PHOENIX — A record-tying, opening two-week run, a slew of players making marked improvements in their games, and team-first and next-man-up philosophies were primary identifying characteristics of the Rays’ remarkable performance through the first 81 games.
To suggest they can do the same over the second half of the season would seem to be asking a lot, especially as they finished the first in a bit of a funk, losing seven of their last 12 before falling again on Tuesday in their 82nd game.
But the math is easy, so here are 10 numbers showing what a full season at the same pace the Rays produced in the first half (through 81 games) would look like:
