ALDS Schedule: Joe Maddon's Unorthodox Style Makes Rays Dark Horse in Playoffs

To say that Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon has an unorthodox style may be a bit of an understatement.

Maddon is known for taking chances and making changes that baffle even the most knowledgeable baseball analysts.

Recently, an MLB players poll on SportsIllustrated.com resulted in Maddon being the No. 1 coach that players in the league would want to play for.

Why not? He is crazy and has fun. More importantly, despite the crazy moves, he finds a way to win.

The Rays have just pulled off one of the most miraculous comebacks in the history of baseball: overcoming a nine-game deficit behind the Boston Red Sox.

Everybody seems to be focusing on the Red Sox collapse and ignoring the fact that the Rays played some great baseball to come back in the series.

With the comeback came some minor concern.

In the process of chasing down the Red Sox, the Rays had to take some chances on their pitching rotation, leaving them with a lineup they didn't prefer to start the playoffs with.

So, in typically Joe Maddon-like fashion, a rabbit was pulled out of a hat.

Last week, rookie pitcher Matt Moore had his first ever start. Moore made a good impression, pitching five shutout innings against the Yankees. In his first ever start, Moore got a win.

Maddon felt like the rookie could get his second win in start No. 2, announcing that Moore would be pitching Game 1 of the ALDS matchup against the Texas Rangers.

The seventh inning just ended in Texas and the Rays lead 8-0. Moore has pitched all seven innings, allowing just two hits and six strikeouts.

Talk about a crazy move paying off. Maddon has made a living out of it.

Winning the first game of the Division Series has translated to success in recent history. Since 1995, the winning team in Game 1 went on to win 47-of-64 series.

Watch out for the Tampa Bay Rays.