Is it possible that the 2009 Rays disappoint?

[badnews]

I was just thinking about how, after 2005, I thought the Cleveland Indians were incredible. They were young, they seemed to have everything going for them, with more prospects on the way (back then you may recall Adam Miller was pencilled in as an ace-type starter for the near future), and then 2006 came by and they disappointed.

 

Could this happen to the Rays? I for one don't think they'll win the division again.

[Clem Fandango]

I think so. I can see the Rays becoming the new Blue Jays. The team that'd be good enough to compete in any other division except their own.

[javy knows my name]

Only if David Price disappoints. Of course it's possible, it's just not all that likely

[Sammy Sofa]

This is baseball...anything is possible, especially for a team in a divison that competetive.

[CubinNY]

This is baseball...anything is possible, especially for a team in a divison that competetive.

They could win 95 games and still finish in 3rd place.

[CubbieBum]

This is baseball...anything is possible, especially for a team in a divison that competetive.

[BigbadB]

I was just thinking about how, after 2005, I thought the Cleveland Indians were incredible. They were young, they seemed to have everything going for them, with more prospects on the way (back then you may recall Adam Miller was pencilled in as an ace-type starter for the near future), and then 2006 came by and they disappointed.

 

Could this happen to the Rays? I for one don't think they'll win the division again.

 

It's certainly possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[sneakypower]

BJ Upton will have an MVP caliber year, and Crawford will invariably rebound

 

and with Price, Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

[expletive] they're loaded

[BigbadB]

BJ Upton will have an MVP caliber year, and Crawford will invariably rebound

 

and with Price, Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

foresooth they're loaded

 

Also, a full year for Longoria and Carlos Pena had a significant drop off from the previous year.

[Derwood]

BJ Upton will have an MVP caliber year, and Crawford will invariably rebound

 

and with Price, Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

foresooth they're loaded

 

Nomar will have an MVP caliber year, and Sosa will invariably rebound

 

and with Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux and Clement as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

foresooth (sic) they're loaded

[sneakypower]

nobody was predicting an MVP season from Nomar

our top 3 headed the leaderboard of PAP in 03 - Tampa's didn't

we didn't have a glut of young talent on offense - Tampa does

we had inept management - Tampa doesn't

 

what the hell is your argument anyways? they should have a firesale or something because they could possibly have guys get injured or 12 years older all of a sudden?

[Derwood]

the thread asks if the 2009 Rays will disappoint, and I simply pointed to another team that looked set up for a great season after making the playoffs. relax dude

[Transmogrified Tiger]

the thread asks if the 2009 Rays will disappoint, and I simply pointed to another team that looked set up for a great season after making the playoffs.

 

And won more games than the previous year?

[Derwood]

the thread asks if the 2009 Rays will disappoint, and I simply pointed to another team that looked set up for a great season after making the playoffs.

 

And won more games than the previous year?

 

one more game, yes. the Rays could win one more game than last year and miss the playoffs too.

 

I think the only way the Rays would "disappoint" would be to regress to sub-.500 baseball again.

[17 Seconds]

BJ Upton will have an MVP caliber year, and Crawford will invariably rebound

 

and with Price, Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

foresooth they're loaded

 

Also, a full year for Longoria and Carlos Pena had a significant drop off from the previous year.

 

i think it's highly unlikely that pena ever has a season like 2007 again

[imb]

would it even be a disappointment if a team full of teenagers didn't make the playoffs when they're in the same division with boston and new york

[BigbadB]

BJ Upton will have an MVP caliber year, and Crawford will invariably rebound

 

and with Price, Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine as the rotation, they'll remain a strong pennant contender

 

foresooth they're loaded

 

Also, a full year for Longoria and Carlos Pena had a significant drop off from the previous year.

 

i think it's highly unlikely that pena ever has a season like 2007 again

 

That's fine. I didn't say he would. I just said he had a SIGNIFICANT drop off. Somewhere in between '07 and '08 would still be better than what he put up in '08. I don't see that as "unlikely".

[Yanksfan1523]

I won't disappoint me if the Rays regress a little. :lol:

[Illini Iceman]

nobody was predicting an MVP season from Nomar

our top 3 headed the leaderboard of PAP in 03 - Tampa's didn't

we didn't have a glut of young talent on offense - Tampa does

we had inept management - Tampa doesn't

 

what the hell is your argument anyways? they should have a firesale or something because they could possibly have guys get injured or 12 years older all of a sudden?

 

FWIW - I don't think anyone is predicting an MVP season from Upton either (except you).

 

The Rays should be good next year but they got through the season with a relatively injury free rotation and high PAP or not that is not always easy to replicate.

 

Pena had an awful first half but very good second half so overall his numbers are about where you would expect (as long as you aren't expecing him to replicate 2007).

 

The team did have trouble scoring runs for stretches during the season (even with Crawford and Longoria) so they need to get another bat if they are going to consistently be better offensively.

 

Overall I think they are still very good, but the Yankees and Red Sox look to be improving during the offseason so I don't think the Rays can afford to stand pat and assume that they will be able to finish any better than third in that division.

[UK1679666180]

TB still needs a DH like Burrell or Dunn and a closer to maximize their talents going into '09. If they do that, it'll be a fun race.

 

Toronto will likely finish under .500 b/c of that division, but would be the 2nd best team in the NL central and likely around 85 wins.

[wade]

nobody was predicting an MVP season from Nomar

our top 3 headed the leaderboard of PAP in 03 - Tampa's didn't

we didn't have a glut of young talent on offense - Tampa does

we had inept management - Tampa doesn't

 

what the hell is your argument anyways? they should have a firesale or something because they could possibly have guys get injured or 12 years older all of a sudden?

 

Not to nitpick, but Peter Gammons specifically said that Nomar was his favorite to win the MVP in the NL right before the start of whatever year that was. Then Nomar started like 2 for 30 and tore his groin all to hell.

[moochpuppy]

The Rays will competitive for the next 3-5 years.

 

They are going to be the new Oakland A's. Always seem loaded with young talent and then let that talent walk to bigger contracts or trade for more prospects and then reload.

[sneakypower]

nobody was predicting an MVP season from Nomar

our top 3 headed the leaderboard of PAP in 03 - Tampa's didn't

we didn't have a glut of young talent on offense - Tampa does

we had inept management - Tampa doesn't

 

what the hell is your argument anyways? they should have a firesale or something because they could possibly have guys get injured or 12 years older all of a sudden?

 

Not to nitpick, but Peter Gammons specifically said that Nomar was his favorite to win the MVP in the NL right before the start of whatever year that was. Then Nomar started like 2 for 30 and tore his groin all to hell.

Gammons also predicted an MVP for Bobby Crosby even after 2-3 years of total suckage. he doesn't count.

[wade]

nobody was predicting an MVP season from Nomar

our top 3 headed the leaderboard of PAP in 03 - Tampa's didn't

we didn't have a glut of young talent on offense - Tampa does

we had inept management - Tampa doesn't

 

what the hell is your argument anyways? they should have a firesale or something because they could possibly have guys get injured or 12 years older all of a sudden?

 

Not to nitpick, but Peter Gammons specifically said that Nomar was his favorite to win the MVP in the NL right before the start of whatever year that was. Then Nomar started like 2 for 30 and tore his groin all to hell.

Gammons also predicted an MVP for Bobby Crosby even after 2-3 years of total suckage. he doesn't count.

 

He's still a person.

[Radar3454]

I think they will be one of the best 4 teams in the AL next year again but they could miss the playoffs.