There is something funny going on with these Tampa Bay Rays. No, it is not the fact that they are in first place in the American League East heading towards the all star break. It is the rat infestation going on in their locker room.

The rat problem stared back shortly after spring training when the team arrived for their home opener. It was then that Carl Crawford first saw a rat run across the carpet in the locker room.

"Scott (Kazmir) was just about to whack it with a shoe, when I said 'Hold up Scott, maybe that thing is good luck'", said Crawford. Then, two days later, another rat appeared, and again the team let it run free.

Now it is over three months later and the Rays are in first place, and many of the teams members believe it is because of the rats. "Yeah, those rats have made a difference in the way we are playing. They're not bad rats like Alex Rodriguez or Barry Bonds, they are good rats, lucky rats," said closer Troy Percival.

The rats have taken on a life of their own in the Rays locker room. They even have their own locker, equipped with cheese and crackers for them to munch on after the games. During the games the rats watch the Rays play on a special seven inch plasma television brought in just for the rats.

The league has not yet commented on the situation, but if it is up to the Rays, the rats would get rings if they were to win the World Series this year. "Those rats, there's something about them," said first baseman Carlos Pena, "they are cool, fun little animals to hang out with. Hell, some are even cooler than a few of my teammates."

As long as the Rays continue their dominance of the league, it will be cheese and crackers for the king rat and all his friends in the Rays locker room.