The pathetic Tampa Bay Devil Rays are no more. Introducing the no.1 team in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Yes, the team formerly known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays took the ‘’Devil'’ out this 2008 MLB baseball season. The move did good for the team too as they now find themselves as the overall No.1 team in baseball, even besting the defending World Series champions, Boston Red Sox.

How about that eh? Looks like the devil is really off this Tampa Bay Rays team this year. These guys didn’t show any signs of letting up too. After a hot start to the season, the Rays set franchise records week after week, proving once and for all that, YES the Rays are for real.

Is it because of their core of young players? A revitalized offense? A players’ manager in Joe Maddon? Or is it a dependable bullpen? For ten straight seasons, this franchise were at the very bottom of baseball’s bottomless pit and while being at the bottom of a bottomless pit is obviously impossible, this Rays team has been so terrible that one can’t argue that statement if it was made a few years ago.

Who would’ve thought that they will have the best overall record in MLB baseball this year? Hmm… Maybe the Rays really took out the ‘’Devil'’ after they removed it from their name huh?

Besides, teams that have undergone name changes benefited from their new moniker too. Just ask the team formerly known as the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. This franchise was being overshadowed by media giants Walt Disney until they decided to drop the tag.

They were coming off a loss to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals then when they decided to make the change. A season after changing their name to the Anaheim Ducks, they found themselves becoming the new Stanley Cup champions.

Another team that can claim the same successful name change are the Washington Nationals. After moving from Montreal to Washington, they improved to a respectable 81-81 after that miserable 67-95 stand in their last season as the Montreal Nationals.

A name is still just a name but hey, pathetic teams like the Miami Heat can use a new one.

Which team will win the 2008 MLB World Series? AcesAce sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Red Sox +300

New York Yankees +400

Cleveland Indians +1,000

Los Angeles Dodgers +2,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more baseball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2008 MLB Season