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Rays end losing season with loss to Indians

 
David Murphy slides past catcher Jose Molina to score on Zach Walters’ double off Rays starter Alex Cobb into leftfield, putting the Indians ahead 4-2 in the sixth inning.
David Murphy slides past catcher Jose Molina to score on Zach Walters’ double off Rays starter Alex Cobb into leftfield, putting the Indians ahead 4-2 in the sixth inning.
Published Sept. 29, 2014

CLEVELAND — Discussion over which adjectives most aptly describe the Rays' season that ended Sunday will go on, as will the statistical analysis of what went the most wrong and how it can be best fixed.

But the finality of Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Indians was clear.

"It's not good," manager Joe Maddon said. "We don't like it at all. It's been an awkward year. We had a lot of really good things happen. The bad thing is that we lost 85 games."

A lack of offense was the primary cause of their demise, and the Rays (77-85) appropriately finished not only last in the American League with 612 runs but with the fewest in 17 years of franchise history. They also totaled their lowest slugging percentage (.367) and the second-fewest home runs (117).

"We obviously thought we were better than that, we believe that we are better than that," Maddon said. "But you have to prove it on the field. Just look up and down at the different numbers, even the last two months, you could see some really low numbers from some of our guys. … It just did not play out. Why? There's some bad baseball luck. There's that component to it. We just have to do better."

Evan Longoria traced their downfall to spring training, suggesting players came in thinking "things are going to be easier than they really are" and need to take measure this offseason of how their own performances fit into the team offensive concept.

"We all need to take a look in the mirror this offseason and understand what kind of player we are and be able to come back next year and try and fill those obligations and what we're expected to do offensively individually," he said. "And I think if we can do that, then as a team we'll be better."

Also, Longoria — who played in all 162 games for the first time — said sticking to more stable lineups would help.

"We had so many different orders again this year (129 in 162 games), and I think that when we find that working formula I would like to see it stay a little more consistent," he said. "As an offense in general I think it's a little bit easier when you have some consistency and you understand who's going to hit ahead of you and who's going to hit behind you. I know that it's very important for Joe and for the organization to kind of play those matchups, and I think it as well, but I guess I just like the consistency."

There need to be improvements and adjustments, as the Rays seek to find ways to reverse the industrywide decline in offense and specifically to improve their production with runners in scoring position (.241 average, compared to .247 overall). Also, they led the majors in runners left on base (1,193) and set a franchise low with 63 stolen bases.

"Offensively," Ben Zobrist said, "we have to find our identity."

There will be plenty for Maddon and executive vice president Andrew Friedman — who will hold a season-ending media session Tuesday — to discuss. Maddon said their initial reviews project positively for improvement next season, with the bulk of the same team expected back.

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But that didn't take the sting out of Sunday.

"It is disappointing, no question," Maddon said. "We had much greater expectations than we finally achieved. There's a lot of food for thought. And it's up to us to make it better."

Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.