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Art Deco · 06-09-2025, 07:20 PM

Record: 42-40
3rd place AL East, 7 1/2 behind Boston, 3rd Wild Card 1/2 game up on Toronto.

As the record would indicate it's been a season of fits and starts for the Rays although they did overcome a poor start (especially at Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home). The offense has been surprisingly good but the pitching and defense has been below the traditional Rays standard. Some of that will hopefully be helped when ace Shane McClanahan returns from injury around the All-Star break. And despite the uninspiring record the Rays are in a playoff spot at the moment, though just barely and will play on the road quite a bit in the second half with the scheduled front-loaded with home games in an attempt to minimize the threat of rainouts from Tampa's summer thunderstorm season.

Here's how things look around MLB at the midway mark:

Team stats:

These are some impressive offensive numbers and if put together with the usual Rays pitching and defense you'd have a first-place team. But this isn't the usual Rays pitching and defense, it's been mediocre-to-awful at times. The defense especially - regular CF Jonny DeLuca has hit but has a brutal -4.9 ZR despite being considered a 55 at the position. SS has been bad too - Kim, Peraza and Caballero have combined for a -7.1 ZR t the position with only the demoted Taylor Walls a positive (+0.2). Kim is a -1.8 in 24 games which is not what we thought we'd get from him. Meanwhile at 2B, B.Lowe is a -3.5 so just poor D up the middle. Only Josh Lowe in RF (+2.6 in 37 games) has been a superior defender.

The batting stats:

A true breakout season for Aranda, and while no great shakes with the glove B.Lowe has regained his power stroke. It looks like the aging curve has caught up with Yandy, who dropped off substantially from 2023 to 2024 and has done so again so far this year. We could move him before the deadline so we don't have to pay $12M next year for further decline.

Some of the pitching has really been homer-prone - Bradley, Pepiot and Littell in particular. When McClanahan returns Littell will be the odd man out and as a pending free agent we'll likely be dealing him as well (for how much I wonder). The bullpen has also been shaky outside of Fairbanks and Cleavinger with last year's big surprise Uceta turning back into a pumpkin. Stewart has been a good pickup so far. This staff is capable of better and they're going to have to pick it up.

The farm:

We have three big prospects, and unlike real-life they're having great seasons and haven't regressed, so if we trade Yandy Isaac could get a look or BLowe could move to first with Taylor coming up or Kim could slide to second with C.Williams up. This would probably help the team defense. Simpson is also an interesting case with his ludicrous speed and bat-to-ball ability.

Also in the trade department I have two utility infielders (Peraza/Caballero) and I'm shy an OF so one of them could be dealt in the very near future.

06-09-2025, 07:20 PM	#24
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,593	2025 Midseason Review Record: 42-40 3rd place AL East, 7 1/2 behind Boston, 3rd Wild Card 1/2 game up on Toronto. As the record would indicate it's been a season of fits and starts for the Rays although they did overcome a poor start (especially at Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home). The offense has been surprisingly good but the pitching and defense has been below the traditional Rays standard. Some of that will hopefully be helped when ace Shane McClanahan returns from injury around the All-Star break. And despite the uninspiring record the Rays are in a playoff spot at the moment, though just barely and will play on the road quite a bit in the second half with the scheduled front-loaded with home games in an attempt to minimize the threat of rainouts from Tampa's summer thunderstorm season. Here's how things look around MLB at the midway mark: Team stats: These are some impressive offensive numbers and if put together with the usual Rays pitching and defense you'd have a first-place team. But this isn't the usual Rays pitching and defense, it's been mediocre-to-awful at times. The defense especially - regular CF Jonny DeLuca has hit but has a brutal -4.9 ZR despite being considered a 55 at the position. SS has been bad too - Kim, Peraza and Caballero have combined for a -7.1 ZR t the position with only the demoted Taylor Walls a positive (+0.2). Kim is a -1.8 in 24 games which is not what we thought we'd get from him. Meanwhile at 2B, B.Lowe is a -3.5 so just poor D up the middle. Only Josh Lowe in RF (+2.6 in 37 games) has been a superior defender. The batting stats: A true breakout season for Aranda, and while no great shakes with the glove B.Lowe has regained his power stroke. It looks like the aging curve has caught up with Yandy, who dropped off substantially from 2023 to 2024 and has done so again so far this year. We could move him before the deadline so we don't have to pay $12M next year for further decline. Some of the pitching has really been homer-prone - Bradley, Pepiot and Littell in particular. When McClanahan returns Littell will be the odd man out and as a pending free agent we'll likely be dealing him as well (for how much I wonder). The bullpen has also been shaky outside of Fairbanks and Cleavinger with last year's big surprise Uceta turning back into a pumpkin. Stewart has been a good pickup so far. This staff is capable of better and they're going to have to pick it up. The farm: We have three big prospects, and unlike real-life they're having great seasons and haven't regressed, so if we trade Yandy Isaac could get a look or BLowe could move to first with Taylor coming up or Kim could slide to second with C.Williams up. This would probably help the team defense. Simpson is also an interesting case with his ludicrous speed and bat-to-ball ability. Also in the trade department I have two utility infielders (Peraza/Caballero) and I'm shy an OF so one of them could be dealt in the very near future.