According this article, the Rays are moving on. Their season certainly was unexpected and a turning point for a long-downtrodden franchise. Sustainability was their aim. Sustaining the success is the real goal."We're better," the Rays manager Maddon says, "I know everybody's better. It's a way of life in this division”. "The Yankees pitching staff
is vastly improved. The Boston Red Sox have a great team concept. Baltimore's getting better, and nobody's talking about them. My concern is how we're doing." Maddon says he prepares his team to prove his point this yearThe job was to help create a personality and a tone of accountability and professionalism that Maddon wanted on a mostly young team.
"We can't travel the same road," Maddon says. "They'
re going to hear me say that a lot. The moment you think you don't have to say it, that's when it runs away on you. It was important to bring the message the very first day."The manager's first
message was this year's version of his 2008 slogan "9=8," which meant nine guys playing hard for nine innings could equal one of baseball's eight playoff spots. This year, it's "9>8," or, " '09 can be greater than '08.""We are much more reliant on young
players than the other teams in our division," Rays executive vice president Andrew.We can preach patience now," Maddon says. "When it come
s to development, sometimes patience is the best thing."It was like Field of Dreams," he said. "If it had been twilight, it would have been perfect. Build it and they will come".
Original Story:
http://proskills.blogspot.com/2009/03...
