Rays Tales: Key numbers tell tale of a disappointing season

3-22

The monthlong stretch that crashed their season. They trotted off the Trop turf June 15 at 31-32 after beating the Mariners 3-2 in 13 innings on Logan Morrison's walkoff walk, then went into a dizzying spiral that left them 34-54 at the All-Star break and, for all intents and purposes, done. They lost the first two after the break for good measure. During the 3-24 stretch, they hit .236 (worst in the AL) while averaging a majors-low 3.04 runs per game and posting a majors-worst 5.76 ERA.

36-43

Record at home, 25th in majors, 13th in AL

At Trop, hit .234 (29th in majors, last in AL), averaging 3.90 runs (27th/14th), posting 3.80 ERA (10th/3rd)

On road, hit .254 (11th/7th), averaging 4.53 runs (14th/9th), posting 4.63 ERA (21st/10th)

Of note: During 2008-13, while making the playoffs four times, Rays were 302-184, .621 at home, second best in majors. Since 2014, while going home early, they are 114-130, .467, 26th in majors. So much for homefield advantage.

Of quote: "We need to create that advantage," manager Kevin Cash said. "We've got to make it where these opposing teams come in here and realize there is something about playing here at the Trop and playing the Rays."

-74/+45

The Rays' run differential before the All-Star break, when they were 34-54 with a 4.57 ERA, and the total since the break, while they are 31-34 with a 3.67 ERA.

13

Rookies who have played for the Rays this season, including seven who made their major-league debuts — RHP Dylan Floro, RHP Eddie Gamboa, RHP Ryan Garton, INF/OF Taylor Motter, INF Juniel Querecuto, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Tyler Sturdevant.

212

Team-record home runs, including a career-high 36 by Evan Longoria, an unexpected 30 by Brad Miller and, with one more by Logan Forsythe, four players with 20-plus for first time.

But …

• 133 have been solo, second most in majors.

• Third most in majors but 22nd in runs (643).

• 48.8 percent of runs scored on homers, third most in majors.

• First team since 2006 Braves and Reds to hit that many and finish with a losing record.

197

Home runs allowed by Rays pitchers, sixth most in AL, including 68 by the bullpen, third most. LHP Drew Smyly allowed 32, tops among starters, and RHP Erasmo Ramirez 14 in 801/3 relief innings.

46-50/19-38

Rays' record with and without starting CF Kevin Kiermaier, whose seven-week DL stint coincided with their miserable month. A telling stat, reflective, to some degree, of how much he impacts a game in taking away hits. In the 48 games Kiermaier spent on the DL, Rays pitchers allowed a majors-worst .289 average. In the games he played, they allowed a .239 average. Coincidence? We think not.

7

Players of the 25 on the opening day roster who stayed healthy and were with the team all season: OF/DH Corey Dickerson, 3B Evan Longoria, 1B Brad Miller and pitchers Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez and Drew Smyly. Otherwise:

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INF Tim Beckham Demoted

C Curt Casali Demoted

LHP Xavier Cedeno Injured (no DL)

RHP Alex Colome DL (16 games)

C Hank Conger Demoted/outrighted

LHP Dana Eveland Demoted

RHP Danny Farquhar Demoted

INF Logan Forsythe DL (28 games)

RHP Steve Geltz Demoted

OF Brandon Guyer DL/traded

OF Desmond Jennings DL/released

OF Kevin Kiermaier DL (48 games)

LHP Matt Moore Traded

INF Logan Morrison DL (23 games)

INF Steve Pearce DL/traded

LHP Enny Romero DL (15 games)

OF Steven Souza Jr. DL (19 games)

RHP Ryan Webb Released

19

Team-record losses by 2015 All-Star RHP Chris Archer, most in the majors since 2004, when Darrell May was 9-19, 5.61 for the Royals. With a final start Thursday, Archer could become majors' first 20-game loser since 2003, when Mike Maroth was 9-21, 5.73 for the Tigers. He also could be the first to lose 20 the season after being an All-Star since 1979, when knuckleballer Phil Niekro was an amazing 21-20, 3.39 in 44 starts.

13-25

Record in one-run games, a .342 percentage that is second worst in the AL.

Short stops

• One of the more interesting early offseason issues will be finding out if CF Kevin Kiermaier's 2.131 days of major-league service lands him in the top 22 percent of his class, thus eligible for arbitration as a Super 2, meaning rather than making $525,000 or so he'd get around $3 million and have four years of eligibility.

Rays rumblings

SS Lucius Fox, the highly ranked prospect acquired from the Giants in the Matt Moore deal, is recovered from his foot injury and will head to the Australian league. Also going down under: 3B Kevin Padlo, OF Thomas Milone and C David Rodriguez, plus coach Reinaldo Ruiz. … Though no one is confirming anything, VP Chaim Bloom appears to remain in consideration for a top job with the Twins. … One logical landing spot if there is no big-league gig for fired hitting coach Derek Shelton would be in the Yankees' minor-league system given his past connections. … In trying to push the vote for a retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, commissioner Rob Manfred said the hot weather puts the Rangers, who lead the AL with 92 wins, at a "competitive disadvantage."