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Moriarty9 · 10-28-2009, 05:48 PM

Tampa Bay season review
Miss playoffs for first time since 2000
Part II
October 4, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — While there were disappointing performances from some on the pitching staff, the position players saw their numbers hampered by injuries.

No injury to a position player was bigger than that of outfielder Matt Holliday, who played in just 56 games. Holliday hit .290 with 11 home runs with 43 RBI in 224 at bats, cutting short his season and his bid to match his .340/26/124 performance in 2009.

Lastings Milledge had a couple stints on the disabled list with a handful of injuries, limiting him to 317 at bats over 101 games. He hit .338 with six home runs and 44 RBI with 56 runs and 15 stolen bases.

Alex Gordon never even got his season started as he suffered a ruptured disc in his back during spring training, putting him on the shelf for the year.

Aubrey Huff battled through a couple of minor injuries that cut into his work load, and possibly his numbers. Huff hit .262 with 23 home runs and 90 RBI in 128 games, putting up good power numbers but holding his batting average nearly 40 points below his career average of .298.

Cliff Pennington battled through a hamstring injury in late July that cut into his playing time. The 2009 Rookie of the Year hit .271 with five home runs and 47 RBI with 13 stolen bases in 118 games. He started 110 games at shortstop, and started two games at second base and one at third base.

Behind the plate, John Baker and Gerald Laird found themselves in a platoon situation. Baker, who his very well last season with a .314 average, 20 home runs and 90 RBI with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hit just .244 with five home runs and 37 RBI in 96 games this season. Laird, who had 142 at bats last season, picked up 296 at bats this year, hitting .280 with two home runs and 36 RBI for the Devil Rays.

Jose Lopez was picked up in a trade with the Minnesota Twins in July, and performed well during his time with Tampa Bay. For the season, he hit .310 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 126 games. With the Devil Rays, he hit .312 with four homers and 23 RBI in 53 games.

Emilio Bonifacio found himself in a handful of spots in the batting order as he progressed and various injuries caused lineup changes. In 141 games, Bonifacio hit .278 with 11 home runs and 76 RBI, scoring 72 times and stealing 22 bases. He does need to cut back on his strike outs next year after going down on strikes 120 times in 508 at bats this year.

Garrett Atkins was off to a slow start as a back-up to Bill Mueller, but when Mueller was dealt for Lopez, Atkins got a bit more playing time and the numbers improved. He hit .265 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 105 games.

Brendan Harris struggled in a back-up role all year, hitting just .237 with four homers and 23 RBI in 249 at bats.

Josh Hamilton was the lone big bopper that was able to stay healthy all year, though it could be said the injuries around him hamstrung some of his numbers. In 157 games, Hamilton hit .308 with 29 home runs and 107 RBI with 102 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.

Ben Francisco responded well in his first year as a regular in the Devil Rays lineup, hitting .276 with 19 home runs, 74 RBI, and 80 runs in 144 games.

Ryan Freel got off to a fine start, hitting .337 with 14 RBI in April, but struggled as the season wore on, including a .162 clip in July. Freel wound up hitting .253 with five triples, six home runs, and 66 RBI, largely out of the leadoff spot, scoring 99 times and stealing 41 bases.

Players with lesser playing time included 39-year-old Jason Giambi, rookie infielder Nicholas King, rookie outfielder John Meyers, and 34-year-old Juan Encarnacion.

Giambi appeared in 10 games with Tampa Bay, hitting .250 with one run scored. In 24 at bats, he had six hits, none for extra bases.

King was picked up off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, and appeared in 21 games with the Devil Rays, hitting .280 with 10 RBI. On the year, he hit .288 with 11 RBI in 30 games.

Meyers made his big league debut at Tropicana Field on July 28, and hit his first big league home run a few days later at Yankee Stadium. Meyers hit .273 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases over 110 at bats in 39 games, clearly using his speed on the bases as a pinch-runner often.

Encarnacion worked primarily as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner, which translated into just 38 at bats in 35 games. He didn't hit well, putting up a .184 average with one home run, two RBI, four runs scored, and four stolen bases in seven tries.

