The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 12 (12 Shutouts By The Pitching Staff)
12 Days of Raysmas January 5th. 2010, 8:00am
If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Unlike most team blogs, we do not very often tell you what the Tampa Bay Rays should do. We prefer to live under the premise that the people that run the Rays are smarter than we are, and know many, many more things that even the most learned fan will never know.
However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that the Rays didn’t come through on very many of our wishes, and the result was a somewhat disappointing season. Let’s hope that changes in 2010.
On the twelfth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, TWELVE shutouts…
The Rays drop in the standings last season can be attributed in large part to the performance of the pitching staff. And much of the pitching staff’s performance can be attributed to the high inning totals in 2008 and the short off-season.
In 2008 the Rays shutout the opposition 12 times. That number dropped to 5 in 2009. Matt Garza and James Shields, who combined for 4 shutouts in 2008 threw none in 2009.
If the Rays want to get back to the promised land, the pitching staff will need to carry them. And to do that, the staff needs a return to the dominance they displayed when they won the AL pennant.
On the twelfth day of Raysmas, our true love gave to us…
Twelve shutouts,
ELEVEN postseason wins,
TEN wins versus each divisional rival,
NINE No-Hit Innings,
EIGHT positions with a .350 wOBA,
SEVEN games with the same batting order,
SIX months with at least 15 wins,
FIVE positions with at least 20 home runs,
FOUR Gold Glove infielders,
THREE-year contract extension for Carlos Pena,
TWO Major League debuts for their top prospects,
and ONE AL MVP.
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The new lyrics don’t really scan too well with the tune…
[...] TWELVE shutouts — As it happens, the Rays finished the season with exactly 12 shutouts. And surprising to us, half of those occurred before the All-Star break and the other occurred after…GIFT RECEIVED ELEVEN postseason wins — For the second time in three years, the Rays won the AL East and went to the playoffs. And like 2008, the Rays came up short in their quest for 11 postseason wins…NO GIFT TEN wins versus each divisional rival — The Rays went 11-7 against both the Orioles and Red Sox and 10-8 versus the Blue Jays and the Yankees…GIFT RECEIVED NINE No-Hit Innings — July 26, 2010, may not have been the most important game in franchise history, but it might have been the most exciting. Thank you Matt Garza…GIFT RECEIVED EIGHT positions with a .350 wOBA — The Rays finished third in the AL in runs scored. But that just masked a lot of offensive problems this team faced. Only two of the nine positions posted a wOBA of at least .350. In fact, two positions failed to post a wOBA of just .300 (catcher, shortstop)…NO GIFT SEVEN games with the same batting order — Joe Maddon used 129 different batting orders in 162 games. And none of those batting orders were used seven times. One lineup was used six times…NO GIFT SIX months with at least 15 wins — The Rays actually had four months with at least 17 wins. But in the other two months (June, September) the Rays posted losing records (11-14 and 13-14 respectively). But we will fudge a little and count the two October wins with September. Voila!…GIFT RECEIVED FIVE positions with at least 20 home runs — Three positions had 20+ home runs (3B, LF, 1B). Center fielders hit 19, second basemen hit 18 and DHs hit 17…NO GIFT FOUR Gold Glove infielders — These awards have won’t be handed out until after the season and you never know what they will do with the GGs. Carl Crawford got a lot of press this year so he seems like a lock. Evan Longoria and BJ Upton also have good shots. But Carlos Pena still hasn’t found his 2008 glove…(PROBABLY) NO GIFT THREE-year contract extension for Carlos Pena — We think there is a good chance Pena re-signs, but it will probably be a one- or two-year deal. And that is plenty…NO GIFT TWO Major League debuts for their top prospects — Desmond Jennings played in 23 games, hitting 4-21 with a double, triple and 2 stolen bases. Jeremy Hellickson appeared in 10 games, making four starts. He finished with a 3.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 36.1 innings…GIFT RECEIVED ONE AL MVP — Evan Longoria is going to get some votes, but he will probably finish 3rd or 4th. Josh Hamilton was just too good this year…NO GIFT [...]