Tampa Bay Rays Make Playoff Push

The last one third of the season will finally decide if the Tampa Bay Rays have been contenders or pretenders. As the final playoff push begins, the Rays continue to win games despite enduring setbacks caused by injuries. A season of magic once again finds a road block.

The most recent, and certainly the most serious of injuries this season came to Carl Crawford and potential Rookie of the Year, Evan Longoria. Crawford, with a torn tendon in his finger will require surgery. His return this season is in doubt with a 6-8 week recovery time, but is not impossible. Replacing this lineup mainstay will be a committee of journeymen outfielders.

Longoria sustained a fractured wrist off of a pitch from JJ Putz, of Seattle. His recovery is expected to take about three weeks.

Up until the recent injury setbacks, the Rays had been flying high by winning ten of their last thirteen games. The offensively challenged Rays had seen their bats become alive again while the pitching staff remained very efficient as a whole. They had finally put some distance between themselves, the Red Sox and the Yankees.

How the loss of both Crawford, the long time offensive catalyst, and Longoria, the Rays' leader in HR's and RBI's, will affect the team's playoff run remains to be seen. Also lost by their collective injuries is their presence on defense, which has played a very prominent role for the Rays' success this season.

However, during a season of repeated magic, this Rays team has had different players step up all year. Injuries are certainly nothing new, even as disabling as these appear to be. Percival, Pena, Bartlett, Navarro, Kazmir, and Garza are just a few names that have spent at least one stint on the disabled list.

In order, that is the closer, cleanup hitter, potential gold glove shortstop, all star catcher, staff ace, and starter with the best stuff.

The constants for their continued winning ways have been pitching and defense all year. Longoria's glove and Crawford's speed will both be missed, but adequate short term and long term solutions are available for a team that has stored up significant quality depth.

Willy Aybar will assume most the the duty at third base, while Rocco Baldelli, Justin Ruggiano, Eric Hinske, and Gabe Gross will all see additional outfield time. As a group, if they are able to contribute in small ways, the loss to injuries may be reduced a great deal. If not, then others may be forced to step up dramatically.

Clearly, up to this point in the season, the Rays have proven themselves to be contenders. But it's all about finishing in the marathon like 162 game regular season.

The schedule is brutal for the Rays during the next four weeks. After the current series with the A's ends, a return to Tampa Bay along with a visit from the streaking Angels follows. After that, the schedule should answer the proverbial contender/pretender question once and for all.

A brief road trip against the White Sox precedes a 21 consecutive game stretch against their division rivals. Included are 12 games combined against the Red Sox and Yankees. By then, there will be little doubt as to which team has the most flaws or sustainability.

The final test for the season's last third will be how well the young arms of the pitching staff hold up through a pressure packed month. Trips to Fenway and the Bronx in September can be intimidating to veteran pitchers, and how well Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Jackson and Sonnanstine will perform is unknown. If they prove up to the test, the Rays may be in for a playoff berth.

The Rays have shown a brilliant level of resolve thus far this season. In this year of magic, somebody else is bound to step up and be the hero when it's least expected, like Nathan Haynes, Gabe Gross, or Grant Balfour have done before. Overcoming obstacles and setbacks is just one of the many areas the Rays have been consistent at.

Why should now be any different?

Speed, defense, young and aggressive starting pitching, a solid and balanced bullpen, and an offense that is awakening are all components still present. And when October rolls around, it's likely the Rays will still be present as they push their way into the playoffs for the first time.

A season of magic wouldn't finish any other way.

Rays' Offensive Woes Continue

As the Tampa Bay Rays' enter into the dog days of August and thus officially participate in their first pennant race, several issues may become paramount as to their success.

The beauty of the 162 game regular season is that all warts become exposed, and rarely can a team keep winning an excessive amount of games without having the balance needed to contend with their two legendary and wealthy division rivals.

No pretenders allowed. And especially not in the AL East.

The first half of the season saw the Rays' surprise all of baseball with a consistent and sometimes blazing start, peaking with a won/loss record of 55-32 just prior to the All Star break. During that start they beat the best in their own division (Red Sox, Yankees), the best in the AL (Angels), and the best in the NL (Cubs) in an impressive fashion.

The Rays' suffered the ups and down of injuries ( Kazmir, Garza, Navarro, Pena), all spending at least 15 days on the DL, but persevered through it all by having different players step up with clutch performances almost on a nightly basis.

But magic only lasts so long. Remember, this is the AL East.

Struggles at the plate have haunted Carlos Pena (46 hr in 2007), and BJ Upton (6 hr in 2008) so far this season. Together, the two have left a gaping hole in run production of late, leaving the rest of the lineup to fend for itself. Evan Longoria has had his difficulties often, but has had several hot streaks thus keeping the middle of the lineup from completely disappearing.

Despite the won loss record (17-15), the team performance against left handed pitching has been abysmal. With the exception of light hitting Jason Bartlett (.325, LH), the Rays' fail to provide a hitter batting above .270 against southpaws. The middle of the lineup producers are struggling to hit their weight (Pena, .205, Longoria, .239, Gomes, .186, Floyd, .175, Upton , .264) against lefties.

This alone is cause for concern until one examines the Rays' performance with runners in scoring position (risp). Only Dionner Navarro has been productive in this area (.307, risp), while other expected run producers continue to struggle badly (Pena, .265, Longoria, .239, Upton, .265, Crawford, .275). Last season both Crawford and Upton were very productive with risp at .314 and .343 respectively.

Pitching remains fairly consistent, but not dominant as it had been. Troy Percival has battled hamstring problems along velocity issues on back to back nights. Depth in the bullpen remains adequate with the likes of Grant Balfour and the ever steady Dan Wheeler should Percival continue to have problems.

But the pitching may be good enough as is.

Team defense has been shaky of late, but much of that can be attributed to the loss of Jason Bartlett to a stint on the DL.

The question for the Rays' now is what to do. The trade deadline is fast approaching and the Rays' appear to be staying as is. The cost of acquiring a steady right fielder such as Xavier Nady was apparently too much for now, and pragmatically will probably turn out to be the correct decision.

But one thing is clear, that being the Rays' will need better and more consistent production with runners in scoring position. Securing a solid right handed bat may help matters against left handed pitching, but that doesn't appear likely, and still doesn't solve what the heart of the matter is.

Hitters bearing down, and getting focused while attempting to drive in runs with men in scoring position will solve many of the questions. Capitalizing on scoring situations early on in games will be critical for this teams success. This has been a significant team failure of late.

Taking advantage of runners on second and third and nobody out by executing solid fundamentals at the plate will keep the pressure off of this young pitching staff. Rays' starters face too many games that are tied 1-1 in the 6th inning, and it's only a matter of time before that wears thin on a defense and pitching staff.

And should any sort of meltdown occur, it can be traced back to performance with runners in scoring position. The question now should be, "is this a trend, or is this an identity? "

We'll all find the answer during the last 60 days of the season.

Baseball Returns With Dignity

For the millions of viewers on television and those also in attendance, the pre-game ceremonies should have left an indelible mark on how grand a sport that baseball still is. The sport that has endured countless self-destructive moments since it's beginning, just keeps on ticking.

