This oft-overlooked area was a huge factor in the Rays' leap to prominence in 2008. Though the statistically inclined have made a significant effort in recent years to come up with metrics able to quantify the defensive performance of players and teams, no one system has emerged as the standard. Because of that, judgment of defensive effectiveness remains perhaps the most subjective facet of the game. ...more

April 2, 2009

This oft-overlooked area was a huge factor in the Rays' leap to prominence in 2008. ...more

April 1, 2009

The Rays' newly acquired status as a destination spot for free agents comes with a caveat: They don't have nearly enough room to accommodate players who might otherwise be attractive to them. ...more

March 31, 2009

The AL East doesn't have quite the array of star power on the offensive end that it does when it comes to pitching, but there is no shortage of impact hitters among the top three teams. ...more

March 31, 2009

The Rays' 2008 success has made them an attractive pick for television networks heading into 2009. ...more

January 28, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG Perhaps making it interesting to the point that everyone dismissed their chances was the only way for the Rays to do it. ...more

October 20, 2008

Elimination game? That was nothing new - or intimidating - for the Boston Red Sox. ...more

October 20, 2008

It's not so much that the Rays have squandered two chances to win the American League pennant. No, it's really worse than that. The team that didn't beat itself during the regular season has picked a fine time to become a throwback to the Rays of yore. ...more

October 19, 2008

"Big Game" James Shields wasn't big enough Saturday night against a Boston Red Sox team that looked nothing like it did earlier in the American League Championship Series. ...more

October 19, 2008

In previous postseasons with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox, he pitched to a 1.73 ERA and held opponents to a .159 batting average and .209 on-base percentage - all three the best all-time among pitchers with at least 40 postseason innings. ...more

October 18, 2008