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2006 Preview - Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2005 Record: 67-95, 5th in AL East
The franchise has averaged less than 65 wins since joining the AL in 1998, finished last in the AL East all but once, ended an average of 34.5 games out of first and struggled to top a million fans through the gates the past four seasons. So it would be impossible for things not to be looking up for this club since it would be hard for things to get any worse. But they really do have a shot at a franchise record for wins this year, with 70 their previous high tide.
Outfield talent is strong and deep in Tampa. The Rays look to open the year with speedy Carl Crawford in left, Rocco Baldelli in center and Aubrey Huff in right. Crawford is showing signs of more power and maybe a few less steals. Baldelli, 24-yrs-old like Crawford, missed last season with knee and elbow surgery but looks fine so far this spring at the plate and should be ready for Opening Day. Huff, the old man of the trio at 29, is the subject of trade rumors as the D-Rays look to deal some of their OF depth as well as payroll. Huff wants to play third base instead of outfield, and Tampa is giving him some time there this spring.
Speedy Joey Gathright is in reserve and also possible trade bait. Johnny Gomes can play the OF corners if Baldelli can’t play the field to start the season or if Huff does get in more time at third. Otherwise, Gomes will DH.
Tampa also has Delmon Young, Dmitri’s little bro’, for future consideration. That future could be this year, especially if Huff is dealt. Delmon won’t turn 21 until September, and is projected to bang 35+ dingers with decent speed. But look for Young to at least start the 2006 season in the minors.
The infield should open with Travis Lee at first, Jorge Cantu at second, Sean Burroughs at third and Julio Lugo at short. Lee never has and never will live up to the hype his agent surrounded him with about a decade ago. Cantu really broke out last year with 28 flies and 117 driven in. He might not reach those numbers again, but he remains one of the biggest sticks among MLB midfielders and only turned 24 just before the start of Spring Training. Burroughs has proven he can’t hit for power, can’t hit lefties, and doesn’t possess a great eye for drawing walks. Draw your own conclusions.
Since being banished from Houston amidst spousal abuse charges, Lugo has blossomed somewhat. Though his power stats have dipped a bit, he’s exhibited better discipline at the plate and started to run more. Despite that, his days are numbered in Tampa and Lugo could be dealt at any moment. The reason is the Rays have young BJ Upton down on the farm. A solid player offensively, Upton has been a bit of a disaster in the field and he could eventually move to third base.
Infield backups this year look to be Nick Green for the middle of the diamond with Russell Branyan and Greg Norton on the corners. Luis Rivas, who has missed camp with a busted knuckle, could also get some reserve time in. Branyan might also DH.
Lefty Scott Kazmir, acquired from the Mets in a trade last season, projects as the ace of the rotation even though he has been roughed up a couple of times this spring. Seth McClung has been enjoying a solid spring and could steal the Opening Day start from Kazmir. Southpaw Casey Fossum, who at 6-1 and 160 pounds resembles a skeleton on the mound, is in line for the middle of the rotation. Mark Hendrickson, an imposing 6-foot-9 left-hander, is battling a femur bruise this spring but will likely be ok to assume #4 starting duties. This might be his last chance to prove himself as a starter.
The last spot in the rotation entered spring as a battle between Doug Waechter and Edwin Jackson, both right-handers. Right now it appears Waechter has won the job with Jackson, part of the compensation from the Dodgers for relievers Danys Baez and Lance Carter, slated for either Triple-A as a starter or middle relief for the Rays.
Tampa might need Jackson in the pen since the relief corps is something of a mess currently. Tampa hoped to have Chad Orvella and Shinji Mori battle for closing duties. But Mori has been shut down and will miss the season with a bum shoulder, and Orvella has been lit up in his most recent spring outings. Orvella is the man for the long run, but Dan Miceli might be the closer coming out of spring. One interesting name that has emerged this spring is Jason Childers. The undersized right-hander is 31 and has yet to see any major league action. But he has allowed just four hits and a pair of walks in eight innings of work this spring, and definitely could be a middle relief candidate.
Others vying for relief work include Travis Driskill, Jesus Colome, Chad Harville and Wayne Franklin, with Franklin a candidate for the left-handed specialist’s job. That job could also go to Hendrickson by season’s end. Julio Lugo’s little brother, Ruddy, could also see bullpen action at some point this season.
With new management taking over in the front office (Stuart Sternberg, Andrew Friedman) and on the field (Joe Maddon), the Devil Rays seem to be moving in the right direction. But they’re still in a tough AL East division, so the road ahead is going to be hard. If they can find any pitching this season, they could easily get out of the ALE cellar and maybe, just maybe, reach as high as 75-80 wins
Key Performer(s): Huff and Lugo. Fast starts by both or either could eventually net the club a couple of young pitchers through trades to put them over the top in the very near future.
Camp Question(s): Coming up with a closer, deciding on a #5 starter and trying to find a way to work all of that outfield talent into the lineup.
My Play: The low 70s looks very possible for a wins total. The o/u lines I’m seeing run from 66½-67½. If you have an inkling of confidence in their pitching, bet the over.
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Originally Posted by bigboydan
