MLB Notebook: Skip the team ‘identity’ and recognize roles

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – There is something rather elusive about creating “a team identity.” In reality, there is more mystery and ambiguity than substance. Plus, the effort to characterize a team as power-hitting, pitching oriented or speed remains tenuous at best.

Throughout baseball, there have been attempts to place “a tag” or label. It’s likely the New York Yankees will be forever known as the Bronx Bombers. Other teams live in the pages of history.

The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals was known as the Gashouse Gang. Their aggressiveness and determination embodied the character of America in the midst of the Great Depression.

The 1959 Chicago White Sox were labeled as the Go-Go Sox for their speed and fierceness. The danger in these descriptions lay in their definition.

In reality, the image of a team is generated by individual contributions.

With a number of new players and several jobs to be won this spring, the Tampa Bay Rays seem to flip the switch. This spring, “an identity” is not the purpose of structuring a team. Defining roles remains paramount.

“As far as the players here, I think we have a little of everything,” said Tampa Bay infielder Gavin Lux. “The most important thing in this clubhouse is to have everyone getting comfortable and starting to build that culture. When the first game of the season start, you know you can hit the ground running.”

Lux and pitcher Nick Martinez, along with outfielders Jake Frawley, Cedric Mullins, and Jacob Melton, bring a new look to a team that will be challenged to stay afloat in the highly competitive American League East race.

Still, veteran players like Mullins, Lux, and Martinez carry a sharp and defined purpose. The experience around the game and the ability to make critical adjustments supersedes any attempt to define culture, purpose and character.

“Forming anything like a team identity begins in spring training,” said Martinez, who signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay for a reported $13 million. “It takes everyone to know what they do well. That’s communicating with the analytics team, with the hitting coach or pitching coach, understanding who you are as a player, and doing your part to be the best version of yourself.”

Through the early days of spring training, Tampa Bay club officials made it known that pitching and strong defense will likely be the catalyst for any 2026 success. The Rays will not be known as a power team, and the club lacks the consistency of multiple players who will hit the ball out of the park.

“Watching early on here, the speed, the athleticism, urgency and attention to detail have really stood out,” said field manager Kevin Cash after the initial full-team work out on Feb. 17. “Outfielder wise, Chandler Simpson is working really hard to be the best version of himself and others who have missed time just need get on the field and show what they can do. When that happens, we’ll be much better.”

Elsewhere … the resignation of Tony Clark as the players’ Executive Director echoed around training camps. For an immediate response, the hour was much too early for a definitive thought. “I was caught off guard, but we have a meeting coming up where many questions will be answered,” said Rays’ pitcherDrew Rasmussen, the team player rep from last season, and still involved in players’ activities. “At this point, I really don’t have a true opinion on the manner until we’re given more information.” That would include how Clark’s resignation may impact the upcoming negotiations. The current labor agreement between the players and owners expires this coming Dec.1 … with the Rays’ opening spring game this Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, Cash has not named a starter four days out. The rule for starters in the first spring of the spring is two innings and 25 to 30 pitches. “This will be different and depends on who starts,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Depends where pitchers are at this point.” Regarding lefty Shane McClanahan, who is under a microscope this spring, Cash indicated, “two or three starts this spring? We’re not sure how we’ll totally map this out. He will have a live batting practice on (Saturday, Feb. 21) and we’ll build up from there.”

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