The Rays are Spud Webb dunking. You saw it. You saw it often. Heck, you saw Webb win the Slam Dunk Contest. 

But you knew he was 5-foot-7 and probably not even that tall, and so each time there was incredulity, surprise, amazement. Redundancy did not change that. 

This is the Rays excelling. They have won the AL East three times since 2020, the most in the division. They have made the playoffs six times since 2019; only the Yankees (seven) have done so more in the division. They have the sixth-best winning percentage (.565) in the majors since 2018. They actually have the third-best record behind the Dodgers and the Yankees dating to 2008. 

But the small size of their payrolls and home crowds still creates a “wow” effect when they dunk so regularly on the competition.