The Tampa Bay Rays took a hit in the latest power rankings after a week that never really got rolling.
They opened with a win in the finale against the Baltimore Orioles, but that didn’t carry over once the schedule turned into a grind. Tampa Bay dropped its series against the Toronto Blue Jays 1-2, then followed that by losing another series 1-2 to the Orioles over the weekend. A 3-4 week was enough to send the Rays sliding from No. 4 to No. 6 in Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter rankings.
“Despite some bumps along the way, the Rays have been atop the AL East standings alone since June 28, through a pair of series losses last week has the Yankees nipping at their heels just three games back. With five more home runs, Junior Caminero will become the first player in franchise history with multiple 40-homer campaigns.”
Even with the rough stretch, Tampa Bay still sits in first place in the American League East with a three-game cushion over the Yankees. That lead looked like it could have been even more comfortable, but the week instead left them trying to steady things after consecutive series losses.
The good news is that the Rays are back to a more familiar six-game week. They’ll face the Detroit Tigers and then the San Diego Padres, who have been playing good baseball as of late. A strong showing could push Tampa Bay back into the top five.
In Other News...
Rays May Have A Bullpen Boost They Still Can't Fit
Ty Johnsons move from the rotation to the bullpen has given the Rays another one of those familiar pitching-development wins they seem to find whenever a starter gets repurposed. The right-hander has seen his fastball tick up to around 94 mph, and the sharper command has come with it, along with a breaking ball that now plays more like a cutter and has helped him generate more whiffs in August.
The problem for Tampa Bay is not whether Johnson has looked more useful in relief. It is finding a place for him, both on the 40-man roster and in a bullpen that is already tight enough to make every call-up and recall a small roster puzzle. With injured pitchers beginning to edge closer to returning, the Rays may soon have to make a move just to create the room a promising arm like Johnson appears to deserve. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Stadium Push Just Hit A Crucial Turning Point
After months of wrangling over how to pay for a new ballpark, the Rays appear to have cleared a pivotal local hurdle. Tampa City Council member Bill Carlson has now moved into support of the revised financing plan, giving the project the swing vote it needed as the team continues its push for a stadium deal that has been one of the regions biggest sports and civic debates.
The timing matters because the next steps are lined up in sequence: the city council and Community Redevelopment Agency are set to vote on the related agreements before the Hillsborough County Commission weighs in, assuming the city gives its approval. Rays CEO Ken Babby has been working local leaders through the economic case and the updated funding structure built around new tax revenues, but the plan still has to survive the formal votes ahead before it can move from political momentum to reality. [Read more 🡒]