They have the lowest payroll in the major leagues. They traded away half of their starting rotation at the trade deadline. They’re forced into using one game out of every five as a “bullpen day”, with no starter reliable enough to give at least five innings. And in spite of all that, the Tampa Bay […]
…the Rays are last in the entire American League—yes, trailing even the mighty Houston Astros coming into Saturday’s games. It begs the question—is it time to throw in the towel and trade ace lefty David Price.
The Tampa Bay Rays have evolved into one of baseball’s model small-budget franchises. The Rays have enjoyed six straight winning seasons and in that same timeframe made the postseason four times and won the 2008 American League pennant. The one thing they have yet to do is win the World Series. Is this the year? Our Notebook Nine points of emphasis will set the tone for 2014 in Tampa Bay…
The Tampa Bay Rays are at the decisive point of their season in more ways than one. At 51-47, and hanging within 2 ½ games of a wild-card spot, the Rays have started a nine-game road trip by winning two in Baltimore, with the afternoon getaway game scoreless in the fifth and this article goes online. Up next is consecutive series in Oakland and Los Angeles, the two teams who currently both wild-card spots. Then add in the fact that Tampa is rumored to be shopping starting pitcher James Shields—to the Angels no less—as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Assume for the moment that Shields stays put or the Rays get major league value in return. Can they turn their disappointing season around?