Rays Pitching

I LOVE this teams pitching. They have 3 guys who would be #1 starters for most other MLB teams. James Shields was the Rays #2 last year and had a 3.85 ERA to go along with 12 wins. Matt Garza, who came to the Rays from the Twins in the Delmon Young deal looked really good in his stint with the Twins, compiling a 3.69 ERA. Scott Kazmir(shown left) is the team ace. He led the AL in strikeouts while throwing just over 200 innings to go along with his 13-9 record and 3.48 ERA.
All 3 should improve over last season and get 12-15 wins while keeping their ERA's under 3.50 for the year. Kazmir will start the season on the DL, but should be back by mid-April.Then throw in last years First Round pick, David Price, who should be playing with the Rays by the All-Star break, and you've got 4 pitchers who will keep you in the game ever time out there. The question mark for the Rays is the bullpen. Closer Troy Percival should pitch well, but injuries are a concern for the aging right-hander who missed the entire 2006 season with injuries and will turn 39 in June. Besides Percival, the Rays bullpen is VERY shaky and so the Rays will need to pick someone up to help out their bullpen, or pray the the big 3 starters can pitch VERY LATE into every game. A good setup man can turn the bullpen around.

Tune in tomorrow for my thoughts on a preview of the Rays offense and defense.

I REALLY like the "RAYS"

I really like the Tampa Bay Rays this year. I really like the new culture that the team has. As we have seen this spring, they are trying to be a completely different team, and I have loved the all out play they have shown us in Spring Training. People think that a name change changes nothing. People think a new uniform changes nothing. Let me tell you HOW WRONG YOU ARE. Mark my words on this one. The Tampa Bay Rays will finish above .500 this season. Pretty bold prediction for the worst team in MLB over the last 10 years? Yeah maybe. They have, after all, finished in last place in the American League East 9 out of 10 years? It sure is. But hey, I'm making that prediction. Over the next two days I will describe why I like the Rays and will discuss their pitching tomorrow and their defense/offense on Tuesday. Check back in then!

Thanks for reading!

Spring is finally here!

For anyone who didn't know, Spring training games have started. I couldn't believe it until I was able to watch a game, and last night, I was able to do watch the Red Sox game on MLB.tv. I had to see to believe. It was great to see a game being played, especially after the crazy off season stolen by steroids. I'm glad the off season is over. I'm glad that 30 teams believe they have as good a shot as anyone to shock the world and be World series Champions. Thank God that are National Pastime is back in FULL SWING!