Did the "Devil" Make Them Lose?

Last year, Tampa Bay won 61 games and lost 101. Worst record in baseball. This year, they're on pace to win about 95 games, they have been atop the standings most of the year and have done all this with the second lowest payroll in the majors. How is this possible? You know what? Don't answer that. It's not possible. But it's happening anyway. Jonah Keri is a baseball writer for ESPN.com. He claims to know why. "So the biggest reason for the Rays' turnaround this season as compared to last is that they've had the biggest year over year improvement in defense of any team in the last 50 years." In fact, Keri has lots of explanations. "That defense has in turn improved the results of the starting rotation and the bullpen just because if pitchers are throwing the ball and guys behind them are catching them, it's gonna look better... [read full story]