It's very tempting to write about General Petraeus' report to Congress, the real progress in Iraq, the biased media coverage, the dems pathetic spin, the shameful MoveOn.org ad, etc. And it's tempting to write about Hillary Clinton and the Hsu fundraising scandal.

Today, though, I am not in the mood for world affairs. Today, I'm thinking sports. Not my beloved Gators or the Bucs, but the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

To say the Rays have performed poorly since their 1998 debut would be an understatement. I don't believe even the Bucs dreadful start in 1976, losing 26 straight games, can quite compare. Consider: in their nine years of existence, the Rays have finished in last place in the American League East every year, except 2004, when they finished fourth out of five teams. They have never won more than 70 games (out of 162 in a season), and have lost 91 or more every season. They are the only team in baseball to have never made the playoffs.

Yet, there's hope this year. The Rays have won 61 games and lost 83, with 18 games remaining, but more importantly, they are on a prolonged hot streak. They have won 13 out of their last 17 games, narrowing the margin to fourth place Baltimore to one game. If they can win 10 of the 18 remaining games, not out of the question given the current streak, they will set a franchise mark for wins in a season and will likely climb out of last place for only the second time.

Unfortunately, today's game against Boston's Tim Wakefield provides a stiff test. Not only is Boston in first place, but Wakefield has dominated the Rays. In games against Tampa Bay, he's 6-1 since 2006 and has allowed only one run in the last 21 innings. Wow.

It doesn't get any easier. The Ray have another series remaining against Boston, one against the Yankees, one against the AL West leading Angels, and one against the second place Mariners. Only six of the remaining 18 games are at home.

OK, so it doesn't look good. But I'll be rooting for them anyway. Go Rays, Go!