Gary Armida's Blog
Long term success in any sport is predicated on an organization’s front office and management staff. Players win on the field and, of course, fans are the ones who supply the revenue, but it is the front office that makes everything possible. Then, it is incumbent on the field staff to make it all work, even if it isn’t perfect.
Every sport has its unique set of challenges for its management personnel. But, Major League Baseball is the most difficult. Unlike the NFL, NBA, and NHL, Baseball does not have a salary cap. Baseball does not make revenue equal for all teams. For some teams such as the Yankees, Rangers, and Angels, it is possible to spend over $250 million on players. But, for others, the challenge is to be competitive for the total cost one season of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Because of Baseball’s unique set of challenges and their ability to compete, the Tampa Bay Rays is the best organization in all of sports.
It took a while for the Rays to get to that position. In their first decade of existence, they never lost less than 90 games. They topped 100 losses three times and never seemed to go anywhere. Those teams tried everything from developing young talent to signing veteran sluggers. They even went for a name brand Manager in Lou Piniella. Nothing worked. But, at the tail end of that losing decade, the Rays were sold to Stuart Sternberg. Sternberg’s first order of business was to promote young Andrew Friedman to his General Manager post. With losing came high draft picks. With Friedman’s team in place and Sternberg’s business acumen to revamp the organization, the Rays began to draft better, make better decisions, and change their course to being a self-sustaining organization. Friedman’s first decision was to hire a Manager. He chose a relative unknown, but a Baseball lifer in Joe Maddon. It would prove to be a wise decision.
Friedman’s draft success has been phenomenal. The Rays have become a pitching rich organization. They are so rich in pitching that Wade Davis is in the bullpen while Alex Cobb began the season in Triple-A. Cobb is now in the rotation due to Jeff Niemann’s injury. But, Davis and Cobb would be at least a third starter on almost every club in the Major Leagues. With Chris Archer and Alex Torres at Triple-A, the Rays are well stocked. Their Major League rotation is entirely homegrown with David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, and now Cobb. Niemann and Davis are also homegrown.
Friedman’s methods have allowed a team with a $63 million payroll to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. He signed Evan Longoria to a six year deal shortly after the third baseman made his Major League debut. He signed Ben Zobrist to a four year deal. Price, Shields, and Moore all have long term deals. The core is in place for quite some time at an affordable price. That allows the organization to fill in other areas. The Rays have had a different saves leader in each of the past four seasons. They constantly remake their bullpen because of money but also because relievers are so volatile in their performance that it is difficult to predict. They cannot afford a poor performing reliever.
None of this works, however, if the Rays don’t have a Field Manager who can make it all work, they wouldn’t be as successful. Because of payroll limitations, the Rays’ role players are sort of like an Island of Misfit toys. So, Joe Maddon has to find a way to get performances from players like Elliott Johnson, Luke Scott, Sean Rodriguez, and Jose Molina. For Maddon, it is all about finding a different way.
In the statistical age, we tend to like our Managers to spew statistics, stay quiet, and get out of the way. Sure, there are outliers like Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine whose booming personalities can overshadow a game and even be a drawing card for a team. But, a look around the game shows that there are two general profiles of a Major League Manager. There are the stern, entrenched types who only give the media some general quotes. There are some great Managers in this group including Buck Showalter, Joe Girardi, Mike Scioscia, Ron Gardenhire, and even Jim Leyland. Then, there are the quiet, almost vanilla types like Ned Yost, Dale Sveum, and Bob Melvin. But, Joe Maddon doesn’t really fit into any category. He isn’t he outlier. He doesn’t say outrageous things. He isn’t that stern type as his press conferences are really the most interesting in the sport. He certainly isn’t vanilla. He is, however, the absolute perfect fit for the Tampa Bay Rays. As much as the front offices gets (and deserves) credit, the Rays’ Field Manager is the one who makes it all work.
They survive day to day in the American League East because of their Manager. When the Rays lost Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and their entire bullpen before the 2011 season, many wondered how they would compete. When asked at the Winter Meetings, Maddon said, “I really don’t think about those things. We have a good group of guys, talented guys. We just have to find another way.” Maddon would go on to sell the group of writers on the talents of the players he did have. Then, the Rays went out and started that season 1-8. There was no hint of panic. Maddon tinkered like a mad scientist with the lineup and the Rays wound up with a 15-12 April record. He set roles in that rebuilt bullpen and pushed his starting pitchers deeper into games. It worked. It worked even with Manny Ramirez quitting, Evan Longoria on the disabled list, and Desmond Jennings in Triple-A to start the season.
