PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Rays shocked baseball with a 90-win season in 2018. Expectations are now higher.
Quick Facts:
- Rays won 90 games in 2018: average expert prediction was 75.5 win total
- Blake Snell won the AL Cy Young Award - set franchise record with 21 wins
- Rays seeking first postseason appearance since 2013
- Spring Training 2019: What You Need to Know
Fans are thinking playoffs in 2019. But one Rays insider says if Tampa Bay wants to reach October, they’ll need their full squad on the field.
“The first thing is health," says Neil Solondz, who is the Rays' pre- and postgame host for the team's radio network. "You take a look at last year and you had to deal with injuries to Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon and Nathan Eovaldi. And then Kevin Kiermaier goes down just two weeks into the season.”
Assuming the team is healthy, the Rays will then be faced with trying to find room for their talent – especially when it comes to pitching.
“Brent Honeywell is the most interesting one," said Juan Toribio, MLB.com's Rays Reporter. "When he comes up, it will be interesting to see whether they use him more as a starter or behind an opener. His talent is off the charts, He is their top pitching prospect.”
“If (Charlie) Morton, and (Tyler) Glasnow and (Blake) Snell are healthy and perform, and Brent Honeywell comes on, then it really changes the way you use your bullpen," said Solondz.
“You’re looking at guys like Chirnos, Yarbrough, and Faria, probably three guys right now who are working for one of two spots as bulk guys used behind the openers," notes 95.3 WDAE's Rays Insider Steve Carney. "But I think all three of them end up being big parts of the Rays pitching staff, at some point, in 2019.”
The other drama comes in figuring out who fits where for the Rays this season – especially around the infield.
“This is a big spring for Kevin Cash in terms of figuring things out in the infield," said Toribio. "I think the infield is the biggest thing.”
“Daniel Robertson, Joey Wendle, Brandon Lowe, all can play three or four different positions and do them well," said Carney. "You could basically stick a number of guys in a different spot in the batting order and a different position in the field and still get a lot of success out of them.”
Okay, time for the big question: Can the Rays get to the postseason in 2019 or are Rays fans just dreaming?
“I think it’s a good dream to have and it’s the only dream for Rays fans to have after a 90-win season,” said Carney.
“I think this team is confident," said Toribio. "If they make it into a wild card spot, they have Blake Snell and they are confident with him going in any ballpark.”
“Get out of the gates quick, because last year you got off to that 4-13 start," notes Solondz. "At least be .500 or better by the end of April and I think if that happens things will kind of build on itself.”
There you have it, Rays fans. The experts say ‘dream big’ in 2019!