2011 Tampa Bay Rays Season Preview and MLB Predictions

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The Tampa Bay Rays won their second AL East title in 3 seasons in 2010 by finishing with a 96-66 record. A speedy exit in the Divisional Round at the hands of the Texas Rangers would soon follow. Soon after what took place this offseason Tampa Bay went from being 1 of baseball's most skilled and vibrant teams back to a little-industry wannabe. Tampa Bay lost Carl Crawford (their very best player ever) to the Red Sox, Carlos Pena (their preferred residence run hitter) to the Cubs, and Jason Bartlett (their top shortstop ever) to San Diego. Not to mention, closer Rafael Soriano left in cost-free agency and No. two starter Matt Garza was traded to the Cubs. Take a appear at how all the changes will influence this team by checking out my MLB predictions on the Rays below.

Projected Lineup

With the losses of Crawford and Pena, Tampa Bay is going to have rely on third baseman Evan Longoria much more than ever in 2011. Longoria has the tools to carry this offense, but if he doesn't get some assist, you have to wonder how many pitches he will even see worth swinging at. Longoria has 82 property runs and 302 RBIs more than the last 3 seasons, and has continued to get much better with each season. Tamp Bay is hoping the signings of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon will offest the losses this offseason, but both are coming off disappointing 2010 campaigns. Damon, who is expected to bat leadoff, watched his household run totals fall from 24 to eight and at 37 it's difficult to imagine a large turn around. Ramirez turns 39 in May perhaps, but if he comes ready to play, we feel he could genuinely help this team win games. An additional player the Rays will definitely count on this year is B.J. Upton, who needs to return to the form of 2007 when he hit.300 with 24 home runs.

The rest of the lineup is full of unkowns, and you genuinely do not know what to anticipate out of this bunch. Ideal fielder Ben Zobrist has an remarkable eye at the plate, but his home runs totals dropped from 27 in 2009 to just 10 last year. First baseman Dan Johnson showed flashes of what he is capable of bringing to this team down the stretch with two game winning property runs, and it will be interesting to see what he does in a full season. Second baseman Sean Rodriguez and shortstop Reid Brignac displayed a little of what they are capable of producing last year, and how they perform this year will have a significant impact on no matter if or not the Rays can continue to compete in the AL East. Catcher John Jaso had a pretty good initial season in the majors, and Tampa Bay is hoping that by dropping him in the lineup he will be able to to have an even larger second season.

Projected Rotation

With With the trade of Garza, the Rays only sure starter this season is ace David Price, who went 19-6 with a two.72 ERA in 2010, and the 24-year-old only figures to get greater as he matures and develops his secondary pitches to go along with his 95-mph fastball. If the Rays are going to win this year it will be considering the other 4 starters in this rotation improved off last season. Jeff Niemann started the year on fire, going 6- in his 1st 12 begins, but faded down the stretch, going five-8 over his final 17 begins. If he can get some consistency and pitch like he did to start out 2010, Tampa Bay will have a solid No. two or No.3 starter. Wade Davis also had an up and down year. He went just 2-8 with a 5.58 ERA in an 11-start stretch, but was 10-two with a 3.30 ERA in all other begins. James Shields continues to get burnt with additional base hits, he has led all of baseball with 379 more than the last five years. He has to uncover a way to lower those numbers and improve off his 13-15 finish to last season. Jeremy Hellickson was the minor league pitcher of the year in 2010, and was 3- with a 2.05 ERA with Tampa Bay. If he can put together a full season, he could honestly surprise this year.

2011 Projection: 3rd Place AL East

Common Manager Andrew Friedman said it ideal, "To have a company model that is based on becoming proper additional than any one else, it's not truly a lasting organization model. We relish the reality that we have to swim against the tide. It's just that the existing is obtaining stronger." To translate that for you, the Yankees and Red Sox are spending a lot more income, our energy and bullpen are shaky at preferred, and even if things go as effectively as achievable, we'll still finish third in the division. I don't think the cupboard is bare here, but with the losses the Rays suffered in the offseason, they will not be able to maintain up with Boston and New York again.