The Rays finish their quick seven-game west swing with a stop at the Big A.  California Anaheim Los Angeles [The Angels' home city] has been the site of some bad times in Rays history.

The Rays were 9-38 at Anaheim between May 16, 1999 and May 10, 2010.  In that period the Rays mustered one series split while dropping the other 14 series.

Unlike the Rays’ struggles in Oakland, their complete ineptitude in SoCal can’t so easily be credited to travel for several reasons.  First, the Angels have been really good since 1999, particularly in areas that kill you, poorly disciplined teams like the [Devil] Rays from 1999-2008.  Second, Anaheim is generally the second or third stop on the Rays’ westward swings giving the Rays more than enough time to shake off the jet lag and get onto west coast time.

The Rays already took 2-of-3 in Anaheim earlier this season May 10-12 and I think they are poised for another strong performance starting tonight.

For once, the Rays may have the time-zone advantage even though they are the visiting team.

Anaheim played the Sunday night game at Minnesota last night and the game didn’t end until 9:38 Central time.  (Let’s use Central time because the players’ internal body clocks will be set there for at least a day…right?) Conservatively, that puts the Angels at the airport at home around 12:38 Central time and to their respective houses by 1:3o or 2 a.m. Central time (which is only 10:30p.m. or 11 p.m. Pacific).

The Rays were there significantly earlier and are, hopefully, well-rested.