The last time the New York Yankees faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays, fans witnessed a player who could single-handedly alter the course of a game with his lightning-fast speed. Chandler Simpson, the rookie whose feet seem to move faster than a New York minute, was downright electrifying. But now, in a move that seems as puzzling as it is strategic, the Rays have sent him down.
During their recent skirmish, the Yankees looked to have the upper hand for much of the season series. They took three out of four games against Tampa at the familiar George M.
Steinbrenner Field, with the Rays managing to snatch just one victory due to a rare ninth-inning lapse by Devin Williams. When the teams clashed again a couple of weeks later, it was Yankees' ace Max Fried who set the tone with a shutout, although the Rays clawed back to win two tight games on the weekend.
That scrappy series win nudged the Rays to a 16-18 record, but they hit a low point against the Phillies just days later. Yet, as underdog stories go, the Rays are well-versed in the art of resilience.
It wasn't long before they caught fire, climbing up the standings to second place in the East. Yet, they're still chasing those dominating Yankees.
Simpson's electric speed has been a crucial catalyst in their resurgence. Since he stepped onto the big-league stage, the Rays have boasted a solid 21-14 run. Yet, just like one of Simpson's mad dashes from first to third, his stint in the majors was suddenly over as Friday's roster shake-up saw Jake Mangum recalled in his place.
It's a head-scratcher: why fix what isn't broken? Sending Simpson down might just hand the Yankees a helping hand.
Perhaps this is Tampa's play at the infamous service time game, a calculated move to keep costs down. Sure, Simpson's stats show potential – a .285 batting average and 19 stolen bases turning heads – but according to the mechanics of baseball economics, his value remains a puzzle.
Despite the flash, his metrics (.1 bWAR, to be exact) haven't screamed Rookie of the Year compared to the likes of Jacob Wilson of the A’s or the Yankees' own Jasson Domínguez.
The twist? Simpson's rookie status wasn't quite sealed; though he reached the plate 133 times, he officially recorded only 123 at-bats.
Careful manipulation or coincidence? Only time will tell if this clever bookkeeping is the Rays' hidden strategy behind benching such an exciting player.
With Tampa's penchant for scrappiness, nothing's set in stone. And while the current rationale might be a stretch for pure baseball enthusiasts, it’s the kind of move that adds another chapter to the unpredictable saga of the Rays. Maybe it’s the beginning of a slide—or maybe it’s merely a setup for their next great escape.
