Rays, not so hot right now

Here it is, the Tampa Bay Rays have lost 3 in a row, to the Yankees no less, and lead the AL East by a meger 2 games. This is a thought we have been kicking around for some time now, and we figure that now is just as good a time as any. The Rays won’t win the AL East, and they won’t even make the playoffs. Sure, all of the media thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread Super Smash Brothers, but the media has been known to get caught up in “who’s now” before. The Rays have several flaws that many “analysts” like to over-look. For the analysts and our reader, we have a comprehensive list about why the Rays ship will sink, and don’t worry, we won’t involve VORP or “adjusted batting averages.”

1.) Although the name has changed, these are still the same old Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays. This is a team that has never won more than 70 games in a season, and currently has 11 less wins than they had all of last season. Granted their players are maturing before our eyes, but they have not made too many tremendously key additions. Matt Garza appears to be performing well, but hey, it’s Matt Garza.

2.) Why are they so good right now? Superman Evan Longoria has helped tremendously, but he is only batting .281. Sure, he has 16 homers and hasn’t been playing the entire season, but he also has 76 K’s in that same time span. Carlos Pena, who hit 46 bombs last year, is a shell of his former self with 14 homers and his minute batting average of .233. Right now, they only have have 1 +.300 hitter. Dioner Navarro also happens to be a lifetime .261 hitter. The lovely thing about baseball, and batting average, is that is typical remains constant. A career .261 hitter, stays a .261 hitter. There might be some abberations, but .051 points is a little more than the standard deviation. The next closest average on the team is the aformentioned Longoria. Where is the offense going to come from on this team? We think Cliff Floyd is a swell guy, but he just isn’t going to cut it. I will take my chances with Manny Ramirez any day.

3.) Right now, the anchor of the team is the pitching staff. For wins, see Andy Sonnanstine. For ERA, see Matt Garza. For K’s see James Shields. Sonnanstine has nearly doubled his career win total, Garza looks stoned in his profile picture, and James Shields looks poised to have another stellar year. All of this great pitching has been going on without the mention of Scott Kazmir. He is clearly the ace of the staff, and by far the best player on the team (haha Mets fans). The starting pitching is looking good. Even in all of our negativity, we can’t deny this, but they are young. Those four pitcher have a combined 9 seasons under their belts. A youth movement is good, it is what the Yankees couldn’t put together, but youth is often seen as a detriment. The Rays have also managed to put together a pretty solid rag tag version of a bullpen. These guys are all successfull, but they but it remains to be seen if they can sustain. As of now though, the Ty Wiggington for Dan Wheeler trade appears to be going well. We will see if the staff can sustain.

4.) They play in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox. Sure, people like to hate on them, but they are winners for a reason. Just ask Baltimore how it has felt battling them. For a team that is under .500 on the road, that isn’t a good thing.

5.) And the biggest reason is Joe Maddon. The man is a certifiable idiot; he doesn’t fight cancer, he doesn’t have an identity, and these are some of his philosophies. Many of Maddon’s “ideas” have been questionable at best. His immaturity in managing has never been under the spotlight, but if he plans on being in this race, the lights will only get brighter.

If anything is going to sustain this team, it is their pitching, but they are unproven, and the dog days of summer are coming up. We may be eating our words come the end of August, but we don’t think so.

Tags: Baseball