What an outstanding week it has been for the Rays Nation. First, they sweep a very good Toronto team in the home away from home series in Orlando, only to follow it up with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox at home. There were big time crowds, big time plays and really big time pitching involved. Today James Shields out dueled Boston Ace Josh Beckett and pitched the best game of his young career in, oh how should we put it, Beckett-like fashion. Shields mowed down Boston hitters with a precision and efficiency we’ve been waiting for out of him this season. Shields hadn’t pitched up to his usual standards up to this point this season, even though he still gave the team a solid six or seven innings, until he put it all together today for the sweep of the Champs. The pitching was the most exciting and uplifting part of the sweep as Shields, Edwin Jackson and the bullpen locked down a formidable Boston lineup (even without Lowell and Ortiz) and showed no fear in doing so. The Rays now have a pitching staff that can stand with anyone which includes the best bullpen in baseball this season. I repeat loudly, THE BEST BULLPEN IN BASEBALL! Now I’m not a fool thinking this can hold out the entire season but it’s a large building block for the team to build on the rest of the season. They all know they are good enough now and should begin to carry themselves more confidently and relaxed when they visit Boston and New York later in the season. Outstanding job Rays!