25-year old righty swinging 3B Evan Longoria is trying to carry the Rays’ offense and get them to the playoffs. They are now only 2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card spot. Longoria has played in 17 games so far in September, and he is 18 for 58 (.310 avg, 1.064 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also has walked 17 times already this month as opposing teams have been trying to pitch around him. Longoria has now played in 123 games for the Rays so far this year and he is 110 for 451 (.244 avg, .838 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 28 homers, 92 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

27-year old righty swinging CF B.J. Upton has been on fire with the bat so far in September for the Rays. He has played in 12 games so far this month for the Rays and he is 15 for 41 (.366 avg, 1.128 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers, 10 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Upton has now played in 139 games for the Rays overall this year and he is 118 for 504 (.234 avg, .734 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 20 homers, 71 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. It is good to see Upton back in a good groove as the Rays really need him to continue swinging a good bat as they are in a dogfight for the A.L. Wild Card with the Red Sox. Upton has now played in 806 games in his first 7 years with the Rays and he is 751 for 2,939 (.256 avg, .754 OPS) with 448 runs scored, 87 homers, 359 RBIs and 194 stolen bases.

Where would the Rays be if 24-year old righty swinging LF Desmond Jennings was on the team from Day #1? Probably in second place in the A.L. East, and maybe even first place. His speed is of the game changing variety as he can hit a grounder right to the 3B and beat it out for a hit. He has played in 46 games for the Rays so far this year and he is 53 for 179 (.296 avg, .922 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 4 triples, 9 homers, 22 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The power is a surprise, but the Rays will gladly take it. They need him to get hot again as he has had a rough start in September. Jennings has played in 9 games so far this month and he is 6 for 38 (.158 avg, .509 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

25-year old righty swinging 3B Evan Longoria has struggled most of this season due to injuries, but he’s finally healthy now. Longoria has played in 12 games so far this month for the Rays and he is 12 for 51 (.235 avg, .755 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 4 homers and 12 RBIs. He has now played in 90 games overall this year for the Rays and he is 77 for 331 (.233 avg, .785 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 18 homers, 65 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Rays need Longoria to stay hot if they are going to have any chance of making a late run for the A.L. Wild Card.

37-year old lefty swinging DH/LF Johnny Damon is proving this season that he still has a lot left in the gas tank. Damon has played in 98 games for the Rays so far this year and he is 107 for 393 (.272 avg, .734 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 9 homers, 48 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has been a good influence on the younger players on the Rays as he leads by example. Damon wants to finish his career with the Rays and he has 2,678 hits right now. I see no reason why the Rays won’t let him play a couple more years for them as long as he can play at the same level that he is right now. Even if he’s part of an August trade, I think the Rays would consider re-signing him over the winter.