Look, it’s hard to be a relief pitcher. You can get called in any time on any day. You may in fact be called in to clean up someone else’s mess — men on based, multiple outs to get. There is no margin for error. If you are a reliever and have one bad day you may well be blamed for blowing the game, your ERA balloons, and fans say your name with derision.
Between injuries, and good or bad luck, few relievers have sustained success, but every once in a while the Rays have had someone who is just lights out and pretty much remains lights out across a season.