The AL East: Tampa Bay Rays

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No single team lost more good players than the Rays. You would almost believe a firesale had transpired. Well, it kind of did. The team slashed payroll due to several factors of which I won't go too in depth on. The #1 reason is most likely that lack of attendance. It's a shame that a really good team could not draw.

Here's who has left Tampa since the end of last season: Carl Crawford, Joaquin Benoit, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano. Did I leave anyone out? A lot of money left Tampa. A lot of talent left Tampa. It will be an interesting season in 2011. Can this team minus that talent still be able to at least maintain the level of attendance as in the past?

The Rays did add a couple of big names in Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. The jury is out on if those two can solidly contribute. I believe Damon can, but Manny may be a wild card. If he can approach something close to what he was before his 50-game suspension a couple years back, he will be a major factor in the Rays lineup as a DH.

But the offense may still be suspect. Dan Johnson is currently listed as the #1 1B. For all the grief Carlos Pena got for all those homers and a below the Mendoza line average, Johnson is by far an upgrade in either department. You could consider it a downgrade even. Now, there is a distinct possibility that Ben Zobrist will play first more than Johnson. That will depend on how the outfield shakes out.

The rest of the infield appears to be in decent hands. Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac both put forth sold efforts in 2010. Both have the potential to produce double digits homers and 60+ RBI. Then you move to third.

There rests the All-Star Evan Longoria. While the Rays won this division last season, Longoria's personal numbers were slightly off...slightly. He registered only 22 home runs, but still managed over 100 RBI. No question he is the middle of the lineup now with Pena gone. And he steeped up as a team leader last season. Just ask B.J. Upton about that.

I mentioned the outfiled. One person can make things easier on manager Joe Maddon: Desmond Jennings. If he's ready for the big time, the Rays are better off offensively. That would afford the move of Zobrist to first and thus producing an outfield of Jennings, Damon and Upton. The outfield defensively may be better as well with Jennings in the mix.

But one position that does get overlooked on nay rosters is catcher. The Rays have a good one in John Jaso. He's not going to cracnk out the homers. He's not going to overwhelm you offensively. He's just solid. And they also possess a reliable backup in Kelly Shoppach.

The Rays starting rotation will take on a bit of a different look this season. Not much from the starting standpoint, but the relievers.

Rangers, Lee Dominate Rays in Game 1

It didn't start out like a typical Cliff Lee outing.

The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with only one out. If only Tampa Bay could have scored a couple of runs in their first at-bat, the outcome may have been different. Instead, Lee wiggled out of the inning unscathed by striking out both Carlos Pena and Rocco Baldelli.

It was all Texas from there.

An RBI double from Jeff Francoeur and an RBI single from Bengie Molina in the second accounted for two runs off Rays starter David Price. Homers by Nelson Cruz in the top of the third and a Molina blast in the fourth made the score 4-0 after only four innings. Texas would add another run off of a double by Vladamir Guerrero in the fifth. 5-0 Rangers.

The Rays wouldn't get to Lee until the bottom of the seventh. Ben Zobrist accounted for Tampa Bay's first run with a solo shot off Lee.

Lee was masterful after a shaky first inning.

But the day belonged to Lee.

Sure the Rangers supplied him with a large lead, but after that first inning, Lee gave no indication that the Rays would threaten. And he kept the big bats in Tampa's lineup well in check. While facing Lee, Carlos Pena struck out three times. B. J. Upton could not get on base. For seven innings, Lee surrendered only five hits and the one run while striking out 10 Rays. Overall, 13 Rays were rung up via the strikeout.

Price wasn't as fortunate as Lee. After the Rays one big chance fell massively short, all the momentum swung the way of Texas. The Rangers grabbed that momentum and rolled to a 5-1 win.

First Month of MLB Season Recap

With the first month of the Major League Baseball season almost under our belts, let's view some teams and how they have fared during April.

Maddon's Rays are best in baseball.

Surprise Team - American League: Tampa Bay Rays
The fact that the Rays are in first is only a small shocker considering they have to duke it out with the Yankees and Red Sox. Boston hasn't been Boston, but the Yankees are playing .667 ball. Not an issue in Tampa. The Rays are 17-5 (.773), owners of baseball's best record. We know of Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton on the offensive side, but the Rays starting pitching has been spectacular. The highest ERA among the starters is Wade Davis at 3.68. That's 27th in the AL. You can't score on them and you can't hit them either. Four of the five starters hold opponents to a batting average under .235. Are you serious? If you can't hit, you can't score and the Rays staff does not yield a lot of hits.

Eckstein can still play.

Surprise Team - National League: San Diego Padres
So much has been made of the AL East leading New York Mets running off seven straight wins that people forget the Padres have a better record and lead the NL West. But how are they keeping up with that 14-8 record, 2nd best in the NL to the St. Louis Cardinals? It is truly a team effort. The pitching staff is 3rd in team ERA (3.05), tied for the NL lead in shutouts (4 with the Mets), allowed the second fewest hits (174 to divisional foe San Francisco at 172) and has struck out the second most batters (179 to the Mets 183). Kevin Correia's 4 wins ties him with the Phillies Roy Halladay for tops in the NL. There's a stat for you!

Konerko is the lone bright spot for the
White Sox.

Disappointing Team - American League: Chicago White Sox
Having a 9-13 record in AL Central may not seem so bad, but the Pale Hose have struggled with what some had presumed the best starting staff in the division. Jake Peavy has been a disappointment to say the least (0-2, 7.85 ERA, 4 HR allowed, 1.81 WHIP). The offense hasn't fared all that much better. No starter has a batting average over .300. One of the big acquisitions during the off-season was Juan Pierre. He has struggled with a .200 average and an on-base percentage of .261. Granted, Paul Konerko is knocking the cover off the ball, but that about covers the White Sox as a whole.

The Braves recent woes may have Cox
pondering why he returned for one last season.

Disappointing Team - National League: Atlanta Braves
So much preseason hype has spiraled downward due to a recent nine game losing streak. Can't have that in the NL East with the Mets playing so well and you know it's only a matter of time before the Philadelphia Phillies get moving. The Braves have the weakest hitting attack in the NL with a .228 team batting average. .228? Only the Houston Astros (68) and Pittsburgh Pirates (80) have scored less runs than the Braves (81). The Braves also rank next to last in the NL in HR (13), total bases (242) and stolen bases (8). The Braves pitching is almost as weak. Only three save opportunities and two of those translated to blown saves. Yes, the Atlanta Braves have one stinkin' save. One last thing. Atlanta is next to last in fielding percentage (.974, 21 errors). Can't win games giving your opponent free at-bats.

Player of the Month - American League: Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees
I don't think there will be a dispute here. Cano is batting .407 with a slugging percentage of .790 (both tops in AL) with 8 HR (2nd in AL) and 17 RBI.

Pitcher of the Month - American League: Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays
Hard to argue with a 4-1 record and a 2.06 ERA.

Player of the Month - National League: Kelly Johnson, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Braves sure could use his bat. 9 HR and a .320 batting average

Pitcher of the Month - National League: Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies
Jimenez authored a no-hitter adding to his marks of a 5-0 record and a microscopic 0.79 ERA.