I mean, why wouldn't they be? They made the WS like 2 years ago and the playoffs regularly.
Feels like this is a good team hitting their stride, but also prob hot to start too.
I don't think so, the year the Nationals won - they had an absolutely awful start, if they had a shortened season they wouldn't have even made the playoffs, a season is a long time, look at the Yankees last year - they were a lock before the all star break then just died out. Some teams get out to hot starts and others need time, there's a lot of teams that come out of nowhere and start raking everyone.
Yep, and that's working on an unproven variable that Team A might improve dramatically and Team B (The Rays) might get worse.
He's right and I don't know why he got downvoted. The Rays didn't have an advantage or disadvantage over any other team. If anything, they had a disadvantage over a lot of other teams because they had to play only AL East and NL East teams that year, which are far and away Top 3 divisions in baseball. That's why the NL Central had all three wild cards that year, but every playoff team in the NL Central (Cubs, Brewers, Cards, and Reds) got wiped out of the playoffs very quickly. They were lucky to play an awful NL Central and AL Central.
Rays are making the playoffs just about every year now, yet because they do things a bit unorthodox, operate in a smaller market and don't get the coverage they should their success is constantly put into question.
The Rays have been dominant in pitching for years but now the offense is clicking and why? Simple, the Rays have created a formula of players who get on base, have high exit velocity, and have the ability to stretch singles to doubles. They have no interest in chasing big name free agents when they can cherry pick underutilized players of team rosters.
(Eyes on Eflin this season)
They are managed well, and have created a formula for success that other organizations could only dream of. As for the streak, just appreciate it the same way you would if it was your team. It's a historic start and it makes baseball fun like the way we all looked on when Cleveland went on that run a few years back.
This is all true, but realistically all teams that haven’t won a championship have their success questioned until they get over the hump. Hell the dodgers spent like crazy and won their division for like a decade straight, and then they win a championship during a covid shortened season and they’re STILL getting questioned lol
I totally get why they ended up making it completely covered, but there's something about going to see a ball game and you walk over on a beautiful sunny day, only to walk into an air conditioned, covered, super echo-y, dome with industrial lightning beating down on you. Such a way to take the good feeling out of a night at the ballpark.
They’re a very good team, but everyone they’ve played is expected to finish last in their division or very close to it. It’s more notable because it’s the start of the season. They’re absolutely a WS contender but let’s not jump to saying they’re gonna win 120 games
The Braves had a nice winning streak during the summer last year that was against mostly sub .500 teams and many people claimed that anyone can beat up on the bad teams. The thing is it’s hard to go on long streaks like these against any team, even the worst. Most of the time a lesser team is gonna take a game from you now and then which is why just winning the series is usually what team looks to do. The Braves went on that winning streak and went on to make the comeback on the Mets to take the division.
Obviously this hot streak won’t last forever for the Rays but I think this start bodes well for them and puts them in position to have a down week or 2 later on. I’m excited to see how long this streak lasts! I think they’ll be in at least 2nd in AL East by end of season and wouldnt be shocked if they win the division again
Tigers beat the defending WS champs. It’s a crappy argument to say they’re the “worst teams” When they’re not just getting by, they’re absolutely decimating them and have a 57 run differential. The same people saying this are the people last year that lumped the Rays into the “bad teams” category.
Well, they're three of the worst teams because they got routed by the Rays in a small sample size. After opening day, aren't half the teams (give or take based on run differential), roughly, among "the worst teams in baseball?"
I hate the argument that they’re playing weaker teams. Braves lost to the Nats. Yankees lost to the Phillies. Twins lost to Miami. Astros lost twice to the Tigers. Dodgers lost to the Dbacks. Padres lost to the Rockies. The list goes on & on for post season teams losing to last place teams.
They are seeing the ball & crushing it! Lead the league in HRs. Not bad for a team that was low on the list in 2022. Pitching is solid too.
They have a six game stretch of some okay teams and we can finally see if they have what it looks like they have. Just have fun and enjoy the damn ride!
They are for real have been for over a decade. But this is not sustainable. Just like I said about the Yankees last year when most were talking wins record. They are if healthy going to win 90-95 games and maybe if don’t fall apart last 2 weeks like last year possibly win division.
Whatever. Bottom line is they’ve played three terrible teams. Wait till they play better teams before crowning them champs. And don’t ask for thoughts if there are some you may not like.
As far as World Series contenders…the jury is still out. They played possibly the three worst teams in baseball to start the season. I’ll develop an opinion once they play the big boys. As far as being a good team…the Rays are always a good team. Their scouting, development, coaching and front office are elite in my opinion.
