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Tampa Bay Rays: The franchise all-time bracket

By Bill Felber

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 16: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs back to the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 16, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 16: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs back to the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 16, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Joe Maddon managed both the 2008 and 2012 Tampa Bay Rays. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
Joe Maddon managed both the 2008 and 2012 Tampa Bay Rays. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Rays: The All-Time Bracket

No. 1 vs. 8 seed

The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays merit the franchise’s top seed on the basis of both their regular season record and post-season showing. With 97 wins, they set a franchise standard that has not yet been surpassed.

This was the season when the recurring core that would become familiar to Rays fans coalesced under the leadership of Joe Maddon. Third baseman Evan Longoria batted .272 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. First baseman Carlos Pena homered 31 times and drove in 102. Outfielder Carl Crawford and DH Cliff Floyd provided veteran leadership.

On the mound, James Shields was 14-8 with a  3.56 ERA, while Matt Garza won 11 of 20 decisions with a 3.70 ERA. The Rays were second only to Toronto in staff ERA and runs allowed per game.

The 2012 Rays only managed a third-place finish in the AL East, three games out of the wild card hunt. The problem was offense; Tampa batted only .240 as a team, and averaged just 4.3 runs per game, ranking just 12th in the American League.

That undermined the efforts of the league’s best pitching staff. Price was 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA to win the Cy Young Award and Shields delivered a 15-10 record with a 3.52 ERA. Fernando Rodney, brought in to shore up the bullpen, saved 48 games.

Related Story. Baltimore Orioles: The franchise all-time bracket. light

Game 1: The 2008 Rays had a 97-65 record and .599 percentage. In 2012 the Rays compiled a 90-72 .556 record, seven games worse.

Game 2: The 2012 team did not play a post-season game; in 2008 the Rays had a .500 post-season record.

Game 3: The 2008 team put together a 101 OPS+. The 2012 team only got to 99. That gives 2008  a 3-0 series lead

Game 4: This was the strength of the 2012 team, and it shows in their 121 staff ERA+. That’s five points better than 2008’s 116.

Game 5: The 2008 Rays amassed a 50.4 WAR. The 2012 club only reached 45.6.

Result: 2008 in five games

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