RaysTalk 2K9

[AFBlue]

Last year's Rays were a surprise to everyone, but this year is a different story. The division's "traditional powers" have loaded up on bats and arms, ready to prove that last year's run for the Rays was a lucky fluke.

But...the Rays weren't without their off-season moves. Dominated by lefties throughout the league last year (except for one game in the playoffs against Lester!), the Rays went out and landed a big right-handed bat in Pat "the Bat" Burrell. He will hit in the 5-spot as an everyday DH.

They've got an all-star cast of characters returning this year, including speedy outfielders Carl Crawford and BJ Upton, last year's ROY Evan Longoria, and gold-glove first baseman Carlos Pena. On the mound they return a top-3 of James Shields, lefty Scott Kazmir, and Matt Garza. Their prized prospect left-hander David Price is beginning the season in AAA, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting games for the Rays in June.

They certainly didn't keep pace with the big-spending Yankees or Red Sox in the acquisition department, but the Rays look every bit as capable to repeat their success from last year using a formula of pitching, defense, and some timely hitting.

Should be a fun year...

[AFBlue]

Speaking of timely hitting...

Utility man Ben Zobrist with a pinch-hit grand slam in the sixth to put the Rays up one...and three innings of relief to close out the game. Looks like the Rays still have that "never give up" attitude.

[AFBlue]

It's been a slow start to the season for the Rays, and they're still 4th in the division....but there are signs of life. They've taken the first two of a four-game series with the BoSox and could come out of this weekend with a sweep.

Let's look at some of the players to this point...

Standouts:

Evan Longoria: Leading the majors in RBI after a grand-slam last night, his 8th of the year. He's a legit MVP candidate in his first full year in the majors.

Carlos Pena: Leading the league in HRs with 10, and after starting out with alot of strikes and not alot of walks, he's seemed to turn that around in recent play.

Jason Bartlett: Playing a solid shortstop, but making more consistent contact with the ball and even showing a bit more power than in past years (already at 3HRs, when he had 1 all of last season).

Ben Zobrist: Whether it's pinch-hitting or platooning in RF, BenZo has been money. He's getting timely hits and showing the kind of power that projects to 20-25HRs if he were an everyday player. I'm not sure he'll ever be that with the Rays, but he has certainly shown that he belongs.

Otherwise there hasn't really been much consistency. The rest of the offense is hit or miss, with a penchant for bad base-running gaffes that seem to stall the offensive momentum. And the pitching isn't much better. Garza will come out and give up 5ERs in 6 innings before getting yanked, then throw a one-hitter his next time out. Same can be said for any of the other starting pitchers.

The breakout prediction for May...

BJ Upton: He's been slow to recover from that off-season shoulder surgery, so he hasn't been able to showcase any of the power or even make consistent contact. But as his shoulder heals, look for him to get on base, steal a bunch, and even take a few out of the park.