the great Mike Schmidt, Eddie Matthews, George Brett, and Brooks Robinson.