OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - 2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Youth Brings Hope

BostonRS14 · 08-27-2004, 02:01 AM

Upcoming Series:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Orioles Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

Team Records:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: 18-35, .340 (RD: 6-19), t-4th AL East, -16.0
Baltimore Orioles: 18-35, .340 (HM: 9-17), t-4th AL East, -16.0

Season Series: 3-3

Pitching Matchups:
06/04: Jeff Suppan (1-7, 5.62) vs. Eric Dubose (4-3, 4.56)
06/05: Todd Ritchie (1-4, 4.91) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-3, 4.30)
06/06: Victor Zambrano (1-4, 5.72) vs. Sidney Ponson (3-7, 5.29)

Series Preview:
After six straight seasons of being the fourth best team in the American League East, 2004 was supposed to be the season where that streak ended. Unfortunately, that streak is in jeopardy as the Devil Rays have improved enough to climb out of the basement and challenge the struggling Orioles for fourth.

Baltimore enters this series without a single regular batting over .300. In fact, the Orioles, despite adding Miguel Tejada (.278, 7 HR, 24 RBI), Javy Lopez (.263, 14, 41) and Rafael Palmeiro (.265, 20, 38) are the worst hitting team in baseball (.244). In every major category except homeruns, the O's rank in the bottom third in pitching and batting. Too much was expected from a young, inexperienced pitching staff.

With the playoffs a pipedream at this point, the Orioles, much like the devil Rays, will give their fourth rank minor league system a good look this season. Three potential front of the staff ptichers (Matt Riley, Adam Loewen, and John Maine) are tearing it up in Ottawa and should get a promotion soon.

After missing his last start in Minnesota in favor of Shawn Estes, Jeff Suppan returns to the rotation hoping to snap his personal seven game losing streak. Tampa Bay continues to test their young players, calling up catcher Koyie Hill from Triple-A Durham to replace Brook Fordyce as Mike Redmond's backup. Also getting a chance is RF Matt Diaz, who is taking Estes' roster spot. Team officials are hoping Diaz's addition will force Jonny Gomes (.121 avg, .158 obp, 0 exb) to start hitting better for fear of losing his job.

Tampa Bay Team News: (05/31-06/03)

05/31:
-SP Rob Bell was released.
-CF Joey Gathright was promoted from Double-A Orlando to Triple-A Durham.
-SP John Switzer was sent down to Triple-A Durham from the active roster.
-SP Shawn Estes was added to the 40 man roster and promoted from Triple-A Durham to the active roster.
-CF Adam Hyzdu and SP Joe Little were removed from the 40 man roster.
-RF Jose Cruz, MR Travis Harper, and 2B Damian Rolls were traded to Oakland from SP Rich Harden, SP Bill Murphy, and 2B Frank Menechino. Murphy was assigned to Triple-A Durham while Harden and Menechino were placed on the 40 man roster and added to the active roster.
-MR Jesus Colome was added to the 40 man roster and promoted from Triple-A Durham to the active roster.
06/03:
-MR Trever Miller was claimed on waivers by Florida.
-SP Jorge Sosa was claimed on waivers by Detroit.

Around the League: (05/31-06/03)

05/31:
-Oakland traded SP Rich Harden, SP Bill Murphy, and 2B Frank Menechino to Tampa Bay in exchange for RF Jose Cruz, MR Travis Harper, and 2B Damian Rolls.
-Anaheim released SP Ramon Ortiz.
-American League Player of the Week: CF Garret Anderson (ANA). He batted .577 in 26 AB, with 2 HR and 9 RBI.
-National League Player of the Week: LF Barry Bonds (SFN). He batted .529 in 17 AB, with 4 HR and 5 RBI
06/01:
-American League Pitcher of the Month for May: Roy Halladay (TOR). He had a record of 5-1 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 2.01 and 2 shutouts.
-American League Batter of the Month for May: Jason Giambi (NYA). He batted .404 in 94 AB, with 11 homers and 31 RBI.
-National League Pitcher of the Month for May : Russ Ortiz (ATL). He had a record of 5-1 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 3.24.
-National League Batter of the Month for May: Jim Thome (PHI). He batted .384 in 86 AB, with 17 homers and 37 RBI.
06/03:
-Florida claimed MR Trever Miller off waivers from Tampa Bay.
-Detroit claimed SP Jorge Sosa off waivers from Tampa Bay.

