Why are the Rays in first place?

Question

The Rays have nobody batting .300, and they have Carl Crawford, maybe the fastest guy in the AL, batting third!!!

Answer 1

One of the reasons is that they have alot of heart. That can go a long way in a season. Just look at the Cardinals. Even Skip Shumacker is on pace to score almost 100 runs!

Answer 2

Frankly, they have a young, talented and hungry team. Note: 42 Million Dollar payroll.

Answer 3

Because they play as a team and don't have distractions like "Manny being Manny" and the Yankees trading for all these veteran players.

Answer 4

They have the best winning percentage, that's why! Their pitching carries them through the tough games, when the offense doesn't pick up.

Answer 5

They have a strong pitching staff and play great defense (fewest errors).  They've been getting timely hitting as well.  And they are very tough at home -- they are 40-16 at the Trop. To hold on, they have to start playing better on the road (only 26 home games left)

I'm a Rays fan and I think it's pretty unbelievable, too.  Imagine if these guys got hot with the bats (BTW-- Navarro is hitting around .315 but doesn't have enough ABs to show up on stats, he was on DL for about a month).

JORGERACHFEALLBOOBS-- who the heck is Nick Murcella??

Answer 6

They have had great pitching and have been dominant at Tropicana Field. Plus, the Yankees and Red Sox haven't really been that good so far.

Answer 7

beaucse pitching and hitting win a game not a batting average.

Answer 8

they win more games

Answer 9

Same reason the Angels are first in the MLB, PITCHING!!!!!!!!!

The Angels offense is BAD and they are in first place in the whole dammed MLB.

Answer 10

they are first in the AL East because they have a .592 Winning pct!!! 2nd place has a .571!!! .592 is better than .571!!!

Answer 11

its all because of nick murcela- look at these clutch stats : hes spent most of the year in the minors, but when in the majors - 14 games, 39 AB's, 20 hits, .510 AVG, 7 homers, 19 RBI's, 6 stolen bases, 0 errors in the field. as a fist baseman he has really stepped up since the all star break. in his last 4 starts, 4 homers and 10 RBI's with a .670 AVG... now thats clutch hitting!

Answer 12

je or whatever the yankees have won 8 in a row that doesnt mean theyre sucking right now the red sox had papi injured for a month but still the red sox are only two games back the yankees are three...the rays have a good pitching staff and longoria the rays wont make the playoffs cause the yanks are on a roll and the rays young players will crack under pressure probably in september

Answer 13

they wont be for long, yankees are having a comback i think like 8 straight after all-star break!!!..go yankees!!

Answer 14

cuz the red sox and yankees r overrated and r sucking rite now

Answer 15

the rays are having a great year and the sox and yanks r not as good as usual

but if the rays get to the playoffs they dont have the experience to win the world series, if they make it

Answer 16

Solid pitching, timely hitting. Evan Longoria

Answer 17

longoria's powerful, even though his avg is like .289 or something like that, pena's a home run hitter, and iwamura can get some lead off homers.