(Photo by YouTube)
The 2020 Tampa Bay Rays made it back to the World Series after a 12 year absence. This incarnation of the Rays are an assembly of young talent, sprinkled with a few veterans led by a manager willing to go against the grain and use unconventional tactics to give them an advantage (#kevincashforalmanageroftheyear). Tampa's team doesn't really have superstars. Just a bunch of hungry players looking to shock the world.
This 2020 team isn't any different than the 2008 team. Before that season, the "Devil" Rays were not good. Don't believe me, here is a graphic provided by Wikipedia to show that.
Yep, the Devil Rays were no better than fourth place in their division since their inaugural campaign in 1998. I realize that in the AL East, there are powerhouses in the Yankees and Red Sox with teams that once in a while breakthrough in the Blue Jays and Orioles. But somehow, the Devil Rays were unable to be the powerhouse or the breakthrough. They were stuck in the basement. Despite their dismal showing, Tampa Bay's baseball management were able to get top draft picks and use the selections to secure elite amateur talent to build for the future. Entering 2008, the organization decided to make a change, dropping "Devil" from their moniker and become the Tampa Bay Rays. They also changed the colors and uniforms, which I'm a fan of. The Devil Ray would reappear on alternative uniforms and hats during recent seasons, which I'm not a fan of. The "Rays" were picked by baseball experts to finish last or second to last for this campaign and were set to secure another high first-round pick for the future.
Then, something happened. Something magical if you will. The Rays were winning, and they didn't stop winning. Fans actually packed Tropicana Field for a period to watch a team that suffered through losing seasons to grab the attention of not only the people of Tampa, but baseball fans around the country who enjoy the fact sports organizations build within. During the season, the Rays brought up top prospect third baseman Evan Longoria. Longoria then signed a long-term deal with the Rays. He didn't disappoint, crushing 27 homers and adding a one-two HR punch with first baseman Carlos Pena. Towards the end of the season, Tampa Bay promoted former #1 overall pick David Price into their pitching stable. The team really didn't need Longoria and Price, but they wanted to break out of the pack.
The Rays had an abundance of offensive weapons in Longoria, Pena, then known as B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford, who also provided great base-stealing to add runs or give them opportunities to score. Crawford's defense was also superb. Add solid role players in Jason Bartlett, Gabe Gross, Akinori Iwamura, Willy Aybar, Jonny Gomes, Eric Hinske and Dioner Navarro and the Rays were a lineup and bench that had firepower. They had a player named Ben Zobrist, who won back-to-back World Series championships with two different teams and snagged a World Series MVP in the process.
The pitching staff was loaded, especially the rotation. Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza and James Shields were the anchors and adding Price was a plus to the pitching staff, whether he was a starter or a middle reliever. The bullpen was rock solid. Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Al Reyes contributed to that bullpen. The closer was World Series champion Troy Percival, who tallied 28 saves that season.
Leading this group was manager Joe Maddon. He has a keen eye in baseball fundamentals and knows the game in and out. His bench coach that season was Dave Martinez. Martinez would win a World Series championship as manager of the Washington Nationals in 2019. The front office was lead by de facto GM Andrew Friedman, who maneuvered this talent into the right places and set the Rays up for the future with shrewd draft picks that could develop in the farm system. Ironically, Friedman is now the GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay's opponent in the 2020 World Series.
Towards the last half of the season, Tampa's MLB team was the talk of many fans and baseball experts. They couldn't stop winning. Then it happened, the Rays clinched the AL East and made the playoffs for the first time in team history! This team that was branded as basement dwellers and losers became the breakthrough and powerhouse in one season. Excitement grew as the postseason started and I, myself, was curious how this worst-to-first franchise can perform in the playoffs.
The Rays would face the White Sox in the ALDS, and it really wasn't a contest. Tampa Bay coasted to a 3-1 series win to advance to the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. Earlier this season in June at Fenway Park, these two teams were involved in a brawl that included players getting hit with pitches, punches thrown and plenty of cursing. Yep, these two opponents don't like each other. Despite the Rays dominating Game 3 and 4 (9-1, 13-4) and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Boston roared back winning the next two games (8-7, 4-2) to set up a Game 7 for the trip to the World Series. In front of a packed Tropicana Field (that's right), Game 7 would commence. I actually watched this contest and though it was not one of the greatest Game 7's in baseball history, you could tell both teams wanted this win. Matt Garza and Red Sox starter Jon Lester pitched brilliantly. Unfortunately, Lester made a mistake, allowing a home run to Willy Aybar that gave the Rays momentum and cleared the way for David Price to close out the game and deliver Tampa Bay the AL Pennant and a World Series berth for the first time in franchise history with a 3-1 victory. So, in one season, the Tampa Bay Rays tossed their "loser" label out the window and enjoyed a 2008 that included many firsts in the franchise's best season to date as they were now gunning for their first World Series championship.
However, the dream for a championship ended in the World Series. After a long rain delay and probably one of the greatest episodes of Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia ever produced, the Rays would bow out to the Phillies in six games.
This core of players had the baseball world talking and many experts actually cheering for a franchise looking to turnaround their fortunes. This season was a platform for that turnaround. Wikipedia, if you please.
Despite one season when they were terrible (2016), the Rays have enjoyed successful seasons where they avoided the basement and continued to use baseball knowledge to keep this franchise staying afloat. Unfortunately, this team has to trade key players or let them leave in free-agency, but has done a good job of finding talent in the farm or signing bargain bin free agents to fit a role on this team. The 2020 Rays resemble that today. Hopefully, this franchise could finally reach that mountaintop.
Also, City of Tampa, this franchise needs a new stadium. They almost went to Montreal to play games. They have won for you. Get it done.
(Sources: Wikipedia (obviously), Baseball References, Tampa Bay Times, MLB.com, YouTube, NESN, Rays.com, Baseball Almanac)
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