Filed under: Rays, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series, Advanced Scouting
The Rays are clearly not an orthodox team. Yes, they rely on pitching, but it's youthful pitching. Pitching-reliant teams of the past have mostly relied on veterans. And their offense also works in an unorthodox way. They have, on paper, two true standout performers in Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford, and their team statistics across the board are pedestrian at best. All that said, they will be a terror for any opponent to face in October. They take every extra base they can nab, they make all the plays and when they do swing the bats they make it count. But make no mistake, if they go all the way it will be thanks to their outstanding starting staff and bullpen.
So, how do you beat a team that does things unconventionally and will not bludgeon you to death offensively? Play mistake-free baseball. The Rays will thrive on every mistake their opponent makes. If an outfielder doesn't aggressively charge a ball, they take an extra base. You give their hitters a base on balls, they will find a way to turn that into a run, then make it hold up with their pitching staff.
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