America's pastime survives each new catastrophe by returning to the simple formula of connecting today with yesterday. Aligning the present along with the grace and glory represented by players from decades back, is a sight that evokes memories, stirs emotion, kindles a curiosity among others.

It was Mays, Aaron, Feller, and Gibson last night.

Legends of the game. Elder statesman. Baseball royalty. Dignity. Trust.

They never got caught with corked bats, using sand paper, taking steroids, or causing a brawl on the field. Mays and Feller gave up prime parts of their careers for military service, Mays for two years after his rookie year, and Feller for most of World War ll.

Aaron quietly went about his business hitting home runs for the Braves and Gibson acted as a leader and an enforcer on the mound while pitching for the Cardinals. As their careers wound down, each player simply walked away.

As Yankee Stadium provided the memorable scene last night hosting it's final All Star game, the event appeared to stampede over the miserable news and actions dominating the game for years. There was no talk of steroids, lying to Congress, team retraction, or Barry Bonds.

In fact, there was no Bonds at all. Nor McGwire, or Sosa, or Palmeiro, or even Roger Clemens. Their names were not even mentioned. Not once. Imagine, arguably the greatest hitter and baseball's best pitcher over the last 40 years and maybe ever, were ignored.

Their career achievements speak for themselves, but so does their absence. But enough of that.

Sizemore stood with Mays. Evan Longoria with Brooks Robinson. Justin Morneau with McCovey. Derek Jeter with Banks. And on, and on. Clearly a new path has been taken. Their future is bright, and each player gives baseball a look of innocence, which has been missing for a long time.

Removing the stain of the last era of what now appears to be invisible names will take time to distance itself from the past and consistency from future all stars.

Baseball identified last night as it's official "time to move forward" theme. Subtle, but effective. Just how many stayed up and watched the whole game because it was the last classic to be held at Yankee Stadium? Some, no doubt did, but most were enthralled at the drama of scoreless inning after scoreless inning.

Some of the new All Star heroes were named Holliday, Longoria, McLouth, Drew, and Kazmir.

The game is slowly returning to it's roots, and has an abundance of youth developing as the core of future legends such as sluggers Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols. Dozens of others will fight for supremacy over the coming years too, as did Gibson and Koufax, Mays and Aaron, or Mantle and Snider.

The elegance of the evening's beginning was demonstrated time and time again on the field in it's simplest form. Just play ball.

Let's hope that this only continues forward as baseball once again has proven to be ageless to all.

Magic Sign Pietrus, Maybe Lose Dooling

The Orlando Magic signed free agent swing man Mickael Pietrus to a four year, $24 million contract. He's expected to replace Mo Evans, last years' starting 2G on the roster. Pietrus brings brings athleticism and a solid defensive work ethic to the lineup.

Where this leaves the rest of the back court remains to be seen with today's announcement by Keyon Dooling's camp that he will not return to the Magic for the 2008/09 season. Dooling is seeking a contract in the $4 million per year range, but team president Bob Vander Wiede has recently stated that the Magic are unwilling to exceed the luxury tax cap threshold.

Dooling served as a combo guard specializing in defense, and playing the role of igniter with his consistently high energy level. His departure would leave the Magic currently with only one PG under contract, Jameer Nelson.

General Manager Otis Smith will have his work cut out for him in the coming months in trying to solidify a weak back court. The addition of Pietrus should be of help, but the depletion of the PG position has just become an urgent issue, and one that will be difficult to fix given the team's reluctance to exceed the luxury tax.

Whether or not the Dooling departure turns out to be a mistake is unknown at this time, but what is known is that the Magic are losing a player of high character, consistent work ethic, and having the ability to be versatile in the back court. Four million seems like a bargain.....

Rays' Mid-Season Report

The 2008 season began with much promise for the Rays.

A strong start in the exhibition season led to expectations of the Rays' finishing with their first winning season ever. Not many had expected that carryover effect to be this long nor as this engaging.

Now, at the halfway point in the season, the Rays' record stands at 49-32, and proudly standing one half game up on the mighty Boston Red Sox. A decade full of management incompetence, bad luck, and bad baseball are quickly diminishing memories from the minds of most.

The Rays' are contenders.

Hell must have frozen over, gas is less than two bucks a gallon, and the Rays' are contenders.

In the AL East no less.

Consistency

The Rays' have yet to lose more than 3 games in a row. Much of this can be attributed to the rebuilt middle defense and the solid efforts of a complete pitching staff.

The Rays' have committed the fewest errors by any Major League team. The team ERA is 3.71, and the outstanding defense has much to do with keeping a young pitching staff both confident and efficient.

The bullpen has a mid season ERA of 3.19 while allowing opposing hitters just a paltry .211 batting average. The bullpen ERA is a three run per game improvement over 2007's dismal 6.16. Opposing hitters batted at a .303 clip last year as well.

Starting Pitching

This may be the most promising attribute of the Rays' as they continue their ascending path towards a playoff run. Balance, style of approach, and innings grinders lay the foundation for this pitching staff to continue to succeed through the summer months.

Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir have at times been electric and overpowering while combining for 13 wins despite both players spending a combined 6 weeks on the disabled list.

James Shields has been efficient and steady even without consistent run support. Edwin Jackson has been up and down, but his control is much improved over last year, and has been better in working out of big innings.

Andy Sonnastine is 9-3, and may be the weakest link in the starting rotation.


The Bullpen


The improvement can be best described on one word.

Dramatic.

Troy Percival and Dan Wheeler both have provided stability through performance in finishing games. The Rays' are 14-11 in one run games, and their consistency has played a major role. Percival has been successful in 19 of 21 save opportunities.


Others, like JP Howell (a converted starter), Trevor Miller, and Grant Balfour, have been clutch pitchers while serving in a variety of roles. The three run ERA improvement over 2007 speaks volumes as to the depth of the bullpen.


It's not just a couple of guys

Offensively, the Rays' punch has been coming from all through the lineup. Seemingly, it's a different player stepping up when needed in close games.

Gabe Gross, the part time right fielder, leads the way with three walk off game winning hits.

The three hitter, BJ Upton, has only 5 hr's, while the clean up hitter Carlos Pena has struggled to stay above .220 all year. Rookie Evan Longoria and Dionner Navarro have offset those deficiencies with consistent production. Navarro has hit above .300 all season and Longoria leads both the Rays and all AL rookies in hr's and rbi's with 15 and 47 respectively.

Eric Hinske and Carl Crawford have been steady as well and especially in the clutch.

Schedule

The Rays' played maybe the toughest schedule in all of baseball during the first half of the season. Prior to beginning the series with the Houston and Pittsburgh, the Rays' combined opponents winning percentage stood at .571.

Included in this were impressive sweeps of the Angels, Red Sox, and Cubs.

The Rays' have played an slightly unbalanced home and away schedule, but have been outstanding at either going 30-13 at home, and 19-19 on the road. Tropicana Field is gaining a reputation for being a difficult road venue.

