“If at first you don’t succeed try again” For the Tampa Bay Rays this phrase has never been truer. Through the first decade of existence, the Rays were the laughingstock of not only the American League East, but the entire league. Suddenly in 2008, out of nowhere, the Rays turned their fortunes around, getting off to a strong start and finishing as the American League Champions by season’s end, as they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Regardless of the outcome of 2008, the season would go down as a success for the team, as 2008 not only was one of their winning seasons, but they almost won the World Series too. In the two years since their Cinderella season, the Rays have become one of the best teams in baseball. Further fans have gone from betting against the Rays, to betting for them.
This season, could end up as the team’s best as they have accumulated a record of 32 wins and 13 losses thus far. Also, the average age on the team is an astonishing 26. The team’s backbone has been its starting pitching staff. Each pitcher has the goal of throwing a complete game, and if that falters, the bullpen is strong enough to maintain the lead and eventual victory. Starting pitcher and top prospect David Price, leads the league with a 1.30 ERA, even though, he is the number four starter in the rotation. As seen with the average age on the team, the majority of the roster came from the Rays farm system, proving that being bad for years can have its benefits. Similar to other AL East teams, the Rays offense has a lot of depth at each position, led by the power of first and third basemen Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, the Rays continue to lead the league in stolen bases with outfielders Carl Crawford and BJ Upton leading the charge on the base path’s. Given how strong of a start the Rays have gotten off too, it appears that they will soon claim their title as the best team in baseball, while assuring their Cinderella story comes to fruition.
