Tampa Bay Rays Pitching Staff Getting It Done On The Road

The biggest difference so far between the 2009 version of the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2010 version, is their play on the road. Last year, the Rays were a miserable 32-49 on the road.

Price has blossomed on the road in 2010

Through 19 road games so far this year, its been an entirely different story. The Rays have been world beaters on the road in 2010 going 15-4 in those 19 games.

So what has been the biggest difference between last year and this year for the Rays on the road? The answer is by far and away their pitching staff. I know it’s a small sample size, but from top to bottom, the Rays entire staff have been dealing.

Let’s look at the Rays’ staff road ERA’s from 2009 to 2010. 2009 ERA’s are to the left and 2010 is on the right:

Grant Balfour: 5.70/1.00

Matt Garza: 4.85/1.99

Wade Davis: 6.17/2.25

Jeff Niemann: 4.59/2.22

David Price: 6.24/2.08

James Shields: 4.62/3.25

Rafael Soriano: NA/1.29

When Shields is your “worst” pitcher with a 3.25 road ERA, then you are doing something really special. Overall, the Rays lead baseball in road ERA (2.18), BAA (.212), and WHIP (1.06).

So what is the reason for the pitching staff succeeding on the road this year vs. year’s past? I think it comes down to the simple fact of maturity.

Price is entering his third year, Garza is in his fifth year and has put his issues behind him, and Shields is entering his fifth year as well. They Rays’ staff as a unit have learned the league, have learned to prepare mentally and really have grown up together on the road.

Even in their World Series year of 2008, the Rays’ achilles heel was their ability to compete at a high level on the road. If the Rays continue to play at a high level away from the Trop, then they are going to be awfully tough to beat in 2010.

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