The Tampa Bay Rays are the feel good story of baseball. So why is it that I still feel bad about their chances?

Perhaps my brain is locked in on the Yankees and Red Sox, the two Goliaths of the AL East that each year morph us into Bill Murray’s character from “Groundhog Day”, where life just repeats itself over and over again.

Wake up… Yankees and Sox in the playoffs.

Wake up… Yankees and Sox in the playoffs.

Wake up… Yankees and Sox in the playoffs.

It’s a viciously annoying cycle.

I wake up and every day I see a new person diving head first onto the Tampa Bay bandwagon. Yet, every day, I stay behind and watch that wagon leave me in its wake.

Another sweep of Boston at “The Trop”, the best record in baseball, no signs of slowing down, and here I am presenting you with the first “anti-Rays” piece of the year.

Hang on a sec, I have to make sure that my head is screwed on straight.

Yep, it is.

Damn.

I don’t come here questioning Tampa Bay’s stockpile of talent – or purposely attempting to burst their bubble. I am questioning their longevity, as many have… until recent weeks that is.

Tampa Bay’s pitching has been great, the defense solid, the hitting there at all the right moments. Many baseball prognosticators discuss how the youth of the Rays will help the team stay fresh throughout the long baseball season.

I instead stare Tampa Bay’s youth right in the face and can only think about how countless times young players wear down during that first season that features a giant workload.

Take a look at the rotation of the Rays. The oldest player on the starting staff, James Shields, is only 26 years old. Youth usually equals inexperience. Let’s dive in deeper regarding the starting five of the Rays…

Scott Kazmir – 24 years old
2008: 7-3, 2.63 ERA
Career Stats: 42-32, 3.50 ERA
Best Season: 2007 – 13-9, 3.48 ERA
Red Flag: Over 200 innings only once in his career (2007), plus has had injury issues

Matt Garza – 24 years old
2008: 7-4, 3.47 ERA
Career: 15-17, 4.06 ERA
Career Best: This season
Red Flag: Never over 100 innings in one season and no more than 15 starts in one year

James Shields – 26 years old
2008: 6-5, 3.70 ERA
Career: 24-21, 4.09 ERA
Career Best: 2007 – 12-8, 3.85 ERA
Red Flag: Over 200 innings only once in his career (2007)

Edwin Jackson – 24 years old
2008: 4-6, 4.33 ERA
Career: 15-25, 5.30 ERA
Career Best: This season
Red Flag: 161 innings last year (Nothing over 40 previously), Never had ERA under 5 (with exception to four game performance in 2003 in LA)

Andy Sonnanstine – 25 years old
2008: 9-3, 4.60 ERA
Career: 15-13, 5.31 ERA
Career Best: This season
Red Flag: Only one other season in majors – 130 plus innings and 22 starts

There you have it, an inexperienced and youthful rotation, in which more than half of the group is experiencing a career year so far.

Still, we haven’t even hit the dog days of summer yet. The All-Star break isn’t even here. There’s certainly a chance that any of these players could begin to struggle as the season winds down. Injuries can and do occur.

As we all know, when a rotation falters, the bullpen usually crashes down with it. The ‘pen doesn’t get its regular rest. With the pitching struggles, quite often the offensive players may start pressing. It’s all a domino effect.

Go ahead and bring up the 2006 Detroit Tigers as an example. Fine, Verlander was a rookie and pitched well, but Jeremy Bonderman had three seasons of 160+ innings before Detroit’s 2006 World Series run. The rest of the team was speckled with seasoned veterans such as Pudge Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, and Magglio Ordonez. The Tigers are a different story.

Go ahead and talk about baseball’s trading deadline, and some potential moves Tampa Bay can make. I know they have the depth in their farm system to make a deal.

Still, every single one of us knows that both Boston and New York will find a way to refuel at the deadline. Players will drop their no-trade clauses and flock to each of these powerhouses. Plain and simple, the major markets will get deals done.

