Rays Win Despite Losing the Series

In the end, the history books will read the Tampa Bay Rays lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies, four games to one. But the Rays won something better: respect and confidence.

The Rays spent a decade living in the cellar of the American League East. To say they were mired in mediocrity would be giving them credit that's how bad it is.

They lost at least 90 games every year. Their worst record was 55-106 and best finish was 70-91.

They finished in last place in the division all but once.

But all that changed in 2005 when Stuart Sternberg bought the team and made Adam Friedman the general manager. They quickly hired Joe Maddon to be the manager of the ball club.

Maddon quickly changed the culture of the franchise.

In a state where baseball is an after thought because football is the dominant sport, people in Tampa-St. Pete were wearing Rays apparel and sporting blue mo-hawks.

Its all because management decided to stay the course and wait on the young talent to emerge and as they did the people flocked to games.

With a young talented core and veterans sprinkled in the clubhouse the Rays are set to be around for a long time. The result was a 34 game win increase, a AL East title and an AL pennant.

They remind me of the 1996 New York Yankees. Loads of young talented stars and veteran leaders in the clubhouse. A manager who stuck to what he believed in, which was his players.

Maddon never once wavered on Kazmir as the Game 5 starter. He had confidence in his guys and they in turn had confidence in him and it showed on the field.

Yes they lost the World Series, but this is only the beginning for the Rays. Don't believe me? Just ask Joe Maddon himself.

"Just the fact that a mind once stretched has a difficult time going back to its original form. I've always liked that. Our minds have been stretched. Everything about us has been stretched. I don't think our guys are ever going to be satisfied going home in October again."