SPORTS REPORT

TAMPA BAY RAYS Fantastic, amazing, stupendous, wonderful, exciting … are there any other adjectives I should say describing the Tampa Bay Rays start to the 2023 baseball season?

At press time the team has a 20-3 record … that is not a misprint … twenty wins and only three losses. These guys have played better than anybody could imagine. Starting pitching has always been the strength for the Rays and this year is no di erent. At press time Shane McClanahan is 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA … Drew Rasmussen is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA … Taj Bradley is 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA and Zach E in is 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA. The bullpen is unhittable with Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam, Garrett Cleavinger and Yonny Chirinos leading the way. Can they keep up this history-making play … that’s almost impossible but they are 17 games above .500 and it isn’t even May 1st. Look for this team to be a force all season long and make a serious run at another World Series appearance.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANERS The draft is a couple days away from our going to press and the Bucs have the 19th overall selection. The team has a lot of needs … the o ensive line needs help, we could use a running back, the defense needs an upgrade and a top corner back or edge rusher would help.

The loss of QB Tom Brady has the team in a transition. The signing of Baker May eld is lled with questionmarks and the backup is Kyle Trask who carried a clipboard 99% of last season. Will they take another QB or sign a journeyman to compete for the starting job? There are rumors that the team might trade WR Mike Evans and if that does happen it will prove that we are in a rebuilding mode.

The NFC South is a much improved division with the New Orleans Saints signing QB Derek Carr to play alongside RB Alvin Kamara, a healthy WR Mike Thomas,second year man WR Chris Olave and TE Taysom Hill. The Carolina Panthers have the #1 pick in the draft and nished last season strong. Lastly, the Atlanta Falcons look to be the weakest link but they always play the Bucs tu .

Let’s hope the Buccaneer front o ce can pull a few rabbits out of their draft-hats and make this team competitive this season.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

At press time I am crushed. The Bolts lost two straight games in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs and trail the series 3 games to one. Is winning the series impossible? No but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. The team played not to lose in game four when they had a 4-1 lead going into the third period and the Leafs took full advantage. Vasy doesn’t look like the “All World” goaltender we have had the past few years. If they do get eliminated by Toronto look for the team to make a few changes in the o -season.

HORSE RACING

The 149th renewal of the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday May 6 at Churchill Downs Race Track in Louisville, Kentucky. The Run For the Roses will feature Tapit Trice who is bidding to become the rst Tampa Bay Derby winner since Street Sense in 2007 to win the Kentucky Derby. Two other horses that competed at the Oldsmar oval have also won the Run for the Roses: Super Saver, who nished third in the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby, and Always Dreaming, who broke his maiden here as a 3-year-old 14 weeks before the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Two other horses who competed this season in Oldsmar are also expected to join the 20-horse Kentucky Derby eld. Kingsbarns and Lord Miles will also try to make racing history.

I think the horse Forte is the one to beat and I also give Practical Move, Hit Show and Angel of Empire a shot to be in the winner’s circle. Good luck with your wagering!

BY PAUL ALLEN - Want to see More sports editorials from Paul Allen? visit Paul Allen Sports on Facebook