At the half-way point, are the Rays still relevant?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – As the baseball calendar flips into the second half, a few questions persist. Above all, the microscope is squarely on the three surprise teams over the initial portion of the season, the Rays, the White Sox and the Marlins.

At the All-Star break, all three remain in serious contention for post-season consideration. Yet, the Rays could have the most significant challenge.

That’s because this team, from pre-season expectations, has overachieved. To aid in the trajectory, manager Kevin Cash has pushed all the right buttons. That includes effectively using the “opener” to start games when an existing starting rotation faltered.

Perhaps the biggest question for the Rays to answer and includes a rather deep introspection is their collective ability “to put teams away.” Once the principals learn this important aspect, it is quite possible second half fears could be allayed.

A case in point is the final home stand before the All-Star game.

On July 6, the Rays held a four-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East division race. The teams squared off for four at Tropicana Field and the Rays had a supreme opportunity to create significant distance.

In the opener game of the set, the Yanks, behind their ace Cam Schlittler cut the division lead to three games and won this game despite striking out 17 times. After winning two, the Rays were blown out two of their remaining four games before the break.

In absorbing a 12-4 defeat on July 7, Drew Rasmussen, who was one of four to represent the Rays in the All-star game in Philadelphia, suffered his worst loss of the season. In this one, the veteran right-hander allowed seven hits, six runs and did not get out of the third inning.

In the seven games before the break, the Rays managed a 4-3 record and maintained that three game advantage over the Bombers.

The teams do not meet again until the final week of the season and that is for three in Yankee Stadium. From that point, the Rays close out the season against the Phillies in Philly for three and the final week could loom as telling and significant.

Until that time, the psychology of winning should materialize as important as execution on the diamond.

All of which could complicate the Rays approach to the trading deadline.

The Rays could use more production behind the plate.

Catchers Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia are keeping their heads above water and show improvement. Fortes, a right-handed hitter, is batting .257 at the break and that’s above his career batting average of .229. Feduccia, who hits from the left side, is batting .233 at the break and that’s above his .203 career average. Both are equal in the power department. Fortes has hit two homers and driven in 19 while Feduccia has reached the seats twice and knocked in 11 runs.

Despite pitchers lauding each for their ability to call an intelligent game and handling the staff, there is no question Rays’ decision-makers would like to see more power and production at the plate.

One rumor has the Yankees’ Austin Wells on the block, and his bat could be a good fit for Tampa Bay.

Over the initial half of the season, Cash and Kyle Synder, the Rays’ pitching coach, have successfully rolled the dice with the utilization of “the opener.” Because the Rays are going with essentially three starters, lefty Shane McClanahan and righties Nick Martinez and Rasmussen, Cash has inserted Griffin Jax, in previous bullpen roles and lefty Ian Seymour as starters. Both have made their recent living out of the bullpen and with the demotion of lefty Steven Matz to the bullpen, the Rays will likely seek help on the mound by August 3.

That’s the trade deadline and if the Rays remain competitive through July, they will likely be “buyers” in their quest to gain another post-season spot.

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