Playoff Pulse: Rays Ride Wave of Pitching

In the Playoff Pulse series, our MLB editor takes on a hot October topic.

The Rays pulled out all the stops in Game 2 of the World Series to get even with the Phillies. They scratched out a victory on the offensive side, scoring three of their four runs on a pair of ground ball outs and a safety squeeze.

Much will probably be made of manager Joe Maddon's willingness to play small ball in a critical postseason game because, hey, let's face it, the mainstream media and baseball old-timers love it when the little things play a big factor in crucial postseason games.

But that might be missing the forest for the trees. The Rays are headed to Philadelphia knotted at 1-all in the World Series and ready to go on a roll similar to the one they went on in the ALCS. And the reason they look poised to reel off a few wins, and maybe just run off with the World Series trophy in the process, is because of their almost surreal pitching depth.

Look, Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton are terrific young players. Whatever is brewing in Tampa Bay -- whether it's a dynasty or an annual contender in the AL East -- both are going to be a big part of something special. But neither has done much so far in this series. Longoria is hitless, Upton grounded into two key double plays in Game 1 and their partner in the middle of the order, Carlos Pena, is also 0-for-the-Fall-Classic.

In fact, for all the athleticism and projection the Rays have in their lineup, they weren't a particularly good offensive team this year. They had a terrific 24 innings at Fenway Park in the ALCS, but that was an outlier for a team that was below average offensively in the regular season. (Tampa Bay ranked ninth in the American League in runs).

As impressive of an offensive team as the Rays might be in the future, this one -- the one three wins away from a World Series title -- is built on arms.

Scott Kazmir limited the Phillies to three runs in Game 1. James Shields followed with 5 2/3 shutout innings in Game 2. ALCS MVP Matt Garza will get the start Saturday night, weather permitting, and strike-throwing machine Andy Sonnanstine (3.46 ERA in the playoffs) will go in Game 4.


Those four starters are backed by a bullpen that, while lacking a traditional closer, is chock full of options for Maddon. Grant Balfour brings heat from the right side. Dan Wheeler is steady. Southpaw J.P. Howell has a curveball that is death on left-handed hitters, but can get hitters out on both sides of the plate. David Price has been a revelation over the last week. And even the situational veterans -- lefty Trever Miller and submarining righty Chad Bradford -- have been reliable.

Many teams that make a deep October run feature an ace at the top of the pitching staff and lights-out closer. The Rays need only look across the diamond at Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge or at the team they eliminated in the ALCS, which featured Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon, to see that formula in practice.

Tampa Bay seems to come at opposing hitters in waves instead. Garza. Kazmir. Shields. Balfour. Price. Howell. There might not be a Josh Beckett (circa 2007) or a Mariano Rivera among them, but they're relentless all the same. If one pitcher can't get you out, chances are Maddon can find someone in his bullpen who can.

Worst of all for teams trying to beat the Rays in Octobers ahead is that their stockpile of arms is only going to grow. Price might be an ace by next season and there are a number of highly-regarded prospects close to cracking the majors.

Longoria and Upton might wind up becoming the biggest stars, but make no mistake, the 2008 Rays are built on pitching. They're three wins away from a championship, and with Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton standing in their way, it looks like they might completely overwhelm the Phillies.

Yesterday's Hero: James Shields, who took the first step toward actually earning his silly nickname. Honorable mention to B.J. Upton and David Price.

Yesterday's Goat: The entire Phillies offense, which seems completely incapable of getting a clutch hit. Philadelphia is now 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position in the World Series.