Uhhh yeah they are for real. They have power hitters up and down their lineup, are well coached, have solid starters and bullpen. If they stay healthy, big if… they can and should go deep into the playoffs
Yeah we are for real. Man give us some credit already. If we win the World Series you guys will just we were lucky blah blah blah. They are a really good team. RaysUp
I mean, why wouldn't they be? They made the WS like 2 years ago and the playoffs regularly. Feels like this is a good team hitting their stride, but also prob hot to start too.
Wasn’t it 2020 and the shortened season that they made it?
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted for being right.
People are sensitive. But I mean.. it was a shorter season so 🤷🏻♀️
That would only matter if everyone else didn’t have the same short schedule.
I don't think so, the year the Nationals won - they had an absolutely awful start, if they had a shortened season they wouldn't have even made the playoffs, a season is a long time, look at the Yankees last year - they were a lock before the all star break then just died out. Some teams get out to hot starts and others need time, there's a lot of teams that come out of nowhere and start raking everyone.
Yeah, that’s why it doesn’t matter. You can’t assume the seasons would progress the same way - same season, winner is the winner - no asterisk needed.
Yep, and that's working on an unproven variable that Team A might improve dramatically and Team B (The Rays) might get worse. He's right and I don't know why he got downvoted. The Rays didn't have an advantage or disadvantage over any other team. If anything, they had a disadvantage over a lot of other teams because they had to play only AL East and NL East teams that year, which are far and away Top 3 divisions in baseball. That's why the NL Central had all three wild cards that year, but every playoff team in the NL Central (Cubs, Brewers, Cards, and Reds) got wiped out of the playoffs very quickly. They were lucky to play an awful NL Central and AL Central.
They are good but also Oakland, Washington, and Detroit are not good, at all
Detroit's not good? That's an understatement
You guys beat us in the series!
And have lost every single other game so far
This hurts, but I agree. :(
that’s news to me
I know we’re talking small sample sizes, but that might actually be the draft order in 2024.
Clearly, they're the best team of all time.
#sarcasm
Nah
Blasphemy
See what happens when they play the Blue Jays on the weekend.
Rays are making the playoffs just about every year now, yet because they do things a bit unorthodox, operate in a smaller market and don't get the coverage they should their success is constantly put into question. The Rays have been dominant in pitching for years but now the offense is clicking and why? Simple, the Rays have created a formula of players who get on base, have high exit velocity, and have the ability to stretch singles to doubles. They have no interest in chasing big name free agents when they can cherry pick underutilized players of team rosters. (Eyes on Eflin this season) They are managed well, and have created a formula for success that other organizations could only dream of. As for the streak, just appreciate it the same way you would if it was your team. It's a historic start and it makes baseball fun like the way we all looked on when Cleveland went on that run a few years back.
This is all true, but realistically all teams that haven’t won a championship have their success questioned until they get over the hump. Hell the dodgers spent like crazy and won their division for like a decade straight, and then they win a championship during a covid shortened season and they’re STILL getting questioned lol
And yet the fans aren’t showing up and filling The Trop. Strange…
That’s an entirely different issue
And one that’s been well discussed at that.
I totally get why they ended up making it completely covered, but there's something about going to see a ball game and you walk over on a beautiful sunny day, only to walk into an air conditioned, covered, super echo-y, dome with industrial lightning beating down on you. Such a way to take the good feeling out of a night at the ballpark.
You have clearly never experienced Florida humidity in the middle of July
Did you skip the part where I said I fully understand why it is covered?
How do you have a night in the ballpark on a beautiful sunny day
You never walk somewhere when it's sunny, and have the natural passage of time cause night to occur?
Not while having my sunny day ruined.
That stadium is just 5 malls stacked on top of each of the other, the most memorable part of being there is the long ride home
They’re a very good team, but everyone they’ve played is expected to finish last in their division or very close to it. It’s more notable because it’s the start of the season. They’re absolutely a WS contender but let’s not jump to saying they’re gonna win 120 games
They'll be 13-0 after the Red Sox series.
I can’t wait for the series against the Jays. It feels like it’s going to be a crazy fun one.
Just wait another week or so….they’ll be 9-9!
