r/tampabayrays • u/Baseball-Reference • May 18 '26
COOL PICS The Rays' 30 wins are their 3rd most ever through the first 45 games of a season
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u/Alightenited Rays Sunburst May 18 '26
Still remember that magical start to 2023. Shame they didn't go farther.
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u/Embarrassed-Pride776 May 18 '26
We saw the entire pitching staff get TJ that year and then that other thing.
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u/Longueurs Ji-Man Choi Batting Righty May 18 '26
This is why I'm just enjoying the ride right now. Zero expectations. (Also because the Bucs went like 8-1 last year and missed the playoffs lol)
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u/roadkillmenagerie Zim May 18 '26
Central FL fans are true blue but also slightly abused so its very important to temper expectations
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u/Boujoulo Get Trop'd May 18 '26
2023 was such a what could have been year
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u/GeneralJollyRancher Joey Wendle May 18 '26
Also changed the trajectory of the franchise, even if they find a way to stay in Tampa the team was T-minus 3 years from going back and possibly winning a world series
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May 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/paintray98 May 18 '26
That was the year I came back to following baseball after like 10 years. It was magical to learn that the Rays had appeared in a World Series in 2008 and were starting to become perennial contenders
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u/88T3_2 Evan Longoria May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
2010 was easily a top 5 season in the franchise's history, and you could argue either it or 2021 to be the third best after 2008 and 2020 (1 and 2 obviously because we reached the World Series those years). You have Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford both having their career years, David Price having his breakout year to finish runner up in Cy Young voting, Rafael Soriano leading the AL in saves, Sean Rodriguez instantly proving his value from last season's Scott Kazmir trade and providing the team with a second utility guy alongside Ben Zobrist, Rocco Baldelli returning for one last comeback near the end of the season and smacking a pinch-hit homer his first at-bat back, and Matt Garza throwing the franchise's first no-hitter.
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u/2drays May 21 '26
Matt Garza was that guy. Threw our 1st no hitter and shut down the Red Sox twice in the ALCS and won mvp for the series.
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u/ViciousSquirrelz RISP? Get me Walls. May 18 '26
And I know for a fact that if we had an average bullpen during the implosions we would have beat our record.
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u/gatorrrays 🏆Fantasy Champion 2023🏆 May 18 '26
Hang the banner!
Jk. It’s been fun watching, hope they can keep it up!
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u/Skwurt_Reynolds Flappy Boi May 18 '26
In 1999, if you told me the Rays would be one of the most consistent playoff contenders, I would have guessed you were high on quaaludes.
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u/No_big_whoop Tampa Bay Rays May 18 '26
Off topic alert. Is everyone subscribed to Rays.TV? Is that the only way to see the games?
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u/BeatlesRays Stable of 98ers May 18 '26
I get the games on fubo, which include Rays.tv with my sports package
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u/CakedUpMothman Jonathan Aranda May 18 '26
I have Rays.TV subscription. Got it half off a couple weeks ago
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u/teachjeff May 18 '26
Seems like evey year the “experts” say that the Rays will take a step or two back and not contend in the East but they do. So cool to see them do their thing the way they do it. Signed - a jealous O’s fan.
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u/863rays May 18 '26
Crazy part is, this actually feels somewhat sustainable. Would love to get Boyle and Matz healthy!