What happened to the Rays to make them so friggin' good this year?

Question

Last yr they went 66-96 and right now they are 73-47 at the top of the AL East. WTF??? Other than getting the rookie all-star Evan Longoria, what changed for the Rays? They are leaving the yankees and the Redsox in the dust.

Answer 1

The RedSox and Yankees still have the wildcard race. The Rays still can lose since two key players are now hurt.

Team chemistry and good managing is a key to success. But even if they make the playoffs I see their inexperience losing to the Angels or someone else. No world series.

The only real reason why they are number one in the east is because the yanks and sox are not 100%. This may be the Rays only shot in the next ten yrs.

Answer 2

It's all about team chemistry.  

Answer 3

they've had a lot of guys on the team for a few years that would have been in the minors in almost any other club, but they finally developed this year and their pitching has just been incredible. too bad carl crawford is out hopefully they'll hold on.  

Answer 4

every team has injuries thats not an excuse why they are outplaying the yankees and red sox. they have an excellent pitching staff and the young hitters have always been there but the most improvement has been the developing of the staff. garza kazmir andy and shields have been great. pitching wins championships not hitting yankees. although i like neither teams GO dodgers!

Answer 5

their young players finally developed

Answer 6

The Rays management got something finally right this year by getting Longoria and developing young pitching. Every year isn't the same as the last for most teams but the Rays finally got what they wanted.

Answer 7

Yes there's the obvious choice of Longo, lack of injuries, and experience all coming into factor. But what I think is the real factor that made them good is Troy Percival. The Rays got this veteran proven closer for very little and he is anchoring the once weak bullpen(about 6.00 ERA last year I think) The 'pen is playing with confidence shown through Balfour and Howell. Also, Matt Garza(From the Young trade) has performed well and Kazmir is giving good starts(He holds the other team to minimal runs in the five innings he goes). Shields showed promise last year and is showing he is the real deal this year and Sonnastine is a good young pitcher with developing talent. Edwin Jackson on the other hand...Rays are waiting to pull him out for Niemann. Pitching is basically the biggest thing that the Rays changed this year and they have proved that pithing wins games

Answer 8

evan longoria, pitching, carl crawford, luck, crappinness in recent years to help them get top draft picks

Answer 9

The team has improved in just about every aspect of the game but for the primary reason you need to look no further than their greatly improved pitching staff.

Answer 10

It's actually pretty simple.  All of those years of finishing last in baseball landed them a lot of high 1st round draft picks and they're all starting to develop together now.  

Answer 11

those 2 multi-million dollar teams SUCK,the rays are playing sensible b-ball,1 game ata time,playing with in there means,the best coaching in the league,not spoiled like those two bratty teams,take some off the monies away from those *** holes,see them play better...

go

rays

Answer 12

The guy who thinks that the Sox and Yankees still has a chance is delirious, the Rays will beat them both out

Answer 13

1st i want to say they arent leaving th red sox in the dust and its expected of a young energetic team to have a surge like this but honestly although you may not believe me or like it but a young team like this will not have the composure to beat out the red sox or yankees is they pick things up. maybe in the future when they have more experience look for them to make a deeper run

Answer 14

carl crawford is the best.