Right here’s what David Ortiz mentioned concerning the Tampa Bay Rays’ methodology of successful

Pink Sox

“Everyone is attempting to do it the Tampa method.”

David Ortiz gained loads of instances with the Pink Sox. He led Boston to a World Collection victory in 2004 after an ALCS during which he initiated the first-ever 3-0 comeback within the historical past of baseball. He gained two extra World Collection titles since then, together with in 2013, when he batted .688 all through that sequence. 

The Pink Sox look loads completely different since Ortiz retired from the sport, they usually have since tried to seek out new methods to win. Certainly one of these methods is by attempting to get as a lot bang for his or her buck as attainable by counting on homegrown expertise and short-term contracts, a technique that has labored for the Tampa Bay Rays. Ortiz, nevertheless, has qualms with this methodology.

“Everyone is attempting to do it the Tampa method,” Ortiz mentioned Monday, per NBC Sports activities Boston’s John Tomase). “I actually just like the Tampa method, the best way they operate in the course of the common season or no matter, but it surely hasn’t labored for them in the course of the playoffs.”

Regardless of their annual common season success, the Rays haven’t maintained it within the playoffs. They’ve but to win a World Collection, they usually’ve solely made it as soon as (2020) within the final 10 years. Exterior of 2020, they haven’t even made it to the ALCS. Much less profitable groups have taken that chance away from them all through the final decade, together with the Pink Sox.

“Yearly [the Rays are] within the playoffs, yearly they dominate the division,” Ortiz mentioned. “It has been occurring since method earlier than I retired — however with no outcomes. The [ultimate] result’s successful all of it. So even with the perfection that they’ve bought occurring, there’s nonetheless one thing lacking.”

The Pink Sox have been in comparison with the Rays extensively over the previous few years, with some giving Boston the nickname “Tampa North.” They pleasure themselves on their farm system and infrequently hand out huge contracts. They’ve acquired flak for making an attempt and failing to get their star gamers re-signed at a hometown low cost. Even their head decision-maker, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, was employed after working for the Rays. 

However that doesn’t imply {that a} group that depends closely on younger expertise can’t win. The Houston Astros have gained two World Collection within the final 10 years, largely on the backs on their once-dominant farm system. Ortiz agrees, and hopes that if Boston needs to go in that path, they appear to Houston as their mannequin.

“Plenty of groups have gained with guys from the farm,” Ortiz mentioned. “Have a look at the Houston Astros. That is a corporation that I’ll copy, primarily based on what they’re doing. As a result of they know easy methods to determine it out in the course of the common season, they usually know easy methods to determine it out in the course of the playoffs.”

Solely two gamers—Rafael Devers and Chris Sale—stay from Boston’s 2018 World Collection group. It is a model new Pink Sox group with model new folks in cost, they usually look to win very quickly. Ortiz hopes that after they do get again to successful, they achieve this the proper method.

“I wish to dominate in the course of the common season, sure, so I may be within the playoffs,” Ortiz mentioned. “However I additionally wish to dominate in the course of the playoffs.”