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Moriarty9 · 10-25-2009, 04:27 PM

Devil Rays look for better half
Tampa Bay stuck in second place at break
July 15, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will open up the second half of the season tomorrow on the road, and manager Christian O'Neal is confident his team can gain some ground as the club evolves.

The Devil Rays are 3 1/2 games back in the American League East and 2 1/2 games behind in the Wild Card standings. The club has won three straight and is 7-3 in July so far.

The team has had to deal with the loss of Matt Holliday for the season, and 24-year-old pitching star Felix Hernandez was forced into pre-mature retirement with a career-ending injury. Coupled with the loss of slugger Ryan Howard as a free agent, and other minor moves, the Devil Rays have changed quite a bit since winning the division last season.

John Lackey, the lone member of last year's starting rotation not to make the All Star team, has been the club's ace this year, and was the only pitcher named to the American League squad this time around, even after starting the year in the bullpen. Lackey is 6-2 with one save and a 3.44 ERA in 20 games, 13 starts, for the Devil Rays with a WHIP of 1.08 and an opponents batting average of .229.

Danny Haren's bid for a third straight Cy Young award got off to a rocky start, but he has improved as the year has progressed. Haren is now 6-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 16 starts, and will open up the second half tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Zack Greinke went 10-0 before an injury derailed his season last July, but has not faired so well this year. Greinke is 4-9 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 starts.

Jon Lester has been one of the better Tampa Bay pitchers, going 7-3 with a 4.93 ERA in 16 starts.

Pedro Martinez went 14-4 last year, but is having the worst season of his illustrious career. Martinez is 5-9 with a 6.63 ERA in 18 games so far with opponents hitting .322 against him. The 38-year-old has a lot of work ahead of him if he is to remotely salvage the season as he heads into free agency.

Jonathan Papelbon has pitched well when called upon, but his save opportunities have diminished as the team's successes has been fewer than normal. Papelbon is 3-3 with 12 saves and a 2.02 ERA in 33 games, posting a 0.75 WHIP and .183 opponents average against.

Manny Delcarmen has been stellar out of the bullpen, going 4-1 with a save and a 1.41 ERA in 33 games. Craig Breslow has been good as the club's top left-handed reliever with a 1-1 record and 2.83 ERA in 34 outings. Rookie southpaw David Price has also been good, going 1-1 with a save and a 3.41 ERA in 23 games.

David Aardsma has been adequate, posting a 2-2 record, two saves and a 4.55 ERA in 30 games. Left-hander Brian Fuentes has struggled mightily, going 2-3 with five saves and a 6.08 ERA in 32 appearances. He has a 1.94 WHIP and .323 opponents average against.

Rick Ankiel has done some bullpen work as well, going 1-1 with a 8.62 ERA in 15 2/3 innings of work in nine appearances. He has done fine in limited time at the plate, hitting .306 with four RBI and four runs scored in 49 at bats.

John Baker and Gerald Laird have worked as a platoon this season. Baker has hit .255 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 59 games while Laird hit .266 with two homers and 18 RBI in 52 games.

Josh Hamilton has had an All Star season this year, hitting .303 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 63 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 85 games. Aubrey Huff has been productive as well, hitting .275 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 85 games.

Ben Francisco has responded well inhis first season as a regular starting outfielder, hitting .296 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI with 45 runs scored. Lastings Milledge has had a lot of playing time, hitting .324 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 62 games.

The team's inexperienced middle infield has played well for much of the season. Last year's Rookie of the Year, Cliff Pennington, won't win a Gold Glove at shortstop, but is hitting fairly well. Pennington is hitting .274 with four home runs and 27 RBI with 35 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 81 games. Emilio Bonifacio doesn't quite qualify as a rookie after breaking in with Tampa Bay in 2008, but would be a candidate for Rookie of the Year if he qualified. Bonifacio is hitting .285 with eight home runs and 50 RBI in 75 games.

Ryan Freel got off to a great start (.337, 14 RBI, 25 runs in April) but has fallen off considerably since. He hit .225 in June and is hitting just .106 so far in July, putting his season numbers at .253 with three home runs, 37 RBI, 64 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 85 games.

Garrett Atkins has shown decent power when in the game, but has hit just .233 over 86 at bats. He does have five home runs and 20 RBI in those at bats though.

Jose Lopez was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Bill Mueller just before the All Star break and is 2-for-8 since joining the Devil Rays. For the year, he is hitting .304 with six home runs and 26 RBI over 184 at bats.

Brendan Harris has taken a reduced role with the club, and has struggled without the consistent at bats and playing time. He's hit .185 with one home run, nine RBI, and 11 runs scored in 92 at bats this year.

