Tampa Bay Rays' 2009 Season: What Went Wrong?

Coming into the season it was widely known that the Rays would have a fight on their hands. We all knew the defending American League champions were going to have to participate in a Battle Royale for AL East supremacy. What we couldn't have predicted, however, was that it would be the Rays themselves, and not the juggernauts of the East that would lead to their ultimately demise.  Let's take a look at three reasons the Rays will be on the outside looking in this October. 1. The Bullpen Statistically speaking, the Rays Bullpen has been solid. They rest comfortably with a 3.94 ERA and are near the bottom in batting average and home runs. But the lack of a true closer, and the lack or bullpen slots has finally caught up to them.  J.P. Howell has been good, but he also leads the league with eight blown saves. Of all relievers in the AL, the Rays have three pitchers in the top of the blown-save leader category. Grant Balfour has five and Dan Wheeler has four....