The Rays have turned around this year and become one of the best teams in baseball for 2008. I can't figure out why they have improved so much in the last year, and being a boston fan, i'm starting to worry about how the AL East is shaping up.
Going back to 2001, the most wins the Rays had in a single year was 67. This year, the Rays have 68 wins with still nearly 2 months of baseball left. I'm having trouble figuring out how they've improved so much.
During the last few seasons, the Rays have been plagued by multiple injuries, which may have hurt their record. This year, they have had littl eproblems with injuries, and the team is playing well. I heard on some sports show that the Rays should have done better during the last few seasons but again the injuries limited the team. If Rocco Baldeli returns this year, and matches his previous numbers, the Rays have a great chance of winning the AL East.
The Rays haven't had any major aquisitions during the offseason. However, having the rookie Evan Longoria has helped the team, and he has the most home runs hit by a Rays rookie, wiht still two months of baseball to go. He is a great third baseman, and undoubtibly has helped the team.
I also heard somewhere that their schedule has been easy this year, helping the team. I have yet to look at the Rays schedule this year, so I don't know how good of a reason this is. Anyway, if this is the case, than that will also have an impact on how the team does this year. We'll just have to see how everything shapes up.
The Rays schedule for the first half of the year was the most difficult in the American League.
This years injury bug has been pretty bad. They lost Carlos Pena for a month. they lost Scott Kazmir for a month. They lost Matt Garza for 4 starts. They have lost their starting shortstop for three weeks. They have lost their 2nd baseman for 3 weeks. Al Reyes has been on the DL twice. Dioner Navarro was lost for a month. Troy Percival has been on the DL twice. Longoria got called up so quickly because Willie Aybar got hurt in the first week. Ray Floyd has been on the DL. Carl Crawford has been bothered by a bad hamstring all year. Rocco has been out all year when he was expected to play.
The most wins they have ever had was in 2004. They had 70 wins that year.
The Rays didn't have any "star" acquisitions during the offseason but they did have some key acquisitions. Cliff Floyd, The Red Sox' own Eric Hinske, Trevor Miller, Troy Percival, Willy Aybar, Matt Garza, Jason Barlett. All of these guys have contributed greatly to the early success and Eric Hinske carried the team for the first 6 weeks. You don't have to pick up a marquis name to make a key acquisition.
I'll tell you why they have improved. They went from having the worst bullpen in the majors to having the best bullpen this year. the middle defense has improved so much that the Rays are one of the best defensive teams in baseball. Guys like Andy Sonnanstine, Edwin Jackson and J.P. Howell earned their stripes last year and the experiense is paying off in 2008.
Im sure you will get the answers your looking for. There will be two knuckle heads that will visit this post because you put Rays in the title and their drawn to that word like moths to the flame. They are experts, i'll give them that. But beware of these two bloggers for they are cute as puppies on the outside, but rabbid dogs on the inside.
Dam!!! one of them beat me here! his ears must have been ringin
Last edited by blue@orange on August 6th at 7:28 PM.
There are many reasons why the lowly Rays have stepped up this year, but primarily it's been good pitching and defense. You neglected to mention their All Star catcher Navarro. This young man has come out of nowhere to hit over .300 all year and has become a team leader. He got in one pitcher's grill on the mound this year and then the two scuffled in the locker room. Since then I think everyone knew this young catcher wasn't kidding around. Longoria is clutch but all told it's been a team effort with excellent chemistry.
Considering the pitching, I don't think these guys are going away...
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The Rays are a young team that will be a factor in the east for years to come. The new management has brought a change in attitude and the players have bought into their system for the long term. If Baldelli's comeback is successful the Rays will make some noise in the post season.
soxrule'
There's a tenacity and resiliency that absolutely no one had envisaged seeing from this team. Not even the die-hard and most rabid of Rays' fans. And it all has to do with these young players buying into what Maddon is selling more than anything else. And at the same time there's a confidence about many of the younger players that comes from them being around each other and believing in the other's capabilities. And nowhere is this more self evident than in the play of Longoria and Kazmir. These two guys just go out there and get it done ! They may well be the heart and soul of the team merely from the way that they've been playing.
justan' aka tophatal ..........
Last edited by justanotherfan on August 7th at 12:00 PM.
I am also a Sox fan but can't help but feel good for this orginization as they have a great group of solid young ballplayers that play the game they way it SHOULD be played...except Gomes and Crawford are still cheap shot artists for their bid on Cocoa earlier(which I didn't agree with his decision to charge the mound in the first place!)...hit a man when he's down? W-E-A-K
