OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Art Deco · 05-14-2023, 11:12 AM

Final Regular Season Record: 92-70
1st place, AL East

The Rays didn't play great baseball over the season's final two months (33-27) but it was good enough in a poor AL East, which they won comfortably when no other team in the division finished above .500. And 92-70 was good enough for a bye through the wild card round as Minnesota won the Central with an 87-76 record (yes that's 163 games - I have no idea why a bunch of teams played an extra game).

We did lose a couple of starting pitchers to injury. Taj Bradley tore his rotator cuff and is done for 2025 as well while Drew Rasmussen suffered shoulder inflammation which sidelined him for most of the last two months. He should be good in a couple of days but he'll need a rehab assignment to Durham (which is in the playoffs) and won't be on the ALDS roster.

The final MLB standings and leaders:

Solid numbers all around and per Pythagoreas we should have had a better record. Pete Fairbanks blew a couple of saves in the final week which I blame in part. We'll be playing the winner of Twins-Rangers in the ALDS.

Jace Jung got the September roster expansion callup and raked, forcing his way into the lineup against RHP at 1B,2B,3B and DH as I gave the regulars there days off. I definitely want to get him in the lineup in the ALDS so it'll be interesting to see who sit. Probably Vargas at DH, who had a disappointing sophomore season. Speaking of disappointments, the catching had negative value and Randy Arozarena had a lousy year although he got hot over the final week. The two seasons I've played in this save have featured little turnover with most of these guys playing for the 2023 Rays IRL right now but big changes will be afoot this offseason.

The pitching acquisitions were solid with Doval dealing and Wheeler pitching very well despite some bad BABIP luck. Wheeler missed a couple of weeks in September with a tender elbow but came back to start the final game of the season with no apparent ill effect. With the injuries to the rotation Jeffrey Springs got his starter's job back and pitched much better the second time around (he'll be the 4th starter in the playoff rotation), and Shane Baz pitched well in a September callup despite being terribly homer-prone (4 in 21 IP in the bigs, 40 in 170 IP at Durham). Baz won't be on the ALDS roster though.

We have to find a place for Kyle Manzardo next year after he's put up two stellar seasons at AAA. It won't be easy as Yandy remains under contract at 1B and Vargas/Jung seem to have DH covered.

Next up will be full playoff coverage.

05-14-2023, 11:12 AM	#12
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,085	August/September/October 2024 Final Regular Season Record: 92-70 1st place, AL East The Rays didn't play great baseball over the season's final two months (33-27) but it was good enough in a poor AL East, which they won comfortably when no other team in the division finished above .500. And 92-70 was good enough for a bye through the wild card round as Minnesota won the Central with an 87-76 record (yes that's 163 games - I have no idea why a bunch of teams played an extra game). We did lose a couple of starting pitchers to injury. Taj Bradley tore his rotator cuff and is done for 2025 as well while Drew Rasmussen suffered shoulder inflammation which sidelined him for most of the last two months. He should be good in a couple of days but he'll need a rehab assignment to Durham (which is in the playoffs) and won't be on the ALDS roster. The final MLB standings and leaders: Solid numbers all around and per Pythagoreas we should have had a better record. Pete Fairbanks blew a couple of saves in the final week which I blame in part. We'll be playing the winner of Twins-Rangers in the ALDS. Jace Jung got the September roster expansion callup and raked, forcing his way into the lineup against RHP at 1B,2B,3B and DH as I gave the regulars there days off. I definitely want to get him in the lineup in the ALDS so it'll be interesting to see who sit. Probably Vargas at DH, who had a disappointing sophomore season. Speaking of disappointments, the catching had negative value and Randy Arozarena had a lousy year although he got hot over the final week. The two seasons I've played in this save have featured little turnover with most of these guys playing for the 2023 Rays IRL right now but big changes will be afoot this offseason. The pitching acquisitions were solid with Doval dealing and Wheeler pitching very well despite some bad BABIP luck. Wheeler missed a couple of weeks in September with a tender elbow but came back to start the final game of the season with no apparent ill effect. With the injuries to the rotation Jeffrey Springs got his starter's job back and pitched much better the second time around (he'll be the 4th starter in the playoff rotation), and Shane Baz pitched well in a September callup despite being terribly homer-prone (4 in 21 IP in the bigs, 40 in 170 IP at Durham). Baz won't be on the ALDS roster though. We have to find a place for Kyle Manzardo next year after he's put up two stellar seasons at AAA. It won't be easy as Yandy remains under contract at 1B and Vargas/Jung seem to have DH covered. Next up will be full playoff coverage.