Tampa Bay Rays Not at Home in Tropicana Field

The difference is wide enough to catch more than a few eyes, with the numbers as far apart as they are. The Tampa Bay Rays have overcome an early slide to have one of the better records in the MLB, partially because of their outstanding play away from home.

The road warriors are 13-5 at opposing parks, including take both their games so far at Fenway Park (another was postponed). They also took two out of three at Progressive Field—a troublesome spot in Tampa Bay's history—against the AL win-leading Cleveland Indians.

There's plenty to celebrate about their great road record, but not nearly as much about their record at home. They are sub-par 10-12 at Tropicana Field, which has everybody asking why the Rays are worse inside their park than out of it.

The numbers don't lie when it comes to the differences between Tampa Bay at home and on the road. They have scored 6.2 runs per game on the road, creating a very productive offense. On the other hand, the Rays score a close-to-microscopic 2.7 runs at the Trop coming into yesterday.

Matt Joyce (league-leader in average) may one of the only exceptions hitting at Tropicana Field, with a .409 average at home and .314 clip on the road. Most of the other players, including other surprising starter Casey Kotchman, are hitting better away from the comforts of home.

Is it because the newer Rays aren't used to a stadium (or a dump) like the Trop. Is it because of the uninspiring attendance, which is down 29 percent from this time last year? That number was low to begin with. Maybe it's the turf. Maybe the lack of fresh air. No one knows.

The idea that the Rays are trying too hard in front of their own fans doesn't seem to me to be the culprit of the bad start at home. But I don't see anything else being the cause either. The Rays' opponents have a combined record of 102-123 on the road, but also 73-85 at home, which means competition is not the problem.

This leads us to the conclusion that there isn't one. It remains a mystery. The fans will be there in a stronger force tonight when the Rays take on the Yankees at the Trop. Plenty of Bronx natives should make the trip, once again making it feel almost like a road game.

But with the crazy way this year has started, that may be exactly what the Rays want.