Fansided

MLB: 5 teams playing way over their heads

By Robby Sabo

May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Houston Astros right fielder George Springer (4) hits a single in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Houston Astros right fielder George Springer (4) hits a single in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 17, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) and first baseman James Loney (21) talk during an replay review in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) and first baseman James Loney (21) talk during an replay review in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Rays

Out with the old and in with the new.

No more Joe Maddon, Wil Myers, Ben Zobrist, or even former boss Andrew Friedman. No problem for the 2015 Tampa Bay Rays.

How they’re doing it, we have no idea. The only thing we realize is that they are, in fact, doing it.

Just recently, the Rays took over a share of first-place in the AL East with a 22-19 record. This is a club who most projected to finish in the basement of the division.

How could they not finish last?

The entire face of the franchise had suddenly disappeared. It’s a club that is not led by its players, rather its manager and front office. They are a small-market production of epic proportions.

Regardless, they’ve competed with that same fire under rookie manager Kevin Cash.

They’re a team who is currently ranked 18th in runs scored (162), and have only two regulars who are hitting over .300 (Logan Forsythe, David DeJesus).

Where they’re taking advantage of things is through pitching and defense, and they’re doing this without lefty-stud Matt Moore and Alex Cobb, who is the latest MLB pitcher to succumb to the dreaded Tommy John surgery.

Jake Odorizzi has been spectacular, sporting a stat-line of 46 strikeouts and a 2.43 ERA. How about Chris Archer, who’s struck out 62 batters in 54.2 innings pitched to go along with a 2.43 ERA.

Drew Smyly, Nate Karns, and even the return of Moore will only add more power arms onto an already powerful staff (5th in the majors with 345 strikeouts). Mix in lights-out closer Brad Boxberger – who struck out over 100 batters last year – and the Rays are having one hell of a pitching party.

Cash has also overseen a defense who currently has the fewest errors in the game, with 15.

Before you feel the Rays are for real, allow me to ask you this one question: do you feel confident in a club who routinely plugs James Loney in as the cleanup hitter? Loney only has two dingers on the season, and is still three short of 100 during his 10-year MLB career.

Unless something drastic happens, this lineup will not be able to keep up a division-leading pace for all of 2015.

Next: 5 Toughest Teams In NBA Playoffs History

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