Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

[bucketsndimes]

Wow, great winning streak, maybe this is finally the year.

[Moriarty9]

Originally Posted by bucketsndimes

Wow, great winning streak, maybe this is finally the year.

I was hoping to get past the 20 games that the A's won in 2002 in real life, but it wasn't meant to be. Barry Zito preserved it.

[Storm]

I love the simplicity of this dynasty. You don't try to do anything else, which to me, makes it the best dynasty I've ever read.

The next expansion team should hire you to be their general manager. I'm sure they'd love to see twenty game winning streaks, too. In turn, how are the Devil Rays doing overall? By that, what's the franchise record?

[Moriarty9]

Originally Posted by Storm

I love the simplicity of this dynasty. You don't try to do anything else, which to me, makes it the best dynasty I've ever read.

The next expansion team should hire you to be their general manager. I'm sure they'd love to see twenty game winning streaks, too. In turn, how are the Devil Rays doing overall? By that, what's the franchise record?

Through September 3, the team holds baseball's best record at 91-47. There's a 16 1/2 game lead over the Yankees for second place.

It's an absurd record to this point, but its greatly inflated by that 20-game win streak. Figure they play .500 ball over that time, and we're 81-57 ... still a good record but not quite the same.

[Moriarty9]

Rays blank Sox in finale
Rowand homer is game's only run
September 28, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays head into the playoffs after closing out the regular season with a 1-0 win at home over the Boston Red Sox.

John Stephens put together a fine performance, throwing 7 1/3 shutout innings of baseball, giving up six hits and one walk, striking out nine Boston batters. Stephens gave way to left-hander Barry Zito who, after a couple hits to load the bases with one out, finished the eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts, to bridge the gap to closer Byung-Hyun Kim.

"Barry's had some struggles lately, it would have been his normal day to throw, so with a few lefties coming up for the Red Sox, I decided to run him out there and get some work in during a tight ballgame to get ready for the next set of games," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "It took a couple batters to settle in, but he locked down when he had to out there."

Stephens improves to 9-6 with a 3.53 ERA after 18 starts. He started the year out of the bullpen, and recorded two saves in his 11 relief appearances for Tampa Bay.

Devil Rays outfielder Aaron Rowand hit a solo home run off Red Sox southpaw Chuck Finley in the fifth inning, staking Tampa Bay to a 1-0 lead that Stephens and the bullpen managed to make stick. It was Rowand's fifth homer of the year, and helped the 40-year-old Finley wrap up the year at 13-13 with a 3.59 ERA.

Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles for Tampa Bay while Boston rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki picked up three hits, including a double.

The Devil Rays finish the season at 108-54, champions of the American League East for the third consecutive season. The team has set a new franchise record for wins, eclipsing last year's mark of 106 wins.

Boston finishes at 80-82, 28 games behind the East and seven back in the Wild Card race.

[Moriarty9]

AL PITCHING LEADERS: 2003
Pedro leads in ERA, wins, innings, strikeouts, shutouts...

[Moriarty9]

AL BATTING LEADERS: 2003
Beltran leads league in triples with 15

[Moriarty9]

NL PITCHING LEADERS: 2003
Schilling vies for Cy Young award

[Moriarty9]

NL BATTING LEADERS: 2003
Hafner, Pujols pace Senior Circuit hitters

[Moriarty9]

Late runs win pitchers' duel
Martinez K's 10 Angels in 2-1 nail-biter
September 30, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Game 1 of the American League Division Series went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but it wasn't easy.

Anaheim Angels pitcher Jose Cabrera was sharp and, for the first six innings, was besting Devil Rays ace Pedro Martinez up until Tampa Bay scratched together two late runs to pick up a 2-1 victory.

The Angels took an early lead thanks to a RBI single off the bat of Delino DeShields scored Morgan Ensberg in the top of the second inning. Cabrera pinned down the Devil Rays lineup for the next several innings before facing some trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With one out and nobody on, Aubrey Huff singled to leftfield and soon scampered to second base on a wild pitch. Eric Munson delivered a soft single to right field, putting the tying run at third base. Garret Anderson followed with a RBI single up the middle to tie the game.