American League East Standings: (6/04/2004)

Code:


Team        W-L   PCT   GB  Streak Last 10
New York  34-19  .642    -    W5    8-2
Boston    26-28  .481  8.5    L4    2-8
Toronto   26-28  .481  8.5    W3    4-6
Baltimore 18-35  .340  16.0   L3    1-9
Tampa Bay 18-35  .340  16.0   L2    3-7

08-27-2004, 02:01 AM	#72
BostonRS14 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 1,029	Upcoming Series: Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Orioles Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland Team Records: Tampa Bay Devil Rays: 18-35, .340 (RD: 6-19), t-4th AL East, -16.0 Baltimore Orioles: 18-35, .340 (HM: 9-17), t-4th AL East, -16.0 Season Series: 3-3 Pitching Matchups: 06/04: Jeff Suppan (1-7, 5.62) vs. Eric Dubose (4-3, 4.56) 06/05: Todd Ritchie (1-4, 4.91) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-3, 4.30) 06/06: Victor Zambrano (1-4, 5.72) vs. Sidney Ponson (3-7, 5.29) Series Preview: After six straight seasons of being the fourth best team in the American League East, 2004 was supposed to be the season where that streak ended. Unfortunately, that streak is in jeopardy as the Devil Rays have improved enough to climb out of the basement and challenge the struggling Orioles for fourth. Baltimore enters this series without a single regular batting over .300. In fact, the Orioles, despite adding Miguel Tejada (.278, 7 HR, 24 RBI), Javy Lopez (.263, 14, 41) and Rafael Palmeiro (.265, 20, 38) are the worst hitting team in baseball (.244). In every major category except homeruns, the O's rank in the bottom third in pitching and batting. Too much was expected from a young, inexperienced pitching staff. With the playoffs a pipedream at this point, the Orioles, much like the devil Rays, will give their fourth rank minor league system a good look this season. Three potential front of the staff ptichers (Matt Riley, Adam Loewen, and John Maine) are tearing it up in Ottawa and should get a promotion soon. After missing his last start in Minnesota in favor of Shawn Estes, Jeff Suppan returns to the rotation hoping to snap his personal seven game losing streak. Tampa Bay continues to test their young players, calling up catcher Koyie Hill from Triple-A Durham to replace Brook Fordyce as Mike Redmond's backup. Also getting a chance is RF Matt Diaz, who is taking Estes' roster spot. Team officials are hoping Diaz's addition will force Jonny Gomes (.121 avg, .158 obp, 0 exb) to start hitting better for fear of losing his job. Tampa Bay Team News: (05/31-06/03) 05/31: -SP Rob Bell was released. -CF Joey Gathright was promoted from Double-A Orlando to Triple-A Durham. -SP John Switzer was sent down to Triple-A Durham from the active roster. -SP Shawn Estes was added to the 40 man roster and promoted from Triple-A Durham to the active roster. -CF Adam Hyzdu and SP Joe Little were removed from the 40 man roster. -RF Jose Cruz, MR Travis Harper, and 2B Damian Rolls were traded to Oakland from SP Rich Harden, SP Bill Murphy, and 2B Frank Menechino. Murphy was assigned to Triple-A Durham while Harden and Menechino were placed on the 40 man roster and added to the active roster. -MR Jesus Colome was added to the 40 man roster and promoted from Triple-A Durham to the active roster. 06/03: -MR Trever Miller was claimed on waivers by Florida. -SP Jorge Sosa was claimed on waivers by Detroit. Around the League: (05/31-06/03) 05/31: -Oakland traded SP Rich Harden, SP Bill Murphy, and 2B Frank Menechino to Tampa Bay in exchange for RF Jose Cruz, MR Travis Harper, and 2B Damian Rolls. -Anaheim released SP Ramon Ortiz. -American League Player of the Week: CF Garret Anderson (ANA). He batted .577 in 26 AB, with 2 HR and 9 RBI. -National League Player of the Week: LF Barry Bonds (SFN). He batted .529 in 17 AB, with 4 HR and 5 RBI 06/01: -American League Pitcher of the Month for May: Roy Halladay (TOR). He had a record of 5-1 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 2.01 and 2 shutouts. -American League Batter of the Month for May: Jason Giambi (NYA). He batted .404 in 94 AB, with 11 homers and 31 RBI. -National League Pitcher of the Month for May : Russ Ortiz (ATL). He had a record of 5-1 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 3.24. -National League Batter of the Month for May: Jim Thome (PHI). He batted .384 in 86 AB, with 17 homers and 37 RBI. 06/03: -Florida claimed MR Trever Miller off waivers from Tampa Bay. -Detroit claimed SP Jorge Sosa off waivers from Tampa Bay. American League East Standings: (6/04/2004) Code: Team W-L PCT GB Streak Last 10 New York 34-19 .642 - W5 8-2 Boston 26-28 .481 8.5 L4 2-8 Toronto 26-28 .481 8.5 W3 4-6 Baltimore 18-35 .340 16.0 L3 1-9 Tampa Bay 18-35 .340 16.0 L2 3-7