Spring Training report, Tampa Bay Rays.

Since 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the best teams in Moajor League Baseball. Doing all with their collection of some of the brightest young starts in the game. Seamingly coming out of nowhere, these rising starts have quickly turned around one of the leagues worst franchises.

A lot of whats made the Rays great is what they've been able to do in the draft. Bring in players like Evan Longoria, who's currently the face of the franchise at only 27. David Pracie made his major league debut in 2008, and already has one of many future Cy Young awards. Then there's the many more up and comers in Matt Moore, Jeremy Hellickson, and Wil Myers.

As for those Rays of today, I'd say that currenlty they are the 3rd or 4th best team in that division behind Toronto and Boston, Maybe New York. But its hard to tell at this point. Tampa did lose BJ Upton the offseason to the Braves. Along with trading away pitchers James Sheilds and Wade Davis to the Royals for their top prospect Wil Myers. The Rays also singed Kelly Johnson, James Loney, and traded for Yunel Escabar to imnprove infield depth all-around.

One thing thast didn't need much improvement from last season was the Rays pitching with a focus on their bullpen. An american league leading bullpen with it's AL best 2.88 ERA. led by Fernendo Rodney and his astonishing 0.60 ERA in over 70 innings of work in 2012.

But overall like I said, 3rd or 4th best in the division to start the year. Anything can happen in whats easily a tightly packed AL east. The Rays are always a contending team as long as Joe Madden is still the skipper. Over the past 5 seasons, the Ryas have been a playoff team no matter what; and I can easily say they was be in the hunt this year as well.

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