Tampa Bay Rays...Can They Hold On?

By Ethan Of the many surprises so far that has taken place during the 2008 MLB season, the most shocking has been the success of the newly renamed Tampa Bay Rays. Before this season the team that was formerly known as the Devil Rays were perennial doormats in the AL East. They were a team for those such as the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees to pad their records and rest some of their starters against. Well, the Devil Rays are gone, and so too are their losing ways. As I write this, the Rays are in first place in the East, 2.5 games ahead of Boston, and 5.5 games ahead of NY. They have managed to build a top quality team with a mixture of good trades, high draft picks, and the presence of a few key veterans sprinkled in, such as Carl Crawford and Cliff Floyd. So, the question is, can they hold on, and be perhaps the most unlikely playoff team since the 1969 New York Mets? Well, there are several things that jump out about this team that could be a cause for concern. One is that as September approaches, many of these young Tampa players have never been in a pennant race. They do not know what it is like to play with the pressure on. Up until this point, there have been no expectations, no pressure. This is a stark contrast to the Yankees and Red Sox lineups which are both extremely experienced when it comes to meaningful September baseball. Another thing is the fact that their record is 45-17 at home, while only 23-29 on the road. This works against them since they have 29 road games remaining as opposed to only 19 home games. Those splits will need to improve if Tampa is going to hold onto their division lead. Personally, I think the Rays will make the playoffs via the wild card, while Boston will win the division. However, I think that's where it stops. If they do win the wild card, they would likely get the Angels in the first round, in which case I don't think they will win a single game. This team is simply not experienced enough to be champions., but you can count on this: they will be back. This is not a fluke year, or a flash in the pan. This is a team that is finally building the right way, and which has a bunch of young talent already, with several more big time prospects waiting in the wings. One in particular, David Price, is a pitcher who is simply lights out. Expect him to come up next year, and be a legitimate ace in 3 or 4 years time. The Rays will be around for a long time, and Boston and New York will just have to learn to live with it!

ere