The Pesky Rays Won't Go Away

[Kimmi]

They're still f**king pesky.

 

They tend to win and lose games in streaks. Win 5 in a row, lose 6 in a row, win 11 in a row, lose 7 in a row. I'm not sure if that means anything, but I find it interesting.

[Larry Cook]

And the pesky Ray’s keep bringing up more talent from a fairly well stacked minor league system.

[notin]

They're still f**king pesky.

 

Like I said before - they’re the defending AL champs and we’re drafting 4th. Pretty sure we’re the pesky ones in this situation…

[Larry Cook]

Like I said before - they’re the defending AL champs and we’re drafting 4th. Pretty sure we’re the pesky ones in this situation…

 

At least we have tons of diehard loyal fans!

[notin]

And the pesky Ray’s keep bringing up more talent from a fairly well stacked minor league system.

 

It’s not the minor league talent that surprises me; it’s the reclamation projects like Springs, Mazza, Feyereisen, Wacha, Brett Phillips…

[notin]

At least we have tons of diehard loyal fans!

 

Yeah the standings I looked at for 2020 omitted that column…

[Larry Cook]

Yeah the standings I looked at for 2020 omitted that column…

 

Easy fix. Look at 2019 and/or 2018.

[Kimmi]

Just read an article about team defense. The Rays are #1 in baseball in terms of DRS with +59. That is approximately 6 games that the Rays have won on defense alone. The importance of fundamentals.

[moonslav59]

Just read an article about team defense. The Rays are #1 in baseball in terms of DRS with +59. That is approximately 6 games that the Rays have won on defense alone. The importance of fundamentals.

 

but, but, but all the black holes in the line-up!

[dgalehouse]

Just read an article about team defense. The Rays are #1 in baseball in terms of DRS with +59. That is approximately 6 games that the Rays have won on defense alone. The importance of fundamentals.

 

The Rays do seem to play good , fundamental baseball. They make the plays that are needed. They seem to make fewer blunders in the field and on the bases than some other talented clubs. That pays off.

[Kimmi]

but, but, but all the black holes in the line-up!

 

The Rays do seem to play good , fundamental baseball. They make the plays that are needed. They seem to make fewer blunders in the field and on the bases than some other talented clubs. That pays off.

 

The Rays are in the middle of the pack in the AL in most offensive categories. They make up for it with good defense and good baserunning.

[notin]

Easy fix. Look at 2019 and/or 2018.

 

You're using the 2019 standings? Seriously?

 

The Rays finished 12 games ahead of the Sox that year...

[moonslav59]

The Rays are in the middle of the pack in the AL in most offensive categories. They make up for it with good defense and good baserunning.

 

...and good pitching.

[moonslav59]

2021 Run Differential

 

+84 TBR

 

+67 BOS

 

They likely view us as "pesky."

 

SP fWAR

8.4 BOS (8th)

6.8 TBR (15th)

 

RP fWAR

3.6 TBR (3rd)

3.5 BOS (4th)

 

Everyday Player fWAR

13.7 TBR

13.6 BOS

 

Offense:

21.3 BOS

8.8 TBR

 

Defense

12.0 TBR

-0.9 BOS

 

I still don't get these numbers:

UZR/150

6.8 TBR (3rd)

5.7 BOS (4th)

(I'm losing my faith in this metric)

 

DRS (seems more accurate)

60 TBR (1st)

14 BOS (14th)

 

[Larry Cook]

You're using the 2019 standings? Seriously?

 

The Rays finished 12 games ahead of the Sox that year...

 

Attendance record. We were talking about diehard fans or in the case of the rays, lack thereof! I’ll try to go slower so you can keep up next time!

[notin]

Attendance record. We were talking about diehard fans or in the case of the rays, lack thereof! I’ll try to go slower so you can keep up next time!

 

No. I was pointing out that number of fans are irrelevant, as in not in the standings. You know, the numbers that matter…

[Bellhorn04]

The Rays can run 3 or 4 guys out to the mound who you have literally never heard of before, and they kick your ass.

[moonslav59]

The Rays can run 3 or 4 guys out to the mound who you have literally never heard of before, and they kick your ass.

 

That's why they can trade Snell and Hill and not miss a beat.

 

So, what is the solution some here suggest? Trade away those type of players for a rental.

[Kimmi]

The Rays are really starting to tick me off.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That's why they can trade Snell and Hill and not miss a beat.

 

So, what is the solution some here suggest? Trade away those type of players for a rental.

 

It seems like Tampa usually trades established players for younger guys with potential, especially pitchers. I think those arms only seem like rentals because they trade relievers and even closers just about every year. As many have said, the most sought-after commodity at trade deadlines is bullpen help, and somehow the Rays have found a way to manipulate that need into stockpiling more and more high velo pitchers.

 

This is why I thought Bloom might have traded Barnes, before he signed him. By the way, Seattle traded their closer this week (to Houston) and the clubhouse was outraged.

[jacksonianmarch]

Seattle traded their closer because they were getting Tampa Bay’s closer.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Seattle traded their closer because they were getting Tampa Bay’s closer.

 

He blew his first save in Seattle. M's players are thrilled with the downgrade.

[harmony]

Red Sox fans presumably are cheering the Seattle Mariners this week:

 

MLB Gameday: Mariners 8, Rays 2 Final Score (08/02/2021) | MLB.com

WWW.MLB.COM

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Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Mariners vs. Rays at Tropicana Field

 

... as the M's face the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankess on the road.