Fansided

Each MLB team’s season success or failure?

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Rays

May 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) smiles as he walks to the dugout at the end of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) smiles as he walks to the dugout at the end of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

80-82, 4th in AL East

The Rays were firmly in a state of flux entering the 2015 season. Tampa Bay’s 77-85 record in 2014 was its worst mark in eight years, Maddon left for Chicago, and general manager Andrew Friedman departed for the Dodgers.

A final record of 80-82 is likely around what many expected for the Rays this season. However, the club had a decent chance to make the playoffs in a weak AL Wild Card race and could have done some major damage in October.

Tampa Bay’s starting rotation was outstanding through the first few months of the season. Chris Archer lived up to his ace potential, posting a 3.23 ERA (2.90 FIP) and 10.70 strikeouts per nine innings according to FanGraphs.

Even with Drew Smyly and Matt Moore out for long periods of a time, the Rays were able to get good seasons out of surprises like Nate Karns and Erasmo Ramirez. The rotation led Tampa Bay to mark of 10 games above .500 in mid-June and a real chance to make the postseason.

Eventually the poor offense would catch up to Tampa Bay, as Logan Forsythe was the only consistently productive player at the plate all season. Having John Jaso available for only 70 games was a big factor, while Evan Longoria was unable to regain his 2014 form.

Tampa Bay shouldn’t consider 2015 a massive stepback, but rather a missed chance.

Failure. It’s unfair to say the Rays had a bad season, but they had an opportunity to do more given how good the pitching staff was.

Next: Texas Rangers

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