(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Rays have been MLB’s best team in the first few weeks of the season.
It’s not that they have been the best: it’s that they have been so good that we are running out of adjectives.
Pay attention to this stat, by the folks at MLB Network:
“The Rays are the fifth team since 1947 to win 25 of their first 31 games, joining the 1984 Tigers (26), 2016 Cubs (25), 1958 Yankees (25) and 1955 Dodgers (25). Each of those other four teams went on to win the World Series,” they tweeted.
The Rays are the fifth team since 1947 to win 25 of their first 31 games, joining the 1984 Tigers (26), 2016 Cubs (25), 1958 Yankees (25) and 1955 Dodgers (25).
Each of those other four teams went on to win the World Series. pic.twitter.com/7kzmcMVIhu
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 4, 2023
Will the Rays go on to win the Fall Classic?
It would be the first in franchise history, as they came really close in 2008 and 2020 with World Series losses.
It may be too premature to talk about that, though.
For now, it’s important to point out that the updated scoreboard indicates they have won 26 of their first 32 games by virtue of their Thursday victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With that win, they completed a series sweep.
They made the team with the best record in the NL Central division look at least a couple of tiers below them.
The Rays have a way to maximize talent available in their minor league system and to make savvy acquisitions on the market.
One of their offseason acquisitions, Zach Eflin, gave them seven scoreless frames with 10 strikeouts on Thursday.
Tyler Glasnow should be back soon to bring another ace-level reinforcement to the staff.
This might be the year in which the baseball universe as a whole learns to understand and respect the Rays’ model.
They have earned incredible results with it this season.
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