Rays ‘culture’ significant in World Series run; plus, World Series notebook

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – For an argument that the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers defied most odds to reach the stratosphere of the baseball world could be a bit of irony. That these clubs competed on an extremely high level during the recent championship season without the benefit of a significant payroll and plethora of national-known stars, at this point, is a given.

Since the Rays and Brewers advanced to the game’s finest hour, much has been said and written about defying economics of the game and soaring late into October. For the 2026 season, the Brewers had the 19^th highest payroll ($143.5 million) on the majors and the Rays had the 25^th highest or $98.3 million.

Then again, the leader board on the Rays side is filled with circumstances alien to success.

Consider –

• At the start of the season, a change of ownership occurred
• Home games resumed in a reconstructed stadium
• Several attempts to finalize funding and construction of a new stadium transpired
• A marginal 2-7 start to the season in late March into early April
• The season began without significant players, including pitcher Ryan Pepiot, second baseman Gavin Lux, relievers Manny Rodriguez and Edwin Uceta
• Season-ending injuries to starter Shane McClanahan and reliever Garrett Cleavinger compromised the pitching staff

Still, the Rays amassed 98 wins, best in the American league and third best in franchise history. Only 100 wins in 2021 and 99 in 2023 marked greater achievement since Tampa Bay entered the American League in 1998.

Above all, a selfless environment sprouted in the Tampa Bay clubhouse. As the season progressed, players professed to “sacrificing” for the team, leaving egos at the door, the cultivation of respect, application of dignity for all those walked through the door, a welcoming environment to players acquired during the season and a culture of finding ways to win baseball games.

“This is a special clubhouse, that’s for sure,” outfielder Ryan Vilade, who played for Detroit, St. Louis, Colorado and Cincinnati before purchased from the Reds by Tampa Bay last Nov 3, said during the stretch drive. “I’ve been in a couple of other big-league clubhouses, and this is the best one, by far. It starts with your veterans, leadership and just everyone coming together for the right reasons. There are no egos on this team. It’s, ‘let’s play winning baseball.’ I really think we’re all brothers here and that what it feels like showing up every day.”

The Rays’ temperament of “team concept” complements well into their style. Emphasizing “small ball,” their collective ability to move runners intelligently around the bases, to successfully bunt in strategic situations, the run the bases with elan and pressure defenses into physical and mental mistakes have all characterized their winning season.

“There is pride in doing everything you can to win games,” said Rays’ manager Kevin Cash before game one of the World Series. “If we had a club built around with a bunch of boppers, we probably wouldn’t be bunting and stealing bases, either. Our club is built differently in comparison to some other clubs.”

A BRIEF WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK …

Surprise … surprise … In game one, the Rays will start 36-year-old righthander Nick Martinez, who went 15-6, and a 3.10 ERA across 31 starts. He faces righthander Jacob Misiorowski. Coming off a 16-5 season and a 1.80 ERA for 30 starts, the 24-year-old is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young award. Misiorowski’s main pitch is the four-seam fast ball, which he throws 63.48 percent of the time. Batters are hitting .174 when he throws that pitch …In holding righty Drew Rasmussen back for game two, Cash to reporters that an extra day of rest would be beneficial and that Rasmussen’s workload dictated that extra day of rest is important. Perhaps the real reason is strategy. Should the Rays manage to steal game one and have their ace Rasmussen ready for game two, that could give Tampa Bay an advantage to take game two and head to Tropicana Field (games 3, 4 and 5, if needed) with a sizable series edge.

Worth considering … The winner of game one has captured the Fall Classic 77 times or a 63.6 percentage. That has been the case in 23 of the past 28 Series dating back to 1997. … The Brewers are 9-8 all-time in game one in a post-season series, and the Rays are 8-10 in game one of a post-season series. Tampa Bay is one of six franchises which has never won game one of a World Series. The others are Houston, San Diego, Colorado, the LA Angels of Anaheim and the New York Mets.

Previous World Series experience .. The Brewers have one player, pitcher Duston May with the 2020 Dodgers, with previous Series experience. The Rays have two and include DH Yandy Diaz (with Tampa Bay in 2020) and pitcher Steven Matz with the 2015 New York Mets.

Switching teams … Rays pitchers Drew Rasmussen and Freddie Peralta began their careers with Milwaukee. Brewers’ first baseman Jake Bauers was traded from Tampa Bay as part of a 3-team deal that sent current Rays DH Yandy Diaz from Cleveland to central Florida. From that point, Bauers was part of the Seattle, Cincinnati and New York Yankees organization before signing with the Brewers as a free agent on Jan. 6. 2025.

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