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Rays' Turnaround Can Be Attributed To Better Defense

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

On a recent night at Tropicana Field, the Rays held a five-run lead over the Yankees entering the top of the fifth. There was a runner on first, nobody out, when Robinson Cano smoked a line drive between third and short.

In years past, that ball would have gone cleanly into left field and a rally almost certainly would have followed. Not this year. Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett moved quickly to his right and caught the ball before it could leave the infield. The inning ended one batter later with a ground-ball double play.

Instead of a comeback, the Yankees got nothing. Instead of momentum, they were given just another example of how things are different with the Rays. They are playing the best defense in the history of the franchise - by far. Plays like Bartlett's occur on a regular basis.

Rookie Evan Longoria seems to catch everything hit toward him at third base, including a great play on a bunt during Monday night's win against the Athletics. Akinori Iwamura quickly answered any question about how he would handle the move this spring to second base; he still has not made an error this season. Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton turn would-be doubles in the gap into highlight-reel outs.

It even affects the way the pitchers throw - in a good way.

"You definitely pitch to contact a little more. You trust the guys behind you to make the plays," reliever Dan Wheeler said. "Defense is one of the reasons we've been able to do what we've done. As a pitcher, you want to go out there and minimize pitches and get the ball in play."

Those plays are being made.

"In the back of their heads, I think they know if they can make a pitch and the ball is in play, we've got a good chance of getting an out - whether the ball is in the infield or outfield. We've shown we can run down balls in the outfield," said Rays third-base coach Tom Foley, who spent 13 seasons playing every infield position.

Noticeably Different

The improvement in just one season has been phenomenal, and it starts with Bartlett, who was a central figure in the trade that sent Delmon Young to Minnesota. There were plenty of skeptics about that deal, but Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman was sold on Bartlett's ability to get to balls that had eluded past shortstops at the Trop.

Perhaps the boldest stroke, though, was moving Iwamura from third to second. Although you'd never know it now to watch him, it was an issue heading into the season. Could he handle the double play? How would he react to balls coming at him from the opposite side of the infield he was used to?

The answer to each question: No problem.

"All the routine plays are being made," Foley said. "The things on top of that are icing on the cake. When the guys get a ground ball, it's an out. When you're supposed to get them out, get them out. But we're going beyond that."

Stats man Bill James devised a category called "Runs Created Against" as a way to measure defense. Last year's Rays allowed almost a half-run more per game than any other American League team in that category. This season, they are among the best in the league.

"From the first day of spring training I felt a difference from last year," Iwamura said. "I knew they could do it."

A Consistent Part

Longoria came to Tampa Bay with the reputation as a hitter, but it wasn't long before people noticed that few balls get past him at third.

"I've always prided myself on my defense, and I think Bartlett and Aki feel the same. If you watch out there in pregame, everybody takes ground balls as a full group. That's pretty uncommon for a big-league ballclub," he said. "On balls in the gaps, Crawford and Upton are running everything down. There aren't a lot of hits out there on the field right now."

We posed a hypothetical to the kid: Would you rather win a Gold Glove or a batting title? He thought for several seconds before answering.

"I think I'd rather win a Gold Glove, honestly," he said. "Defense wins championship, and if you've got a lot of guys winning Gold Gloves you're probably going pretty far in the playoffs."

Playoffs?

Well, why not? Defense is usually a consistent part of any winning team, and the Rays have one of the best records in the majors.

As the season winds on, the improved defense should carry over into other areas. Pitchers will have thrown less because plays are being made. There won't be as much pressure on the offense to produce that extra run or two a game the Rays always seemed to need before.

And that likely will turn into more wins. Maybe even enough to keep the Rays in the race for a long while.

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