Maybe so, but the Rays are also good at it, having managed to swim their way to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
"I think every team has its own unique challenges, and one of the most important things is to identify what yours are, embrace them and operate within them," Friedman said before Game 2 of the ALDS. "As an organization, in every facet we're on the same page, and we're in lockstep in terms of what our philosophy is and what our approach is."
With a $42 million payroll comprised largely of homegrown talent with a few key acquisitions sprinkled in, the Rays were able to catch the Red Sox and their $142 million payroll for the American League wild card.
Friedman was confident in the crew he assembled, but he said he didn't leave spring training thinking the Rays were playoff bound.
"We don't really think very much about things like at the end of 162 where will we be as much as the process to get there," he said, "and we trust in the process and trust in what we do and feel like good things will come from it."
Good things did come from it, due in large part to the historic collapse by the Red Sox.
"It was just the way in which we got here," Friedman said. "At the end of the day we won 91 games in the American League East. You have to be a really good team to do that. What was difficult about it was how we did it, coming back from the deficit we did in September and taking it down to game 162, being down 7-0 in the eighth inning. We don't have 'easy' in the playbook, but this is a really special group, and it's been really fun to be a part of it."
LHP David Price will start Monday's Game 3 and Jeremy Hellickson will start Game 4 on Tuesday.
Manager Joe Maddon said the decision to start Price also included the ALCS, since Monday's starter will pitch the opener of the next series should the Rays advance.
Depending on how long this series goes, the Rays could have several options for a Game 1 starter in the ALCS. Maybe even LHP Matt Moore .
"Matt is a wild-card potentially, but we haven't gone close to that discussion, yet," Maddon said.
Word out of Chicago is that the White Sox are interested in bench coach Dave Martinez as their next manager. Martinez, who played three years for the White Sox and three for the Cubs, said he would be interested in interviewing for the job.
"Right now I'm focused on what's going on here. We got a lot going on," Martinez said. "I'm overwhelmed by the fact they're looking at me as a manager. It's great. It's something I want to do in the future, and the White Sox and Chicago would be a nice place to be. But right now I'm the Rays bench coach and this is my mindset. At the end of the year, if they want to sit down and talk, I'd love the opportunity to talk and put my name in for the position."
Martinez, whose contract is up after this season, said he would still ask Friedman for permission to interview for a managerial job, and, should he not land one, he expects to return to the Rays next season.
Friedman said he will address that after the season, but also knows the time is nearing when other organizations are going to want to turn to the Rays to fill some jobs.
"We have really good people on our staff, really good people in our front office," Friedman said. "I'm sure those moments are going to come for us over the years. It's just one of those things you hope you have enough depth to be able to withstand it."
LF Desmond Jennings impressed Maddon with his at-bats while batting eighth in Friday's win and was moved back to the top of the order for Game 2.
"I thought his mechanics were better, I thought he swung the bat better and I thought he took pitches better, which is really important, and I know he felt good after the game," Maddon said.
Jennings, who drew a walk and singled in four trips to the plate Friday, doubled down the left-field line in the second inning Saturday.
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