Tampa Bay Rays: How They've Stayed Afloat in the AL East
The Rays' journey to becoming a constant playoff-contender took awhile, but came all of sudden when it finally happened.
Contending with the power-house teams of the AL East—the Yankees and Red Sox—is the toughest thing to do for any team to have to do. It's makes it even tougher when you can't spend half the money of the those two teams.
But the Rays haven't used any excuses, rather using lower-risk, high-reward pickups and their minor league system to create a nucleus for a championship-caliber squad.
Two division championships and an American League pennant in three years is good for any team (except maybe if your from the Bronx), but under the circumstances of being a small-market club, it's amazing what the Rays have been able to accomplish.
Here's a list of five things you may or may not expect, but have kept the Rays at, or near the top of the tough AL East.
Minor League System
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You take one look at the picture to the side of these words, and there are your franchise players. One came from a Tennessee school, the other from one in California, but they have come together in Tampa Bay as the two most coveted draft picks in the entire history of the Rays, aside from maybe Carl Crawford.
It's true, you can partially credit all those years of futility that led to high draft picks as the main reason the Rays have a highly-stocked farm system. But they've also had several non-early rounders who have made it to the Majors.
While David Price, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Jeff Niemann were first-round selections, other Rays like James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, Desmond Jennings and John Jaso, were picked in the 10th round or beyond.
It's hard to comprehend that Tampa Bay may have one of the best rotations in baseball, and yet every one of the projected five starters were selected via the draft by the Rays. Even with the loss of Crawford, five of the 10 starters on Opening Day could be homegrown talent.
The recent up-bringings of Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, Jake McGee and Jaso, are a testament to the Rays' amazing eye for talent, and their work with it.
Soon, names like Matt Moore, Josh Sale and Nick Barnese may break onto the scene inside your television sets at home, more prospects drafted by the Rays. It's one of the main reasons the Rays are what they have been these past few years.
Joe Maddon
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Joe Maddon has brought something to the table, that while in a way indescribable, is something no other manager has. Behind those thick-rimmed glasses of his is a brilliant mind, one that has gelled his players together and started a bit of a "system" in Tampa Bay.
This system has been bought-into by all of his players. Though managers in baseball may not have to strategize as much as say, an NFL coach, Maddon has his share of witty, even if a bit head-scratching, strategic moves. And most of them work for the betterment of the team.
Maddon has much more than clever quotes and a good taste for wine. He is a baseball master-mind, one of the best in all the game. After all, he wasn't the 2008 AL Manager of the Year for nothing. Not that it wasn't tough when he first got here, with the losing records continuing to occur.
But Maddon has strongly helped this team out of the shadow of their dark past and into the bright lights atop the AL East two of the past three years. He has definitely shaken things up for the better in his time in Tampa Bay.
Andrew Friedman
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He may be only 34 years of age, but Andrew Friedman is considered by many as a baseball genius. Friedman, as most know, is the VP of baseball operations, and serves as the team's general manager.
Somewhere between Theo Epstein and Billy Beane, is where you'll find Friedman, with not as much acknowledgement or fanfare, but with the same sharp mind. Not to say he hasn't been rewarded for his work.
In 2008, Friedman was Sporting News' Executive of the Year in baseball.
Many consider him a great person to learn from, but one of the best traits that people say Friedman has is his ability to listen, taking several different views and opinions from inside the organization before making a decision.
But for all the listening in the world, you must have natural smarts in a business like the one Friedman is in, and he most certainly has those smarts.
He's found diamonds in the rough like Carlos Pena and Joaquin Benoit. He's drafted quick impacting and franchise players, Evan Longoria and David Price. Though they are now gone, trading for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett was a great move that Friedman made, along with many other signings.
This all makes Friedman one of the main reasons that Tampa Bay has been successful and can continue at, or near the top of the AL East.
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Overall Depth
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Every team needs this. And the Rays have had plenty of it during the past few years. Their team depth has kept them in the running, even when injuries bit them several times in 2008.
This year (besides in the bullpen) there is plenty of depth on the Rays' roster. The outfield will most likely consist of B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon, which isn't too shabby. But beyond that are four more outfielders with major league time under their belts: Matt Joyce, Desmond Jennings, Justin Ruggiano and Sam Fuld.
Depth was filling injuries with solid spot-starters. Depth will help ease the loss of Matt Garza, by slipping in Jeremy Hellickson into the rotation in 2011. And in the Garza trade, they acquired Robinson Chirinos, giving them a future option at catcher to go along with John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach.
Depth also made the loss of Jason Bartlett less tragic. In return, the Rays were partially able to shore up their bullpen problems, and we'll sleep easy knowing who Bartlett's replacement (Reid Brignac) is in 2011.
So this goes to show that the overall depth for this squad has kept them going and helped them ease the pain of losing some of their stars to free agency or trades.
Role Play
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The Rays adapt this method very well. While high-payrolled teams with plenty of star power may have players who all try to be the best, the Rays have what we like to call "good role play." While every one obviously would like to be the best, and strive to be the best they can be, some guys just aren't going to ever be legends.
That's where role play comes in. Randy Choate had the most appearances of any pitcher in all of the MLB last season. Half the time it was only to face one batter. He had a role though. There's been guys like Matt Garza and Jonny Gomes in the past, who have impacted on the field, but also off it as leaders of cheer and celebration.
There's the obvious leaders that have are or have been here, like Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, and veteran presences of Johnny Damon of now and Cliff Floyd of 2008. Overall, role play is bigger than some may think. It's the ability to come off the bench cold and get a base-hit, to get a big out on the mound when needed, and to make a play as a defensive replacement.
So knowing roles is huge, and shining in the opportunities that present themselves are even bigger, and the Rays have shown they have true role players. No matter how big, or how small the role, the majority of the time, they get the job done.
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