Tampa Bay Rays Settling into Another 10-Year Rut or Poised To Make a Run?

Where has the beloved feel-good story of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, the front-runners of the AL East for the majority of last year, gone? 

As of today, the Tampa Bay Rays sit in fourth place in the East division and seven games behind the Boston Red Sox, who at 43-27, possess the best record in the American League.

There have been a plethora of theories attempting to explain why the Rays seem to have lost their edge.

They are not losing the game on the base paths. As of June 24, Tampa Bay leads all of baseball in stolen bases with 110 on the year, The Mets and Angels tie for 2nd with 70.

They are second in the league in scoring margin, behind only the Dodgers. So why is it that they find themselves with a disappointing .514 winning percentage?

The problem can't possibly be found with the hitting either. They are either first or second in the league in total runs, hits, bases, and slugging. They are also in the top five of home runs and batting average.

The only way to explain this is the lack of pitching and bullpen quality, caused mostly by injuries, as well as a thin bullpen and no legitimate closer.

Tampa is not in the top 10 in any major pitching category. This includes saves, runs, ERA, strikeouts, walks allowed, and opponent batting average. For a team hoping to compete for a divisional title, this is a glaring hole. 

I could probably leave it at that and my explanation would make sense.

However, I've found another potential reason for their lack of success so far this season. The Rays' fielding percentage is .982, placing them 21st in baseball.

To put this into perspective, no team below them in fielding percentage, with exception of the Mets, is either first or second in their respective divisions. This list, however, does include Arizona, Washington, and Oakland: three of the leagues last-place teams. 

If the Rays are to make a run in the second half and prove that last year was not a fluke, they have to start with improved pitching. Defensive play in the field also has to step up behind the pitchers in order to make that possible.