The Tampa Bay Rays saw their playoff chances disappear Friday night with a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The defeat was the 80th of the season for Tampa Bay, too many to catch both 83-win Wild Card teams, thus mathematically eliminating the Rays from the postseason.
Rays mathematically eliminated from MLB playoffs
Manager Joe Maddon watched the Rays miss the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons, as they were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Friday.
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While the Rays will miss the playoffs for the second time in three years, 2014 could represent their first losing season since 2007. Tampa Bay lost Matt Moore after 10 innings of work, lost Wil Myers for two months, and David DeJesus missed 60 games thanks to a broken hand as well. Pair those blows with a slow return from injury by Jeremy Hellickson, a subpar season from Evan Longoria, and playing Jose Molina way too much (at least offensively), and the poor season starts to make sense.
On the upside, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier had a great season and the pitching staff was fantastic. Chris Archer recovered from a brutal start to the season to post great numbers the rest of the way, Jake Odorizzi took a step forward after discovering the split-change as an out-pitch, and Alex Cobb grew into a true No. 2 starter when he's healthy. The 2014 season, though, will be remembered as the one in which the Rays traded away staff ace David Price, receiving Drew Smyly, Nick Franklin and prospect Willy Adames in return.
While the Rays weren’t likely to make the playoffs when the trade happened, and Smyly pitched well upon arriving in Tampa, many voiced concern that the Rays didn’t optimize their return for Price given how dominant he had been on the season and the year-plus remaining on his contract. Still, with Cobb/Archer/Smyly/Odorizzi/Hellickson ready to roll in 2015, there is plenty to be optimistic about in Tampa Bay. That much was clear, considering their second half has been a winning one, and their overall plus-8 run differential portends a winning record.
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