The Tampa Bay Rays enjoyed a dream season in 2008.
Reality comes calling in 2009.
A team that had never lost fewer than 90 games in its first decade of existence, Tampa Bay found itself in the World Series in year 11.
The Rays won the American League East, considered the most challenging in baseball because of the large payrolls of the Red Sox and Yankees, and then knocked off the White Sox and Red Sox in the playoffs before losing to Philadelphia in the World Series.
So what can they do for an encore?
Odds are they won't repeat.
The Rays became the 31st team in major league history -- and the third in three years -- to rebound from a losing record one season to advance to the World Series the next. While 23 of the previous 30 have enjoyed a winning record in their next season, only five have returned to the postseason, just four getting back to the World Series. Since divisional play began in 1969, the encores have become more difficult.
Only six of the 13 teams before Tampa Bay to go from sub-.500 to the World Series in back-to-back seasons have had a winning record the next year, and only one has returned to the World Series -- the 1992 Atlanta Braves, who were knocked off by Toronto.
The 1973 Cincinnati Reds won the National League West but were knocked off in the NLCS by the New York Mets.
If history isn't enough of a challenge, the Rays also face the Yankees, who, after committing to a youth movement in the rotation in 2008 restocked this offseason by signing ace lefty CC Sabathia, right-hander A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira, and the Red Sox, who are taking gambles that they can resurrect the careers of right-handers Brad Penny, John Smoltz and Takashi Saito and outfielder Rocco Baldelli.
A key for the Rays is their offense, which will be better with the addition of needed right-handed power hitter Pat Burrell, who can be a designated hitter in the AL. The Rays, however, balked at paying the price to strengthen their bullpen, a weakness that manager Joe Maddon was somehow able to overcome a year ago.
INFIELD CHATTER
-- With no market having developed, the White Sox feel they might get a steal in free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, who has a long-standing friendship with Sox manager and fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen.
-- The Dodgers have re-entered talks with lefty Randy Wolf, who was put on hold by Baltimore while the Orioles pursue right-hander Braden Looper.
-- Texas needs an impact outfielder to go alongside Josh Hamilton and has talked about taking a shot at Andruw Jones, who could welcome an offensive park like the one the Rangers call home in an effort to rebuild his market value.
THE ROTATION
Five major holes that weren't filled in the offseason:
-- Giants middle of the lineup. They still are counting on catcher Bengie Molina to hit cleanup.
-- Brewers rotation. No pre-tense of having added bodies to even act like replacements for Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
-- Cardinals closer. Neither Chris Perez nor Jason Motte, rookies last year, have handled the challenge.
-- Tigers closer. Brandon Lyon couldn't handle the job in Arizona, but he's the best the Tigers could add.
-- Blue Jays rotation behind Roy Halladay. They failed to retain Burnett and will have to find four from the group of Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, Scott Richmond, Matt Clement, Mike Maroth, Brett Cecil, Ricky Romero and Casey Janssen.
OUT IN LEFT FIELD
A key for Tampa Bay last year was its ability to handle opposing bullpens. Tampa Bay opponents converted only 31-of-56 save opportunities last year, the lowest success ratio (.554) against any major league lineup.
Milwaukee was second, allowing opposing teams to convert only 35-of-61 opportunities.
At the other extreme, the opposition made good on 53-of-73 chances against Washington, which was 1-93 in games in which it trailed after eight innings.
CLOSING STATEMENT
Spring training camps open next week, and so far, the door remains shut for free agent Manny Ramirez.
There has been talk agent Scott Boras has overplayed his hand. He has been adamant that if Rafael Furcal, Derek Lowe and Raul Ibanez can get three-year deals, Ramirez deserves more, and so he has played the waiting game.
What does he have to lose? Nothing, really.
So far, the Dodgers are the only team that has made an offer. They proposed a two-year, $46 million deal in November and came back last week with a one-year, $25 million proposal.
Ramirez rejected both, but the Dodgers have not cut off contract talks so the door remains open for him to return to Dodger Stadium, where he became a fan favorite in the final two months last season.
Boras has said other teams are interested, but the Giants are the only other team to have been identified as a possible suitor. The Mets, Angels and Yankees, meanwhile, have denied any interest.
Could it be that in forcing his way out of Boston last season, Ramirez burned bridges that teams aren't willing to repair?
Could it be that in watching the way he acted to ensure that the Red Sox would not exercise their $20 million options for 2009 and 2010, Ramirez has scared teams away, knowing that he is willing to sabotage his team to make his point?
Could it be that teams look at the fact the Red Sox actually paid Ramirez's salary for the two months he played for the Dodgers and realize just how much a headache Ramirez can be, even if he did spend his two months with the Dodgers on his best behavior?
NUMBERS GAME
-- 2: Domed stadiums without a retractable roof that remain in baseball -- Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Metrodome in Minneapolis. But the Twins are moving to a new outdoor stadium next season.
SHEETS OUT AGAIN
Right-hander Ben Sheets had a potential two-year deal with Texas disappear because he apparently still is suffering from a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow that kept him from being on Milwaukee's postseason roster in October.
At the time, doctors said they thought rest would cure the problem, but evidently that e didn't work.
HE SAID IT
"To suggest that there is anything other than normal market forces at work here is really ridiculous. We are collapsing in a very serious recession."
-- Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball labor chief, on suspicions of collusion against free agents this offseason.
(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)
Rays
The history of previous teams who went from bad to good really has no bearing on what the Rays will do this year. It is that kind of thinking that keeps Las Vegas happy.
The Yankees signing Sabathia and Burnett?? Yea. What did the Yankees lose in the starting rotation?? Burnett is a contract guy. He pitches great in contract years, otherwise he looks for the DL as a second home. The only times he pitched 200 innings in a year were the two times he had contract years. Sabathia, after what he did last years look for him to break down at some point. He is not exactly the picture of athletecism and his record is much better in the NL than AL.
Boston signed a bucnch of marginal guys with injury problems.
The Rays are the youngest of the three. Have added more power at offense and the problem is they have too many pitchers. They have some down on the farm as well as what has been signed in the off season.
But yea becase these other teams that have nothing to do with the Rays or their organization did not do well the following season is reason to think the Rays won't. Try arguing something that has actual bearing on the Rays and their team.
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