In May 2008, with the surprising Tampa Bay Rays playing terrific ball and winning, Dave Tremley made mention in a May 25, 2008 article on MLB.com of the similar route the Orioles are taking to hopefully achieve similar results as well as gain the staying power the young Rays also are aiming for. The formula is an oft-heard one: pitching, defense and timely hitting. Tampa Bay continued its success throughout that season, winning the AL East and making to the World Series before losing to the Phillies in five games. As reported on MLB.com:"Under Andy MacPhail, the O's president of baseball operations who took over during the 2007 season, the Birds have begun to replenish a depleted farm system and shoot for the long-term stability also preached by the Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Devoid of major market money and big-name superstars, both squads are going back to a pure formula for success: good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.
'We got two of the three ingredients that you need in order to be successful,' Trembley said. 'We've lost games because we haven't had timely hitting, but the pitching, the defense has allowed us to compete. And [the Rays] have had all three going for a while, and that's what's allowed them to win a majority of their games, especially at home.'"
Brittany Ghiroli is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
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