Countdown to Opening Day: #2 Tampa Bay Rays

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF BJ Upton

LF Johnny Damon

3B Evan Longoria

DH Manny Ramirez

1B Ben Zobrist

2B Sean Rodriguez

C John Jaso

SS Reid Brignac

RF Desmond Jennings

PROJECTED ROTATION

David Price

James Shields

Wade Davis

Jeff Niemann

Jeremy Hellickson

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Kyle Farnsworth
Set-up - Jacob McGee

Top Prospect - Desmond Jennings (OF)

Breakout

Jacob McGee - The loss of Rafael Soriano leaves a glaring hole in the Tampa pen. I think Farnsworth, a well traveled set-up man, will be given the first crack at the gig, but I think McGee finishes the year in the role and leads the team in saves. 

Bust

Jeremy Hellickson - When the Ray starters battled injuries last year Hellickson stepped into the playoff race with ease. Hellickson's 4-0 record has people chomping at the bit for a full season encore, but I would tread carefully. Hellickson my be big-headed by his smooth start and the AL East could knock him on his butt and back to the minors.

Biggest Spring Training Question

Let's try this again - What a job by the Rays to build up their minor league, stay cheap and make a run at a World Series. However players were no longer cheap and with the loss of Crawford, Soriano, Pena and Garza the Rays once again are relying on the farm system to take off before their free agent years.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 96-66

PROJECTED FINISH: 3rd in the American League East

Longoria has the skills to win MVP, but can his team rebuild and contend?

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME

Check back tomorrow for the Philadelphia Phillies