2009 MLB Preview: #6 Tampa Bay Rays
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Offseason Movement: The Rays hope the signing of OF/DH Pat Burrell will add a little more pop to their lineup, although it could sink their team batting average at the same time. The club also added a slew of pitchers including Lance Cormier, Jason Isringhausen, Joe Nelson and Brian Shouse, and acquired outfielder Matt Joyce from the Tigers in exchange for RHP Edwin Jackson.
Top Prospect: David Price, RHP
The Rays never seem to have a shortage of top prospects at their disposal and Price clearly tops a group that also includes RHP’s Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson. Some believe Price is the best pitching prospect in baseball and he should have gotten the opportunity to prove that this year at the big league level. But the Rays optioned the talented youngster to Triple-A Durham recently for reasons unknown to Price and the rest of the baseball world. Tampa could be regretting the decision if the Yankees and/or Red Sox take early lead in the highly competitive AL East.
The Big Question: Will B.J. Upton be healthy?
The 24-year old Upton proved how vital he was to the Rays last year when he led the club in on base percentage, doubles and stolen bases. He also absolutely raked in the playoffs, clubbing seven home runs and helping Tampa set a new team record for steals in a single postseason (22). But in mid November, Upton underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and while he was recovering this spring, also suffered a bone bruise when he was hit on the hand by a pitch. He’ll likely miss Opening Day, but should be back sometime in mid April. Still, will the effects of either injury slow him down this season? Can the Rays get by with Ben Zobrist in center field until Upton recovers? If he misses significant time, the Rays could take a step back this year.
Outlook: After producing the single greatest season in club history, 2009 marks a vital year for the Rays. Why you ask? Because Tampa is now the model franchise, building their roster the way rosters should be built. They slowly developed prospects instead of signing big name free agents. They won with youth and are built for the long haul. And most importantly, they’re the anti-Yankees and Red Sox in every sense of the word. B.J. Upton’s injuries aside, the Rays should be better than they were a year ago. Upton, Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine have yet another year of experience under their belts and thus should lift the Rays right back into contender status. This club didn’t lose much in the offseason either, and even signed free agent Pat Burrell to give the middle of the lineup some added pop. But obviously things will be different this year. The Rays won’t sneak up on anybody and both the Yankees and Red Sox retooled in the offseason. New York and Boston have been consistently winning for years. It’s time for the Rays to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke and they don’t go the way of the ’08 Tigers and Indians.
Projection: 3rd AL East
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Posted in: MLB
Tags: 2009 MLB Predictions, 2009 MLB Preview, 2009 MLB Projections, 2009 MLB Team Previews, AL East Predictions, Andy Sonnanstine, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford, David Price, Evan Longoria, Jason Isringhausen, Joe Nelson, Lance Cormier, Matt Garza, Matt Joyce, MLB Preview 2009, MLB Season Predictions, Pat Burrell
The best thing that may have happened to this team was losing the world series. They’ll come back more hungry than CC Sabathia at an all-you-can-eat Vegas buffet.
I don’t know about that..I think they shot their load last year when everything was falling into place. I see them as the Gulf coast Marlins.
Not taking away from last year but come on, two big years in a row?
3rd Place at best and 4th is very possible
You took away from last year with the comment “everything was falling into place” which means the Rays didn’t win, the rest of the division lost. That’s Yankee jargon for “you didn’t win it, we lost it”.
They’re nothing like the Marlins. The Marlins are a team of rent-a-players, like the Yankees. The Rays built from within, which is what the Yankees did the last time they were any good. The big boys in the East should be scared now. The Rays are younger, still good, and have postseason experience. The Yankees…well, they still have A-Hole. Need I say more?
Everything does have to fall in place to win it all…Has nothing to do with the Yankees. You need pitching, hitting and defense….
I would also note that the Yankees have as many “home grown” players as anyone in the League on their roster. The Rays have been trading their “home grown” guys for years… The Rays have 5 guys on the Team roster taht were actually drafted by them as far as I can tell and so do the Yankees…
So, I still say they won’t repeat the year they had last year…whatever the Yankee does..
I count 10 that only have major league experience with the Rays. If they trade for minor league talent that they didn’t draft, so be it.
AL East finish
Rays
Yankees
Redsox
Good luck.
Tampa Bay Rays should be always competitive enough to keep pace with the others. I really like them; they’ve always been my favourite teams in MLB. Just read about them here:
http://www.devilrayshome.com