Key Additions:
Rafael Soriano (RP)
Kelly Shoppach (C)
Key Departures:
Troy Percival (RP)
Jason Isringhausen (RP)
Akinori Iwamura (2B)
Gregg Zaun (C)
The Tampa Bay Rays were the media darlings heading into the 2008 season. In America we love the little guy, we love to see the underdog prevail, and people wanted the Rays to build upon their unprecedented success in 2007. There were some who believed the Rays had successfully refuted the idea that the teams with the most money win the most games. Then 2008 happened.
The Rays disappointed many including myself last season finishing third in the AL East; finishing a mere afterthought as the media left their Rays for the usual love of the Yankees Red Sox rivalry. B.J. Upton was a major disappointment hitting a mediocre .241 with 11 homeruns and 55 RBIs. Upton did steal 42 bags for the Rays but was not the complete all-around player the Rays thought they would get year in and year out following a breakout 2007 (.300, 28 HRs, 82 RBIs, and 22 SBs). For the Rays it's not all about B.J. Upton. There's another player, Evan Longoria, whose name you've ought to have gotten straight by now. While he's not as minx-y as Eva Longoria (pictured below) he is rather skilled in the field and in the batter's box. Longoria won a gold glove at third last season and had a great offensive season hitting 33 dingers and driving in 113 at a .281 clip.
This could be Carl Crawford's last season with the Rays. One of the most overlooked players in the league, Crawford can catch any ball in the field and can steal any base. Last season Crawford stole 60 bases for the Rays and hit .305 and drove in 68 runs. One cannot ask for much more from his leadoff hitter.
My concerns with the Rays this season lie in rotation depth. When I look at the 1-2-3's up north in New York and Boston and re-examine the Rays rotation, I can't help but think it does not even come close to either. Shields and Garza are great but I still think that Price is at least a year away from being consistently decent as a starter in the major leagues. Jeff Niemann was decent last year going 13-6 with an ERA under four, but compared to the Red Sox number three (John Lackey) and the Yankees number three (Javier Vazquez) he becomes Victor Zambrano.
I'm perfectly okay with saying the Rays will miss out on the playoffs this season and are in danger of losing players like Carl Crawford if they can't put it together this season.
Projected Starting Nine:
1. Carl Crawford (LF)
2. B.J. Upton (CF)
3. Evan Longoria (3B)
4. Carlos Pena (1B)
5. Ben Zobrist 2B
6. Matt Joyce (RF)
7. Dioner Navarro (C)
8. Pat Burrell (DH)
9. Jason Bartlett (SS)
Projected Starting Rotation:
1. James Shields
2. Matt Garza
3. Jeff Niemann
4. David Price
5. Wade Davis
Predicted Finish: 3rd in the AL East.
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