That might be true in other divisions but the AL East has two strong well financed teams ahead of the Rays. The Rays clearly looked like they were a third place team last season at the outset and were pretty much exactly where most, including me, expected them to be, third, at the end of August last year. Baring an epic collapse by the RS, one that included the Yankees blowing a 6-7 run lead in the finial game of the year the Rays aren’t a in the playoffs. The lost too much offense in the off season between 2010-2011 and it was obvious before the season started.

“Down the stretch, the Rays went 17-10, 35-20 over the last 2 months. The certainly should have been in the playoffs.”

Down the stretch the RS went 7-20 for the month of September. If they play .500 ball the Rays aren’t even close.

The Rays don’t spend money and they are up against two of the richest teams in baseball. They’ve got a lot of great young starters but without the bats to back them up hoping either the Yankees or RS have a bad year is the best they can expect.

At the end of the season, the Rays won 91 games and Boston won 90. Down the stretch, the Rays went 17-10, 35-20 over the last 2 months. The certainly should have been in the playoffs.

Maddon wants this done in the event that the Rays take a step backwards next season and he has less leverage. The Rays lucked out last year with the RS tanking in September because the Rays didn’t have the offense and shouldn’t have been in the playoffs.

Maddon certainly deserves an extension but this is more about striking while the iron is hot, .. Maddon is maximizing his leverage. It’s business, .. and good business at that. It’s not getting a vote of support from ownership, he doesn’t need it with the players. Nor is there a possibility that he might not be retained.