Other Teams Should Fear The New-Look Tampa Bay Rays

Scribe Written on March 09, 2008

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Finally, take a look at the minor league affliates of the Rays. Tampa Bay has a great farm system that they built on many high first-round draft choices. Many players on the Rays roster came up through the system, and were not brought in via trades or free agency. This is a great sign for a struggling club.

A look at the top ten prospects shows that the Rays are set to contend soon. Also an in depth look at that page will show how each of the Rays' first-round choices in the past ten years have done. Six out of the ten are still in the Rays system and four are projected starters. David Price was the first pick of the Rays this past year, and after he tears up the minor leagues expect to see him in the Rays' starting rotation in 2010.

The Rays are young and talented and their success will rest in the hands of manager Joe Maddon. Many believe he can do it. A thirty-one-year employee of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prior to becoming the manager two years ago, Maddon has the indications of a great manager, and under his direction his young team the Rays will shake up the league.

Finally in a show of confidence for this team, the management have proposed a new stadium for Tampa Bay—and many of the locals, including state officials and the mayor, have embraced it. under what looks like some sort of wind-sail roof, the state of the art, waterfront stadium, will draw crowds and be an immediate upgrade from Tropicana Field. The new stadium looks great and could be one of the most engaging parks in the future.

Look for the Rays to make a splash this year. They will be in the hunt for the playoffs and if they were in the National League they might pull off a wild card somehow. The Rays, however, are in the tougher American League.

They will be a name up until August, but will fizzle out due to inexperience. They will finish third in the AL East and be primed and ready to go in the future. 2008 may not be the year for the Rays but the future is coming to Tampa Bay.

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