Tampa Bay Devil Rays - The Bush Years (2000-2009)

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Titles:

Top Devil Rays Players of the Twenty Oughts

2008 - Won Division (Chicago (LDS), Boston (ALCS)), Lost World Series (Phillies)

Pitchers:

BallPark:

James Shields (12.93) - 31

Tropicana Field

Scott Kazmir (16.5) - 27

Danys Baez (2.88) - 18

Team Name:

Victor Zambrano (4.96) - 18

Devil Rays (1998 - 2007)

Mark Hendrickson (2.32) - 17

Rays (2008 - 2009)

Esteban Yan (0.55) - 16

Tanyon Sturtze (5.84) - 15

Owner:

Matt Garza (6.95) - 13

Local Owners Group A (1998 - 2004)

Albie Lopez (2.96) - 12

Local Owners Group B (2005 - 2009)

Roberto Hernandez (1.49) - 10

Jeff Niemann (2.23) - 10

General Managers:

Chuck LaMar (1998 - 2005)

Catchers:

Andrew Freidman (2005 - 2009)

Dioner Navarro (1.86) - 18

Toby Hall (5.73) - 18

Managers:

Larry Rothschild (1998 - 2001)

First Basemen:

Hal McRae (2002)

Carlos Pena (15.4) - 24

Lou Piniella (2003 - 2006)

Steve Cox (2.05) - 15

Joe Maddon (2007 - 2009)

Travis Lee (4.45) - 13

Fred McGriff (2.14) - 10

No Hitters:

None

Second Basemen:

Ben Zobrist (7.82) - 14

Hall of Famers:

Fred McGriff

ShortStop:

Julio Lugo (13.5) - 31

Rookie of the Year:

Jason Bartlett (7.89) - 23

Evan Longoria (2008)

Third Base:

MVP:

Aubrey Huff (11.8) - 22

None

Evan Longoria (11.9) - 19

Akinori Iwamura (6.57) - 6

Cy Young:

None

Outfield:

Carl Crawford (28.6) - 76

Notable Events:

BJ Upton (8.2) - 31

Rocco Baldelli (9.58) - 27

2000 - The Rays are a bad team entering the Oughts and will continue to

Randy Winn (5.73) - 14

be bad for most of the decade. In some ways, it's a miracle this club has

Greg Vaughn (5.32) - 12

survived in Tampa. They have ownership with shallow pockets, a horrendous

Jonny Gomes (1.29) - 11

ballpark and play in a division with powerhouse franchises New York and

Ty Wigginton (2.12) - 11

Boston, not to mention that Baltimore and Toronto have had their moments,

as well.

Notable Events:

Ten years of high draft picks from all that losing gets you the following:

2006 - SS Ben Zobrist, 25, is obtained from Houston in exchange for

□ 1998 - 3B Aubrey Huff, 5th round pick - a solid slugger in the middle

Aubrey Huff. Quality for quality.

of the Rays lineup for seven years, debuted in 2000 at age twenty three

□ 1999 - OF Josh Hamilton (first overall) - HOF worthy talent with drug

2007 - Lou Piniella retires as manager, but, no worries, Joe Maddon,

problems that Never was able to exorcise his demons while with Tampa

who's just as good, signs on

□ 1999 - OF Carl Crawford (1st pick in 2nd round of draft) - was an

outstanding player for the Rays for nine years - debuted in 2002

2007 - RHP Matt Garza, 24, is obtained from the Twins in exchange for

□ 2000 - OF Rocco Baldelli (6th overall) - another fantastic talent -

Delmon Young. Nice deal for the Rays.

his career was derailed by injury

□ 2000 - RHP Jamie Shields - 16th round of draft, debuted in 2006, stud

2007 - 1B Carlos Pena, 29, is a low priced FA who had knocked around

□ 2001 - RHP - Dewon Brazelton (third overall) - a misfire

previously with four different teams before coming alive in Tampa

□ 2001 - OF Jonny Gomes, 18th round pick, debuted in 2003, decent player

□ 2002 - OF BJ Upton (2nd overall) - another great talent - was too

2008 - It all comes together. Years of finishing last pay off as the Rays win

undisciplined a hitter to ever realize his potential

the Division and beat the White Sox in the ALDS and the Red Sox in the

□ 2003 - OF Delmon Young (first overall) - had the talent, but was another

ALCS before losing to the Phillies in the World Series.

head case who could never quite get it together

The Rays gained thirty one games in the standings to do it.

□ 2004 - RHP Jeff Niemann (4th overall) - had a decent four year

It's an exciting young team led by recent first round picks Evan Longoria

career as a starter with the Rays until he blew out his arm

and David Price. There's also plenty of other high quality young guys around

□ 2004 - RHP Wade Davis, third round of draft, debuts in 2009 - quality

like OF Carl Crawford, CF BJ Upton, SS Ben Zobrist, RHP Jamie Shields,

□ 2005 - RHP Wade Townsend (8th overall) - a misfire

RHP Matt Garza and LHP Scott Kazmir.

□ 2006 - 3B Evan Longoria (3rd overall) - bullseye, big time star

Veteran 1B Carlos Pena anchors the lineup while the bullpen is also very solid.

□ 2007 - LHP David Price (first overall) - bullseye again, ace lefthander

With Joe Maddon at the helm, it looks like the Rays will be a contender for as

□ 2008 - SS Tim Beckham (first overall) - a misfire

long as they can hold on to their talent.

□ 2009 - 2B LeVon Washington (30th overall) - a misfire

2009 - The Rays fall back a bit to third place as the pitching flounders,

2004 - In a steal, the Rays pick up lefty Scott Kazmir, 20, from the Mets in

giving up 83 more runs ( a half a run a game) than they did in '08.

exchange for veteran righthander Victor Zambrano.

It doesn't hurt that the Yankees go nuts in free agency, signing

Kazmir had been the 15th overall pick in the 2002 amateur draft by the Mets

CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixiera to leapfrog Tampa in the standings.

Most of the starters and key relievers take a step backwards in '09 offsetting the

emergence of former fourth overall pick Jeff Niemann.