Mock The Mohawk At Your Own Peril

Silly? Yes; especially when you consider that manager Joe Maddon is wearing one. But the Rays' new mohawk look seems to have mystical powers; a force that the Boston Red Sox were not able to overcome on Tuesday. The Rays broke free from a virtual tie with Boston atop the standings with a 2-1 win at The Trop, as Dioner Navarro's walkoff, bases-loaded single with one out in the ninth won it. And so it's 55 days and counting in first place for your former Devil Rays. I credit the mohawk.

First it was B.J. Upton, then Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria and others followed. Now even manager Joe Maddon is on board. "It's outrageous; I like it," said Longoria about Maddon's Mohawk. "He's been with it all along." Maddon said he decided on Monday to get the style de jure after the Rays' 13-5 loss to the Red Sox. "I noticed Fernando [Perez] walked in with one today," Maddon said. "Because I think he was there last night when I had mine done." Perez has one of the better Mohawks, prompting one reporter to compliment him. Perez then noted: "I think we have a lot of Mohawk virgins around here, this is my fourth."

See Maddon's mohawk here. So now I hope you're happy, Deadspin readers. On Tuesday, I received this email: Rick I always thought Deadspin was the place for the underdog. I don't know your sports affiliations, but you definitely came off as siding with the Red Sox in your post on last night's Rays vs. Red Sox game, particularly your shot at the Rays attendance (the majority were of course pro-Red Sox). I'll be at tonight's game and I'll definitely be able to determine if the majority of fans are pro-Rays, as they normally are, or pro-Boston. If you are there too, please let me know. I'll say hi. You know, I never thought Deadspin would be pro-Evil Empire; I thought that was ESPN's job. Things definitely have changed since Will Leitch left. Jordi Scrubbings I'm not sure how the Red Sox earn Evil Empire status after just five years of being a good team. But whatever, Jordi. I anxiously await a photo of your mohawk. Mohawk Fever Spreading Among Rays [MLB.com]