Series Six Pack- Yanks vs. Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays head into Yankee Stadium for a 3 game weekend series. The last time the Yankees saw the Rays, Derek Jeter was going 5 for 5 and getting his 3,000th hit. The Rays come in hot after sweeping the Royals, and are 8.5 games behind the Yankees for the Wild Card. The Yankees will attempt to put the nail in the Rays coffin, ending their playoff hopes.

To get ready for the series, I teamed up with Jonathan Bohall from Rays Colored Glasses. I asked six questions and here are his answers. Please check out Rays Colored Glasses for my Yankees related answers to his questions. 

Do the Rays still believe they have a legitimate shot of catching the Red Sox or Yankees for the division/wild card?

As I write this on Thursday morning, the Rays are 10 games back in the division and eight and a half behind in the Wild Card. No doubt the Rays have a tough hill to climb, but they have the schedule to get it done. They have a ton of games left with the Red Sox (10) and Yankees (nine), so a hot streak could help them close ground quickly. This next nine game stretch will be very important and will determine whether the Rays still have a shot. They have three each with the Yankees and Red Sox, but then three at home against the Mariners. If they don’t draw within at least six games within New York or Boston by August 21, the season may be effectively over.

Despite their recent success, how frustrating is it for the Rays that they have to play in the same division as the large market/high pay roll Red Sox and Yankees?

I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating at all. Sure, just looking at the standings, the Rays would be leading the AL Central and would be much closer to first if they played in either western division. However, I don’t think the Rays are complaining. They see it as a tremendous challenge to keep up and for the last four seasons, they have (they’ve won more AL East crowns in the past three years than the Red Sox have in the last 15. I personally think this year is a “bridge” year. Expect the Rays to be better in 2012 with a full year with Desmond Jennings and each of their starters a year older and better.

Why do the Rays continue to have so many problems drawing fans to their games. Players have made comments in the past about it. Do you think not having a home field advantage hurts the team? How much does it bother the team and their fans when they play home games against the Red Sox and Yankees and their are more Red Sox and Yankee fans in the stadium?

It is very hard for me to answer this question because I don’t live in the area and have personally never been to Tropicana Field. The Rays did have the best home record in 2008 and while they have not played well at home this year, I think it’s more because the Trop has become an extreme pitcher’s park. The Rays are drawing about 3,000 less fans a game in 2011 than they were in 2008, but I think their middling record at home have more to do with their trouble adjusting to the conditions than to a lack of fans.

Many thought Evan Longoria was going to be a top five player in all of baseball. He is having a disappointing season for his standards. Were the expectations too high? What has been his problem? Are the Rays worried? Is he taking heat from the fans?

He is having a very disappointing season, no question. He’s hitting .229/.330/.451 with 17 homers and 63 runs batted in 2011. He hurt his oblique the second game of the year and has dealt with foot issues this year. Reports are that he is fully healthy now, but that doesn’t mean he is still pressing. In the past week he has had two clutch homers and drove in all four runs in a win on Tuesday. I don’t think the Rays are worried about his production, but he has received some negative comments via Twitter. I fully expect him to come back healthy next year and have an MVP type season in 2012.

Why did they decide not to trade James Shields and B.J. Upton? How do you see both of their futures wtih the franchise?

The Rays didn’t trade Upton because they didn’t get the deal they wanted for him. I was hoping he would be traded if they could get a young shortstop or first baseman like Ian Desmond or Michael Morse from Washington. I don’t think they traded Shields because a mid-season deal wouldn’t help the Rays much this year. They have Shields under their control, but he’s getting more expensive. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was traded in the off-season because the Rays have enough quality starters for 2012 and again, he could bring a pretty good bat.

Joe Maddon’s contract ends after the 2012 season. Do you think the Rays will give him an extension? How do you think it will all play out?

The Rays will do their best to keep Joe Maddon in a Tampa Bay uniform. It truly is his team. I would be very surprised if the Rays did not give him a competitive offer to keep him with the Rays for as long as he wants to manage.

By Rob Bonanni

@nypuddingsports