Where does this journey end?

Health matters, along with experience.

But so does speed, defense and pitching.

Right now the Ray's have all but the experience.

The first half of 2008 has been magical for the Rays'. Seven walk off wins, dominating complete game shutouts, series sweeps against the best in baseball, stellar game saving defensive plays, have all made many believe that this is a team of destiny.

A serious playoff run is in the making, and watching this dynamic, aggressive team march on is the story of 2008.

The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays' are playoff bound. Mark it down.

You saw it here first.

The NBA is Fixed?

Fixed?

Not in the sense that the title may imply.

At least through the eyes of David Stern, "fixed" represents the marketing prowess that the NBA believes that it enjoys worldwide. There is no doubt that Stern has done this job well serving as the commissioner of league that has grown significantly in international popularity.

These days, you can find LeBron James jerseys in Paris, Yao jerseys in China, and countless other jerseys of NBA stars at points all over the world. Job well done, Mr. Commissioner.

All this frenzy from a league that as late as the 1970's still showed the NBA Finals broadcasts on tape delay.

Stern "fixed" the NBA by predominately having players marketed instead of teams. No longer was it the Sixers against the Lakers with Dr. J and Kareem. Instead it was Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls take on Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz.

Stern gave the NBA "star power" like it never had before. And "power" he gave.

Brilliant, some have said of Stern through the years.

With the current Tim Donaghy controversy at the forefront, and through all of Stern's marketing prowess, has he dropped the ball in the most basic fundamental of all, which is maintaining the integrity of the game?

"Fixed", is a word to many watching the NBA that has another meaning too.

For years now, and especially with the advent of the David Stern "star power", the NBA has faced the uncertainty of rules enforcement.

The obvious

While beginning a drive towards the basket, Allen Iverson receives a contact foul at the 3 point line against the Magic. Iverson finished his drive successfully, and was awarded a free throw due to the foul.

The problem in this instance was that Iverson never once dribbled the ball after the foul. He took four full steps from contact at the 3 point line to the finishing the shot without the ball once touching the floor.

So, how does the NBA defend this? Oh, that's right, it was a continuation. OK.....

We won't get into the John Stockton holds, the Shaq clear-out post ups or his camping in the lane, Iverson palming the ball, or the seemingly infinite other privileged rules interpretation that stars get from NBA referees.

When Shaq was in his prime, did the 3 second count only start when the opposing bench yells it to the referees?

You do not have to be a knowledgeable person to recognize inconsistencies during games.

The not so obvious

Calls get one sided at times, primarily due to more aggressiveness by one team over another.

Coaches will change the call frequency often during games. The angry coach gets a technical foul by baiting an official, then shortly thereafter the calls usually balance themselves out.


The make up call

Dwight Howard has solid position in the deep post, starts his drop step, is grabbed by his jersey and then gets hammered on the side of his head by Brendan Haywood. Howard misses the shot, the Wizards get the rebound and play continues.

No foul call.

Next time down, Howard receives the entry pass while stationery, Haywood is barely touching the Magic center, and the whistle blows.

Foul. OK....

The make up call happens far too often for any level of fan interest. Imagine an umpire in baseball calling the next runner out because he mistakenly called the previous runner safe.

Or a sideline judge in football calling the next pass complete because he erred on the previous play by ruling it incomplete.

Credibility

How can a league ever have credibility when make up calls are considered normal procedure but are an unwritten rule?

Of course, David Stern would deny this.

How can a league have credibility when stars play to different rules interpretations than other players? Just ask the players if this isn't the case.

The NBA would deny this as well. But the eyes of millions of observers do not believe the sincerity of the NBA's explanations.

Then there are the home court rules, the bad player rules, and of course, the superstar rules. It's no wonder that the NBA can't be consistent.

There are just too many rules to enforce.

Tim Donaghy

Now the NBA faces it's biggest dilemma since the cocaine crazed early 1980's.

Because of all of the different (albeit denied) rules standards given for various situations, the word "fixed" has appeared. The naysayers cry out that evidence is in hand, all you have to do is watch the tapes. Playoff tapes at that.

The hyped NBA Finals are near midstream, yet all discussions these days start with the name Tim Donaghy. Is it true, or isn't it? Donaghy is a crackpot liar, rat, and a gambler, or so the league defenders argue.

Or, can he be telling the truth? Donaghy has little to gain by perpetuating false claims to the FBI. Ask Martha Stewart how well that works out. He does have a lot more to lose if these accusations are a figment of his imagination.

Steering

The truth of Donaghy's claims probably lie somewhere in the middle of "he's a lying rat" to the NBA is "fixed".

It is obvious that games, players, and even situations are "steered" at times by officials.

Sometimes it's necessary (games can get very rough) for safety, sometimes it's done to right a wrong (which is still wrong), and maybe it's done to keep games close (tickets are expensive) and provide consistent fan enjoyment.

The fix

It's time for Stern to actually fix the game itself. The NBA is a great product, but is not a great game anymore. There are just too many obvious discrepancies for the game to stay mainstream with the sports fans.

At some point, accountability may be required from the public, or the NBA may just continue it's fall into the WWE mentality. What a loss of a beautiful sport.

Quit the cover ups, stop sidestepping bad performances by officials, and at minimum restore consistency with rules interpretations. This might mean losing some officials, but for the integrity of the game is probably worth it. Doing any or all of these might prevent a future Tim Donaghy from appearing.

It's your call Mr. Commissioner.

Rays select Tim Beckham with 1st pick

The Rays' selected shortstop Tim Beckham with the first pick in the MLB draft.

Infield depth will be greatly improved over the next few years.

Beckham should not have the potential signing difficulty that Buster Posey would have brought.

Expect Posey to fall as the draft progresses.

Rays' Low Attendance- Are the Critics Wrong?

In a word, yes.

The typical reaction of the baseball pundits is to jump on the bandwagon of whatever link they have read recently. Sure, have a strong opinion, but at least look at the overall picture of the current situation, and at minimum find a comparison to base that opinion on.

The new hot topic in baseball is the rapid success of the Tampa Bay Rays. The media talking heads are heaping praise, and it is deserved. They are however, offering criticisms of the support (or lack of) that has followed this team. That too is also deserved, but with some reservation.

Attendance has been low given the circumstances of the Rays' fast start. But why?

There are several reasons for the lack of support, but these are not excuses. Just reality.

The core fan base

The franchise is now in it's eleventh season, and with one exception every single season being a last place finish. It's next to impossible to develop a fan base over a decade in which the season is over before May arrives.

Think about it, in the new millenium in Florida, nearly everyone is from somewhere else. A bad team locally, combined with a transient community having fan allegiances to other teams, does not grow a fan base with adults.

So that leaves the kids.

The Rays' are still in their first generation of developing the future fan base. It's when the current 12 year old child turns into a 28 year old paying adult that the true core expands.

That's if you are not winning. Field a good team, and the core base expands rapidly.

History

The Rays drew 2.5 million during their inaguaral season. The following year attendance fell to 1.5 million fans. Between then and now, attendance has generally been just over a million fans per year. People won't travel to see bad baseball.

