OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-15-2008, 06:54 PM

Rays shut out Jays
Sele suffers serious setback
June 15, 1998

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching was impressive during their 4-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, but starting pitcher Aaron Sele paid the price and will be out for the season.

Sele had given up two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings of work before being taken out of the game with a back injury. He had been seen stretching behind the mound during the second inning, in the dugout inbetween innings, and was nearly through the third inning when the pain became too much to handle.

"He's a tough kid and he wanted to do his job even though he was fighting through some pretty strong pain," said Tampa Bay pitching coach Brian Hoskins. "It was obvious there was a problem but he insisted he was fine and we gave him a bit of leash before it became clear that he just wasn't going to be able to finish."

The surprising news came after Sele was sent to the trainer's room and then a local hospital for tests. What officials had hoped would prove to be a muscle strain turned out to be a herniated disc. Sele will miss the rest of the season. His 1998 campaign ends with a 4-6 record and 3.99 ERA in 14 starts. Sele will be arbitration eligible at season's end.

Steve Cooke, who had been demoted from the starting rotation to the bullpen earlier this season, was tabbed to replace Sele on the mound. The southpaw was impressive, holding Toronto to just three hits and no walks, striking out four, in 6 1/3 innings. Cooke earned the win, improving to 3-5, and lowered his season ERA to 4.38. He is expected to return to the starting rotation in Sele's spot. A replacement on the pitching staff will be announced at some point tomorrow.

While Sele and Cooke teamed up for a five-hit shutout of the Blue Jays, all of Tampa Bay's four runs came via home runs. Mike Cameron got the scoring started with a two-run shot off Kelvim Escobar in the third inning while Will Clark and Paul Konerko hit back-to-back solo home runs off Escobar in the sixth inning.

12-15-2008, 06:54 PM	#37 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rays shut out Jays Sele suffers serious setback June 15, 1998 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching was impressive during their 4-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, but starting pitcher Aaron Sele paid the price and will be out for the season. Sele had given up two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings of work before being taken out of the game with a back injury. He had been seen stretching behind the mound during the second inning, in the dugout inbetween innings, and was nearly through the third inning when the pain became too much to handle. "He's a tough kid and he wanted to do his job even though he was fighting through some pretty strong pain," said Tampa Bay pitching coach Brian Hoskins. "It was obvious there was a problem but he insisted he was fine and we gave him a bit of leash before it became clear that he just wasn't going to be able to finish." The surprising news came after Sele was sent to the trainer's room and then a local hospital for tests. What officials had hoped would prove to be a muscle strain turned out to be a herniated disc. Sele will miss the rest of the season. His 1998 campaign ends with a 4-6 record and 3.99 ERA in 14 starts. Sele will be arbitration eligible at season's end. Steve Cooke, who had been demoted from the starting rotation to the bullpen earlier this season, was tabbed to replace Sele on the mound. The southpaw was impressive, holding Toronto to just three hits and no walks, striking out four, in 6 1/3 innings. Cooke earned the win, improving to 3-5, and lowered his season ERA to 4.38. He is expected to return to the starting rotation in Sele's spot. A replacement on the pitching staff will be announced at some point tomorrow. While Sele and Cooke teamed up for a five-hit shutout of the Blue Jays, all of Tampa Bay's four runs came via home runs. Mike Cameron got the scoring started with a two-run shot off Kelvim Escobar in the third inning while Will Clark and Paul Konerko hit back-to-back solo home runs off Escobar in the sixth inning.