ST. PETERSBURG - The winning streak was fun, a month with the best record in the majors has been impressive and third place has proved to be a comfy address.
Here's another example of how much things have changed for the Rays:
Heading into the month before the trading deadline, they are talking about the possibility of going out and adding players rather than holding their usual end-of-summer sale.
Manager Lou Piniella is all for it, but then again he always thinks he needs another player.
General manager Chuck LaMar is a bit more cautious, and he probably should be until it's clear if the hot streak was a month-long aberration and a product of a soft stretch in the schedule or a true indication of how the team can play.
But if the Rays continue to win on a somewhat regular basis - being within a half-dozen games of the wild-card wouldn't hurt - and the right deal can be made to address their primary needs, starting with starting pitching, LaMar said he would push ownership to do it.
"We're after young, low-salaried players. That's still our mode of operation. We're still a building organization," LaMar said. "However, if we play competitive over the next month, and there is a player we can get to help us win now and yet have his services and think he'll help in the future, I'll do everything I can through ownership to make that happen."
Chances for such a deal aren't great. The Rays are close to budget and won't take on a large amount of salary. They're not looking for a veteran rent-a-player. They certainly aren't the only team in the market for good, young pitchers. And while they have plenty of the prized young players and prospects it takes to make such a deal, they will be very reluctant to give any of them up.
Still, if they can find the right guy, LaMar will suggest to ownership they take money designated for 2005 and spend it now.
"I hope that ownership is receptive," he said. "If we show them over the next month that our play would indicate going out and getting somebody, hopefully we'll have the finances to do that."
There isn't going to be a huge increase in payroll next season. New general partner Stuart Sternberg is going to look at the long-term picture, and there are items such as debt payments, loans and reduced radio rights fees that have to be dealt with. Signing young players to long-term deals, perhaps as long as nine years, is more of a priority.
But if the right deal is there, if the Rays can get, for example, a young starter, LaMar is likely to get permission to do it.
And that's a big change.
STARRY EYES: If the Rays get their usual one obligatory All-Star, it will be a tough choice, especially under the clunky system that has fans pick the starters, players and coaches vote for some reserves, and the manager name the others.
Leftfielder Carl Crawford, shortstop Julio Lugo and closer Danys Baez have all been among the best at their positions so far, and Victor Zambrano is 7-4. But might a case be made for Tino Martinez, who is a leader on and off the field, especially with his old Yankees manager Joe Torre making the final picks?
RAYS RUMBLINGS: The help that Sternberg said he wanted to get for LaMar is coming - Andrew Friedman will soon join the baseball operations staff specializing in stats and research. ... LaMar said "this might be the best managerial job (Piniella) has ever done." ... The new larger signs at the Trop for the Let's Play ... For The Kids program are much better. ... ESPN ranked Hal McRae's 2002 Rays, who went 55-106, as the 16th worst team of the last 25 years - in any sport. ... Minor-leaguer Elijah Dukes, a Tampa product, should be playing again soon after dealing with some anger-management issues. ... Talks with top draft pick Jeff Niemannmay not start in earnest until mid July.
