Let's be honest here: No one imagined this type of a beginning.
But what a show it's been.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been obliterating everything in its path. They lead baseball in runs scored. They are leading the American League in fewest runs given up. As John Maddon once said, "If you score more than your opponent, you will probably win the game."
Truer words have not been spoken.
The Rays are still not firing on all cylinders. No one has truly gotten "hot" but the team is on fire when runners are on base. The Rays boast baseball's best average with runners in scoring position.
What makes it even more special is how they have been doing it.
Rays General Manager Andrew Friedman has spent time developing, drafting and trading for pitching. He drafted David Price. He traded for Matt Garza. He watched Jeff Niemann develop before his eyes. And now he brings up the next wunderkind in ace-in-waiting Wade Davis.
But before there was pitching, Friedman had to find a way to keep the Rays in games without being able to afford the high cost of pitchers.
The best innovations usually come out of necessity.
He set the new baseball trend of "run prevention." Cheaper than pitching, defense is the new buzz word in baseball. ESPN even commented profusely about Boston taking up this movement, complimenting the signing of former Gold Glove winners Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron.But they are no Tampa Bay Rays.
Left fielder Carl Crawford is gunning for his first (and long overdue) gold glove this season and is leading all AL outfielders in assists. Second baseman Reid Brignac brings a shortstop glove to the other side of the bag. B.J. Upton patrols centerfield with the best of them. Evan Longoria won his first gold glove last year. Carlos Pena won his first gold glove two years ago.
The Rays way at first was "run prevention." Joe Maddon followed it up with hustle and aggressive base stealing. Friedman has now added impressive starting pitching depth. The Rays set a goal for their pitchers to amass 1,000 collective innings pitched.
That has only been done once in the last 15 years.
The Rays are well on their way to doing so. It's hard to believe, but the Rays haven't "missed" J.P. Howell. With the starters going deep into the game, and a offense scoring almost 6 runs a game, the Rays have barely dusted off their shiny and seven million dollar toy in closer Rafael Soriano.
Yes, life is good at the top.
Yes, life is good at the Trop.
And it's even better when it's accomplished by doing things your way.
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