10-28-2009, 05:48 PM	#664 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Tampa Bay season review Miss playoffs for first time since 2000 Part II October 4, 2010 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — While there were disappointing performances from some on the pitching staff, the position players saw their numbers hampered by injuries. No injury to a position player was bigger than that of outfielder Matt Holliday, who played in just 56 games. Holliday hit .290 with 11 home runs with 43 RBI in 224 at bats, cutting short his season and his bid to match his .340/26/124 performance in 2009. Lastings Milledge had a couple stints on the disabled list with a handful of injuries, limiting him to 317 at bats over 101 games. He hit .338 with six home runs and 44 RBI with 56 runs and 15 stolen bases. Alex Gordon never even got his season started as he suffered a ruptured disc in his back during spring training, putting him on the shelf for the year. Aubrey Huff battled through a couple of minor injuries that cut into his work load, and possibly his numbers. Huff hit .262 with 23 home runs and 90 RBI in 128 games, putting up good power numbers but holding his batting average nearly 40 points below his career average of .298. Cliff Pennington battled through a hamstring injury in late July that cut into his playing time. The 2009 Rookie of the Year hit .271 with five home runs and 47 RBI with 13 stolen bases in 118 games. He started 110 games at shortstop, and started two games at second base and one at third base. Behind the plate, John Baker and Gerald Laird found themselves in a platoon situation. Baker, who his very well last season with a .314 average, 20 home runs and 90 RBI with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hit just .244 with five home runs and 37 RBI in 96 games this season. Laird, who had 142 at bats last season, picked up 296 at bats this year, hitting .280 with two home runs and 36 RBI for the Devil Rays. Jose Lopez was picked up in a trade with the Minnesota Twins in July, and performed well during his time with Tampa Bay. For the season, he hit .310 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 126 games. With the Devil Rays, he hit .312 with four homers and 23 RBI in 53 games. Emilio Bonifacio found himself in a handful of spots in the batting order as he progressed and various injuries caused lineup changes. In 141 games, Bonifacio hit .278 with 11 home runs and 76 RBI, scoring 72 times and stealing 22 bases. He does need to cut back on his strike outs next year after going down on strikes 120 times in 508 at bats this year. Garrett Atkins was off to a slow start as a back-up to Bill Mueller, but when Mueller was dealt for Lopez, Atkins got a bit more playing time and the numbers improved. He hit .265 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 105 games. Brendan Harris struggled in a back-up role all year, hitting just .237 with four homers and 23 RBI in 249 at bats. Josh Hamilton was the lone big bopper that was able to stay healthy all year, though it could be said the injuries around him hamstrung some of his numbers. In 157 games, Hamilton hit .308 with 29 home runs and 107 RBI with 102 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Ben Francisco responded well in his first year as a regular in the Devil Rays lineup, hitting .276 with 19 home runs, 74 RBI, and 80 runs in 144 games. Ryan Freel got off to a fine start, hitting .337 with 14 RBI in April, but struggled as the season wore on, including a .162 clip in July. Freel wound up hitting .253 with five triples, six home runs, and 66 RBI, largely out of the leadoff spot, scoring 99 times and stealing 41 bases. Players with lesser playing time included 39-year-old Jason Giambi, rookie infielder Nicholas King, rookie outfielder John Meyers, and 34-year-old Juan Encarnacion. Giambi appeared in 10 games with Tampa Bay, hitting .250 with one run scored. In 24 at bats, he had six hits, none for extra bases. King was picked up off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, and appeared in 21 games with the Devil Rays, hitting .280 with 10 RBI. On the year, he hit .288 with 11 RBI in 30 games. Meyers made his big league debut at Tropicana Field on July 28, and hit his first big league home run a few days later at Yankee Stadium. Meyers hit .273 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases over 110 at bats in 39 games, clearly using his speed on the bases as a pinch-runner often. Encarnacion worked primarily as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner, which translated into just 38 at bats in 35 games. He didn't hit well, putting up a .184 average with one home run, two RBI, four runs scored, and four stolen bases in seven tries.