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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Rays magic number at one

Posted Mar 31, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Mar 31, 2010 at 11:09 PM

ROGER MOONEY
The Rays not only set a record for single season Grapefruit League victories with their 19th win of the spring Wednesday against the Twins in Fort Myers, they also reduced their magic number for winning the mythical Grapefruit League title to one.

So, a Rays win today against the Orioles or a Braves loss and the Rays (19-7-2) are Florida’s finest.

Sure, you’re thinking that spring training wins are meaningless once the regular season begins, and they are ... to a point.

But the habits formed while winning all those games in March can pay off during the coming months.

As both first baseman Carlos Pena and manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday, the Rays are not the type of team capable of turning it “on” once the Opening Day arrives.

And after last year’s poor start, the Rays could use a spring board into April. Besides, seven of the teams to compiled the 11 best spring record since 1966 have reached the postseason.

So, what does an outstanding spring record mean? In most cases, a pretty good regular season and beyond.

Remember, the 2008 Rays set the spring bar at 18 wins. All they did was topple the Yankees and Red Sox, win the always tough AL East and reach the World Series.

Here is a look at some of the top spring training teams:

BEST SPRING TRAINING RECORDS SINCE 1966
1997 Marlins 26-5 .839 92-70 World Series Champion
1969 Orioles 19-5 .792 109-53 postseason
2009 Angels 26-8 .765 97-65 postseason
1966 White Sox 21-7 .750 83-79
1983 White Sox 20-7 .741 99-63 postseason
1983 Twins 17-6 .739 70-92
1969 Giants 19-7 .731 90-72
1987 Cardinals 17-6 .739 95-67 postseason
2010 Rays 19-7 .731 ???
1982 Braves 18-7 .720 89-73 postseason
1971 Pirates 18-7 .720 97-65 World Series Champion

1997-2009 TEAMS WITH BEST SPRING TRAINING RECORD
2009 Angels 26-8 .765 97-65 postseason
2008 Rays 18-8-2 .692 97-65 postseason
2007 Tigers 21-10 .677 88-74
2006 Marlins 19-9 .679 78-84
2005 Angels 21-11 .656 95-67 postseason
2004 Twins 20-10 .667 95-67 postseason
2003 Royals 19-8 .704 83-79
2002 Orioles 20-9 .690 67-95
2001 A’s 22-10 .688 102-60 postseason
2000 A’s 20-11 .645 97-65 postseason
1999 Royals 22-9 .710 64-97
1998 Red Sox 20-8 .714 92-70 postseason
1997 Marlins 26-5 .839 92-70 World Series champion