Tampa Bay Rays: Unconventional Methods Paying Dividends

The Tampa Bay Rays are off to a hot start winning their first three series of the season, but their methods and strategy must be driving baseball purists crazy.

For the first time in the history of the Tampa Bay Rays, they have won their first three series of the season. They took down the likes of the Houston Astros, the Colorado Rockies, and the San Francisco Giants, and they did it their own way.

Last season, the Rays made national headlines because instead of putting a pitcher on the mound who had been given a full five days to prepare for his assignment, a reliever started the game.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Thus the term “bullpenning” became known.

It has continued into this year with Ryne Stanek being dubbed the ‘fifth starter’ in a rotation headed by reigning AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

The unique strategy now has a new addition.

During Sunday’s game against the Giants, Rays pitcher Adam Kolarek was tasked with facing Yangervis Solarte in the seventh. After allowing a single, manager Kevin Cash came out of the dugout to call for Chaz Roe to face Evan Longoria, but moved Kolarek to first base, Yandy Diaz to third base and pulled Christian Arroyo.

After Longoria struck out, Kolarek was then moved back to the pitcher’s mound, Diaz went back to first, Daniel Robertson was moved to third from second and Brandon Lowe entered to play second.

It played out like an advanced chess move, but in the end, the Tampa Bay Rays were victorious; keeping the Giants out of the run column and eventually winning the contest 3-0.

This has not been the first time this particular move has been made. In 2016, former Rays manager Joe Maddon rotated some of his relievers between the mound and the outfield. It was actually one of Travis Wood‘s shining moments.

It’s hard to comprehend what the Rays are doing at times. Given most of the baseball population has not fully embraced these oddities, it’s what is preventing the Rays from earning the respect they deserve.

Remember, this was the Rays that made some of these same unconventional decisions last year and finished with 90 wins. 90!

If not for the AL East powerhouses that were the New York Yankees and the world-champion Red Sox, the Rays would have gotten some more love.

The decisions the Rays have made additionally had effects on other teams as the season came to a close last season.

In the 2018 AL Wild Card game, the Oakland A’s opted to start Liam Hendriks – a reliever – in their one-and-done duel with the Yankees.

The Milwaukee Brewers also may have given the ball to conventional starters like Gio Gonzalez and Jhoulys Chacin, but manager Craig Counsell employed the use of his bullpen as soon as before one full round of the opposing team’s lineup.

The Tampa Bay Rays continued gameplan has resulted in a 7-3 record going into the second full week of the season. Though their methods are not as trendy across the league, for Tampa Bay, it works, and they show no signs of stopping.