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| Matt Moore is the latest stud pitcher to come out of the Rays farm system. |
Never count these guys out.
The fact that nobody is going to discount the Rays in 2012 might be their downfall. This team is going to be the best that they can be, but their destiny has a lot to do with how the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Rangers play this season. The biggest variable here seems to be the Red Sox. Their manager from 2011 underwent a vocational paradigm shift. As a result, Bobby Valentine is in Boston running a tight ship. This tight ship could take them from third place to the to the best team in the league. More on those guys Thursday.
These Rays suffered major losses between 2010 and 2011. The defending Wild Card winner's major loss was Casey Kotchman. They replace him with Carlos Pena. Fernando Rodney and Luke Scott were added to the Rays after rough seasons. Scott is the front runner to occupy the DH spot. Rodney figures to be the 7th inning guy, a role he has excelled in over his career.
This Rays pitching staff makes me salivate. There are three pitchers with ace potential in the rotation. David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore. Yet, it was James Shields who put up the best numbers last season. Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann are two very capable pitchers that are competing over the 5th spot in the rotation. Alex Cobb was in the mix for the spot but was sent down to minor-league camp. He will be called up at some point in the season when the Rays need an arm. As for the Bullpen, the Rays have a stellar group of 7th-8th-9th inning men. From here on out I will call the 7th inning guy a "Bishop" similar to a bishop in chess who holds less value than a rook or a queen. As I mentioned earlier, the Rays' bishop is Rodney. They also have Joel Peralta setting up Kyle Farnsworth. This makes for one of the best back bullpens in sports. The Rays have dealt with the loss of Grant Balfour and Rafael Soriano very well.
The Rays' lineup as a whole could improve this season. I had mentioned the offensive changes Tampa Bay has made. Reid Brignac is projected to start the season at shortstop. Expect Desmond Jennings to show off more of his tools this season. You should also expect B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria to hit for higher averages this season. Catcher will be a weakness for the Rays this season as they are likely to break camp with Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton.
X-FACTORS:
The Boston Red Sox: I can sit here and write that Desmond Jennings and the 5th starter will determine the Rays season, but as it was in 2011, the Red Sox will determine the Rays season. The Red Sox can be the best team in baseball or they can fall far enough to let the Rays into the Wild Card game.
ROYAL LIST:
#2 RHP Matt Moore: It's a tie between him and Yu Darvish for the best pitchers on this list
#44 SS Hak-Ju Lee: In 2013-14 the Rays Shortstop woes may be solved. Or they just might have another Reid Brignac on their hands.
#89 RHP Chris Archer: Could close when Farnsworth calls it a day
#90 RHP Taylor Guerreri: The fact that he is growing on Tampa Bay's farm might make his career.
PREDICTION: 3rd Place AL East
-I'm not sleeping on this team. It's just that the Bobby Valentine and the Red Sox are not.
The fact that nobody is going to discount the Rays in 2012 might be their downfall. This team is going to be the best that they can be, but their destiny has a lot to do with how the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Rangers play this season. The biggest variable here seems to be the Red Sox. Their manager from 2011 underwent a vocational paradigm shift. As a result, Bobby Valentine is in Boston running a tight ship. This tight ship could take them from third place to the to the best team in the league. More on those guys Thursday.
These Rays suffered major losses between 2010 and 2011. The defending Wild Card winner's major loss was Casey Kotchman. They replace him with Carlos Pena. Fernando Rodney and Luke Scott were added to the Rays after rough seasons. Scott is the front runner to occupy the DH spot. Rodney figures to be the 7th inning guy, a role he has excelled in over his career.
This Rays pitching staff makes me salivate. There are three pitchers with ace potential in the rotation. David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore. Yet, it was James Shields who put up the best numbers last season. Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann are two very capable pitchers that are competing over the 5th spot in the rotation. Alex Cobb was in the mix for the spot but was sent down to minor-league camp. He will be called up at some point in the season when the Rays need an arm. As for the Bullpen, the Rays have a stellar group of 7th-8th-9th inning men. From here on out I will call the 7th inning guy a "Bishop" similar to a bishop in chess who holds less value than a rook or a queen. As I mentioned earlier, the Rays' bishop is Rodney. They also have Joel Peralta setting up Kyle Farnsworth. This makes for one of the best back bullpens in sports. The Rays have dealt with the loss of Grant Balfour and Rafael Soriano very well.
The Rays' lineup as a whole could improve this season. I had mentioned the offensive changes Tampa Bay has made. Reid Brignac is projected to start the season at shortstop. Expect Desmond Jennings to show off more of his tools this season. You should also expect B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria to hit for higher averages this season. Catcher will be a weakness for the Rays this season as they are likely to break camp with Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton.
X-FACTORS:
The Boston Red Sox: I can sit here and write that Desmond Jennings and the 5th starter will determine the Rays season, but as it was in 2011, the Red Sox will determine the Rays season. The Red Sox can be the best team in baseball or they can fall far enough to let the Rays into the Wild Card game.
ROYAL LIST:
#2 RHP Matt Moore: It's a tie between him and Yu Darvish for the best pitchers on this list
#44 SS Hak-Ju Lee: In 2013-14 the Rays Shortstop woes may be solved. Or they just might have another Reid Brignac on their hands.
#89 RHP Chris Archer: Could close when Farnsworth calls it a day
#90 RHP Taylor Guerreri: The fact that he is growing on Tampa Bay's farm might make his career.
PREDICTION: 3rd Place AL East
-I'm not sleeping on this team. It's just that the Bobby Valentine and the Red Sox are not.
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