Forget CC and Pat - It's All About the Staff

It seems everyone has their own opinion on the impending Carl Crawford situation, and it's nice to know that Pat the Bat is looking to rebound in 2010, but the Rays don't need those two players to perform to make the playoffs.

Let's harken back to the 2008 Rays, shall we? If I recall, Pat was on his way to a World Series ring with the Phillies, while Crawford played in only 109 games, hitting .273 and stealing a career-low 25 bases. Yet, the Rays won the AL East, and made it all the way to the World Series. How did they do it you ask?

It's easy. Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. In 2008, the Rays ranked 2nd in the AL in every pitching category imaginable. When it came to team ERA, innings pitched, hits allowed, and runs allowed, the Rays were behind only the Toronto Blue Jays.

Last season, the Rays' team ERA dropped to 6th best in the AL, and was middle of the pack when it came to giving up runs. That has GOT to change to get back to the playoffs.

So in 2010, don't worry if Pat the Bat keeps thinking the AL is a beer league, and who cares if CC whines about his legs on the Trop turf. The more important questions are: Will Matt Garza bounce back to his dominant form? Can David Price become a consistent starter? Will Jeff Niemann suffer a sophomore slump?

If the answers to those questions are yes, yes, and no; the 2010 Rays are playoff bound.