What I want to know is this: Does the Tampa Bay front office have the “stones” to make a major deal? Tampa Bay teams of the past certainly didn’t. The “Artist formerly known as the Devil Rays” dealt away Aubrey Huff way too late, never getting enough value for him. Then there was the injury prone Rocco Baldelli, who was wanted by most of the league for years. Tampa Bay never moved him. Now, as sad as it is, Baldelli’s career is likely over.

Still, everyone jumps on the wagon, praising those sneaky little “devils” of the game – the Rays.
As for me, while the Rays are a fun and unexpected story, I can’t help but admit that I still see a collapse in sight. The rotation is young and inexperienced. If they falter, the bullpen will tire. Following that, the offense could begin to press. All the while, the major markets are restocking their rosters.

Maybe I’m off base. Maybe the Rays can use this piece as bulletin board material. Maybe I’m still stuck in that “Groundhog Day” rut.

Wake up… “Rays of light” shining on the game of baseball.

I awake and only see “Rays of plight”.

That’s right, I’m doubting one of the better baseball stories in recent memory.

Cue the Rays, who now have to prove me wrong.

Late May was only a few short months ago, yet it was a very different time in the city of Boston.  The sun would rise like any other day, only this time the birds appeared to be chirping more happily and enthusiastically, people had an extra skip in their step as they went about their daily lives, and the city’s beloved Red Sox had a 14 ½ game lead over the hated rival New York Yankees.  You could sum it all up by saying “Life was good”.

Saying that times have changed by now can easily be referred to as the understatement of the year.  First off, the New York Yankees are healthier.  As a team, the Yankees are also hitting better, pitching better, playing better, and winning more.  A lot more.  On the other side, Boston has suffered through some injuries, pitchers have showed signs of wearing down, while the clutch hits and big victories are disappearing quicker than the local fanbase could say “Yankees Suck”.  Weeks ago, it was revealed that David Ortiz had an injured knee, but would play through the pain.  In recent weeks, Manny Ramirez suffered through a few minor injuries that have shelved him for numerous days.  Daisuke Matsuzaka, as predicted by many, has shown some signs of wearing down, therefore becoming somewhat ineffective down the stretch.  The same goes for Hideki Okajima, who as of today, has been shut down for a number of days due to a tired arm.  Finally, there’s Eric Gagne, the prized acquisition at the trade deadline, who was brought in to solidify and steady a very deep bullpen.  Only, he has been a disaster since landing in Boston.  

With all that being said, as the Summer continued to give way to the Fall, Boston’s division lead continued to diminish.  Still, Red Sox fans persevered and remained confident that the team’s lead was large enough to not only still win the American League East division, but also earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Now, both are in jeopardy.  The Indians and Angels have both caught the Red Sox for the best overall record in the American League, while the Yankees are only 1 ½ games back in the division race.

With their 2004 title in tow, the Boston fanbase was starting to feel pretty good about itself, until recently, when everything began to fall apart.  What was once a very promising season could now be just like any other for the Red Sox.  Whether any of New England wants to admit it or not, the widespread panic is starting to settle in.  All the tell tale signs are there, trust me.  I hear it.  I see it.  Stressed faces, no finger nails, sweaty brows, bitter looks, bickering at the water cooler, angry, aggressive drivers on the streets, honking at anything that moves.  Yes, indeed the panic button has been pressed in Boston.  Sound the alarms… all hands on deck!  It is going to be a wild ride coming in.

It’s time to for you to step in and help a Sox fan in need.

And you ask… KP, what can I do to help?

Whether you like them, love them, or despise them, as a decent human being, it’s your duty to step in and help out.  Plain and simple, their nearly 150 million dollar payroll simply isn’t cutting it, and the fans are paying the price.  Think about it this way, they’re filling the seats in your team’s stadium too, therefore giving your team money to spend in the offseason, that is… if your team possesses an owner that would actually do that.

Yes, you can make a difference!  Help a Sox fan in need!  They need suggestions to pass the time, to help not have to think and stress about baseball.  They desperately need your help.  

