Have the Tampa Bay Rays plunged back into mediocrity?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – With great apologies to the American patriot Thomas Paine, who wrote, “these are the times that try men’s souls.”

Those words were written leading up the American Revolution over 200 years ago but easily applied to the current fate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Here’s Major League baseball’s most surprising team over the first two months of the season and now, reality set upon central Florida.

The Rays free-fall into baseball purgatory could be considered abrupt. Then again, it can be argued this team clearly overachieved over the opening months of the season. Now, those factors which contributed to the success have disappeared like a rapidly melting ice cream cone in the searing summer sun of this Floridia community.

Coming into a weekend series in Miami, beginning June 5, the Rays had dropped eight of their previous 10 games. On May 23, Tampa Bay recorded a 35-15 record and that was best in the majors. This included a 5.5 game lead over the second place New York Yankees in the AL East.

With that set against the Marlins, Tampa Bay stands at 36-23 and just one-half game in first place over the Yankees (37-25). Now with the Bombers’ Aaron Judge out for a considerable period of time with a rib fracture, can the Rays return to the execution of earlier this season and take advantage of the Judge’s absence.

Some numbers  …

In that 2-8 span between May 24 and June 3, the Rays were outscored 74-31 and pitchers surrounded 21 home runs.

“To play well, starts with pitching and defense,” said shortstop Taylor Walls. “We’ve done a really good job of getting runners into scoring position with less than two outs. We’ve had good at-bats, and we haven’t had the ball fall or move runners from third to home.”

A few factors are now evident.

The power production is clearly uneven.

With Jonathan Aranda, Yandy Diaz and Junior Camerino at the top of the leader board they have hit a combined 36 home runs in games through June 3. The remaining roster has 15 homers and only four with two or more. Leading this group is Cedric Mullins with four.

Also consider the recent outings of the M and M boys, lefty Steven Matz and right Nick Martinez. Over his last four starts, Matz is 0-2 and two no-decisions. His ERA spiked from 3,94 on April 10 to a current 5.48.

Martinez, among the lower ERAs in the majors, was lit up by Detroit in his last start. He surrendered six runs in four innings and his ERA jumped from 1.62 at game time on June 3 to 2.29.

Monthly awards … The Rays announced awards for monthly minor league achievements for May.

Infielder Emilien Pitre was the position player of the month, and right-hander Michael Forret was the pitcher of the month. Pitre, at 23 year-old, hit .338 in 24 games with Class A Bowling Green. This included seven doubles, one triple, two homers, 22 RBIs. He drew 23 walks and scored 22 walks.

On the mound, Forret, at 22 years-old, went 3-0 and a 2.37 ERA for AA Montgomery. He recorded 36 strikeouts and opposing hitters batted .176.

Next … For the Marlins series, look for righty Drew Rasmussen (4-2, 3.36) takes the ball for the Rays and opposes righty Tyler Phillips (0-1, 1.63). In the middle game of the set, it’s lefty Shane McClanahan (6-2, 2.45) and the Marlins starters tis to be determined. For the Sunday finale, righty Griffin Jax (1-4, 4.76) takes on righty Sandy Alcantara (4-4. 4.59).  … The Rays return to Tropicana Field for three against the Red Sox and then head to the west coast for series against the Angels and Dodgers.

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