SARASOTA - It is now the "in" thing to do, jump on the Rays bandwagon. The Rays for years have only had  big crowds when the Yankees were in town, but like any company confidence in its product, they were happy to get people in so they could see how exciting the rays were. Suncoast Yankee fans did just that.

These two Yankee fans got a look at the Rays while going to see the Yankees play them, but they both came away impressed with the no-American League champs:

"I went to the Trop a couple of weeks ago, and I had to buy this helmet they were hitting so many homeruns. It was unbelievable," says Vito Roberto.

"They kinda sorta grew on me. You can't help but like them, because they are what a team should be," says Frank Cunha.

The fact that these are Yankees fans helped their admiration for this Rays team, because the Rays played the hated Red Sox for the pennant. All of a sudden Rays fans and Yankees fans had a common bond.

"I started to be a Rays fan because I hate the Red Sox. I have been a hater of them since 1948," says Vito.

Whereas Vito is a yankees fan thru and thru, Frank is a baseball fan who likes the Yankees. "Most of the country probably sees them as a bunch of no-names, but Joe Maddon has done an excellent job. They remind me of the Twins organization."

It used to be bad for the Rays fans when the Yankees came to town. "It was almost a foregone conclusion, but then you started to see things start to turn."

In deed, things have turned so much that the Yankee fans want to raid the Rays roster. "I can't wait for their contracts to be up so we can sign them.

Oh what a difference a year makes.