Sports
Rays' Rise Has Been As Quick As Yanks' Fall
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Published: September 2, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - Preparations for the Rays' first trip to postseason play are ongoing at Tropicana Field.
Representatives from Major League Baseball stopped by recently to check out plans and make suggestions. And Rick Vaughn, the team's crack public relations czar, was stooped over in the dugout before Saturday's game, using a tape measure to check the distance from the far wall.
The dugout needs to be 11 feet shorter. All those extra network TV cameras have to fit somewhere.
That makes the visit tonight by the New York Yankees at least a little bit symbolic. The Yankees know all about getting ready for the playoffs. They haven't missed the postseason since 1995, three seasons before the Rays even started playing.
That streak is about to end, though.
Obligatory disclaimer: They could come up with a miracle and squeeze in as a wild card. Gas might cost a buck a gallon the next time I go to fill up, too.
The outstanding Web site coolstandings.com, which charts the playoff chances of teams, gives the Yankees less than a 2 percent chance. The Rays are 99 percent to keep the season going after 162 games.
"All I know is, they have a winning record against us this season," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Oh yes, the Rays grow oh-so-cautious when this subject is broached. If the giant wants to slumber, speak in whispers and walk on tiptoes.
"The fact that Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera have never missed the postseason in their career tells you pretty much all you need to know," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.
Not everything.
Got Old Quickly
These Yankees are just about the biggest mess you can buy for $209 million. The clutch hits that always used to be there have been harder to find. The pitching has been generally miserable once you get past Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
They counted on young arms Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, who instead combined for 0-8 with an 8.46 ERA. They pulled out of the Johan Santana sweepstakes last winter rather than trade Hughes (see above) and Melky Cabrera, now in the minors.
There were key injuries - whaa - but don't even go there like Hank "Baby Boss" Steinbrenner did when he complained about what the fates dealt his team.
The Rays have been just as beaten up and have persevered because they catch the ball, which these Yankees don't. They have pitching depth, which these Yankees don't. They are more athletic, have a better bench, have more speed, which is why we have gotten to September and the standings look like they do.
Give the Yankees credit for this, though. Last September, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman predicted something like this could happen, at least from the Rays.
"It's not going to be a situation where they add 10 wins next year and 10 more the year after that. It's not going to be slow," he told me that day. "When it happens, it will happen quick. Now. That growing stuff is behind them now. It's going to come fast."
It did. Just like the Yankees' fall.
Many Decisions To Be Made
It's tempting to say the Rays should enjoy this while they can because you know the Yankees will be throwing money around like confetti this winter. They'll be after CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, maybe even Manny Ramirez.
Presumably they'll get Chien-Ming Wang back. Joba Chamberlain is ready to return now. Hughes will be a factor. But they also are nearing the day when Jeter will have to move off shortstop and they'll have to find a Bronx version of Jason Bartlett to shore up a horrible defense.
Jason Giambi almost certainly won't be back - maybe Bobby Abreu, too. Jorge Posada is coming off major surgery.
Their farm system needs a lot of work after years of neglect while living off free agents. That's a problem because a team we used to call "veteran" now is simply old.
If they were anyone but the Yankees, we'd pronounce them dead and wish them well on a major rebuilding project. Instead, we'll just focus our eyes on a building project that is much more interesting. If you can figure out how to find that extra room in the dugout the Rays will need next month, let Rick Vaughn know.
It could get a little cramped down there.
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