Whatever the Tampa Bay Rays did this winter to prepare for the season worked.
The Rays are off to a borderline unprecedented start, winning their first nine games. They’ve been trouncing teams, trailing for just five innings this season, while compiling more home runs than runs allowed.
Tampa is clicking in every facet of the game. Their rotation has been dominant, their lineup spraying the ball around the field, and their defense and baserunning have been sharp, too. It’s fair to criticize the schedule – they’ve only played the Tigers, Nationals and A’s – but nine straight wins is nine straight wins in the big leagues.
Any number of factors could be propelling this. Rays play-by-play man Neil Solondz told Rob Bradford on Audacy’s Baseball Isn’t Boring that in addition to some roster continuity, the Rays sending 12 players to the World Baseball Classic might have helped get things going.
“Maybe the other piece of that, and it’s been talked about, I’m not sure how much it played a factor in this really fast start, but the Rays had 12 players, including eight on the 40-man roster, in the World Baseball Classic,” Solondz said. “And maybe playing in a highly competitive environment before the season started has helped guys get off to a good start. I don’t think it hurts.
“Take a look at the start Wander Franco is off too right now. I looked at his at-bats watching him in the WBC going 'Ooh, he’s locked in. These are really good at-bats, these are playoff-like at-bats.'”
Franco has been one of the best players in baseball this season. In just nine games he’s hitting .351 (13-for-37) with four homers, three doubles, nine RBIs and a pair of stolen bases.
Outside of Franco, Randy Arozarena, Harold Ramirez, Isaac Paredes, Christian Bethancourt, Francisco Mejia and Jason Adam were Tampa’s other WBC participants who also made the Opening Day roster.
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