Anywhere.

Ask the Cubs in the early 1980's. One of the greatest fan bases of die hard followers in all of baseball. The 1982-83 seasons produced bad teams drawing 1.2 and 1.4 million fans each year.

In 1984, the Cubs dazzled baseball and their fan base by winning 96 games and their division. Their attendance grew to 2.1 million, a 50% increase over 1983.

Or ask the Indians in the mid 1980's. Fielding a 60 win team in 1985 brought an amazingly low total attendance of 655,000. That preceded 734,00 for a 75 win team in 1984.

In 1986, the Indians showed a stunning 24 game improvement in the standings, and attendance doubled to 1.4 million. They failed to keep the momentum however by falling back into last place in 1987, losing 101 games. Attendance fell to 1.1 million.

Losing "sometimes" does not grow a fan base.

The Whites Sox in the mid and late 1990's were mired in mediocrity. Great tradition, a history of winning, a not too distant realm of success with a developed core fan base, were all present elements at that time. Attendance stayed at roughly 1.6 million during those years.

An 80 win team in 1999 was followed by a first place 95 win team in 2000. Attendance rose to just to 1.9 million for a quality baseball club.

Losing most of the time does not grow a fan base.

Proof? Maybe ask the Oakland Athletics of the late 1970's, a team coming off 5 straight division titles surrounding 3 straight World Series wins. Owner Charlie Finley gutted his championship team and turned them into a cellar dweller overnight. Total attendance bottomed out to 305,000 in 1979. That followed 526,000 and 485,000 the two previous seasons.

The Kansas City Royals have drawn between 1.3-1.6 million during the last four seasons. Their on field success was highlighted by a 69 victory season in 2007. Their overall record for the last 4 years is comparable to that of the Rays, as is their home attendance figures.

Coincidence? No.

Reality? Yes.

The Braves of the late 1980's were a bad baseball team, losing at or near a 100 games every year. Attendance struggled as well, drawing less than a million fans each season.

In 1991, the Braves shocked baseball winning 94 games and beginning a decade plus run at the top of the standings. Over 2.1 million fans came out to cheer this new dynasty in the making. The majority of those 2.1 million fans did not come out in April and May however.

It was the summer months that filled Fulton County Stadium to near capacity because the Braves were in a pennant race for the first time in years.

Pennant fever

This is the ultimate drawing card for a baseball team. It unifies the fan base with it's community.

In a pennant chase, every game with every team now matters. Baseball becomes part of the daily grind. The morning box score becomes as important as the front page news.

Tampa Bay has yet to experience this. It matters, and it matters big time.

Not an excuse, just reality.

Where does it go?

Despite the slow start in attendance this year, the Ray's are averaging 18,227 after 33 home games. In 2007, the Rays' drew 17,130 per game, but this included the summer months.

If the Rays average 26,000 in attendance per home game the rest of the season they will end up drawing 1.85 million, their highest total since the very first season in 1998. That would be a 50% improvement, and in line with other historical comparisons.

Two million in attendance is a reach, but not out of the question.

As the Rays' continue their march towards excellence, attendance issues will go away. School will soon be out, freeing up many families to make the trip to Tropicana Field. Adding the probability of a potential of a pennant race will drive many of the borderline fans to attend games en mass.

So yes, the critics have labeled the obvious point of attendance being low, but what they have not done is put the problem in it's rightful historical perspective.

Interview with Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman

When the Tampa Bay Rays visited Disney's Wide World of Sports for their three game regular season series with the Toronto Blue Jays, I was able to meet the Rays' team President Matt Silverman, who was gracious in answering a brief Q and A interview for later. Thank you Mr. Silverman.

The following is a question and answer interview with the President of the Tampa Bay Rays, Matt Silverman.


The new ownership group came into the Tampa Bay area with a plan on how to turn this franchise around and becoming a viable major league team. Ownership first addressed Tropicana Field itself, changed the front office decision makers, the coaching staff, and attempted to become more fan friendly. As a whole, has the feedback from the public been as positive as you'd hoped for? And with attendance?

We are thrilled to be part of the Tampa Bay community. Our organizational philosophy is really bearing fruits on the field this season, but the process has been ongoing since our ownership change in October 2005. We took many fresh, new steps to provide a great environment for fans to enjoy a game and establish ourselves as a community partner. The interest level in the team is on the rise, and we can only hope that it manifests itself in attendance. Having packed crowds really makes a difference to our players. It creates a real home field advantage.


Which statement better describes the Rays' philosophy towards winning;

Would it be "win it all now, be the front runners, and worry about the future later, no matter the cost", or would it be "lets try and win 90 games every year, be competitive, and once in a while maybe get a shot at winning it all"?

Andrew Friedman has consistently said that we want to be an organization that can sustain winning, season after season. To do that, we have to keep one eye on the present and one eye on the future. We do not have the financial resources of higher revenue clubs, but, with a focus on player development and with continued investment in the talented player we’ve acquired or developed, we believe we can compete year in and year out.

What would you like to say to the naysayers that are constantly dwelling on past failures and prior ownership?

We are the Rays, not the Devil Rays. We are committed to being a quality corporate citizen, to putting a great product on the field, and to providing the best possible environment for fans to enjoy the game of baseball. The naysayers should give the organization another try—hopefully they’ll recognize the differences.

And to those that say "you can win some now, and maybe for a few years, but will never be able to maintain winning nor keep the great players because this is a small market team"?

It certainly won’t be easy, but we believe it can be done. The first step is creating an environment in which players want to play. The long term signings of James Shields, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Dan Wheeler, Scott Kazmir and Carl Crawford are evidence of that. They have chosen to be Rays. If we can continue to draft and develop top players, we should be able to continue adding to our already talented and exciting team.

The new stadium proposal that is underway has been receiving great support from the national media. Clearly, this unique waterfront stadium as designed would become the beacon for the city of St Pete. Is there a timetable as to how long is the ownership group willing to lobby the local government, the media, and residents to get this project done?


We believe the design for a waterfront ballpark in downtown St. Pete will give us the most beautiful stadium in Major League Baseball. It would be a great source of pride for St. Pete and Tampa Bay, and it could be a part, along with the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and its parking lots, of a new wave of growth for St. Pete. We are focused on getting the ballpark on the ballot for November. If all goes well, we’ll be playing regular season baseball on the waterfront in 2012.


And if the proposal is not accepted by either deadlines and/or taxpayers , would there ever be consideration for a Tampa location?

We put forth this proposal because we believe the historic Al Lang Field site would be a great location for the long-term home of the Rays. If the new ballpark effort does not proceed, our long-term lease at Tropicana Field would remain in place.


The ownership group disappointed many fans when the Rays' payroll went down last year. Rampant thoughts of "new guys in town, but nothing has changed" were everyday criticisms. Knowing what was on the horizon, was that an intentional plan at the time, by choosing not to invest in any significant free agents and thus waiting for the youth to further their development?

