As improbable as last season’s World Series run was for the Tampa Bay Rays, a repeat is starting to look even more so.
The Rays were very good in 2008. They were not flukes and deserved to finish in front of the Red Sox and Yankees. But in a league without a salary cap, it remains daunting for less-than-flush franchises such as the Rays to consistently prevail against those with more financial wherewithal. Much more.
The Rays’ payroll is less than $50 million. Within the last month, the Yankees spent $423 million on three players, first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Lest we forget, they already have the two highest-paid players in the game, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. And they reportedly are not yet finished gearing up for 2009. Even the deep-pocketed Red Sox are worried.
Ironically, the Rays may be even better in ‘09. And it may not be enough.
That’s why it was so important that the Rays maxed out with last year’s historic, worst-to-first run to the Series. The window of opportunity can close faster in the American League East than any other division in Major League Baseball.