MLB Team by Team: 2008 Tampa Bay Rays
Jeremy C
- Published Content: 76
- Total Views: 12,199
- Favorited By: 0 CPs
This is year thirteen of the of the Tampa Bay Rays' existence (10 on the field), and the team brass felt it was well past time for a change. They've dropped the "Devil" from their name, are getting ready to stop playing in the warehouse named Tropicana Field, and, they hope, moving up in the America 
n League East.
And the attitude's changing, too. They're playing harder, going faster, and, apparently, getting under the big boys' skin, if the New York Yankees' behavior this spring is any indicator. The team record for wins in a season is 70, reached in 2004. Can the Rays better that this year?
OFFENSE: C
Even without Delmon Young, traded to Minnesota for some much needed pitching, the Rays still have one of the youngest, most dynamic offenses in the league. Left fielder Carl Crawford (.315, 80 RBI, 50 steals) is high on everyone's wish list. Who wouldn't want a speedster with moderate power and good defensive skills? Pair him with B.J. Upton in center (.300, 24 homers and 82 RBI), and, when healthy, Rocco Baldelli in right, and the outfield shines brightly in the St. Petersburg sun. First baseman Carlos Pena is coming off a monstrous season (.282, 46 and 121), and if his production even comes close to that this year, who knows how many runs this team can put up.
PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Iwamura 2B 2 Crawford LF 3 Upton CF 4 Pena 1B 5 Floyd DH 6 Langoria 3B 7 Gomes RF (until Baldelli's return, at least) 8 Navarro C 9 Bartlett SS
STARTING PITCHING: C-
The starting pitching is even looking halfway decent for the Rays this season. Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.48 ERA) is beginning to look like the ace the Rays thought he could be, and James Shields (12-8, 3.85) looked great at times last season as well. The much needed pitching the Rays got for Young came in the form of Matt Garza (5-7, 3.69), so if all thing pan out as hoped, Tampa Bay will have a one-two-three punch that could turn some heads in the league this year.
PROJECTED ROTATION: Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Jackson, Sonnanstine
BULLPEN: D-
And the attitude's changing, too. They're playing harder, going faster, and, apparently, getting under the big boys' skin, if the New York Yankees' behavior this spring is any indicator. The team record for wins in a season is 70, reached in 2004. Can the Rays better that this year?
OFFENSE: C
Even without Delmon Young, traded to Minnesota for some much needed pitching, the Rays still have one of the youngest, most dynamic offenses in the league. Left fielder Carl Crawford (.315, 80 RBI, 50 steals) is high on everyone's wish list. Who wouldn't want a speedster with moderate power and good defensive skills? Pair him with B.J. Upton in center (.300, 24 homers and 82 RBI), and, when healthy, Rocco Baldelli in right, and the outfield shines brightly in the St. Petersburg sun. First baseman Carlos Pena is coming off a monstrous season (.282, 46 and 121), and if his production even comes close to that this year, who knows how many runs this team can put up.
PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Iwamura 2B 2 Crawford LF 3 Upton CF 4 Pena 1B 5 Floyd DH 6 Langoria 3B 7 Gomes RF (until Baldelli's return, at least) 8 Navarro C 9 Bartlett SS
STARTING PITCHING: C-
The starting pitching is even looking halfway decent for the Rays this season. Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.48 ERA) is beginning to look like the ace the Rays thought he could be, and James Shields (12-8, 3.85) looked great at times last season as well. The much needed pitching the Rays got for Young came in the form of Matt Garza (5-7, 3.69), so if all thing pan out as hoped, Tampa Bay will have a one-two-three punch that could turn some heads in the league this year.
PROJECTED ROTATION: Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Jackson, Sonnanstine
BULLPEN: D-