Let me be perfectly clear, I love the Rays personnel. I do not like the pitching coach and, the Manager, Madden, although a nice guy, may be in over his head to take this team to the next level. Inspite of an ownership that does not want to pay our the big money, this team is exceptional. If they had a management team that had a feel for the game, the team would be in a better position to win their division over the Red Sox and the Yankees. However, this management team is all about numbers. How many pitches has he thrown versus who the hitter is against their pitcher. Too many times they waste an excellent outing by taheir starter by leaving him in to face a hitter who is ruling him. But,, he , their pitcher, has thrown only 55 pitches and it is only the 6th inning and we do, however, have a 2-1 lead and our guy has only given up 4 hits. Needless nimwits, this management crew. The hitter has had 2 of the hits and is hitting 450 against their starter. So leave him alone, even though their is a man on second and no one out. The "feel" for the game would have had the bullpen up before the inning started and would let their starter end up giving a 2 run homer and ending up on the end of a no decision or a loss. The mentality of the game does escape this management team. Take your starter out when the opponent has a man on second and no one out and you are facing a hitter that owns your pitcher. The "feel" part is that the pitcher goes out to a standing ovation and does feel good about his performanc and can not wait for his next start. Leaving him in to surrender the go ahead run will have an affect on him as to what do I have to do to get a win around here.
So, this team will continue to win more than they loose. This team may even, inspite of their management, make the playoffs. They have an excellent you ng staff and an excellent infield and outfield. Too bad that they do not have the leadership from the dugout to win out this division and possibley the AL Pennant.