Tampa Rays Approach

Tampa Bay Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Meander talks about their approach. Are you willing to look at things differently, and judge how much weight should be put into certain areas regardless of how everyone else is looking at it?

Their goals, he said, “are similar to any other organization’s goals.” And that is to win as many games as possible. But he conceded that they might look differently than other teams at the things that happen on a field and how those things connect to winning.

Said Neander: “Does the industry put more weight on some of those than others? Less weight on some of those than others? And how confident are we willing to (be to) invest in those areas where we think they might not be as weighted? Are we going to be right? I don’t know.

“Everyone has those beliefs and opinions of where that is. But you know, it’s just something that we constantly try to stay at that — and just try to make sure that we’re appreciating what we think is in front of a player and not just what’s behind him.”