2011 MLB Playoffs: 11 Reasons the Tampa Bay Rays Will Win the World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays can win the 2011 World Series.

Coming into this season the thought that they would make the playoffs after losing Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, Jason Bartlett, and the entire bullpen in the offseason. The greatest strength of this team is its resiliency. They have bounced back from every obstacle that has come their way this season ending with the greatest comeback in baseball history.

Now they find themselves with a 1-0 lead over the Texas Rangers in the ALDS.

The Rays are 10 victories away from their first World Series Championship. It is a very realistic possibility that they can achieve their ultimate goal to end this season.

Here are 11 reasons the Tampa Bay Rays will be the last team standing this postseason.

11. Nothing to Lose

One thing that makes this Rays team so dangerous is the fact that they have nothing to lose. They are essentially playing with house money.

This team was not expected to make the postseason and it took a perfect storm for them to make it. They have to be the playoff team with the least amount of pressure to perform.

10. Unlikely Heroes

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a consistent level of unlikely heroes this season.

From the emergence of Sam Fuld to the contributions of players like Casey Kotchman, Justin Ruggiano, Brandon Gomes, Kelly Shoppach and other players that aren't household names, yet.

Of course the greatest and most memorable unlikely hero of the season will be Dan Johnson and his game tying home run against the New York Yankees at the end of the regular season.

Should this team need a heroic effort in the postseason there is a clubhouse full of guys both willing and able to provide the necessary spark to put them over the top.

9. Momentum

The Tampa Bay Rays have saved their best baseball for when it matters most.

They finished the regular season winning their last five games and 16 of their final 24 games after starting the month of September nine games behind the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race.

That momentum has already carried into the playoffs with Matt Moore's second career start and first postseason start. Moore's seven inning shutout performance supported by nine runs from the offense has given the team a jump start for the playoffs.

If they can keep this momentum going they may be the greatest baseball story in a long time if not ever.

8. Defense

The Tampa Bay Rays committed the fewest errors in the majors with a club record 73 including committing only seven errors in the last 22 games of the season.

The Rays also allowed an AL-low 614 runs, the third fewest runs in the AL in a full season in the last 20 years behind the 1992 Brewers (604) and 2008 Blue Jays (610).

Some would say the style of baseball the Rays play isn't exciting but they are wrong. The defense this team plays is some of the most exciting in baseball, especially the outfielders.

The defensive capabilities that the Rays have at their disposal is arguably the best of the eight teams in the playoffs.

If it is true that defense wins championships, the Rays have a championship coming their way.

7. B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton lives for big moments.

For all of the criticism he faces from Tampa Bay Rays fans and media he still produces at a high level when needed. In the month of September he was hitting .333 to keep the team in the wild card hunt.

He is also a leader for this team in the postseason. Only Upton and Evan Longoria have played in all 22 of the playoff games in the team's playoff history.

He is the Rays all-time postseason leader with and 18 RBI. He is tied for the lead with seven home runs and eight stolen bases.

6. Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria is solidifying himself as a superstar with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He started the seasons hobbled by injury but, it is clear that he is back to normal with his performance as of late.

He has hit 20 home runs since the All-Star break including his two home runs in the incredible season finale victory against the New York Yankees.

5. Road Success

The Rays are an American League best 91-71 on the road the past two seasons.

The road to the championship will require them to win some crucial games on the road as the Wild Card team.

4. Home-Field Advantage

Forget everything you have heard or read about Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays fanbase this offseason. The team that has struggled to sell tickets has already sold out Game 3 of the ALDS with Game 4 not far behind.

The dome will be a loud and hostile environment for visiting teams to play in during the 2011 MLB Playoffs.

This will be a change to the environment the Rangers had last year in the ALDS and the largely Red Sox crowd in the ALCS in 2008.

3. Starting Pitching Depth

Tampa Bay Rays have the best rotation in the American League.

Pitching coach Jim Hickey has them performing at the best of their abilities.

Rays starters posted an AL-best and club record 3.53 ERA over the course of the season. They also went eight or more innings and allowed two runs or fewer 29 times, the most by an AL team since the 1998 New York Yankees. They held opponents to a .234 avg., best in a full season by an AL club since 1972.

Amazingly, the Rays are the only team in baseball to have all 162 games (and one playoff game) started by a pitcher they drafted and developed.

On top of their performance is their depth.

With James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, David Price, Matt Moore, Wade Davis, and Jeff Niemann the Rays have a six-man rotation they could use during the playoffs.

They will likely continue to use some of them, like Wade Davis in a bullpen roll during the playoffs.

With that type of quality depth they have the arms that were missing from last season's playoff run to compete with the top rotations.

2. Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon is the best manager in baseball.

The Tampa Bay Rays skipper has an uncanny ability to bring the most out of his players while keeping them calm and focused at the same time.

What he has been able to do with this roster this season is nothing short of amazing. He always seems to put the right player in the right position at the right time.

If he continues his wizardry this postseason, he will continue to play chess to every other manager's checkers.

1. James Shields

"Big Game" James Shields is back as the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays.

In 2010 the Rays were eliminated from the ALDS mostly by Cliff Lee. In 2011 they have a chance to win the World Series mostly because of James Shields.

Shields has been an absolute beast on the mound for the Rays this year.

His 225 strikeouts, 249.1 innings pitched, 11 complete games and four shutouts this season were all club records. In fact, he had more complete games than 26 other teams.

If he can throw a couple complete games this postseason the Rays will be in the drivers seat for the 11 wins necessary to be called World Series Champions.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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