Is it finally the Rays' time, or will they stumble again?

Apr. 29--First place!

But they are the Rays.

Playing .560 ball!

Again, they are the Rays.

Out-played the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox during the past six games!

Yes, fine, but they are the Rays.

And there lies the challenge for both the Tampa Bay Rays and those who follow the team.

Is their perch atop the American League East this early in the season a signal to finally believe? Or do we steel ourselves for the inevitable, because the good streaks and good times never last long around Tropicana Field?

The play on the field during the first 25 games of the season and the talk in the clubhouse as this current winning streak grew to six suggests yes, jump in with both feet.

History says no, we just ate and need to wait another 30 games.

But a sorry stretch of baseball can be changed. The Atlanta Braves did it. The Cleveland Indians did it. The Minnesota Twins did it. And one way to do it is with good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting, and if you've been paying attention, the Rays' pitching has been outstanding, their defense solid and the hitting good enough.

"I want everyone to know we can compete in this league," James Shields said after his two-hit, complete-game shutout against Boston on Sunday.