Matt Moore: 6 Signs Joe Maddon's Tampa Bay Rays Are a Team of Destiny

Matt Moore had an incredible postseason debut for the Tampa Bay Rays.

In the past week, it seems that everything that has needed to happen for this team to contend and make a postseason run has fallen into place.

It leads to the question of whether or not destiny has a plan for this Rays team.

Hollywood couldn't write a script with as much drama, suspense and intrigue as the Tampa Bay Rays have had this season.

Here are six reasons this Rays team could truly be a "Team of Destiny."

6. Former Players

The offseason losses of Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano and other players dominated the conversation of the offseason and most of the regular season for the Rays. Nobody expected a team that slashed its payroll to still be able to compete in the AL East.

As the season was winding down to its final week, the Rays would face Soriano and Crawford with the season on the line.

From the outside looking in, you could almost think they were still on the payroll.

Soriano served up the three-run home run to Matt Joyce that erased a 3-2 deficit and allowed the Rays to get their 90th win in their second to last game of the season to stay tied with the Boston Red Sox.

Then on the final night of the season with two outs, Crawford misses a ball in the outfield on a difficult play that he makes more often than not. The miss allowed the Orioles to beat the Red Sox and would be the final loss in the Red Sox epic collapse.

5. Triple Play

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth inning with bases loaded, no outs against the New York Yankees, the season looked over for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Russell Martin stepped to the plate after hitting a home run earlier in the game. This time around, he hit a grounder to Evan Longoria who stepped on the bag and threw the ball over to Ben Zobrist on second who turned it to first base to complete the third triple play in franchise history.

4. Dan Johnson and Epic Comeback against Yankees

Coming back from a 7-0 deficit to clinch a playoff berth had never been done.

That's the scenario the Rays were looking at in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees on the final game of the season.

Then, the rally starts, and at the end of the eighth inning, Tampa Bay is only trailing the Yankees by one run.

Bottom of the ninth, two outs, trailing by a run and who does Joe Maddon send to the plate but Dan Johnson. Johnson was hitting .108 on the season and was now at the plate with the season on the line.

Then, the unthinkable happens, and Johnson sends the ball over the wall in right field allowing the game to go into extra innings.

What other than destiny can you attribute to the heroic hit that came off Johnson's bat.

3. Manny Ramirez Retirement

Manny Ramirez was addition by subtraction for the Tampa Bay Rays. When Ramirez retired, it allowed for Sam Fuld to get the opportunity to start and Johnny Damon to move into the DH slot.

Those moves have led to many critical moments for the Rays with the performances of Fuld and clutch hitting of Damon.

Also, it can't be overlooked that Ramirez's jersey No. 24 was able to be returned to Dan Johnson.

2. Red Sox Collapse

The Tampa Bay Rays wouldn't be where they are if not for the historic collapse of the Boston Red Sox.

Boston led Tampa Bay by nine games on September 2nd. They went 7-20 for the month of September including 1-6 against the Rays in head-to-head matchups.

The collapse cost the Red Sox not only their postseason hopes but also their manager Terry Francona.

1. Matt Moore

Game 1 of the ALDS and the Tampa Bay Rays send rookie pitcher Matt Moore to the mound for his second career start to face C.J. Wilson of the Texas Rangers.

When it was all said and done, Moore looked more like the ace and Wilson the young pitcher.

Moore pitched a gem of a start only allowing two hits in seven innings of shutout baseball. The Rays offense helped his cause by putting nine runs on the board allowing them to take a 1-0 lead in the ALDS.

Not sure how or why things are falling into place for this team, but as of now, it seems that destiny is on their side.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow his thoughts, insights, and ramblings on Twitter @JWilburg