Why the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Will Win the 2006 World Series

 by Aaron Goldstein  

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Yes, the New York Yankees have been in the post season every year since 1995 but it has to come to an end sometime.   After all, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Gary Sheffield, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and even Derek Jeter aren’t getting any younger.

I am certain baseball fans everywhere have just done a double take.   Perhaps even a triple take.   

As Opening Day quickly approaches, most view the American League East as yet another battle between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.   Others argue the Toronto Blue Jays will be a factor because of their numerous off season acquisitions.   But it is safe to say that I am the only person in North America, possibly the known universe, who is predicting that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will win the American League East en route to winning the 2006 World Series. 

Nearly all pundits have predicted yet another last place finish for the Devil Rays in 2006.   Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports Net has predicted a last place finish for the D'Rays.    Ditto for Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline.   When asked if the D'Rays could avoid finishing last his reply was: 

No.   A new owner and new management might put this team on the right road for the long term, but the D-Rays just don't have enough to beat out the Orioles, let alone the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays. 

Only CBS Sportsline's five other baseball pundits only one - David Gonos - has predicted the D'Rays will not finish in last place.   Gonos predicts the D'Rays will finish ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.   MSNBC Sports also predicts the D'Rays will finish fourth in the AL East with a 72-90 record. 

With this mind who can blame them?   After all, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have never enjoyed a winning season since entering the American League in 1998.   The D'Rays have finished in the cellar of the American League East every season except for 2004 when they won 70 games.

But if I could channel Yogi Berra for but a moment I would tell you, "Nothing's the same as it would have been."

What this means is that nothing is forever.   Yes, the New York Yankees have been in the post season every year since 1995 but it has to come to an end sometime.   After all, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Gary Sheffield, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and even Derek Jeter aren't getting any younger.  

With every season at least one team one does not expect to do well does very well.   Last year that team was the Chicago White Sox.    If this did not happen from season to season baseball would become very tedious indeed.  

Alright fair enough one might say.   But why the D'Rays?   What makes Aaron Goldstein think the D'Rays are going to be the Chicago White Sox of 2006?  

Well, there are five reasons I believe the Tampa Devil Rays are going to win the 2006 World Series: 

1. Yes, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finished the 2005 season with a 67-95 record.   However, the team went 39-34 after the All Star Break.    They had an 11-7 record against the New York Yankees last season.   Ask the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox and Angels how they liked playing the D'Rays.   The Tampa Bay Devil Rays fought every team they played tooth and nail.   The D'Rays might have lost more than they won but those teams had to earn those wins.   It is difficult for me to believe that the D'Rays have not learned from these battles and won't win more of them in the very near future. 

2. OK, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays did not sign A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan and Bengie Molina as free agents or trade for Lyle Overbay and Troy Glaus like the Toronto Blue Jays (who will also do very well in 2006 winning the AL Wild Card).   But the D'Rays have a good nucleus of players who have played together for several seasons.    Carl Crawford, Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo have been paying their dues with the D'Rays since 2003 playing night in and night out.   Crawford is amongst the best base stealers in the AL, Huff is coming into his prime as a power hitter and Lugo is one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL.    This season also marks the return of center fielder Rocco Baldelli who missed all of last season with an injury.   Throw in the hustle and burning desire of 100 RBI man Jorge Cantu and Jonny Gomes you have one formidable line up.   

Gomes might very well emerge as the heart and soul of the team.   Early in the season he hit a walk off home run and was criticized for it by the crew of ESPN's Baseball Tonight.   But what they didn't realize was that Gomes had a heart attack at the age of 22 and very nearly died.  Gomes wasn't show boating.    He's just grateful to be alive and that spirit will imbue this team.   It is a spirit that will lead him to his an AL MVP. 

Don't be surprised to see the emergence of baseball's top prospect, Delmon Young, at some point this season.   The younger brother of Detroit's Dmitri Young, he is being compared to a young Ken Griffey, Jr in terms of power and speed. 

What about their pitching?    A starting rotation of Scott Kazmir, Mark Hendrickson, Seth McClung, Casey Fossum and Doug Waechter might not have AL hitters shaking in their boots but they should.   Kazmir went 7-2 in the second half and is beginning to live up to his superstar potential.   If the New York Mets should not make the post season this year it will be because they gave up on Kazmir too soon.    Hendrickson, Fossum, McClung and Waechter will come into their own this season.    Besides how many teams can boast of four left handed starting pitchers?    If Waechter hasn't sufficiently recovered from Tommy John surgery top prospect Jeff Niemann will be waiting in the wings. 

Now some folks scratched their heads when the D'Rays traded two of their best relievers, Lance Carter and Danys Baez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.    Chad Orvella was tabbed to be their closer but has struggled in spring training.    The closer role will likely go to veteran Dan Miceli but more likely a bullpen by committee featuring Miceli, Chad Harville, Shawn Camp and Jesus Colome will emerge. 

If that doesn't work they could just trade for a closer.   The Devil Rays now have money to spend. 

3.  The Devil Rays have a new owner in Stuart Sternberg and a young General Manager in Andrew Friedman as well as former Houston Astros General Manager Gerry Hunsicker in an advisory role.    Their original owner Vince Naimoli and General Manager Chuck LaMar were reluctant to spend money after the 1999 season when the acquisition of Jose Canseco, Vinny Castilla and Fred McGriff failed to pay dividends.

They will not be so gun shy. 

At this point, they have acquired players such as Sean Burroughs from the San Diego Padres and Ty Wigginton from the Pittsburgh Pirates.    Neither of these players have lived up to expectations as every day players but might make more useful contributions off the bench.    Often it is an obscure reserve player who makes the difference between a championship and contender.   Just ask the Chicago White Sox about Geoff Blum.   

4.  The one other thing Sternberg and company did was hire Joe Maddon to be the new manager replacing the temperamental Lou Piniella.   This is Maddon's first experience as a major league manager but has spent nearly his whole adult life in professional baseball.   Maddon spent 31 years with the Angels organization as a minor league player, manager and for the past 12 seasons a coach for the major league club.   Over the years, he has become well regarded for his ability to work with young players while having the respect of older veterans.   His presence will be a welcome contrast to the sullen, abrasive Piniella who wore out his welcome with the team.    

5.  Above all else, no one expects the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to do anything this season.   So there is no pressure on them.    Everyone's attention will be tuned to the Yankees and Red Sox and to a lesser extent the Blue Jays.   Now perhaps the D'Rays will surprise people, become a story and then collapse under the scrutiny.   Would not be the first time it has happened and it will not be the last.    But that will be a test of how well the new face of the Devil Rays' organization responds to success.   If Maddon can help his players take things in stride then they are that much better of a team.    How well can the D'Rays adjust to changing circumstances remains to be seen.    Even if the Devil Rays do not win the World Series or even make the post season they will be the talk of baseball should they have a winning record this year. 

After all, there is a reason that the game must be played. No matter what we write on paper we never know what will happen on the field. It wouldn't be any fun otherwise. With that let's play ball.

Politics: General, Culture: Sports

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