Spring Training is Done, Yet a Few Questions Remain

At long last Spring Training is done, and the regular season is just around the corner! Even though our small market team was able to end its Grapefruit League season with a winning record, it’s going to take a lot for the Tampa Bay Rays to end the regular season with a plus .500 record, or make it to the postseason if you prefer. And while Spring Training can offer some insight into what could be expected, certain quantifiables lay in the wake… Quantifiables that can only be fleshed out during the regular season.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 41: Cash Announces 25-Man Roster, Rays Wallop Le Tigre 11-5

Rays manager Kevin Cash announced the players who are slated to make the 25-man Opening Day roster, in the afterglow of an 11-5 handcuffing of the Detroit Tigers — solidifying the teams first plus .500 Grapefruit League record under the new regime. Rounding out the roster are catcher Bobby Wilson, infielder Tim Beckham, and right handed pitchers Kirby Yates, Steve Geltz, Matt Andriese and Erasmo Ramirez.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 40: Rays Destroy Phillies 10-1, Game Notes, Etc

With just three games remaining on the Grapefruit League schedule, the Tampa Bay Rays took to the mean streets of Highway 275, en route to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Spring Training complex in Clearwater, for a game against Ryne Sandberg’s rag-tag crew. The Rays exited the proverbial slaughterhouse after leading the lambs (Phillies) into a 10-1 buzz saw of epic proportions. Who cares that this is just Spring Training. Sandberg and his crew deserved the pummeling after making Tampa Bay play without a DH, to which Rays manager Kevin Cash admitted to not quite understanding, “We don’t quite understand… But whatever.”

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 39: Rays Blank Yanks 3-0, Game and Roster Notes

With three games left in the Grapefruit League season, the Tampa Bay Rays were able to walk away from Tampa with their 13th tally in the spring win column. The pitching staff stifled the Yankees, blanking them throughout course of the game and allowing only four hits and four walks. Meanwhile James Loney and Desmond Jennings combined to go 5-6 with three runs, an RBI, and two doubles.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 38

The Tampa Bay Rays took on a pair of AL East foes Tuesday afternoon, facing off with the Boston Red Sox in their last home game of the spring in Port Charlotte, and the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota. Tampa Bay was able to eke out a 4-3 win against the Orioles, thanks to solid outings by Everett Teaford and Mike Montgomery. On the other hand, minor league prospects from the Class-A Stone Crabs allowed nine Red Sox to cross the plate in the top of the ninth inning, after holding a commanding 8-2 lead throughout the rest of the contest. Oh well, you win some and lose some.