10-25-2009, 04:27 PM	#657 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Devil Rays look for better half Tampa Bay stuck in second place at break July 15, 2010 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will open up the second half of the season tomorrow on the road, and manager Christian O'Neal is confident his team can gain some ground as the club evolves. The Devil Rays are 3 1/2 games back in the American League East and 2 1/2 games behind in the Wild Card standings. The club has won three straight and is 7-3 in July so far. The team has had to deal with the loss of Matt Holliday for the season, and 24-year-old pitching star Felix Hernandez was forced into pre-mature retirement with a career-ending injury. Coupled with the loss of slugger Ryan Howard as a free agent, and other minor moves, the Devil Rays have changed quite a bit since winning the division last season. John Lackey, the lone member of last year's starting rotation not to make the All Star team, has been the club's ace this year, and was the only pitcher named to the American League squad this time around, even after starting the year in the bullpen. Lackey is 6-2 with one save and a 3.44 ERA in 20 games, 13 starts, for the Devil Rays with a WHIP of 1.08 and an opponents batting average of .229. Danny Haren's bid for a third straight Cy Young award got off to a rocky start, but he has improved as the year has progressed. Haren is now 6-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 16 starts, and will open up the second half tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Zack Greinke went 10-0 before an injury derailed his season last July, but has not faired so well this year. Greinke is 4-9 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 starts. Jon Lester has been one of the better Tampa Bay pitchers, going 7-3 with a 4.93 ERA in 16 starts. Pedro Martinez went 14-4 last year, but is having the worst season of his illustrious career. Martinez is 5-9 with a 6.63 ERA in 18 games so far with opponents hitting .322 against him. The 38-year-old has a lot of work ahead of him if he is to remotely salvage the season as he heads into free agency. Jonathan Papelbon has pitched well when called upon, but his save opportunities have diminished as the team's successes has been fewer than normal. Papelbon is 3-3 with 12 saves and a 2.02 ERA in 33 games, posting a 0.75 WHIP and .183 opponents average against. Manny Delcarmen has been stellar out of the bullpen, going 4-1 with a save and a 1.41 ERA in 33 games. Craig Breslow has been good as the club's top left-handed reliever with a 1-1 record and 2.83 ERA in 34 outings. Rookie southpaw David Price has also been good, going 1-1 with a save and a 3.41 ERA in 23 games. David Aardsma has been adequate, posting a 2-2 record, two saves and a 4.55 ERA in 30 games. Left-hander Brian Fuentes has struggled mightily, going 2-3 with five saves and a 6.08 ERA in 32 appearances. He has a 1.94 WHIP and .323 opponents average against. Rick Ankiel has done some bullpen work as well, going 1-1 with a 8.62 ERA in 15 2/3 innings of work in nine appearances. He has done fine in limited time at the plate, hitting .306 with four RBI and four runs scored in 49 at bats. John Baker and Gerald Laird have worked as a platoon this season. Baker has hit .255 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 59 games while Laird hit .266 with two homers and 18 RBI in 52 games. Josh Hamilton has had an All Star season this year, hitting .303 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 63 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 85 games. Aubrey Huff has been productive as well, hitting .275 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 85 games. Ben Francisco has responded well inhis first season as a regular starting outfielder, hitting .296 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI with 45 runs scored. Lastings Milledge has had a lot of playing time, hitting .324 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 62 games. The team's inexperienced middle infield has played well for much of the season. Last year's Rookie of the Year, Cliff Pennington, won't win a Gold Glove at shortstop, but is hitting fairly well. Pennington is hitting .274 with four home runs and 27 RBI with 35 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 81 games. Emilio Bonifacio doesn't quite qualify as a rookie after breaking in with Tampa Bay in 2008, but would be a candidate for Rookie of the Year if he qualified. Bonifacio is hitting .285 with eight home runs and 50 RBI in 75 games. Ryan Freel got off to a great start (.337, 14 RBI, 25 runs in April) but has fallen off considerably since. He hit .225 in June and is hitting just .106 so far in July, putting his season numbers at .253 with three home runs, 37 RBI, 64 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 85 games. Garrett Atkins has shown decent power when in the game, but has hit just .233 over 86 at bats. He does have five home runs and 20 RBI in those at bats though. Jose Lopez was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Bill Mueller just before the All Star break and is 2-for-8 since joining the Devil Rays. For the year, he is hitting .304 with six home runs and 26 RBI over 184 at bats. Brendan Harris has taken a reduced role with the club, and has struggled without the consistent at bats and playing time. He's hit .185 with one home run, nine RBI, and 11 runs scored in 92 at bats this year.