Spring Training 2012: Tampa Bay Rays' Offensive Woes Not Yet Cause for Panic

Don't cancel Christmas, it's only spring training.

It's not time to say the Tampa Bay Rays' offensive woes will continue into the 2012 season based on what has been observed thus far this spring. Even though the beginning of the regular season is only 18 days away, the stat line does not tell the whole story about where the team currently stands.

When you look at the team's offensive statistics compared to the rest of Major League Baseball, the Rays looks horrible. Out of the 30 teams in baseball, the Rays are in the bottom four in almost every offensive category that matters.They currently rank 27th in hits and 28th in batting average while barely missing the bottom ranking 29th in on-base percentage, runs and RBI.

Although numbers never lie, these numbers don't paint the complete picture.

Spring training is the time of the year for minor league prospects and non-roster invite players to show what they can do when an opportunity presents itself. A lot of the players on the 40-man roster aren't playing in enough games together to be able to make determinations on how they will look once the season starts on April 6th.

Evan Longoria has only played in five games for the Rays so far this spring. Although he is towards the back of the pack in games played, he is tied for the team lead with his three runs scored. Carlos Pena in similar fashion scored three runs in the eight games he has played in.

Even though it may look dismal on paper and the Rays seem destined for another year of less than stellar offense, it is still too early to tell. Once the everyday players are back in the lineup and get into a groove, we will see what type of lineup the Rays will have in 2012. The offseason additions of Pena and Luke Scott could very well put enough power in the lineup to change the opinion of the team's offensive prowess.

Only time will tell.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow his thoughts, rants, and adventures on twitter @JWilburg or visit his website www.jamalwilburg.com