Devil*Rays end season with World Series loss to Phillies

I've been dragging my feet on offering up my final thoughts on the 2008 baseball season. The foot dragging has not been so much because of bitterness but because most of what I'll write has already been said.

The Rays did not play to their potential in the World Series. The team beat the odds by staving off the worst disadvantages of youth until the final series, and I think the home plate umpiring serves as part of the explanation. A team inclined to press while in the batter's box is not going to easily get over it when the home plate umpire rules inconsistently. But who knows how large was the role of the umpires? I don't, so a hat tip to the Phillies, and some other gesture for any Phillies fans who engaged in, abetted, or tolerated the classless behaviors reported in the media.

The season was terrific for Rays fans--almost enough to forgive the idiotic name change. I would not have predicted this team would make the playoffs, and they exceeded expectations once they got there. I certainly would have predicted that the Rays would start contending next year, with a young, good, and maturing pitching staff and solid defense. I did question how the offense would perform without Delmon Young, who was shipped to Minnesota in return for key acquisitions Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza. Offensive production dipped, as a matter of fact, but next year remains difficult to predict. Many Rays players performed below their career numbers, with the notable exception of Dioner Navarro. It at least seems like a good bet that a healthy B. J. Upton will have a better season next year (more like his astounding playoff performance) and that third baseman Evan Longoria will take another step in figuring out major league pitching.

The Rays have a scary amount of potential, but the other teams in the AL East will gear up for them next season. I'm looking forward to it.