The Rays’ journey to becoming a constant playoff-contender took awhile, but came all of sudden when it finally happened.
Contending with the power-house teams of the AL East—the Yankees and Red Sox—is the toughest thing to do for any team to have to do. It’s makes it even tougher when you can’t spend half the money of the those two teams.
But the Rays haven’t used any excuses, rather using lower-risk, high-reward pickups and their minor league system to create a nucleus for a championship-caliber squad.
Two division championships and an American League pennant in three years is good for any team (except maybe if your from the Bronx), but under the circumstances of being a small-market club, it’s amazing what the Rays have been able to accomplish.
Here’s a list of five things you may or may not expect, but have kept the Rays at, or near the top of the tough AL East.