(all we can do is dream.................)
As I continue screaming my lungs out in anger, I realized that it would be safer and healthier to sit down and truly write my thoughts down. After realizing that it would just be a page full of profanity, I decided to break down the Tampa Bay Rays season. I sat down and thought about the reasons why the AL East champs are suddenly sitting at home watching the ALCS instead of fighting in it against the Yankees (like I predicted). After yelling some more, I assembled a list (not in order) of reasons why the Tampa Bay Rays just were not simply good enough to beat the Rangers and truly have a shot at the championship.
1) James Shields
I hated this man. It was not healthy how much I hated his pitching, his lack of positive body language, and his lack of attempting to change his delivery to better his chances of actually winning a game. Joe Maddon was also stupid in giving him the ball in game 2, which resulted in a loss and a 0-2 hole that very few teams can ever dig out of. This man only uses two pitches, and all year they failed. And when he fails, he fails quite miserably. Not sure what happened between then and now, but now he should be removed from the rotation and become a mere set-up man until he can figure out why he lost so many games for a team that couldn’t afford losses in the tight AL East.
2) Offense
The offense sucks. Actually, really bad. As a matter of fact, our best run producer had the lowest batting average amongst all starters in every ballclub in the MLB. Longoria, Upton, Pena were all batting below their usual awesomeness, resulting in some long streaks of scoring 0-1 runs. Only Carl Crawford maintained a decent average, which didn’t help too much because he wasn’t a power hitter, leading to less of a chance of him scoring home. It was quite frustrating to watch, as we had two no-hitters against us and nearly a third one.
3) Home Field Advantage?
As God is my witness I will do whatever it takes to move that team out of that terrible, terrible stadium and that even-worse fanbase area. It is ridiculous that one of the best teams in baseball did not sell out 10 regular season games. Remember when they played in Wide World of Sports? Two years ago, their attendance there was actually better in Disney than in Tampa. Why do you think they kept losing at home in the beginning of the season? Why do you think they complained towards the end? Because the players of the Rays were like a comedian with a great joke but nobody to tell it to, or a band with a great song but nobody to sing to. They are talented, but are probably sick of playing in front of quiet fans that sometimes even get overpowered by fans of other teams. I will no longer discuss this until next year, when my massive plan about the Orlando baseball team of the future takes shape.
4) Offense. It sucks, I know. It has been over 20 years since a team with such a low batting average made the playoffs. Nearly a miracle they won the division. We need a new batting coach. Immediately. Now.
5) Trading Deadline
Seriously? Chad Qualls? I know Tampa does not have the money of the big boys, but the fact is there were many available players that did not cost much that could have been very helpful. Adam Dunn from the Nationals, Ty Wiggenton from the Orioles, and even Manny Ramirez to an extent. They could have gotten Cliff Lee, and that would have been worth the insane amount of prospects we trade. Because I know the Mariners did not want to move Cliff Lee to a competitor if they could have moved him elsewhere. But the fact that the higher-ups didn’t make much ofa move during a heated race put more pressure on everyone else in the Rays ballclub. Look who won the series for the Rangers---a player received in a trade earlier this summer.
6) Tropicana Field
You do know that the stadium once actually prevented the Rays from winning a game earlier this year. Just reiterating the suckiness that is Tropicana Field
7) Injuries
Now, while the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, and the Red Sox (yep..they had enough injuries for repetition) had their injuries, the ones that hit the Rays hurt just as bad. Niemann, before the surgery and downfall from the rotation, was a top-notch starter that was punishing the opponents. Now, he needs the offseason to tweak back his delivery to become dominant again. Evan Longoria was injured in the very end of the season, and that partially silenced one of the few decent bats that were left in the year.
The main reason is that in a world of heavy competition known as the American League, you need full support from everyone—the higher-ups, the owners, and also the fans. The Rangers have this, the Yankees always have this, the Phillies are gaining this, and the Giants are regaining this. As for the Rays, they just don’t have this. They are cutting payroll, but its because despite the increase in spending, the fans aren’t showing up, which results in higher losses. In order for the Rays to ever become continuously successful and not become the joke they used to be, they need fans, they need good revenue, and they need a reason to stay in Tampa and play for the organization. Otherwise, they will continue to become the professional farm system for the heavier markets. You don’t need to be in a big city to be a big market—look at the Orlando Magic.
What you need is a teamwork of support, not from the team, but from everyone that is involved. Until then, the Tampa Bay Rays will never fulfill the utmost potential that they can definitely reach with their awesome farm system, their great manager, and their excellent young squad of players hungry for wins.
Tampa Bay Rays, thanks for a great year of baseball, even if not enough people saw you play.
Go Rays!
P.S. I am still screaming.
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