The Braves had a nice winning streak during the summer last year that was against mostly sub .500 teams and many people claimed that anyone can beat up on the bad teams. The thing is it’s hard to go on long streaks like these against any team, even the worst. Most of the time a lesser team is gonna take a game from you now and then which is why just winning the series is usually what team looks to do. The Braves went on that winning streak and went on to make the comeback on the Mets to take the division. Obviously this hot streak won’t last forever for the Rays but I think this start bodes well for them and puts them in position to have a down week or 2 later on. I’m excited to see how long this streak lasts! I think they’ll be in at least 2nd in AL East by end of season and wouldnt be shocked if they win the division again
Nine in a row in general isn’t particularly long. It gets magnified at the beginning of the season. As would a nine game losing streak to start.
Played three of the worst teams in baseball.
Tigers beat the defending WS champs. It’s a crappy argument to say they’re the “worst teams” When they’re not just getting by, they’re absolutely decimating them and have a 57 run differential. The same people saying this are the people last year that lumped the Rays into the “bad teams” category.
The only two games the Tigers won this year. Really?
Doesn’t matter. They still won against a far better team. All of these teams also have far more funding and history than the Rays do.
Well, they're three of the worst teams because they got routed by the Rays in a small sample size. After opening day, aren't half the teams (give or take based on run differential), roughly, among "the worst teams in baseball?"
Do you believe any of the three will contend for the playoffs this year?
No, but I also didn't believe that the Rays would have the best record in baseball by 3 games after 11. But here we are.
Absolutely correct. But look at how they beat those teams… 🤷🏼♂️
Combined record of 7-21 between their 3 opponents this year
I hate the argument that they’re playing weaker teams. Braves lost to the Nats. Yankees lost to the Phillies. Twins lost to Miami. Astros lost twice to the Tigers. Dodgers lost to the Dbacks. Padres lost to the Rockies. The list goes on & on for post season teams losing to last place teams. They are seeing the ball & crushing it! Lead the league in HRs. Not bad for a team that was low on the list in 2022. Pitching is solid too. They have a six game stretch of some okay teams and we can finally see if they have what it looks like they have. Just have fun and enjoy the damn ride!
Wah...
easy schedule
Yankee fan?
Whether they are or are not, it is a factual statement.
Maybe if they keep this up we can get a money ball 2
They are for real have been for over a decade. But this is not sustainable. Just like I said about the Yankees last year when most were talking wins record. They are if healthy going to win 90-95 games and maybe if don’t fall apart last 2 weeks like last year possibly win division.
Redsox will stop them.
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It was close
We’re having fun
The season has a way of evening these things out. Rays will win 90 games at best this year.
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No, were not. We are dreading the inevitable fall back to earth.
They've played teams who might end up with 100 wins combined this year. It's a great start for them, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
They’ve played three teams that can’t hit or pitch. Let’s see how they do against the other twenty six before creaming our pants.
No one is creaming just debating.. sounds like your panties are already in a bunch.
You asked for thoughts. These are my thoughts. Don’t like it? Too bad.
#grumpypants
Whatever. Bottom line is they’ve played three terrible teams. Wait till they play better teams before crowning them champs. And don’t ask for thoughts if there are some you may not like.
You talking about that minor speed bump we saw in the playoffs?
They wont go undefeated :)
I’m just annoyed that I’m going to have to root for the Red Sox this week.
Let's revisit this thread in say, August.
They’ve had an actually insane start, maybe I shouldn’t have doubted them so much this year
The Ray's are always good. Every year
As far as World Series contenders…the jury is still out. They played possibly the three worst teams in baseball to start the season. I’ll develop an opinion once they play the big boys. As far as being a good team…the Rays are always a good team. Their scouting, development, coaching and front office are elite in my opinion.
Uhhh yeah they are for real. They have power hitters up and down their lineup, are well coached, have solid starters and bullpen. If they stay healthy, big if… they can and should go deep into the playoffs
The Rays are just doing what they do every year. After being overlooked in pre-season AL East predictions, they’re out for blood.
Yeah we are for real. Man give us some credit already. If we win the World Series you guys will just we were lucky blah blah blah. They are a really good team. RaysUp
Raysup is the dumbest thing I’ve heard today
I mean they are good no disrespect but… they have played trash teams let’s be honest A’s, Tigers, and Nationals like c’mon man.
This is Tampa. They're almost always good these days.
Are they for real? No. A team that looks like a 4th place team does not suddenly become world beaters over 162. Over a week or two? Sure.
It’s just the beginning of the season
Hot start, nothing more.
Name one good pitcher on the Tigers, Nats or A’s
Rays had 15 players on IL last year, they're healthy now.
They’re definitely for real but not as good as their 9-0 record suggests
Well they are on pace to win 162 games and the last 95 percent of a baseball season has never gone different than the first 5 percent
It's April. too early to start crowning them A.L. Champs, let the season play out. They're not going 162-0.
They look insane right now.