"Now, it is Longoria's turn. Eventually, it was bound to be.

He was injured in April, and he was lost in May, and he spent most of June tinkering with his swing like a mad scientist. (What was he mad about? His average, no doubt.)

Now it is darned-near-July, it is time for Longoria to take his team in his bare hands and carry it for a while.

So far, the Rays' season has been a surprisingly effective relay race with different players taking their turns at being the hot hitter. It was Sam Fuld for a while and then Matt Joyce and then Casey Kotchman and then Justin Ruggiano. Somebody. Anybody.

Now, with half of a season almost complete, it is time the Rays' star took over. It is Longo time.

Finally.

If the Rays are going remain in the American League playoff race, if the lineup is going to continue to look productive, it is up to Longoria to lead them. Who else? When else?

Of the many impressive factors of the Rays' season so far is this: Pretty much, they have done it largely without their best hitter. Between injuries and a swing he could not quite rediscover, it has been a frustrating season for Longoria.

In the past week, however, there has been a familiarity to Longoria. Once again, he has found his old easy stance, and once again, he has rediscovered that sweet swing of his, and once again, the ball snaps off the bat so distinctively that you would know it was him even if your back were turned. Once again, Longoria has been Longoria.

As the Rays close in on July, what better news could there be?

Always, it seems, Longoria's has been the most important bat in the lineup. When Longoria is hitting, the Rays' lineup is more dangerous and the dugout is a great deal happier. When Longoria hits, it seems that everyone hits.

And when he does not? Well, the result looks a lot like Monday night's game, a 5-0 loss to the Reds in which very little went right.

If you have followed the Rays, this should not surprise you much. For instance, Longoria has now started 49 games this year. In the 26 they have won, Longoria has batted .337 with seven homers and 30 RBIs. In the 23 they have lost, he has batted .111 with two homers and three RBIs."