Take a minute or two out of your day.  Find it in your heart to help a Sox fan today.  If you can give a little suggestion each day, you may be able to change the life of a Sox fan.

Yes, you too can help save a Boston fan.  Here’s what you can do, send your suggestions to:

            Save a Sox Fan
            P.O. Box 1918
            Boston, MA 02004 **

To help contribute to the overall cause, I personally have brainstormed and submitted my own list of 25 ways to help save the Sox fans of the world, some being serious, some semi-serious, and some just downright silly.  Either way, they all have the same intention… to help save a Sox fan.  

KP’s Ways to Help Save the Sox Fans

Watch highlights of the 2004 Boston Red Sox team.

Stage your own “Boston Tea Party” event, only with boxes of Yankees paraphernalia.

Sit outside of Fenway Park dressed like Paul Revere screaming “The Yankees are coming!  The Yankees are coming!”

Create your own Freedom Trail bar tour, and invite fellow Red Sox fans to attend.

Send letters out to the appropriate parties to support the Rookie of the Year campaign for Dustin Pedroia.  

The Red Sox are still playoff bound.  Therefore, just in case you have to play the Yankees, make early plans by booking a discounted trip to New York via the Fung Wah bus line.

Challenge Takeru Kobayashi to a Fenway Frank eating contest.

Put up a billboard at Fenway Park that not only features a popular local product, but also provides a message to help manager Terry Francona avoid making ill-advised decisions, such as the following:

Practice your Boston accent, and use it to talk baseball. Take the following examples:
        - That pitchah throws a wicked hahhd fastball.
        - The dater on ‘dis guy says he can smack one ovah the Monstah and outta the pahhk.
        - You think Papelbon will blow ‘dis game?  Whatayou, retahdid?

Send letters out to the appropriate parties to support Mike Lowell in the race for the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

Track down Bill Buckner and apologize.

Indulge in the local Boston comfort foods, such as lobster, lobster rolls, cranberries, fried clams, Boston baked beans, Boston Crème Pie, Dunkin’ Donuts, Samuel Adams beer, or a wicked good bowl of New England ‘Chowda’

Sticking with the local comfort foods, gorge on Boston baked beans and Sam Adams beer, and then take a trip to visit some New York fans (It’ll be a gas!).

Brainstorm unique replacements for Boston’s setup man role.  Personally, I’m going with Chewbacca.

Replay the Clay Buchholz no-hitter game for good karma.

With Kevin Youkilis (“Youk”) hurt, the fanbase needs a new name to cheer throughout the game.  Try and brainstorm the best candidate to replace him.  Take the following options:
        - J.D. Drew – “Dreeewwwwwww” (If he could only get on base…)
        - Julio Lugo – “Luuuuuuuuuggoo” (see J.D. Drew)
        - Mike Lowell – “Looowwweeelllllll” (Not the best name option, but will have to do)

Rent “Fever Pitch”.

Play Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, and keep the track on repeat.

Create your own recording of Frank Sinatra’s song “New York” only with the word “Boston” dubbed in instead.

Relax, there’s always the Pats, who are absolutely dominating the NFL so far this season.

Relax some more, there’s always the Celtics.  Basketball season is coming soon, and Boston finally has something to look forward to for a change, with three All-Stars existing on the team’s roster.

Throw darts at your customized Bucky Dent dartboard.

Throw darts at your customized Aaron Boone dartboard.

Stop playing darts.  There are just too many bad memories there.

And finally…

If you’re a Red Sox fan, just think of the 2006 Detroit Tigers.  If you will recall, last season, the Tigers went into a free fall down the stretch, and on the final day of the season, Detroit lost the division title to the Minnesota Twins (after getting swept by the Royals).  However, come playoff time, the 2006 Tigers were very much a rejuvenated team that eventually cruised by New York and Oakland to make it to the World Series.  The same thing could easily happen for Boston, as even though the team has struggled, the talent still exists on the roster.  


