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2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Predictions

Check out Jimmy's 2008 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Predictions!

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are appropriately named as they swim around the bottom of their division year after year averaging around 65 victories a season over the past 7 years. Because of their terrible record, many bettors consistently go against them. I would advise against that practice however, as the Devil Rays were 81-80 at home over the 2004 and 2005 seasons and they recorded another winning season at home in 2006. Their pathetic road play overshadows the fact that they’ve managed a winning record at home over the past 3 seasons so bettors continue to go against them even when they are back in Florida. If we do our homework and pick our spots, there should be good value in backing the 2007 Devil Rays at home, especially against non division opponents.

Most uninformed baseball fans would probably pick Tampa Bay to finish at the bottom of every division in baseball. I’m not going to have to go out on a limb to say that that wouldn’t be the case. More than anything, the Rays don’t have the pitching staff to contend with the big bats in the Northeast, and with Toronto bringing in extra power in Glaus and Overbay last season, Tampa Bay was pushed back even more. The Rays do have the prospects of being an exciting team with the capabilities of putting lots of runs on the board. They will take chances on the base paths because they have to to win games. Bad teams are inconsistent, so it will be important to pick your spots on the 2007 Devil Rays, but don’t get caught up in always going against them. We will have some great opportunities to cash in on them as underdogs this season.

The pitching staff isn’t completely dead although it needs more depth. The D-rays have a gem in the making with Scott Kazmir. This guy has a great fastball and the ability to blaze through opposing lineups. He is still young and inconsistent, but there will be times during the season where you will see just how good this kid can be. Hopefully we won’t see the effects of his shoulder injury showing up this season. Outside of Kazmir, the Rays have no pitching. With as weak as Tampa Bay’s pen is, you shouldn’t expect this team to hold onto to many leads. You might consider playing some totals on the D-rays especially against teams like Boston and the New York Yankees as Tampa has been able to put up good numbers against these teams, but they almost always come back on them before the whole thing is said and done. I normally stay away from totals, but overs could be a good play on Tampa this season.

Tampa Bay’s young talent pool continues to grow with players like Delmon Young and Japanese sensation Akinori Iwamura. Throw those guys is with Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford and you have yourself a host of young talent. But the D-Rays are still yet to get better where they really need it-on the mound. Tampa Bay at home in interleague play and against non-division opponents should be your best read this season.

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2007 Toronto Blue Jays Predictions