The Rays continued to win and stay in contention. Maddon showed loyalty to his players, yet wasn’t afraid to insert a Sam Fuld in the lineup and ride out a hot streak. Then, you would read things like the Rays’ themed road trips where the entire team, including Maddon, would dress in Varsity sweaters or have a minimalist theme trip, the first themed trip of 2012. Do these types of things help the Rays win games? Who knows? But, it certainly keeps things loose and allows players to have fun, especially when they are on the road. Could that result in better play? It’s certainly possible. The 2011 Rays needed to win on the last day of the season. Yet, there was no feeling of Armageddon, even as they fell behind early to the Yankees. The Rays did get into the playoffs and Maddon made a nonchalant announcement that rookie Matt Moore would start game one against the Texas Rangers. Moore had thrown just 9.1 innings all season at the Major League level, yet Maddon gave him the ball. It worked as Moore dominated the Rangers. Other Managers wouldn’t have made that decision, preferring experience to the unknown. Other Managers would have made a big deal. Maddon somehow lulled the media and the spotlight didn’t seem so bright on Moore.
This year, Maddon’s Rays are now in first place in the AL East. On the very first weekend of the season, Maddon showed that not only is he a good clubhouse Manager, but that he can impact a game. Employing defensive shifts on many Yankees’ hitters, everything seemed to work, leading the Rays to a season opening sweep of their division rivals. Even before the season, Maddon had to tell Wade Davis that he was moving to the bullpen. Maddon talked about how much of an impact Davis could have in the bullpen. Closer Kyle Farnsworth began the year on the disabled list. Maddon simply inserted Fernando Rodney, another castoff, written off pitcher. Some of the bullpen has struggled and the rotation is just now beginning to pitch to expectations. Yet, the Rays had a winning month.
And, now the Rays also have a greater challenge. Evan Longoria went to the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Longoria is the Rays best hitter. He was batting .329/.433/.561 with 7 doubles, 4 homeruns, and 19 RBI. Only two players are slugging over .430 for the season. The Rays rank 10th in the AL in slugging. They rank 8th in on base percentage, and 12th in batting average. Yet, there was just a feeling that the Rays would figure it out and survive until Longoria comes back, even if his replacement options are the likes of Elliot Johnson, Jeff Keppinger, and Sean Rodriguez. That feeling comes from the Manager. Joe Maddon has created an atmosphere that doesn’t allow for panic or worse case scenarios or pity parties. They just have to find another way. They have as their 20-17 record since Longoria went on the disabled list indicates.
When you stand back and look at Maddon, there isn’t one particular thing that stands out as the main descriptor of him. He’s a smart baseball man. The league is full of them. He’s a good man. The league has those too. He relates well to his team and stays upbeat. Those men are around Baseball too. But, again, there is just something different. Unlike any other Manager in the sport, the Rays success is wrapped up in how Joe Maddon operates on a daily basis. It’s all of those things that make Maddon and the Rays so unique. Since arriving in Tampa, Maddon has made it all work. He is one of the most important reasons why the Rays compete and are a World Series threat. There are not many Managers who can be described like that.
With a stellar front office that has demonstrated an elite skill in acquiring talent, an elite developmental system that continues to get players to the Major League level, and a Field Manager who makes it all work, the Tampa Bay Rays are thriving and look to thrive for quite some time. No other professional sports organization has their unique challenges, has drafted as well, and has performed as well.
# 2
JWaLL @ Jun 12
I agree with gwhempel. The rays are a great story, but they cannot win it all. The best organization in sports? easily the spurs. 4 titles in 12 years and when everyone said they were old, they have been the #1 seed the past 2 years. No doubt it is the spurs
# 3
Gary Armida @ Jun 12
@gwempel: I can see that point and was expecting that. But, to have 2 division titles, 3 playoff appearances, and 1 World Series appearance in the last 4 years is impressive considering their budget, their division, and the unbalanced schedule. Your point about the attendance is something I can't argue one bit. I don't get it. I understand they were terrible for a bunch of years, but I don't get it. Good points.
@JWaLL I don't know about cannot win it. Their staff is deadly and can get on a roll. The Giants had a worse offense and a more shallow pitching staff and won it all. The Rays have that kind of team.
Excellent pick of the Spurs. I'd throw the Devils and Patriots in that mix too. My choosing the Rays is their success despite not playing in a league with a salary cap and extensive revenue sharing. The other leagues equal that stuff out. The Rays are behind in that regard, putting a premium on their decision making. But, I'd never argue against the Spurs. Good stuff.
@JWaLL I don't know about cannot win it. Their staff is deadly and can get on a roll. The Giants had a worse offense and a more shallow pitching staff and won it all. The Rays have that kind of team.
Excellent pick of the Spurs. I'd throw the Devils and Patriots in that mix too. My choosing the Rays is their success despite not playing in a league with a salary cap and extensive revenue sharing. The other leagues equal that stuff out. The Rays are behind in that regard, putting a premium on their decision making. But, I'd never argue against the Spurs. Good stuff.
# 4
cadalyst17 @ Jun 13
Sorry but the Rays are not the best organization is sports let alone baseball. That crown goes to the Atlanta Braves, and believe me I am no Brave's fan
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Andrew Freidman and Joe Maddon are great, and they've built up a fantastic roster, I can't argue against that. I would think that most knowledgeable baseball fans would trade their team's GM/manager combo for those two, but they have yet to reach the top of the mountain. Until they win the World Series, I don't think they should even be in this discussion. Also, part of running a great organization is marketing your product well and putting butts in the seats, and the Rays can't seem to do that, no matter how much success they have.