There, I’ve done my part.  I’m doing what it takes, and taking my free time to personally do what I can to “Save a Sox Fan” today.  Won’t you do the same?  They’re out there, and they need you!


** Address does not exist – do not waste your stamps!

Every new baseball season, each team earns a clean slate, and 2007 will be no different.  However, whether each team likes it or not, everyone earns a reputation and a theme even before entering spring training camp.  To further try and explain each team’s theme, I have attempted to briefly describe each theme in song form, stating that during spring training, each one of these songs should be heard throughout each team’s training camp.

For Part 1, I will focus on the themes of the American League for 2007…

AL EAST

Baltimore Orioles

“This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” – Fall Out Boy

The Orioles already have a proven offense, which in the offseason added a few more bats that will help (e.g. Aubrey Huff and Jay Payton), but overall, in order to compete in the AL East, Baltimore knows that it will need continued development from its young starting rotation as well as consistent play from its completely overhauled bullpen.  Furthermore, the O’s have been “making a scene” in recent years, with all the steroid accusations that keep flying around the clubhouse regarding current and former players.  Therefore, all in all, the Orioles know that in order to win, Leo Mazzone will need to get through to his pitching staff, and the team needs to avoid any other controversies, because “this ain’t a scene, it’s an arms race”.  The bats have already proven that they can hit… the arms need to prove that they can pitch.

Boston Red Sox

“Turning Japanese” – Vapors

“Dice-K” mania has just started in Boston, and already the media has swallowed him up whole.  Matsuzaka is all the Red Sox are talking about.  The Japanese media is also no doubt excited about another one of its legends taking on the Major Leagues, and will be following him throughout his career in Boston.  Therefore, I think it is safe to say that as the song goes, entering this spring, the Red Sox are “turning Japanese, I think they’re turning Japanese, I really think so”.  Time will only tell as to how Matsuzaka performs in the majors, and if he will be worth the contract that he signed.

New York Yankees

“Changes” – David Bowie

The Yankees still have an extremely hefty payroll as a team, but New York went through a series of unique “ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” during this offseason.  Gone were the days of exorbitant and borderline careless spending on every player possible, and replaced with trading some big names (e.g. Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson) for young talent.  The Yankees came up with new strategies, while also keeping a powerful lineup featuring a number of all-stars, but also adding in some younger talented pitchers that the organization hopes will finally push them back to the top of baseball.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

“Same Old Song And Dance” - Aerosmith

Tons of young talent and promising prospects… all playing in the same beat up old dome, where only a small percentage of the seats are filled on a regular basis.  All in all, “it’s the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend”.  When will the young Rays finally step up its game to the next level, or will it never happen in a brutal AL East division?  Will it instead be like the days of old, when Tampa Bay eventually can’t afford its talented players, and management has to deal each away for more young talent… making the vicious cycle start all over again?

Toronto Blue Jays

“The Fragile” – Nine Inch Nails

OK, I realize that this team finished second in the AL East in 2006.  The Blue Jays did manage to resign Vernon Wells, and added another impact bat in Frank Thomas.  This is no doubt a very talented team that could go far.  However, I honestly don’t think I know another team in the majors that has more stars that get injured so frequently.  Among the fragile stars on this team include Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, and the newly acquired Frank Thomas.  If any of these players (or others) go down, Toronto will have a tough time keeping pace with the rest of the division.

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

“Sweet Up And Down” – Dave Matthews Band

The White Sox got lost back during the 2006 season, but people need to realize that this was a championship team in 2005, and a very talented team entering 2007.  Chicago still features some very potent bats, featuring Jim Thome and Paul Konerko.  The starting rotation still includes a number of quality arms, and the bullpen is still solid.  Overall, this team is pretty “sweet up and down” the entire roster, and if things go Chicago’s way, they could be right back in the playoff mix come October.

Cleveland Indians

“Forgotten” – Linkin Park

The Indians probably like coming into 2007 slightly under the radar, but it wouldn’t be wise for other teams in baseball to forget about the Tribe.  This team is very talented across the board, and if you recall, was in the playoff chase in 2005.  With a newly revamped bullpen to join up with a young and talented offense and solid rotation, the Indians could once again make a chase at earning a playoff spot.