Before the 2006 season, Stuart Sternberg said our payroll would rise 10%-15% annually. That’s a target, but so much of it depends upon the players in-house and the particulars of the free agent market. Over the past two seasons, we were able to determine our needs and how to address them. We also were able to provide many young players the chance to get valuable experience at the Major League. Two of the beneficiaries, Dioner Navarro and Edwin Jackson, have gotten off to great starts this season. The experiences they gained the past couple of seasons certainly have contributed to that.


When we first spoke at Disney's Wide World of Sports back in April, you stated that the Rays were very close to becoming competitive. Did you ever envision a stand alone hold on first place in the middle of May 2008, and has this fast start by the team surprised even you?

Coming into Spring Training, we were very excited about the ballclub. The organization was optimistic, but no one really knew what to expect. Our success to date has come despite some early season injuries. We’re even more excited to see what a healthy Ray ballclub can do the rest of the way.


With the considerable wealth of talent currently on hand in the Rays' minor league affiliates, one could draw comparisons of the current Rays' organization to that of say, the Atlanta Braves of the early 1990's, or the Baltimore Orioles of the 1960's. Was there a previous franchise model that was chosen to follow, prior to taking ownership control?

I wouldn’t say that we follow the model of any single organization. We certainly have learned lessons from observing other organizations, but each organization faces its particular circumstances and challenges.

If the Rays' are still in the pennant race by late July, is there a temptation and/or desire to trade minor league prospects for a veteran player(s) for a potential stretch run?

We don’t feel we have any major needs, but we always want to maintain flexibility so that we could add potential pieces should the need arise and the cost (in terms of talent exchanged) make sense.

Rocco Baldelli is still attempting to return to baseball. Being one of the primary faces of this franchise and so well respected in the community, it surely has been devastating to both Rocco and the Rays' that he unable to play at this time. If, by some misfortune, that his recovery is not successful enough for him to continue playing, would the Rays' be able to find a place for him in another role assuming he would want to?

Rocco’s focus and ours is on getting Rocco back on the field. He’s making progress and we’re going to do everything we can to aid him in his efforts.

The Disney series against the Blue Jays seemed to be another success with the exception that there were still some empty seats throughout the stadium. By and large though, players, fans, and the media all liked the experience. Are the odds of returning next year greater than 50/50, or less than 50/50?

We really enjoyed the Orlando series and reaching out to fans in that part of our region. It is too early in the scheduling process for next season to determine the odds of returning. Whether we return to Disney or not, we will continue to work diligently to extend the Rays into Orlando and Central Florida. They’re critical to our growth as a franchise.



What changes there would you like to see if the Rays' were to return?

We’re undefeated at Disney—why change a thing?



Comparisons could be drawn to the Rays' relationship to Orlando, and that of Baltimore and Washington during the late 1970's. After the Senators moved to Texas for the 1972 season, the Orioles began to televise and broadcast games on DC affiliates several years later. The foothold in the region did not take until the late 1970's though. Once it did however, the Orioles saw attendance jump significantly while attributing upwards of 25% of their total attendance to the DC area.

Is that the plan with Disney and the Rays? And do you envision other mini road trips to other regions in Florida, such as Jacksonville, Ft Meyers, etc?

We are determined to become a truly regional ballclub with support from throughout the State of Florida. We want the Rays to not only be Orlando’s team, but also Fort Myers’ team and Gainesville’s team. If we can capture the hearts of our region and extend our reach throughout the state, we’ll be able to prosper.


There is significant frustration in Orlando concerning the broadcast partners of the Rays', in that they are very much unavailable to most of the region. FSN-Florida has an ongoing dispute with Britehouse cable and it's 800,000 subscribers, and is unavailable on their cable system, and WHOO 1080 am, which has a too weak signal to be heard over the air in most of the region after dusk.

The FSN/Brighthouse dispute keeps more than half of the Rays' games from being seen by nearly a million subscribers regionally. The alternative then, would be to listen to the game on the radio, but, for most, is an impossibility as well.

Do the Rays' have any plans on addressing these issues in the future, so that "out of sight, out of mind" doesn't take hold in the area?

We are working hard each season to expand our partnerships with television and radio affiliates throughout the state. We are determined to do what we can to make sure that everyone who wants to watch or listen to a Rays game in the region has the ability to.



Finally, as President of the Rays', is this your dream job, or would you rather be a player?

Like most kids, I dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues, but that dream was vanquished well before I made it to high school. I’m much better suited for this position than any position on the field.

Is Edwin Jackson Just Trade Bait or Another Bob Gibson?

Young pitchers with potential come and go. Some are able to harness their skills and have successful baseball careers, while others never seem to gain enough consistency to stay very long in the big leagues. So where does Edwin Jackson fall?

Struggling to a 0-8 record after his first 13 starts last year, many heard whispers that Ed "no win" Jackson was on his way out of the rotation, and maybe even off the major league active roster. Lack of control in the early innings was his downfall on most nights. If the ball wasn't over the plate, batters weren't swinging, and if it was, Jackson's 96 mph fastball was getting hammered.

Such is the life of a starting pitcher that often gets behind in the count to major league batters.

The 2008 season has been a mirror opposite from last season. Jackson's 2007 season was heavily loaded with 3 inning / 6 run knockouts, while sprinkling in a solid month of performances later in the season where the signs of his vast potential finally made an appearance.

To outsiders, nine starts and a 2-3 won-loss record certainly does not speak volumes that Jackson has turned any corners on his future as a Rays starter. But it's his body of work in each start though that brings much interest, as Jackson has yet to display any middle ground between a Bob Gibson like performance or that of a Class AA journeyman.

The bad: three starts, 13 innings pitched with 17 earned runs allowed while the losing pitcher in all three starts.

The good: six starts, 41 innings pitched and only 3 earned runs allowed. But Jackson only picked up 2 wins as the bullpen let two of his starts get away. Offensive support was lacking in the others.

Gibson like efforts included were 2 starts against the Yankees, allowing only a single earned run, and dominating performances against Boston, Seattle, and Toronto. For all of his 2008 starts, the good vs. bad ratio is the polar opposite of last year.

Now, the dilemma for the Rays: gamble and keep him, or gamble and move him.

With so much youthful potential currently on minor league rosters, is this the time to possibly move Jackson? If he's another Bob Gibson, it's certainly a regrettable mistake.

Right now though, while his value is probably as high as it will get, he could be another Sidney Ponson as well. We all know the type, just another one of those guys that turns heads for a while, and then just disappears.

It may be a be a tough choice for the Rays to make, but they will have to decide.

Are The Rays' More Than Just A Feel Good Story?

A quarter of the way through the 2008 season has seen the Tampa Bay Rays establish a new order for the franchise. Officially gone in mid May are the days of waiting for NFL summer camps to open in July.

Also gone are the laughing stock comparisons to the Bad News Bears and Charlie Brown.

This year, the Tampa Bay area fan base may actually be watching what may soon be a dream season unfold. The signs for just that are becoming more clear as each week goes by.

After the Thursday afternoon 5-2 victory over the Yankees, the Rays record stands at 24-17, and in sole possession of first place, leading Boston by a full game. Not only is their record the best ever by any Rays team, it also is the best record in the American League.

