Rays see success without the "Devil" - coincidence?

St. Petersburg, Florida -- Is it just a coincidence that the Tampa Bay Rays' success started the same season they dropped "Devil" from their name? We went to folks who should know: a group of season ticket holders who are also Catholic priests.

Tom Anastasia looks like any other Rays season ticket holder. He's got the cowbell, the jersey, and the lungs to shout encouraging words to his team.

But there's no beer in his hand, and no date on his arm. Something's up.

"Father John Gerth sits here," Anastasia said, gesturing toward one of the spots in the row. "I'm in this seat here, and Father Bob Morris" is in the next seat over.

Tom Anastasia -- Father Tom Anastasia -- sits in a row of Roman Catholic priests. The two others couldn't make it to Monday night's game, but typically there are three father fans sitting side by side.

"We try not to talk about work, but sometimes we do," he admitted.

Anastasia says 10 years as a devoted "Devil" Rays fan wasn't easy.

"It was sometimes tough. And it's not because of the name -- but because of all the losing! That was what made it tough," he said.

You can be sure this subject has come up -- has the decision to drop the "Devil" from the "Rays" played a role in this year's astounding success? Anastasia first danced around the question. Then, after a moment to think, he said he "has faith."

"I love the way they play as one team, and, you know, I'm just buying into it," he added.

And his boss (on earth) agrees. Bishop Robert Lynch, leader of the Catholic church in five Bay area counties through the Diocese of St. Petersburg, is also a huge fan of the don't-call-them-Devil Rays.

"It took the new management to exorcize the 'Devil.' And how can Devils ever win when they're playing Angels?" Bishop Lynch asked with a grin.

"So, now, at least, it's the Rays playing the Angels. So it's not one of these massive heavenly battles between good and evil. It's between the Rays and the Angels and the rest of the leagues."

When you think of a "man of the cloth", you don't think the "cloth" will be a button-up jersey with "Rays" on the front. But the reborn Rays need devoted fans. And nobody does devotion quite like Catholic priests.