Yordan Alvarez came through big this year and helped Texas win 100 games. Even though he's listed as "wrecked" and had played only 72 and 98 games the previous two season he somehow managed to stay healthy the entire season and missed out on a Triple Crown by one homer thanks to our
Kelly Crumpton. This is how the playoff tree shakes out:
We would play Alvarez and his 100-win Rangers if we're able to get by Minnesota.
The final Rays stats:
It was a weird season as we had the best offense in the league (including star players like
Orlando Tosado and
Arturo Gutierrez who couldn't crack the regular lineup) and we had the best starting rotation by ERA in the league but that horrible bullpen cost us to the tune of a finishing 7 games worse than our Pythagorean record. We had the best run differential in the league and had a Pythag record one game better than the Yankees, whom we finished 4 games behind. So a lot to like but bad luck and a bad bullpen cost us, hopefully not in the postseason.
You know you have a pretty good lineup when everyone except the DH (Salinas) has at least 3 WAR for the season and is in double-digits in homers.
As you can see the starters were very good, although it hurt to lose Prosecky and Panzini. The bullpen remains an issue despite several acquisitions, and losing Dettmer for the year hurt even though he had lost the closer's job. Needless to say it will be a focus in the offseason.