What is impressive though, is how the Rays got there.

The current 16-6 streak has included 18 games against teams that were above .500 in 2007.

An eleven game home winning streak that ended on Wednesday came at expense of teams that were all above .500 last year. Among those teams swept were the Red Sox, who were shutout once, and then had a bottom of the 8th inning two run homer seal another 2-1 Rays victory. The Red Sox left humbled but angry, and paid back Tampa Bay later with a sweep of their own in Boston .

In years past, that sweep might have sent the Rays packing, and beginning a never ending tailspin into baseball oblivion.

But not this team and not this year.

Next came the Angels into Tropicana Field, leading the AL in batting.

But they too left Tampa Bay impressed with the club after suffering two shutouts and scoring just a single run in the series.

"There is nothing they did that surprised us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They have a lot of good things going and I think I saw it first hand."

Defense and pitching have been key for the Rays. The new infield has committed just 9 errors in 41 games, which leads both leagues for fewest errors by an infield . Difficult double plays have become routine by shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Aki Iwamura.

More important though, is that routine double plays have become routine.

The speedy outfield of Carl Crawford, B J Upton, and a combination of right fielders has allowed few balls to find the gaps.

Pitching has at times been dominant. Careless base on balls that plagued this pitching staff in years past have been reduced to just a 136 in 41 games.

The bullpen ERA is at 3.16 and is now a full three fewer runs per game allowed in 2007, while the team ERA is 3.69 and nearly two runs less than at this same time last year.

Starting pitching was up and down early on, but has come on like gangbusters during the streak.

During the eleven game home winning streak, Rays starters compiled an ERA of 1.96, while holding teams to one run or less six times and with three of those being shutouts. Rays' starters have now thrown 75 straight innings without giving up a home run.

So where does this go?

Forward for sure.

This 2008 Rays' version is unlike any other in their history. For the first time ever, there is solid starting pitching teamed with a consistent bullpen that is well balanced for situational purposes.

The team defense is among the best in either league.

The Rays can hit the ball out of the park or can play small ball very effectively. There is constant pressure on opposing pitchers when Rays runners reach base.

Clutch hits have come by nearly everyone that has been on the roster. Dependency on one or two batters is out the door.

The formula for success is finally here. Depth, speed, versatility, and youth make this an electric team to watch, and coupled with a confident drive with a will to win, will keep this team at the forefront of discussions at water coolers everywhere across the country.

Rays Set Marks for April

When does optimism give way to expectations for the future?

The Tampa Bay Rays may be making strides in the coming months by having to answer just that question.

The month of April has been completed, and the Rays management must be at least somewhat happy with the results. Twenty six games played, with fourteen wins, does not seem like much for most major league clubs, but for the Rays it created a precedent.

A precedent in that the Rays had their first winning April in their short history.

A precedent that the Rays set team marks with a staff ERA of 3.74, with a bullpen ERA of 2.59. This, coming from a team that was dead last in the major leagues last year in many pitching categories.

The schedule was more home based than not, but their opponents were mostly AL East division rivals, to which the Rays held a 10-7 head to head advantage over. Not bad.

Not bad at all considering that the Rays were missing two of their top three starters for most of the month. Scott Kazmir did not throw a single pitch, while Matt Garza made only two starts during April.

Also missing for the month of April.........missing offensively that is.......were the likes of Carlos Pena, Aki Iwamura, and Jason Bartlett. Pena and Iwamura have struggled to stay batting above .200 most of the season, while Bartlett struggled at .220 and seemingly never got the ball out of the infield.

Bartlett's productivity is still an unknown to the Rays, but Iwamura, the new lead off hitter, and Pena, last years Silver Slugger award winner, have struggled mightily for the month. Not only is Iwamura's average low, his average with runners in scoring position is worse, at .118. Pena had gone the last three weeks of April without a home run.

So how did the Rays do it?

Two words......

Defense and depth.

These are two words that would never be associated with earlier Rays teams. Solidifying the middle infield with Bartlett and Iwamura has resulted in numerous ground balls not getting into the holes as in years past, and has shown the ability of both players to turn even the most difficult of double plays routinely.

No doubt these are two key contributors to the Rays record setting pitching staff.

Depth has dramatically improved across the board.

Pena in a slump? In steps Eric Hinske, a non roster invite this year, who's timely hitting and six home runs has saved or won several games.

Dioner Navarro on the DL? Shawn Riggans plays hero on a couple of occasions, most dramatically with a four RBI performance against the Yankees.

Two starters out? In the Exhibition season, Andy Sonnanstine, Jason Hammel, and Edwin Jackson were playing musical chairs battling for the 4th and 5th rotation slots, with the odd man out. So, Sonnanstine throws a complete game 3 hit shutout going 4-1 for the month, and Jackson precedes that with an 8 inning 2 hit effort. Hamel has mostly held his own.

Where this leads nobody knows. But this much is in evidence now: the Rays are eliminating the proverbial monkey on the back, and appear to be moving forward, and far, far away from their past.

Magic Aim for Revenge Against Pistons

The Magic will play game two tonight in Detroit with physicality on the agenda.

In losing game one by 18 points, the Magic at times seemed overwhelmed by the physical play of the Pistons. Grabbing, holding, and heavy duty body contact in the post up area, proved to be disruptive enough to hold the Magic to a 72 point effort, their lowest point total of the season.

How the Magic react in game two may go a long way in determining the length of this series.

Dwight Howard, held to just 12 points and 8 rebounds in game one, must become a force for the Magic to get scoring balance from his teammates. Now, it'll be Stan Van Gundy's turn to make adjustments so that Howard roams free again. If successful, the Magic should be competitive against the Pistons.

If not, this series will be over very soon.

Rays Bullpen Delivers

The Tampa Bay Rays began rebuilding their inadequate bullpen during the summer of 2007. Gone were the likes of Shawn Camp, Chad Orvella and many other forgotten names that had struggled frequently. Incoming, from various places, were Dan Wheeler, Trevor Miller, and Troy Percival among others.

The results have been nothing short of phenomenal so far in 2008.

In 2007, the Rays bullpen may have approached the American League's all time worst performance for a collective unit. Blown saves, bases loaded walks, and ill-timed home runs all plagued a bullpen that finished with a season ending ERA of 6.16. Opposing batters didn't need any supplemental help when facing the Rays pen, as they hit at a .295 clip for the year.

The difference in performance for 2008 is off the charts.

Work fast, throw strikes, and keep the ball in play are all themes being executed by this unit. Middle relievers such as J P Howell and Scott Dohmann have been solid performers thus far.

Gary Glover and Trevor Miller have been plus pitchers in most situations they have been thrown into. Last year, the Rays did not even carry a single lefty reliever to start the season. Now, with two, there are options for Joe Maddon to use during games.

Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival have added quality and so far, perfection, to the end of games.

This year, after 22 games, the bullpen ERA has dropped to 2.39 for the season. Opposing batters are hitting just .213 against the Rays relievers. Consistency has been the key for their success.

