For the Tampa Bay Rays 2019 was still a huge success
Although the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Astros in 5 games, they reached the playoffs with the league’s lowest payroll and their year should be celebrated.
We always hear about negative stories about teams that lose in the Division Series. Well, we already know the Tampa Bay Rays failed to advance to the ALCS, but it is time to praise them for their tremendous season.
People down the road will just remember that the Rays lost to the Astros just like the should have in the first round, but it meant more.
The Astros have one of the best rotations in recent memory and they took them to the maximum of five games and then hung in there all game long against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.
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Just take a moment to realize how special a moment it was to have The Trop packed in their first postseason series since 2013, and it was even more special to win both games against Greinke and Verlander.
On Opening Day against the Astros, they had the lowest payroll in the league but managed to make the playoffs and then not just win the Wild Card but push the best team in the league to five games. There were just 3 players that were on the active roster the entire season and 150 different lineups.
Their biggest addition was Charlie Morton, who nobody talked about in the offseason when he signed. All he did was win them the AL Wild Card Game and ALDS Game 3 vs Zack Greinke.
The front office should be applauded for adding not just him to the rotation but Glasnow as well, one that is going to be one of the best in the league next season.
Tyler Glasnow dominated in his first full year in Tampa, posting an astounding 1.78 ERA and pitching in Games 2 and 5.
I can’t say enough about Austin Meadows season. You could easily argue that he was the AL MVP in the first half of the season.
He finished the year with a .291 average with 33 home runs and a .922 OPS.
At the Trade Deadline, Chaim Bloom and Erik Neander added Nick Anderson from Miami who was a huge part of the Tampa Bay Rays late-inning success down the stretch.
Travis d’Arnaud came into town and took over the starting catching role after getting released by the Mets.
Willy Adames and Kevin Kiermaier had clutch moments in the Division Series, including huge homers in Games 4 and 3 respectively that tied the series after being down 0-2.
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I could go right down the roster and go on and on about this year’s club and when you look back on the season, it was truly unbelievable.