Why The Rays Will Not Win The AL East
There has been a lot of speculation this season that the Tampa Bay Rays can return to their 2008 form and overtake the Yankees and Red Sox. Writers have been naming players like Evan Longoria to win the MVP (which is entirely possible) and carry the ball club. However, there is one word that sums up why the Rays cannot match up with the Yanks and Sox: Pitching.
In 2008, the Rays were the cinderella story of baseball. They had star young players like Longoria and B.J. Upton that were led by veterans such as Carl Crawford and Troy Percival. They were also led by a great pitching staff that included Matt Garza, James Shields, and Scott Kazmir. It was the perfect storm and they rode it all the way to the world series.
Also in 2008, the Yankees failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in ages, and thus were motivated to go on a spending spree in the offseason. Not only did they pick up one of the best offensive players in the game in Mark Teixeira, but they also fortified their rotation with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Those two, along with good ‘ol Andy Pettitte, took the Yankees all through October and went on to win the world series.
This too had an effect on a division rival, as the Red Sox also fortified their team over the 2009-10 offseason. They went out and signed the likes of John Lackey, Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, and Marco Scutaro. By combining Lackey with their already strong rotation, they have one of the very best rotations in all of baseball.
Another team with one of the best rotations: the Yankees. After trading for Javier Vazquez and finally placing Phil Hughes in there, they are all set for October. This is why the Rays cannot beat the Yankees or Red Sox, their starters just don’t match up. Think about the starting five for the three teams:
Yankees:
1. CC Sabathia
2. A.J. Burnett
3. Andy Pettite
4. Javier Vazquez
5. Phil Hughes
Red Sox:
1. Josh Beckett
2. Jon Lester
3. John Lackey
4. Dice-K
5. Clay Buchholz
Rays:
1. Matt Garza
2. James Shields
3. Jeff Niemann
4. David Price
5. Wade Davis
The Yanks and Sox’s rotations are far superior. If you look at the individual match-ups, the only way the Rays could theoretically win is if Price and Davis finally start pitching their potential. Until then, the Rays will remain in 3rd place, and out of the playoffs while the Yankees and Red Sox fight it out at the top.
mlblogsbronxrumors
Interesting perspective. As a Rays fan, I would totally disagree with your assessment that the pitching staffs of the Yanks and Sox are “far superior.” I would probably give the Yankees a slight slight edge as the #1 staff in the division. Then would come the Rays followed distantly by the Red Sox. In the division, of course. Overall, the Red Sox would barely be inside of the Top 10 in quality. They fall off big time with their #’s 4 and 5 pitchers. Interesting stuff, though. Can’t wait to see how it plays out this season!!!
http://raysfanboy.mlblogs.com/
I bet you feel like a fool now. That MLB leading 2.87 team ERA looks pretty damn good to me. Meanwhile, the Yankees with a 3.93 ERA and Boston with a 4.65 ERA…
I know this is an old post, but it just goes to show how many people try to overrate Boston and New York just because they’re them. Anyone who follows the Rays even somewhat closely knew how good this pitching staff would be after they got some experience. They might not have expected it to be THIS good, but anyone with the slightest knowledge of the Rays staff would know that they at least wouldn’t be far behind what New York and Boston are -supposed- to be. Turns out that they have the inferior rotations.