The bullpen has allowed only 10 hits in 54 first at bats in 2008. Rays relievers are once again reaffirming the point that it is far easier to pitch ahead in the count and without men on base than it is otherwise.

How long this goes on at the current level of performance remains to be seen, but the bullpen is finally pitching at a legitimate major league level. All the while, bailing out a starting staff that has been missing two of it's first three starters for much of April.

As this Rays team begins it's rise through the standings, the success of the bullpen is an absolute for an especially young pitching staff and team. Now, can the starters, when healthy, return the favor?

Time will tell.

Magic take game 1

The Orlando Magic overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors 114-100 in game one of their best of seven series. The Magic came out firing on all cylinders and were deadly from beyond the arc making 9 of their first 11 three pt attempts.

The Magic led 44-23 after the first quarter, shooting 75% from the floor.

Toronto made several second half runs in trying to cut the Magic lead, but were never able to get closer than 5 points.

The Magic were led by both Dwight Howard's 25 points and 22 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson's 24 points. Game two of the series continues tonight at Amway arena. Tip off time is at 7:30.

Ray's young gun showing promise

Learning to be a successful major league pitcher can be a painstaking experience for everyone involved. Having natural talent in throwing ability is only part of the formula for success.

For most young pitchers, learning when and how to use their pitching arsenal is usually the determining factor as to whether or not a good live arm turns into a decent major league pitcher.

Success starts with having command of pitches, varied with change of speed, along with good tempo.

Witness the recent pitching performance of Andy Sonnanstine against the Chicago White Sox.

Sonnanstine, in his second major league season, had struggled in his first 3 starts including a seven run shellacking in less than 4 innings of work last Sunday against the Yankees. Throwing the ball over the middle of the plate will generally end with bad results, and when Sonnanstine lacks command, that is what happens to him.

But Saturday night was different for Sonnanstine however, as he threw a complete game 3 hit shutout against the Sox, giving the Rays a 5-0 victory. The difference?

Command.

During the first few innings, Sonnanstine was able to throw early strikes to hitters with his fastball keeping hitters behind in the count, and getting the ball hit into play. Later, in the middle innings, he mixed in breaking balls along with his fastball keeping White Sox hitters off balance.

The last couple of innings saw Sonnanstine return primarily to his fastball and used the off speed pitches to finish off batters.

Sonnanstine had been relying too much on off speed pitches too early in games in his earlier outings. Last night was hopefully an indicator of a young pitcher maturing.

If so, Sonnanstine likely has a future at the major league level ahead. If not, then return trips to the minors lays in waiting.

Magic face Raptors, series starts today

The Magic will face the Toronto Raptors today, beginning a best of seven series in the NBA's first round. Tip off is at 12:30 pm, and will be televised on ESPN.

The match up figures to be entertaining and likely high scoring. Neither team is shy about taking 3 pointers (the Magic led the NBA in 3 pt attempts) and both teams play at a fast pace.

Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh should provide much of the drama as both players have had strong efforts in earlier games. Bosh averaged 33 points per game in the two previous meetings, while Howard averaged 24 points per game along with 12 rebounds.

Both teams are healthy at this time.

Orlando Magic finish regular season tonight

The Orlando Magic will finish the 2008 season with their best record since 1996. The Magic have been remarkably consistent this season, with the longest losing streak set at 3 games. Currently at 51 wins, this marks just the fourth time that the franchise has recorded 50 plus victories in a single season.

The Magic will face the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. The playoffs will begin this coming weekend.

Tonight, the Magic face division rival Washington at home. Tip off is slated for 7:05 pm.

Young guns are producing

The young arms of Edwin Jackson, Jeff Niemann, and Andy Sonnanstine, and Jason Hamel are providing the Rays with much needed consistency and innings so far this season. The four pitchers are a combined 5-2, with each averaging over 6 innings per start.

Jackson has been dominant in his first two starts, giving up only a single run thus far. Command of both his fastball and slider have been vastly improved since last year.

Jeff Niemann made his Major League debut on Sunday going 6 strong innings, allowing only one run. His 93 pitch effort was nearly flawless against the Orioles.

Sonnanstine and Hamel have battled through adversity in each of their starts and have been able to rack up needed innings to help the bullpen.

Meanwhile, the return of Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza looks promising towards the end of April. Kazmir is throwing regularly while Garza is no longer feeling the ill effects of his arm strain. Both players are currently on the 15 day disabled list.

Rays split series with Yanks

Mike Mussina (1-0) pitched 6 innings giving up only two hits as the Yankees beat Tampa 6-1. The victory by the Yankees split the series with the Rays at two games apiece.

Jason Hamel took the loss for the Rays (0-1).

Derek Jeter left the game in the third inning with a quad strain in his left leg. Currently, his status is unknown but is expected to miss his next few games.

Tonight, the Rays open at home against Eric Bedard (0-0) and the Seattle Mariners, in front of a sold out Tropicana Field. Matt Garza (1-0) will be on the mound for the Rays. This is the third straight sold out home opener for the Rays.

Rays lose game 3, series finale tonight

James Shields gave up a 3rd inning, two run homer to Hideki Matsui, which ended all the scoring for the game. Shileds went 5 innings giving up eight hits while taking his first loss of the year. Wang was strong for the Yankees, pitching 7 solid innings.

Mariano Rivera recorded the save.

Tonight has Jason Hamel going against Mike Mussina. Game time is 7:05 pm, and is on ESPN.

Rays hammer Yanks

The Tampa Bay Rays pounded the New York Yankees 13-4 last night. The Rays were led by Shawn Riggans, who came off the bench to replace an injured Dionner Navarro, and belted a bases loaded double in the third inning off of Ian Kennedy. The Rays finished the inning with a 6-0 lead over the Yankees.

Navarro, was strangely injured in a dugout slip and fall cutting his throwing hand. His hand got caught in the protective netting as he fell. Navarro was placed on the 15 day DL after the game. Riggans replaced him behind the plate.

Home runs by Cliff Floyd and Carlos Pena were the back breakers for the Yankees late in the game. Leading 6-4 going into the 7th inning, the Rays capitalized on the Yankee bullpen for 7 runs.

Andy Sonnanstine pitched 6 innings and recorded the win. Rays continue the series today at 1:05 pm. Edwin Jackson is on the mound for Tampa Bay.

Reyes struggles, Rays lose 9-6

Al Reyes gave up 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning tonight to Baltimore, paving the way for the Rays first loss of the season. Reyes struggled with command and was unable to finish the eighth inning. The Rays had led 6-5 going into the inning.

Matt Garza made his debut for Tampa Bay tonight, pitching 5 plus innings. Garza left the game after giving up a 2 run homer to former Ray, Aubrey Huff.

The Rays had home runs from Cliff Floyd and Carlos Pena.

The series finale is scheduled for Thursday at 7:05. Andy Sonnanstine will be on the mound for the Rays.

Rays win opener

The Tampa Bay Rays started off maybe their most optimistic season in 11 years with a convincing 6-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays used a solid seven inning effort from starter James Shields and a home run by newly acquired Eric Hinske to sink the Orioles.

