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.