Are the Tampa Bay Rays American League Championship Contenders?

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Are the Tampa Bay Rays American League World Series Contenders?

(By Josh Ruga)

Discussed:

1) Leadership on a Championship Roster

2) Offensive Growth

3) The Pitching Staff

http://joshruga.hubpages.com/hub/Are-the-Tampa-Bay-Rays-American-League-World-Series-Contenders

Didn't read the article because it's a silly question. They were a playoff team last season, didn't lose anyone of importance to the team and none of their key guys are big regression candidates.

Why wouldn't they be contenders?

Who is he going to tackle next, the Red Sox or the Cardinals?

Didn't read the article because it's a silly question. They were a playoff team last season, didn't lose anyone of importance to the team and none of their key guys are big regression candidates.

Why wouldn't they be contenders?

Who is he going to tackle next, the Red Sox or the Cardinals?

Exactly.

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OPENING DAY

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Jose Reyes - SS

Melky Cabrera - LF

Jose Bautista - RF

Edwin Encarnacion - 1B

Dioner Navarro - DH

Brett Lawrie - 3B

Colby Rasmus - CF

Maicer Izturis - 2B

Josh Thole - C

R.A. Cockey - RHP (14-13, 4.21 ERA)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

David DeJesus - LF

Wil Myers - RF

Ben Zobrist - 2B

Evan Longoria - 3B

James Loney - 1B

Desmond Jennings - CF

Matt Joyce - DH

Jose Molina - C

Yunel Escobar - SS

David Price - LHP (10-8, 3.33 ERA)

http://baseballpress.com/lineup.php

o

CHRIS ARCHER O (vs. ORIOLES, 4/14)

IP:. 5

H:o 12 (5 Doubles, 7 Singles)

R:O 7

BB: 1

SO: 6

Pitches: 95 (68 Strikes, 27 Balls)

2014 ERA: 4.50

PITCHES BY INNING

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24 (15 Strikes, 9 Balls)

27 (21 Strikes, 6 Balls)

13 (10 Strikes, 3 Balls)

13 (91 Strikes, 4 Balls)

18 (13 Strikes, 5 Balls)

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(APRIL 19th)

NEW YORK YANKEES

Jacoby Ellsbury - CF

Brett Gardner - LF

Carlos Beltran - DH

Brian McCann - C

Alfonso Soriano - RF

Yangervis Solarte - 3B

Kelly Johnson - 1B

Brian Roberts - 2B

Dean Anna - SS

Ivan Nova - RHP (2-1, 5.94 ERA)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

David DeJesus - CF

Ben Zobrist - 2B

Matt Joyce - DH

Evan Longoria - 3B

James Loney - 1B

Wil Myers - RF

Sean Rodriguez - LF

Yunel Escobar - SS

Ryan Hanigan - C

Chris Archer - RHP (1-1, 4.50 ERA)

http://baseballpress.com/lineup.php

So who are we rooting for here?

So who are we rooting for here?

I'm rooting for the Floridians.

I don't root for the Yankees or the Red Sox at all for the first 5 and-a-half months of the season, and will only begrudgingly root for them in the final 2 weeks of the season if it so happens to help the Orioles' playoff chances.

The reason being is that the season is so long, and too much can happen in the first 90-95 % of the season for me to give up my luxury of always rooting against our 2 hated rivals.

I'm rooting for the Floridians.

I don't root for the Yankees or the Red Sox at all for the first 5 and-a-half months of the season, and will only begrudgingly root for them in the final 2 weeks of the season if it so happens to help the Orioles' playoff chances.

The reason being is that the season is so long, and too much can happen in the first 90-95 % of the season for me to give up my luxury of always rooting against our 2 hated rivals.

OK. Sounds reasonable.

6 runs in the first 4 innings so far.

Nova's E.R.A. is up to 7.40.

I guess the punchless Rays have an offense after all.

o

CHRIS ARCHER O (vs. YANKEES, 4/19)

IP:. 6.67

H:o 3 (1 Double, 2 Singles)

R:O 1

BB: 0

SO: 4

Pitches: 94 (61 Strikes, 33 Balls)

2014 ERA: 3.65

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Erik Bedard toes the runner for the D-Rays today.

APRIL 25th

MINNESOTA TWINS

Brian Dozier - 2B

Joe Mauer - 1B

Trevor Plouffe - 3B

Chris Colabello - RF

Josmil Pinto - DH

Kurt Suzuki - C

Sam Fuld - LF

Aaron Hicks - CF

Pedro Florimon - SS

Ricky Nolasco - RHP (1-2, 6.08 ERA)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

Ben Zobrist - 2B

Desmond Jennings - CF

Matt Joyce - LF

Evan Longoria - 3B

James Loney - 1B

Wil Myers - RF

David DeJesus - DH

Yunel Escobar - SS

Jose Molina - C

Erik Bedard- LHP (0-0, 6.35 ERA)

http://baseballpress.com/lineup.php

o

4 shutout innings for Bedard, and then the Red Sox broke through for 1 run in the 5th.

ERIK BEDARD O (vs. RED SOX, 4/29)

IP:. 5

H:o 4 (2 Doubles, 2 Singles)

R:O 1

BB: 3

SO: 4

Pitches: 104 (62 Strikes, 42 Balls)

2014 ERA: 5.52

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21 (13 Strikes, 81 Balls)

23 (14 Strikes, 91 Balls)

12 (71 Strikes, 51 Balls)

25 (15 Strikes, 10 Balls)

23 (13 Strikes, 10 Balls)

o

THE BAD NEWS: Ramos walked 6 batters in only 4.67 innings, and he wasn't even able to complete 5 innings.

THE GOOD NEWS: He also struck out 6 batters, only allowed 1 run, 1 hit, and left the game with a 2-1 lead (which was preserved by reliever Brandon Gomes, who got Mike Napoli to foul out to end the Red Sox' threat in the 5th inning.

CESAR RAMOS O (vs. RED SOX, 5/01)

IP:. 4.67

H:o 1 (1 Single)

R:O 1

BB: 6

SO: 6

Pitches: 95 (53 Strikes, 42 Balls)

2014 ERA: 3.05

o

THE BAD NEWS: Ramos walked 6 batters in only 4.67 innings, and he wasn't even able to complete 5 innings.

THE GOOD NEWS: He also struck out 6 batters, only allowed 1 run, 1 hit, and left the game with a 2-1 lead (which was preserved by reliever Brandon Gomes, who got Mike Napoli to foul out to end the Red Sox' threat in the 5th inning.

CESAR RAMOS O (vs. RED SOX, 5/01)

IP:. 4.67

H:o 1 (1 Single)

R:O 1

BB: 6

SO: 6

Pitches: 95 (53 Strikes, 42 Balls)

2014 ERA: 3.05

S: Balfour (5) mate!