The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Sports Shorts
Two biggest team surprises in MLB have to be the winning seasons of the Tampa BayRays and the Oakland Athletics. Both are beset with small-market, modest-payroll, obsolete-facility and poor-attendance issues. And both Kevin Cash of the Rays and Bob Melvin of the A’s should be prime candidates for manager of the year honors.
Chris Archer’s bad start with the Pittsburgh Pirates seems to confirm a reality that’s been apparent for a while. Archer, often the face and articulate voice of the Rays, was a better presence than pitcher.