The Odd Team Out: Why the Rays Can't Make The Playoffs

The biggest surprise of the Major League Baseball season is by far the success of an inferior franchise.  This franchise is the Tampa Bay Rays.  The way this team has played together from the start has surprised us all.  There is just one problem with this team—their location.

Being along the East coast, this team was destined to join the American League East back in 1998 when they played their first game. This connected them with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Baltimore Orioles.  Each team has its own colorful history, its own championship runs, and its own list of retired numbers. It was going to be a daunting task to beat these teams.

For the first 10 years of their existence, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were clearly the cellar dwellers, finishing out of last once and winning no more than 70 games in any given season. Management thought a change was needed.

The nickname was changed to the Rays, there were noticeable changes in the logo, color scheme, and uniform. All the top young prospects from the farm system were given an equal opportunity to make the ball club.  The result: a very young team able to compete with the big boys.

Looking at the starting pitching, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, and James Shields have future all-star written all over them.  Scott Kazmir is a future Cy Young Award candidate.  And Shields is the oldest of the rotation at 26 years of age. 

Offensively, the backbone veteran is left fielder Carl Crawford.  A very capable five-tool player, Crawford is the face of the franchise and the savvy veteran leader. He is only 26 years old.  They may also have the American League Rookie of the Year in third baseman Evan Longoria. 

The brains of the operation is manager Joe Maddon who has taught this young bunch that the only way to be the best is to beat the best.

And beat the best they did. During a June 5 game at Fenway Park against the defending champion Red Sox, Boston outfielder Coco Crisp was causing a stir by sliding hard into second. 

The feisty Rays got Crisp back when he walked up for his next at bat. Pitcher James Shields plunked him on the hip.  Crisp charged the mound and a bench clearing brawl ensued.  This is just one example of the attitude of this young, but fiery team.

Somehow, the fire in this team has yet to fade.  They are still hanging tough in the best division in baseball and show no signs of sliding off the map.  Which brings the reader to exclaim, "Why can't they make the playoffs if they don't fade?"  And I, the writer, will address my original argument: location, location, location.

The Boston Red Sox have the experience, the will power, and the personnel to win the division. The New York Yankees have climbed within three games of the division lead. 

As good as this team is, and after all they've done right, it would be hard to imagine this team out of the playoffs.  But in baseball, you must win your division or be the best "loser" to make the playoffs. 

With those two perennial powers, it looks very bleak.  Not to mention if they do finish ahead of the Yanks or BoSox, they will have to compete with the AL Central loser.  Not what I call wishful thinking.

This team has made a tremendous step forward and should reach their franchise record for wins in the middle of August.  But the division they are trying to compete in is just too strong for them to make their first postseason appearance. 

In fact, as long as the Yankees are owned by a Steinbrenner and the Red Sox play in Fenway, I'm not sure the Rays will ever be able to eclipse both of them and snag a division crown.  The plus-side of that: they are the youngest team in that division.

Only time will tell.