Rays Hope Cinderella Story Ends With Trip to the Ball
Sure, call me a bandwagon jumper but even though this is a Braves blog… I’ll say it…
How did they do it?
They played in one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
They were outspent. The division incumbent, whom they were 10-8 against in 2008, shelled out $89 million more and the Evil Empire eclipsed them by $189+ million ($233,712,621).
But in spite of it all, they are now only one step away from the World Series and history. But first they’ve got to get through one of the juggernauts of the last five years… the Boston Red Sox.
This year’s potential World Series matchup will not feature two worst to first teams like it did in 1991 nor a rivalry filled crosstown hatred (scratch Freeway Series and Windy City Series off your wish list). But it could feature at least one team that was synonymous with losing for its first 10 years of existence and couldn’t put together a single winning season. Finishing as bad as 55-106 (.342 in 2002) and owners of the worst record in the MLB the year before. But here they are. Not a fluke. Not an early exit. Playing in round 2.
It’s this year’s fairy tale but how on earth did it happen? On paper they should’ve finished like they always do or at best 3rd behind whoever won the BoSox/Yanks slugfest.
At 27.4, the Rays had the youngest average age of all the 8 playoff contenders. But the kids proved athleticism and homegrown talent (Upton, Longoria, Baldelli, Price, Kazmir, Garza all draft picks) paid off better than huge salaries and free agent signings (Rodriguez, Matsusaka and the like). I recall a similar group of kids led by some guys named Avery, Glavine, Smoltz who did something similar about 17 years 
ago.
The youthful and svelte Rays proved that speed kills. As owners of the MLB best 142 SB’s and compiling the 6th most triples, it seems owning the basepaths works better than long balls for the boys from St. Pete. But it was also their young hurlers leading the charge. With an average age of 24.6 they have one of the youngest rotations to ever compete in the playoffs. The last staff this young (and this good) was Darling, Gooden, and Fernandez who did nothing short of grab the 1986 World Series against…The Boston Red Sox. The Tampa Bay staff was 10th in MLB for 2008 with 1143 K’s and owned Major League’s 3rd best ERA.
But it didn’t stop there. Of the eight teams in divisional play they had the best batting average (.297), most stolen bases (7) slammed the most homers (6), RBI’s (21) and had the best slugging % (.507).
And it doesn’t matter that they’re 27th on the pay roll list at $44 million+ (the other Florida team is still paid less) the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are set out to continue defying the odds.
And in spite of home field advantage (The Trop will be rocking and FULL of cowbell), the Red Sox will play ugly step sister (sorry, Sox) and will not tolerate a Rays-filled pumpkin ride to meet Prince Charming.
Well I’m JB on the couch in Atlanta and…oh what the heck, this is a Braves blog, I can say it…
Technorati Tags: Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Playoffs 2008, World Series 2008, ALCS, baseball, baseball blog, Atlanta Braves
About the Author: JB is an Atlanta native, avid scorekeeper, and baseball enthusiast. He doesn't mind if you don't love the Braves. As long as you love the game and you've got something to say, you're welcome at The Launching Pad.
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