Tampa Bay Rays look to recapture the magic

It's that time of year again. Pitchers and catchers have reported, and spring training is under way. Whether you're a Yankees fan or a Royals fan, you're automatically filled with hope and optimism, as a new season dawns (Ok, so maybe Royals fans don't have hope, but it was a cute idea).

No team is anticipating the start of the new season more than the Tampa Bay Rays. Coming off a magical 2008 season that saw the Rays go 97-65 and win their first pennant before losing to the Phillies in the World Series, something went wrong in 2009. All of the bounces went the other day, the magic ran out, and the genie refused to grant any more wishes.

The bullpen was one of the main culprits for the fall to 84-78, and a third place finish in the AL East. The Rays saved 52 games as a team in 2008 with only 16 blown saves, yet saved only 41 games last season while blowing 22. After a slow start to the season, the Rays weren't able to make up enough ground to catch the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox.

One of the team's big issues last season was their lack of a true closer. Troy Percival was that man at the beginning of the season, but he's near the end of his career, and didn't have much to offer, leaving the team scattering at the end of games, going for a closer-by-committee approach.

Over the offseason, the Rays traded for hard-throwing righthander Rafael Soriano, who will assume the duties at the end of the game. Soriano, who reaches 95 mph on the radar gun, saved 27 games for the Braves last season while compiling a 2.97 ERA. While Soriano has only appeared in more than 55 games twice in eight seasons due to a litany of injuries, if he's healthy, the Rays should have a much more effective bullpen, as the players behind Soriano will have clearly defined roles.

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With a young nucleus that includes LF Carl Crawford and 3B Evan Longoria, not to mention the old man of the group, Carlos Pena (who is only 31), the offense appears to be set. And with young arms such as Matt Garza, James Shields, and David Price anchoring the rotation, the Rays have the potential to have a complete team, one that has the capability of competing with Boston and the defending champion Yankees.

By solving their end-of-game woes, the Rays look to launch themselves back into postseason contention, looking to take care of some left-over business from the 2008 season: which is to win the World Series. If Soriano stays healthy and productive, and the young stallions across the diamond continue to progress, fans in the Sunshine State may well have a championship parade to plan for in the fall.

By Jonathan Wagner

MLBcenter.com Tampa Bay Rays Correspondent

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