Tampa Bay Rays

Now that the rosters are set, we’ll take a look at what should be a very prolific Rays offense in 2010.

Manager Joe Maddon likes to shift his lineup around more than most, but this is a good guess as to what the typical batting order will look like. The first six spots are more sure-things, while the bottom three will be moved around more as everyone in those bench spots should see significant time.

1. Jason Bartlett – SS

2. Carl Crawford – LF

Over the last few years, the Tampa Bay Rays have converted from an also-ran into a contender. Last year at this time, they were the defending American League champions. In my 2009 preview article, I posed a question: will they be able to win now that it is expected from them?

The answer was mixed: yes, they won…but just not enough.

For the Tampa Bay Rays, there is no tomorrow. The Rays head into the 2010 season having put together a terrific spring, winning a club record 20 grapefruit league games. Their winning percentage was best in the majors at .750 and they won seven of eight to enter the season with some momentum.

All that Spring success doesn't mean a hill of beans now, though, because in a few days, the bullets fly for real and the team embarks on a 162 game escapade to ruin Boston or New York's hopes of a ticker tape parade.

The 2010 Rays are being touted as the most talented team in team history. Players like Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, and Carlos Pena head the list. But there are other players who are on the cusp of getting the same name recognition.

Here are five players who are about to shine this season.

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Every year, baseball fans all across the country do the same thing: We all make predictions. While most people just let their predictions come out vocally, I have decided to post mine on here for the entire world to see.

My goal is to come back to this article at the end of the season and see how I have done. Right now, I am predicting that at least 20 of my predictions will come true.

2008 was truly a magical season for the Tampa Bay Rays. After taking the entire baseball world by surprise by beating out the Yankees and Red Sox for the AL East Title, the Rays knocked Boston out of the playoffs to advance to their first ever World Series. The Rays followed up the best season in franchise history, with the second best season in team history in 2009. Normally 84 wins would have signaled a party in Tampa Bay, however in 2009 it was a major disappointment.

On April 3rd, every team in Major League Baseball has the same chance of taking home a division title and ultimately a World Series Championship.

While one can assume that a team like the Washington Nationals won't have a snowball's chance of winning their division, there is always a team like the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays that seemingly come out of nowhere and take the world by surprise.

The Rays are not nearly as under the radar as they have been in years previous; but after missing the playoffs last year, maybe people have been writing the Rays off as possible one year wonders.

You've heard it plenty of times already this spring. The 2010 season is the most important season that the Tampa Bay Rays have faced in the entirety of their short history.

While that may sound like daunting news, it is slightly relieving to observe the fact that this will likely be the most talented team to ever take the green carpet at Tropicana Field.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the pitching staff that the Rays have assembled for 2010.

Who among us hasn't thought after a baseball game, "I'm so jazzed up I want to go clubbing?"  Well, if that's how you feel, and you live in the Tampa Bay area, you must be on cloud nine by the Rays latest announcement. 

If you are still feeling like wanting to get jiggy with it after a Friday night game, you won't have to go far to shake your groove thang.  Just jump, jive, and wail your way to the field for a postgame clubbin' like atmosphere.  Minutes after B.J. Upton finishes patrolling center field, local bands will take his place.

Last year, expectations for the Tampa Bay Rays were sky-high.

Here was a young team that the entire world got to see blossom during the playoffs.

The phenom, David Price, was showcased to the baseball community with his killer strikeout of J.D. Drew during the American League Championship.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton came out swinging during the playoffs; Upton hit the second most home runs in a single postseason with seven, and Longoria was not far behind his teammate with six.

This team looked like it was in the upper echelon and might only get better.