ShareThisWith all the time, money and effort the Tampa Bay Rays put into assembling the team they hoped to put on the field, they have also been focused on who was behind them.Improving their depth -- in quantity and quality -- was a major focus for executive VP Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon going into this season, and they proved prescient in their concerns given the stream of injuries that have sidelined a dozen key players but not -- yet -- derailed their season."It's been incredibly big," Maddon said. "Versatility, guys playing a variety of positions, combined with depth has permitted us to stay where we are."They've already used 40 players, including 19 pitchers, with a few more to come by the end of the season.This is whom they used and how the team has done with each in the starting lineup ( current starters in bold):STARTING PITCHERSW-L, ERA, Team record in startsJames Shields, 10-7, 3.27, 17-8.Andy Sonnanstine, 12-6, 4.35, 16-8.Matt Garza, 10-7, 3.63, 13-11.Edwin Jackson, 9-7, 4.07, 12-10.Scott Kazmir, 9-6, 3.21, 14-6.Jason Hammel, 2-2, 4.88, 2-3.1-1 Bottom line: Given that Kazmir and Garza were both on the DL, this has been impressive.BULLPENSaves/Opportunities.Troy Percival, 27/30.Grant Balfour, 4/5. Dan Wheeler, 4/5.J.P. Howell, 2/3. Bottom line: Joe Maddon is right about having several pitchers capable of getting the last out.CATCHER: Dioner Navarro.Backups: Shawn Riggans and Mike DiFelice.Bottom line: With concern about not wearing down Navarro, Riggans' role could become even more important down the stretch.FIRST BASE: Carlos Pena.Backups: Willy Aybar, Eric Hinske.Bottom line: Like at third, the backups have done well, but Pena is a huge key to their success.SECOND BASE: Akinori Iwamura.Backups: Aybar, Elliot Johnson, Ben Zobrist.Bottom line: There's not enough said (or written) about the remarkable job Iwamura has done in moving to second, and he plays hard every day.THIRD BASE Evan Longoria.Backups: Aybar, Eric Hinske.Bottom line: Aybar has filled in fine (remember, he was the opening day starter), but Longoria's impact is huge on both sides of the ball.SHORTSTOP Jason Bartlett.Backup: Zobrist.Bottom line: Bartlett is the key to their defense, but Zobrist has become a much more dependable fill-in.RIGHTFIELD Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross.Backups: Jonny Gomes, Nathan Haynes, Justin Ruggiano, Rocco Baldelli.Bottom line: The "ensemble" now features Gross and Baldelli, who could have a much bigger role than anticipated.CENTERFIELD B.J. Upton .Backups: Gabe Gross.Bottom line: Crawford's absence gives Upton more ground to cover -- and responsibility to step up. And be quick about it.LEFTFIELD Carl Crawford, Eric Hinske.Backups: Gomes, Hinske and Ruggiano.Bottom line: Crawford's defense and speed on the bases will be missed, but platoon of Hinske and Ruggiano could cover much of his offense.DESIGNATED HITTER Cliff Floyd.Backups: Gomes, Hinske and Baldelli.Bottom line: With Hinske in left, Floyd will get the majority of the starts, though Baldelli is now an option against left-handers.OFF TO THE RACESThe week ahead for the AL East contenders, ranked easiest to hardest:-- Yankees: at Toronto (Tuesday-Thurs.), at Baltimore (Fri.-Sun.). Total remaining games: 17 home, 22 road.-- Red Sox: at Baltimore (Monday-Wed.), at Toronto (Fri.-Sun.). Total remaining games: 21 home, 18 road-- Rays: vs. Los Angeles (Mon.-Wed.), at Chicago (Fri.-Sun.). Total remaining games: 19 home, 21 road.HELLO, HALOS: The Angels come to the Trop for a potential ALCS preview this week as formidable foes, with the best record in the majors. But Joe Maddon's old buddies have done the Rays quite well so far, given their records against the AL East contenders. Against the Red Sox, LA is 8-1 and vs. Yankees 5-2. But vs. the Rays, the Angels are just 2-4.RAYS RUMBLINGS: The 98 slogan was Joe Maddon's cool idea, but a Tampa man, Ryan Lund, registered the Web site version, 9equals8.com, for his own Rays blog. ... With all the chatter about Gary Sheffield (who doesn't really fit) and Raul Ibanez (who had no chance of clearing waivers), what about a hitter who cleared waivers and is available, has a .300 average, 25 homers and 82 RBIs and leads the AL in extra-base hits: Aubrey Huff? ... The Rays are firm in not removing the tarps that cover the 4,000 unused (and some obstructed view) upper deck Trop seats for playoff games. ... No decision yet on when postseason tickets would go on sale, but deposits for '09 season tickets get fans on the list. ... According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, sent Rays exec VP Andrew Friedman a text message to stir interest in his client and Friedman didn't respond. ... The Trop has not yet been wired for the coming-soon instant replay, in which three umps reportedly will huddle in one spot to watch video, presumably with no hood. ... With thus-far slow ticket sales for the Angels series, Wednesday's game isn't going to look good nationally on ESPN2. ... Amazing how much more Rays stuff is seen now in places such as Seattle and Oakland.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
Improved depth boosts Rays
Submitted by SHNS on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 16:37
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