What are the reasons that Tampa Bay Rays are so firing hot this season?

Question

Your analysis, please.

Answer 1

Their starting pitching and fielding, it's pretty much the opposite of what it was last year.  

Answer 2

I think ICE-COLD rought up the main reason and its the same reason the Rockies flourished last year. Solid Defense!!!! Their offense has been great and pulled through with two of their stars down. But good pitching and great defense has been the key.

Answer 3

well, alot of people doubted them this year so they had the whole chip on the shoulder thing. Their starting pitching has been fantastic against division rivals (i.e. Matt Garza is 3-1 with a .29 ERA against the blue jays) and lastly, they score alot of runs late in games.

Answer 4

They are winning because they are they team they were not last year.  The pitching has been amazing, especially the change of the bullpen.  It's like an entirely different team from last year.  Also, their defense has been incredible.  If you've got the main starters (Longorio, Bartless, Iwamura, and Pena), nothing is getting through the infield.  Top that off with a cast of supporters (Hinske, Gross, Floyd, Aybar) who have been contributing.  Every night there's a new hero.

Jake -- That is dead wrong.  Three of their best players (Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Troy Percival) have been injured for about weeks.  They've also had injuried to Carlos Pena, Cliff Floyd, Jason Bartlett, and Scott Kazmir.  They are coming together IN SPITE OF the injuries.

red sox -- I could talk about how the Saints of 2006 were not a fluke, but that's for a different topic.

Sports Guy -- Mostly right, except that it wasn't such a hot start.  They had a pretty poor record in April, then stepped it up.  They also lost 7 in a row before the All-Star break but came back to hold 1st place in the East.

RadJake -- That's how a team keeps winning in baseball.  Pitching & defense.  Homerun hitters only take you so far.

Matt C -- A lot of people doubted them this year?  A lot of people doubt them EVERY year!  That didn't stop them from finishing last for the past 10 years.

Answer 5

I think that Madden has a lot to do with the Rays success. The addition of Cliff Floyd from the Cubs added experience and a stand up team mate. The defense has played a big role this season and what any successful team in baseball needs PITCHING. Their pitchers this year are remarkable, the starters and the bullpen. After watching about the first 30-40 games this year I said they are playing like a championship team. I could see the chemistry and how well they worked together as a team.

Answer 6

The TB-MN trade is what set the Rays going.  The lost Delmon Young, but they got Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Grant Balfour.  Those promising prospects are rocking it this year for the Rays.

Answer 7

Because they have excellent putching and play good defense and luck also has to contribut to their success

Answer 8

I think its a fluke like the 2006 Saints but thats just me  

Answer 9

BULLPEN-- they had the worst bullpen last year and now one of the best.  They also take advantage of other team's bullpens.  I believe they have the most come from behind wins in the league.  They get the other starting pitcher past the magical 100 pitches and then tee off on the reliever.  The Rays bullpen is extrmely strong with 3 or 4 guys who can close but they use them in the 7,8,9 innings (which might be a problem in extra inning games).  

STARTING PITCHING- None of the starters gets shelled.  When they leave the game, the game is within reach.  All 5 should win 12+ games.

TEAM BALL- Everyone contributes.  There isn't any real bench players because they all play.  No rust or indifference.

MANAGER -  Joe Maddon has them all believing in themselves and taking each game one at a time

Answer 10

well  alot of seasons they have some of there best players injured and  this year none of them are  and they have some young new players to hope that was help full

Answer 11

they're winning their games the tradition textbook way through great pitching- starters and bullpen, along with great defense all around

Answer 12

Their starting pitching has been solid and healthy the entire year.

Evan Longoria was putting up Rookie of the Year type numbers before he got injured a few weeks ago.

And the rest of the offense has been doing just enough to get by.

They got off to a hot start and ran with the momentum.

Answer 13

Their offense is the same as before 2008. Pena had 46 HRs last year, and this year only 26. They only score about 3 or 4 runs a game. It's their pitching. They only scored 6 runs in 3 games against the Blue Jays but still won.

THEY GOT OUTSCORED 8 RUNS TO 6 IN THREE GAMES BUT TOOK 2 OF 3. THAT'S TWO RUNS A GAME BUT STILL BEING ABLE TO WIN! IMPRESSIVE!



You look at all the transactions they made between last year and now. Their bullpen last year had a 6.64 ERA. This year it is 2.45 ERA. You know what they did: they traded off half their team.

They got a new closer, Troy Percival. They have a new relief pitcher, Grant Balfour. A new starting pitcher, Matt Garza. They also got five new hitters in their lineup: Longoria, Riggans, Zobrist, Ruggiano, and Gross. This is NOT a fluke. They have a different lineup and pitching rotation from last year. They even have a diffrent name and a new motto: "9=8"

This means, 9 players from the TB Rays will be one of the eight teams in the playoffs. You look how much they changed in one year. At least eight new players out of 25. They're lineup is already half changed.  

Last year, they led the league in errors. This year, they have some experienced players, and now have committed the least errors in the AL.

And a few of the players traded to the Rays team have adequate playoff experience. Troy Percival, who used to play for the Brewers. Cliff Floyd, who used to play for the Marlins.

Answer 14

Simple, Pitching and Defense, some late-inning rallies, and walk-offs.

Answer 15

cuz they're pro