Are the wheels falling off Rays?

First it was Carl Crawford.

Then Evan Longoria. Now Troy Percival.

Believe me. I want these pesky Rays to win the East.

Who doesn't. OK, who outside of all the northeast.

But with Percival popping the hammy about as often as NASCAR drivers pop the hood, with Crawford likely out the rest of the regular season, with Longoria out for three weeks with a fractured wrist...

I'm just not buying it.

Not this year anyway.

The pitching's been extraordinarily good. Can that continue?

The hitting's been extraordinarily average. It may not even be that anymore with a hitter's row of Willy Aybar, Cliff Floyd and Gabe Gross.

Sends shivers up the spine of Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon, I'm sure.

Now, they have a guy with the last name of balfour closing out games, at least some of the time while Percy is icing the leg.

Balfour? Closing?

That's either hilarious or ironic, I'll have to consult Alana Morissette to make sure.

There were rumors the Rays had claimed Raul Ibanez this week, but it turned out to be the Tigers, who couldn't consummate the deal.

The deadline has now passed, so unless Tampa has another trick up their sleeve, possibly hiding out in Durham, the extended honeymoon may be over.

It's possible that top prospect David Price could get called up soon and help out the bullpen or the rotation. Price is one of the few can't-miss prospects that could make an impact this September.

But outside of Carlos Pena, there's really no power there and while B. J. Upton can steal a million bases, he was benched again Friday night for not hustling, the second time in as many weeks.

But already, the Rays have set a franchise record. People are coming to that hideous dome and watching games in a sterile environment and they really have built this thing the right way.

Hopefully, we'll see them in October, but I think we're looking at the Red Sox, Angels, White Sox and Twins this fall.