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Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sherman: Forget 2010, the Rays are contenders right now

And the Rays are now half way to Francesspool’s (ewww..Gross!) prediction of 64 wins for the season.

But being a young team such as Tampa Bay in 2008 might be less detrimental than being an old team such as the Yankees. That is where I begin my five reasons why I think the Rays are in the race to stay:

1. It is hard to ignore that greater emphasis on drug enforcement in the game has favored younger players. Older players are starting to look like, well, older players, not like guys who found a fountain of youth in a syringe. Cliff Floyd, at 35, is the Rays DH. But no Tampa Bay regular position player is older than 30 and its five starting pitchers are 26 and younger. The main age is in the bullpen, especially with 38-year-olds Al Reyes, who was on the DL earlier this year, and closer Troy Percival, who is on it now. If you believe youth will persevere this season, you believe in Tampa Bay.

3. The defense is definitely legit. Tampa Bay has the AL’s fewest errors (23) and the majors’ best defensive efficiency (which calculates the percentage of balls put into play that are translated into outs). The Rays re-did their infield with spectacular results. Akinori Iwamura (zero errors) was switched from third to second, Longoria was installed at third and Jason Bartlett was obtained along with Garza from Minnesota to lock down shortstop. The correlation of better defense to improved pitching is obvious. And defense is not likely to wane as the season progresses.

Repoz Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:05 PM | 20 comment(s)
Related News: General, Tampa Bay

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1. Dinner With Frenchy Posted: June 01, 2008 at 04:21 PM (#2802386)

Talk to me in August!

2. Repoz

Posted: June 01, 2008 at 04:39 PM (#2802407)

Talk to me in August!

LOL! Will do Mikey!

3. RayDiPerna Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:17 PM (#2802424)

No way they can win. Mike Francesa says it's impossible since they are the Tampa Bay Rays. Apparently there is a little-known law of the universe which prohibits them from finishing above the Yankees.

4. cardsfanboy

Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:24 PM (#2802429)

I think I remember reading this article every year about the Cubs.

5. Phil Coorey Needs To Know How To Kill A Cat Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:25 PM (#2802431)

Huge series against the Red Sox this week - I'm looking forward to it. I think we miss Kazmir as well which is a relief - though he'll probably pitch on 3 days rest just to screw with our heads.

6. Jim Wisinski is waiting till next year Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2802435)

The Rays could skip Jackson on Thursday, letting Kazmir go on normal rest thanks to the off day. I doubt that'll happen though.

This whole road trip is huge for the team. 9 games, against the teams expected to win the AL East and West as well as going to Texas where visiting teams often have some trouble. I've kept my enthusiasm tempered throughout this season (before the season I was sure that they would be at least .500 but didn't have much of any chance at the playoffs) but them going at least 4-5 in this stretch would be huge and remove any doubts for me about their ability to contend and maybe even be the current favorite for the wild card. Fun stuff.

7. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:36 PM (#2802437)

I think I remember reading this article every year about the Cubs.

I was thinking Blue Jays. but yeah .. Cubs works too.

8. 3Com Park Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:38 PM (#2802438)

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

9. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:41 PM (#2802440)

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

Perhaps because the guy they signed to handle the gig is acquitting himself well at the moment (even if he may be more of an injury risk than BB).

10. Rafael Bellylard has become a Mets fan! Posted: June 01, 2008 at 05:47 PM (#2802443)

How is it, if they are truly contenders, that they don't sign Bonds to DH?

Guess I missed the memo that stated in order to truly contend, you have to sign Barry Bonds.

11. RMc is the Commissioner of Baseball Posted: June 01, 2008 at 06:11 PM (#2802453)

Marlins-Rays in October? Finally, a World Series I'll be able to get tickets to see!

12. GIANTlhbASS Posted: June 01, 2008 at 08:55 PM (#2802654)

Marlins-Rays in October? Finally, a World Series I'll be able to get tickets to see!

Depends on who's singing after the game.

13. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: June 01, 2008 at 08:59 PM (#2802656)

Depends on who's singing after the game.

Tony Orlando has the perfect name for the gig.

14. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: June 01, 2008 at 08:59 PM (#2802658)

"Game 2 of the 2008 World Series was attended by 40,000 fans, filling Tropicana Field with more than five times as many fans as attended Game 1. The extra spectators were attracted by a free concert after the game featuring A Flock of Seagulls and Matthew Wilder."

15. cardsfanboy

Posted: June 01, 2008 at 10:15 PM (#2802765)

now having read the article, the exercise at the beginning is pretty good way of looking at things, I find it strange that Mariano Rivera didn't get unanimous vote. I also think it's a stretch to say Cano helps the team right now(note I'm just looking at his stats for this season) I find some of his choices not to make sense though.

I mean Damon is having a very good year for him to take a back seat to pretty much anyone is ridiculous, but he has him behind a pitcher that isn't even on the active roster for the Rays and behind a hitter that is a dh that is hitting worse than him this season.

Ok, just for fun look at a potential lineup from these two teams.

c Posada
1b Giambi
2b Cano (having a worse year than Iwamura but higher upside I imagine)
ss Jeter
3b Arod
OF Crawford
OF Damon
OF Abreu
DH Matsui

offensively speaking I just don't see too many Rays on that list, and only Upton I think has an argument to being legitimately left off) Longoria of course is just overshadowed and Matsui is currently a better hitter so I couldn't put him at dh either. Of course I'm probably underrating defensive value which may help a couple of the Rays players, but right now it looks like only Crawford could break the starting lineup of the Yankees.

Rotation
Kazmir
Shields
Garza
Wang
Jackson (surprised myself here, only Yankee that I'm currently probably underrating is Mussina and both of the young pitchers have upside that is possibly realizable this season, but I'll take the ones who are currently performing)

Pen
Rivera (is this guy ever going to age?)
Chamberlain
Wheeler
and whoever else you feel like adding.

It's kinda funny looking at this and seeing that the Rays strength is pitching when that has been what everyone has been worried about them developing prior to this season. But man it looks to me like the Rays have the talent to be good for several years, just not really sure they are better than the Yankees this year. (over 162 games that is)

16. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: June 01, 2008 at 10:42 PM (#2802778)

Depends on who's singing after the game.

Gloria Estefan

17. Jim Wisinski is waiting till next year Posted: June 01, 2008 at 10:49 PM (#2802783)

Upton doesn't just have an argument against being left off, he's a better overall player than the three outfielders you put on.

Howell has to be added to the bullpen there. His ERA is a bit inflated from one disasterous outing early this week against Texas where he gave up a full third of his runs for the season but he has been 10 kinds of awesome out of the 'pen for the Rays. He has come up huge so many times already in just a third of the season.

18. The Clarence Thomas of BTF (scott) Posted: June 01, 2008 at 11:03 PM (#2802787)

lets go rays!

19. cardsfanboy

Posted: June 01, 2008 at 11:07 PM (#2802791)

Upton doesn't just have an argument against being left off, he's a better overall player than the three outfielders you put on.

yep, I somehow looked at uptons line and thought it was Crawford (yes I'm having medical issues that is causing concentration problems, but didn't realize I completly missed the line)

20. RMc is the Commissioner of Baseball Posted: June 02, 2008 at 07:12 AM (#2802835)

Scary Thought Department: A World Series win by the Rays would give Tampa Bay their third championship (in three different sports) in six years...

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Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sherman: Forget 2010, the Rays are contenders right now

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