A new decade and season dawns for the Rays. Will it end in the ALDS or with a parade? Stay tuned. We got through Spring Training without any injuries and there aren't many surprises on the Opening Day roster, which is as follows:
C-McKee, Morley
1B-Alexander
2B-Hardaway
SS-Baez
3B-Gebers
IF-Ruiz, Beckett
OF-Ayala, Malone, Leonard, Mendez, Moyer
DH-Ruggles
SP-Romero, J.Perez, Gates, Adams, Abeles
LR-Harbour
MR-Toombs, Trader, Pretty, Willard
SU-Burgess, Neil
CL-Kawase
The one decision forced on us was to go 14/13 with hitters since Josh Beckett is out of options. Trade offers weren't that great for him but I'm sure he wouldn't clear waivers. This meant Jose Mendoza went back to Durham as he would have been the 14th pitcher. Ed Pretty makes the squad as a rookie, and he has dominant stuff, and while Ken Neil is listed as a setup man he had a terrible spring on top of his terrible season with us last year so his lease will be short and I may just go with righty setup men exclusively.
Here are the preseason predictions, which last year were famously down on us calling for a 2nd place, 88-win season which we managed to better by 21 games. This time they think we'll take the division, but with only 92 wins as they are seriously bullish on our pitching.
