If you watch a Rays game this October, you may find yourself alternating between two thoughts: Wow, that guy is really good! And: Who is he? Tampa Bay is the best team in the American League, and also the most overlooked.
This is not a new problem. In the decade that MLB has tracked such things, exactly one Ray has ranked in the top 20 in jersey sales: third baseman Evan Longoria, who finished 20th in 2010. The players say that they draw motivation from being ignored. But as they progress this October–opposing the Yankees in the ALDS–baseball fans won’t ignore them much longer.