ST. PETERSBURG — The American League playoffs begin Wednesday night as the Yankees and A's meet. The 90-win Rays can only watch.
But a few days after it ended, it's hard not think of the 2018 season as an early Christmas present, out of nowhere, and completely pointed in the right direction.
The Rays became the Rays again — the old Rays, the Rays who upend predictions, blissfully unaware, fiercely competitive and innovative (you just watch how many teams use relievers as "openers" next season). The Rays were back.
"I don't think we expected this to happen, but we certainly believed," Rays third baseman Matt Duffy said.