Red Sox Vs. Rays

Currently, the Red Sox are mired in a two game losing streak. In itself, this is not disturbing, but with the Red Sox going 5-5 in their last ten games, the Rays have assumed first place atop the AL East. The Rays seemed to have ignored the memo that they were supposed to take another couple years to develop, that they were still too young to complete. Eventually, I am sure, the Rays will fade, the Red Sox will take the division, and the Yankees will somehow make the playoffs. But until order is restored, I am left to wonder, "How are the infinitely inferior Rays keeping pace with the mighty Red Sox?"

To attempt to explain this phenomenon, here is a comparison of the two teams, position by position:

First Base:

Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis (.313, 13 HR, 50 RBI)

Rays: Carlos Pena (.227, 11 HR, 36 RBI)

Analysis: Clearly, the Red Sox have an advantage at first, with Youkilis being both a better hitter and fielder than Pena. Youkilis is much more versatile because of his ability to play both first and third equally well, earlier this year filling in at third while Mike Lowell was injured. Youkilis is a likely All-Star this year, while Pena has middling numbers and could barely get on the field when he was with the Red Sox in 2006.
Advantage: Red Sox

Second Base:

Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia (.304, 8 HR, 37 RBI)

Rays: Akinori Iwamura (.276, 5 HR, 23 RBI)

Analysis: Only a couple of weeks ago, there would have been little to distinguish Pedroia from Iwamura, but recently Pedroia has caught fire, validating his status as a likely All-Star starter and easily giving the Red Sox the advantage at second. In what is becoming a pattern from his rookie year, Pedroia did not begin the year hitting well, but this year he has caught fire earlier than last. Both Pedroia and Iwamura are solid defensive second basemen, but Pedroia really distinguishes himself at the plate, compensating for his small frame with a swing usually associated with much larger players.
Advantage: Red Sox

Shortstop:

Red Sox: Julio Lugo (.274, 1 HR, 18 RBI)

Rays: Jason Bartlett (.252, 0 HR, 18 RBI)

Analysis: This matchup is essentially a dead heat, with neither Lugo nor Bartlett distinguishing himself at the plate. Both are capable of hitting the ball, but Lugo at least, at age 33, is showing that he is not as good a hitter as he once was.
Advantage: Even

Third Base:

Red Sox: Mike Lowell (.296, 12 HR, 46 RBI)

Rays: Evan Longoria (.270, 15 HR, 47 RBI)

Analysis: This is another very close matchup. While Lowell is probably curently the better player, he is clearly on the downturn of his career, while Longoria, at age 23, will only continue to improve. At 34, Lowell may still have a few more productive years in him, but in future years Longoria may become a fixture at All-Star games.
Advantage: Red Sox

Catcher:

Red Sox: Jason Varitek (.225, 7 HR, 25 RBI)

Rays: Dioner Navarro (.317, 4 HR, 31 RBI)

Analysis: In terms of offensive numbers, the Rays' Navarro has the better of Varitek. Still, a catcher's most important job is managing the starting and relief pitchers, and there is no better defensive catcher in the league than Varitek. This year, however, Navarro has done an excellent job handling his young pitching staff; and this has resulted in the Rays closing in on the All-Star break with the best half-season in franchise history.
Advantage: Rays

Designated Hitter:

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez (.289, 16 HR, 52 RBI)

Rays: Jonny Gomes (.206, 6 HR, 14 RBI)

Analysis: Normally, the Red Sox start David Ortiz, the best DH and one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. But with him out with a partial tear of the ECU tendon sheath in his left wrist, the Red Sox inserted Manny Ramirez into this spot, giving him a break from his duties in left field. As a DH is judged solely on his offensive production, the Red Sox have a pronounced advantage over the Rays at the DH position.
Advantage: Red Sox

Left Field:

Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury (.272, 5 HR, 24 RBI)

Rays: Carl Crawford (.278, 8 HR, 44 RBI)

Analysis: With their lineup at full strength, the Red Sox would have matchup advantages over the Rays at both DH and left field, but with Ortiz out and Ramirez assuming DH duties, Ellsbury has taken over at left field. Though he has been as brilliant as ever both in the field and on the basepaths, Ellsbury has struggled to hit the ball more than he did last year, when he tore up baseball towards the end of the season and helped carry the Red Sox to a World Series title. Though Ellsbury clearly has a bright future, the Rays have the advantage over the Red Sox at left, since Crawford is one of the great young players in baseball. Currently, Crawford is having a bit of an off year, batting 37 points lower than his average from last season. Still, Crawford is currently a better all-around player than Ellsbury.
Advantage: Rays

Center Field:

Red Sox: Coco Crisp (.270, 5 HR, 22 RBI)

Rays: B.J. Upton (.286, 5 HR, 40 RBI)

Analysis: From an offensive perspective, this matchup is actually closer than it would first appear, since Crisp has split time with Ellsbury for muchy of the season and consequently has had 91 fewer at bats than Upton. Crisp is one of the premier defensive center fielders in all of baseball, regularly making spectacular catches, but Upton is an up-and-coming player with all the tools to be a star in this league.
Advantage: Rays

Right Field:

Red Sox: J.D. Drew (.304, 15 HR, 48 RBI)

Rays: Gabe Gross (.226, 5 HR, 20 RBI)

Analysis: J.D. Drew has been stellar this season, while Gross has been anything but. In the absence of David Ortiz, Drew has carried the Red Sox, putting to rest the critics who booed him all of last season.
Advantage: Red Sox

Pitching:

Both teams have gotten solid contributions from their starters this season. Though the Red Sox's pitching staff has been plagued by injuries, the call-ups, such as Justin Masterson, have stepped in and performed well. The Rays' pitching staff is young, but talented, and has been the main reason why the Rays are currently a half game up on the Red Sox.
Slight Advantage: Rays

At the completion of this comparison, it is clear that the Rays have won not through the outstanding contributions of one or two players, but through the collaborative efforts of the team. The Rays pitching has been good, but no pitcher stands out as spectacular. Whatever the reasons, the Rays find themselves in first place at the beginning of a late June series with the Red Sox. Things have changed in Tampa. "It will definitely be strange for me to see it," said Red Sox catcher Kevin Cash, a former Ray. "For the people there, it will be second to none. When I was there we had lost around 11 in a row at this time of year. It was a grind in June when it's supposed to be a grind in August and September. I guess things have changed."