David Price and 10 Reasons the Tampa Bay Rays Are Biggest Threat to Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are the hottest playoff team in baseball right now, sporting the MLB's best record at 94-63. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and recently had an 11-game winning streak. They are playing outstanding baseball and look to be in postseason form, and have also clinched their fourth consecutive NL East title.
With the Phillies playing this well, can they be stopped? They have been to the past two World Series, and won it all in 2008. It will take a lot for a team to stop the Phillies once the postseason starts.
The Phillies look like they will coast through the playoffs to another World Series. It is very possible that the World Series will be their first true challenge. With that being the case, lets look at 10 reasons the Tampa Bay Rays currently are the biggest threat to the Phillies.
10. Dome Sweet Dome
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Don't let the empty seats fool you.
Since 2008 the Rays have the best home record in baseball.
This season the Rays have continued playing dominant baseball in Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay currently owns the ninth-best home record. However, they are 28-12 at home since July 1, which is the best in the majors.
When the Phillies and Rays met in the 2008 World Series, the teams split the two games in Tropicana Field. The Phillies went on to sweep the Rays in Philadelphia and win the championship. If these teams meet this year, it could be an exact reversal of fortune with the Rays taking advantage of three consecutive games at home.
9. Tampa Bay Rays Are Road Warriors
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Since the All-Star game was won by the National League, the NL representative will have home field advantage in the World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays have the best road record of any team in baseball. They are currently 45-32 on the road this season. They have posted a winning record on six of their 11 season trips.
The Rays would have to win at least one game in Philadelphia in order to win the World Series. The Phillies are 54-30 at Citizens Bank Park this season. None of the National League playoff teams have an outstanding record on the road. Philadelphia will most likely coast through the playoffs and find itself in its third consecutive World Series appearance.
8. Phillies' National League Dominance
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Part of the reason the Rays are the biggest threat to the Phillies is they may be the first true threat. The National League has not been as good as the American League this season.
Out of the potential playoff teams, only the Atlanta Braves has over 50 home wins. The Phillies could easily split the road games with any National League opponent.
Although the Braves have been so dominant at home, they have a losing record on the road. Philadelphia would have no problem with the Braves if they were to meet in the NLCS. The Phillies have secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It is highly unlikely they will lose more than one game at home in either the NLDS or NLCS.
Since the Phillies have already wrapped up the division, they have an opportunity to allow their players to rest. This should provide them with an advantage going into the playoffs over the first team they face.
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7. Rays Running Wild
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The Rays have 768 steals under Joe Maddon, most by a major league club in five seasons since the 1996-2000 Astros stole 786. They are on track to join the 2004-2006 Angels as the only teams to lead the American League in steals three consecutive years.
This season the Rays lead the majors with 167 steals. They have a 78.4 percent success rate, only getting caught 46 times this season.
The speed that Tampa Bay possesses provides an amazing offensive strength. Other than San Diego, none of the teams in contention to make the playoffs in the National League are great with steals. Cincinnati, Atlanta, and San Francisco are 18th, 27th, and 30th in the majors in stolen bases. Tampa Bay would be the first team they face in the postseason that aggressively steals bases.
6. John Jaso
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John Jaso has come from being called up due to players' injuries to being a critical contributor for the Rays. He leads AL rookies in walks and OBP while being second in RBI and runs scored. He is also fourth in batting, hits, and doubles.
No one in the majors with as many plate appearances as Jaso has a better ratio of BB to SO (59-36). He will be able to force Philadelphia's pitchers to throw more pitches.
5. Rafael Soriano
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Rafael Soriano is probably the best acquisition the Rays made for this season. He has been the best closer in baseball this season. He has held opponents to a .164 batting average, including a .136 opp avg. vs. right handed batters.
Soriano leads the AL with 44 saves. He is also a perfect 22-for-22 in save chances at Tropicana Field. He is looking to become the first league leader since Eric Gagne in 2003 to convert all his home saves. His save percentage this season is an outstanding 93.6.
If the Rays take a lead into the ninth inning, it is all but guaranteed that they will leave with a win. Soriano's impact on the Rays this postseason will be as crucial as Mariano Rivera's impact for the New York Yankees titles.
4. Evan Longoria
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Evan Longoria is a double nightmare for the Phillies.
Not only has his defense at third base been phenomenal for the Rays this season, but he also is tied for the most doubles in the majors. He leads the team and is eighth in the AL with 104 RBI. Evan is one of only five players all-time with over 20 home runs and over 30 doubles in each of their first three seasons. The other four players are Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Orlando Cepeda, and Albert Pujols.
In his last 41 games he is hitting .321 with seven home runs and 34 RBI. If he takes this momentum into the postseason, he will be a challenge for the Phillies.
The two pitchers that did the most damage to the Rays in the 2008 World Series were Cole Hamels and J.C. Romero. They combined to account for three of Philadelphia's four wins. Both pitchers are left handed and Longoria is hitting .324 against lefties this season. Overall, the Rays are 36-18 when the opposition starts a left-handed pitcher which would minimize Hamels' impact starting in the World Series.
3. Carl Crawford's Farewell Tour
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The Rays are cutting payroll following this season, so this adds a greater sense of urgency to this postseason. The team that will take the field next season will be very different than the roster currently assembled.
One of those expected not to return is Carl Crawford.
This season he is batting .309 and has scored 104 runs. He also leads the majors with eight games with four hits.
Beyond his bat, his speed is what will make him an asset against the Phillies. Besides leading the majors with the most triples, he is the hardest player in the majors to double up. He has also stolen 46 bases this season.
Crawford is the longest tenured member of the team. He entered the major leagues in 2002 when the franchise was in its fourth season of existence. Winning a championship with the Rays would be a fitting departure for the best player in the team's short history. It will be a tall task for Philadelphia to win when a team has a player like Crawford to rally around and try to win one while they are all together.
2. G.T.M.I. (Get The Man In)
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In the 2008 season the Rays mantra was 9=8. The idea of 9=8 was that nine players playing nine innings together would enable them to become one of the eight teams to qualify for the postseason. It worked well in 2008 and became a popular hat and t-shirt for players and fans alike. This season in April the players and coaches were seen with a shirt that had the initials G.T.M.I. on it.
Get the man in.
Tampa Bay has had a focus all season on situational hitting with runners in scoring position. Nobody gets the man in better. The Rays are 24th in the MLB hitting a dismal .250 average. However, only the Yankees and Red Sox have scored more than the Rays 788 runs this season.
The Rays are getting the man in.
Even with their lack of hitting, the Rays are averaging five runs a game. The Rays are 65-15 when they score five or more runs in a game. If they are able to keep getting the man in, the Phillies will not be able to handle the Rays. Philadelphia is 11-44 when trailing after six innings. The Rays will be looking to grab an early lead in order to bring a championship to Tampa.
1. David Price
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Postseason baseball is all about pitching. David Price is the single greatest reason the Rays are the biggest threat to the Phillies. The Yankees have no consistency after Sabathia, Cliff Lee has been horrible on the road, Minnesota doesn't have a true ace, and the National League pitchers have all been getting hit around by Philadelphia lately.
David Price is dominant for the Rays.
Price leads all pitchers with at least 20 decisions with a .750 winning percentage. He is 8-2 at home and all 15 of his home starts have been quality starts. He has held lefties in his career to a .214 average with only one home run. The Rays won both games this season against the Yankees when Price and Sabathia started.
In 2008, the Phillies faced Price as a rookie. This year he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. Along with the Rays' ability to score runs, Price should be able to win two games in a World Series against the Phillies.
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