Defense played a large part in the victory as shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Aki Iwamura made several inning changing plays.

The remade bullpen finished the game with 2 scoreless innings with Dan Wheeler completing the last inning. The Rays continue the series with Baltimore on Wednesday. Matt Garza will be on the mound for the Rays.

Magic lose another close one to the Hornets

The Orlando Magic dropped another close game to a contender last night, losing at home 98-97. The Magic were crushed on the boards by the Hornets as they were out rebounded 52-30.

This is the second consecutive 1 point defeat to a western Conference contender as the Magic dropped a game to San Antonio last week.

For the game, the Magic shot 50% from the floor and held the Hornets to 41%. In the end, the rebounding advantage held by the Hornets proved to be too much to overcome. Keyon Dooling missed a 12 foot jumper with less than 2 seconds remaining.

Hedo Turkgolou led the Magic with 26 points. Dwight Howard added 15 rebounds.

The Orlando Magic are gonna breakthrough!

It's finally happening.

Ten frustrating years of injuries, bad draft picks, bad trades, bad coaches, bad general managers, and even bad ownership have left the Orlando community swimming in apathy with regards to the success of the only major professional team in town.

Forty five victories and counting ( possibly headed for as many as 52-54) would result in the best regular season finish since the departure of Shaq. Yet locally hardly anyone has noticed.

Could it be due to the lack of TV coverage from the Britehouse and FSN dispute keeping half the games off local TV? My money says that the "out of sight-out of mind" mentality is definitely a factor. But lack of success in the playoffs over the last ten years is really at the heart of the matter.

The Magic have not advanced past the first round since the last year that Shaq was still a member of the Magic. There has not been a buzz about this franchise since that last 60 win team. Why no buzz now?

Apathy. The solution?

It's simple, having playoff success will return the enthusiasm to a prominent level in the community. Success in the second season means at minimum a second round appearance.

With financing for a new arena in tow, positive momentum for the franchise is critical for the future. With the core players signed (Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis) to long term contracts it's now time for meaningful results on the court.

This year marks the return to relevancy in Orlando for the Magic.

Baseball's Opening Day is closing in fast

Baseball's Opening day is fast approaching, bringing with it all the hope and optimism for a great season ahead. Never mind that in my case I happen to hold the Tampa Bay Rays close to my heart. This franchise has yet to record a winning record in it's history....nor even a single season reaching 71 victories.

Optimism and hope are the words that define Americas' national pastime. In every city, and in every spring training camp, the echo of past failures temporarily disappears as the new season nears. Once the new season begins reality often sets in quickly.... but more on that later.

As a lifelong fan of baseball, I have been trained not to get too overly optimistic each spring. After all, I began my journey as a Washington Senators fan. In those days and with that club reality was usually set in stone by mid April as another trip towards the cellar of the American League was well on its way.

How is this year different for the Rays?

The Rays have acquired an abundance of talented, young players. That alone does not translate into a winning team, however, the core group of players are rapidly developing before our eyes.

Outfielders B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford are solid defensively, have speed, and in Upton's case, becoming an offensive impact player that complements Crawford very well in the lineup. The loss of Rocco Baldelli is certainly an early season disappointment and how well he is replaced by the committee of right fielders is yet to be determined. Cliff Floyd brings a solid bat and clubhouse presence, while Johny Gomes brings drama with some timely home runs scattered about.

The infield has been remade from last year. Aki Iwamura has moved his gold glove quality defense to second base making room for the highly touted rookie Evan Longoria at third. Jason Bartlett was acquired from Minnesota during the off season in the Delmon Young trade. He had a few too many errors last year (26), but has great range at shortstop, and even with the high amount of miscues is an improvement defensively from Brendan Harris who was the primary shortstop last year.

Unknown though is how well Bartlett will hit, and whether Longoria is ready to become a productive everyday third baseman. If there is some struggle for consistency, the Rays have added Willy Aybar as insurance.

Optimism? Well, so far basically some pieces have changed...some for the better and some for the worse. In baseball, it nearly always comes down to pitching and last year the Rays were below dreadful if ever such a level could exist.

But what about the pitching? And the bullpen?

Last year's optimism quickly faded by the time the Rays starting rotation had taken a couple of turns. They were pretty good as a unit, but that was at AAA when most of the starters were sent down at some point. The ERA of the starters ended up being over 5 runs per game by seasons end. That's about as bad as it can get, right?

Wrong.

Now factor in the bullpen. They were worse. Impossible to believe, but they were much worse than the starting staff. There was never an 11-2 lead that was safe. Home runs, hit batters, base on balls, pitching from behind in the count .....were all guilty points from a bullpen that may have been the worst in the history of baseball. Al Reyes, as the closer, mostly was not part of the atrocity that was witnessed far too regularly.

The worst bullpen in the history of baseball? Well, a little research needs to be done first, but it will be very hard to beat a staff bullpen ERA of 6.16 in any era. But, these numbers were last year and thankfully that bullpen no longer exists.

Optimism and hope can be turned into expectations when the pitching is very good. This year, some of the live young arms may start to show fruition. Scott Kazmir led the AL in strikeouts while James Shields would have been the AL iron man for innings pitched had he not been shutdown in September. If healthy, expect both to win 15 games.

Matt Garza, acquired in the Delmon Young trade, is expected to join the rotation. Garza, the Twins' 2006 minor league player of the year, has much potential although his debut 2007 season was spotty at best. How much he contributes this year remains to be seen.

Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine complement the staff. Jackson struggled much of last year but showed signs of being dominant late in the season especially with his 98 mph fastball. This pre season has been up and down for Jackson, but he appears to be working things out of late. When...or if...Jackson gains command of his fastball, lookout.

Sonnanstine has a rubber arm, great control, but lost many of his starts last year because of the occasional 4 run inning. If he cuts down on the meatball pitches, big innings against him should subside.

Both Jackson and Sonnanstine could easily be 10-12 game winners. Or 15 game losers.

On the bubble is Jeff Niemann. The 6'9" pitcher has struggled with health recently, but has been outstanding this spring. He'll add depth to a rotation should health or consistency from any of the starters become problematic.

That dreadful bullpen from last year has been remade, with the addition of Troy Percival as the closer and Al Reyes moving to be the set up man. Both pitchers have had significant health issues in the recent past, but both remained healthy last year. J P Howell and Dan Wheeler add quality depth.

Optimism and the bottom line? Pitching as a whole will be much better than last year, but offensively the Rays may have lost some punch with the departures of Young and Harris.

Defensively, the Rays will show significant improvement....especially up the middle which is where it counts....that will aid a young pitching staff immensely. Pitching and defense go hand in hand, and has always been the recipe for success in baseball.

The bottom line is this : we should finally see a season that at minimum keeps fans interested until the dog days of August. The Rays will finish with their finest record ever at around 82-80, and others will realize that this team is to be reckoned with for some time to come. And many thousands of new fans will have discovered the joy of baseball.........in Tampa/St. Pete, mark it down.