We should all be over the initial shock of seeing the Tampa Bay Rays with the best record in baseball, but each day they continue their stellar play only compounds our surprise. With wins in the first two games of a series against the Boston Red Sox, the Rays have taken a 2.5-game lead in the AL East with 79 games left on their schedule.

Nobody saw that coming, not even optimists with the highest expectations for a young, unproven team so accustomed to losing. From manager Joe Maddon to the starting rotation anchored by James Shields and Scott Kazmir to the bullpen to the offense, everyone has done their jobs nearly to perfection.

Maddon has done a superb job setting a confident, almost brash attitude in the Rays’ clubhouse, and his young roster has taken the cue. Long gone are the days of being baseball’s doormat, and in are the days of going nose-to-nose with the Red Sox and Yankees and contending for a playoff berth. With Maddon at the helm, Tampa Bay has always felt like it belonged on the same field as the perennial American League powers.

Shields and Kazmir are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Rays’ starting pitching. Twins import Matt Garza has pitched superbly when healthy, and Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine have combined for a 13-9 record as the No. 4 and No. 5 starters. More importantly, each pitcher has given Tampa Bay a chance to win every time out by competing and working deep into games.

Even having missed first baseman Carlos Pena for 20 games, the young, dynamic offense has not missed a beat. B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria are the franchise cornerstones, but guys like Eric Hinske, Cliff Floyd and Gabe Gross have been productive in providing a quality veteran presence.

The rookie Longoria was called up 10 days into the season and has proceeded to lead the club in doubles, homers and RBIs. He is one of four Rays players with at least 40 RBIs, a testament to the lineup’s balance.

The other key ingredient to Tampa Bay’s success has been a scrappy fearlessness, evidenced by the club leading baseball with 88 stolen bases and 120 stolen base attempts. If the power and balance don’t get you, speed certainly will.

July will present another challenge with closer Troy Percival starting the month on the disabled list for a second time with a sore hamstring. The ninth inning burden likely falls onto the shoulders of Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour, who closed out Tuesday night’s win over Boston. How Maddon can bring the unit together in Percival’s absence will go a long way in determining wins and losses the rest of the way.