Detroit Tigers

“Rearviewmirror” – Pearl Jam

The Tigers were the surprise story of the 2006 season, coming out of nowhere and eventually making it to the World Series, where they would fall to the Cardinals.  However, with continued development of its young pitching staff, along with the addition of power bat Gary Sheffield, the Tigers very well could have the American League in its rearview mirror once again… and Detroit should act that way until someone else proves them otherwise.

Kansas City Royals

“Nice Guys Finish Last” – Green Day

Overspending for Gil Meche was the most talked about the story for the Royals in the offseason.  However, adding Meche alone likely will not be enough for the Royals to compete in a stacked AL Central division that includes the 2005 Champs (White Sox), the 2006 Central division winner (Twins), the 2006 AL World Series representative (Tigers), and a very talented and improved Indians team that could make some noise.  Kansas City has a very talented young core, with players such as Ryan Shealy and Alex Gordon, but the Royals are likely still a few years away.

Minnesota Twins

“Pressure” – Billy Joel

The Twins are not the wealthiest team in baseball by any means, but the front office certainly knows how to draft, acquire, and develop young talent.  Players like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, and Francisco Liriano helped push the Twins to another AL playoff berth in 2006, and this time, a division title.  However, with Liriano likely out for the year due to injury, and an increasingly difficult division to deal with, the new young replacements in Minnesota will have a great deal of pressure on them from day one.

AL WEST

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

“Halo” – Depeche Mode

Ownership in Anaheim promised a major impact bat to come to Anaheim… er, I mean Los Angeles.  That didn’t happen, but the team did hold onto some impact youngsters, as well as making a few interesting acquisitions, including Gary Matthews Jr. who now may have gotten himself stuck into a performance enhancing drug controversy.  Either way, the “Halos” will need a balance of quality efforts coming from both its veterans and youngsters in order to get the job done in the American League this season.

Oakland Athletics

“Trust Me” – The Fray

No matter what moves the A’s make, the team always seems to be in the thick of the race in recent years.  This past offseason, players like Frank Thomas and Barry Zito departed Oakland.  With the loss of Thomas, Oakland replaced him with a similar player type in Mike Piazza, another aging power hitting superstar to play DH.  Overall, when the season starts, you have to wonder about Billy Beane’s moves, but the way the team performs, the fans should trust him and his moves.  It’s as simple as that.

Seattle Mariners

“Jewel Of The Summertime” – Audioslave

Let’s face it… the moves that the Mariners made were fairly subtle, even though the team made some solid attempts at signing some marquee free agents.  Overall, the focus on this season will once again be the further emergence of Felix Hernandez.  With many reports stating that Seattle held “King Felix” back to limited innings and pitch counts at times in 2006, now could be the year that he gets unleashed in the AL West… and therefore, the young fireballer is truly Seattle’s “jewel of the summertime”.

Texas Rangers

“New Kid In Town” – The Eagles

Buck Showalter is out as manager of the Rangers, and in is Ron Washington, who used to be the third base coach for the division rival Oakland A’s.  Washington, the new kid in town, inherits a team with a great deal of talent, especially on the offensive side.  The Rangers have struggled in the pitching department for years.  However, some other “new kids” will attempt to turn the pitching woes around.  Among the new pitchers include Eric Gagne and Brandon McCarthy.  Let us also not forget that Sammy Sosa came out of retirement and accepted a spring invitation to try and make the club in 2007.

In Conclusion

There you have it, a grouping of songs that I feel fit as the current themes for each team in baseball’s American League.  Now the question remains as to how accurate each team theme will be, and how each team in baseball will perform as the season progresses.  There are always a few surprises that come out of nowhere during each baseball season.  Who will shock the world in 2007?  Only time will tell… until then, sit back, relax, and listen to a few tunes.  The season is just getting started… and the National League is on deck.