A tiring Cabrera nearly got through the eighth inning unscaved, but Tampa Bay put together a two-out rally. Adam Kennedy hit a two-out single, followed by a Carlos Beltran single that put runners on the corners. Huff pulled a pitch through the right side of the infield for the go-ahead RBI.

Cabrera finished the night with two runs allowed on seven hits and one walk, striking out three, in 7 2/3 innings.

Although he had some struggles early in the game, Martinez settled in quite nicely and finished the night with eight innings pitched, one run on four hits and three walks, striking out 10. Martinez retired the last 13 batters he faced.

The Angels will hope to rebound tomorrow night in Game 2 of this best-of-five series, sending left-hander Johan Santana (14-12, 3.52 ERA, 263 Ks) to the mound. Tampa Bay will throw Roy Halladay (15-8, 3.27 ERA) in search of a 2-0 lead in the series.

[Moriarty9]

Angels clipped by Devil Rays
Tampa Bay wins Game 2, loses Nixon to injury
October 1, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays edged the Anaheim Angels, 3-2, in Game of the American League Division Series but lost rightfielder Trot Nixon in the process.

Nixon made a fantastic diving catch to end the top of the second inning, but suffered a shoulder injury in the process. The initial diagnosis is that he dislocated his shoulder, though team doctors said they would exam Nixon tomorrow for further damage.

"It was a hell of a catch, and considering we won by just one run it proved to be a big out, but its an awful big loss to lose Trot," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal.

Nixon, who had 10 big league games under his belt entering this season, hit .269 with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 428 at bats for Tampa Bay this season.

The Devil Rays rallied to Nixon's cause in the home half of the second, scoring two runs in a two-out rally as Angels starter Johan Santana suddenly struggled with his control. After a Victor Martinez single, Eric Munson drew a walk and Craig Wilson singled to load the bases for Aaron Rowand, who entered the game as Nixon's replacement. Rowand drew a bases loaded walk to push across Martinez for the game's first run. Jimmy Rollins then drew a walk on four pitches to make it 2-0, before Santana was able to retire left-handed hitting Adam Kennedy.

Anaheim countered with a run of their own in the top of the third inning. After a Jeff Bagwell single to open the inning, Delino DeShields hit a two-out double to score Bagwell for the Angels' first run.

In the fifth, Rollins drew another walk and then stole second base before being knocked home by a Carlos Beltran single, making it 3-1 Tampa Bay.

The Angels would cut the Devil Rays lead to one run in the seventh with a Tim Salmon RBI single, but Tampa Bay was able to head to the ninth with a 3-2 lead and bring closer Byung-Hyun Kim out to finish the game.

Kim found himself in trouble quickly, giving up an infield single to the speedy Alfonso Soriano and walking Matt Holliday to open the inning. Tim Salmon, after battling, wound up taking a called third strike for the the first out of the inning. Bagwell hit a deep drive to centerfield, tracked down by Beltran, that allowed Soriano to move up to third base with the game-tying run. Vinny Castilla, who entered the game as a defensive replacement after thirdbaseman Morgan Ensberg was pinch-hit for by Ryan Radmanovich in the seventh inning, hit a hard groundball to Rollins to end the game.

Game 3 of the ALDS will be played Friday night in Anaheim. Carlos Zambrano (15-9, 3.47 ERA) will pitch in hopes of extending the series, while left-hander Barry Zito (17-10, 4.28 ERA) looks to advance the Devil Rays to the American League Championship Series. Outfielder Jay Payton, a career .312 hitter in 146 big league games over four seasons, is expected to be added to the roster in place of Nixon.

[Moriarty9]

Angels' prayers answered
Soriano leads Anaheim to Game 3 win
October 3, 2003

ANAHEIM — The Angels avoided elimination tonight, picking up a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

Alfonso Soriano led the Angels in victory, going 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI, including a three-run homer off Barry Zito in the fifth inning. Soriano also stole a base in the game.

Zito struggled, giving up six runs on 12 hits and three walks in six innings of work. The left-hander had a terrible month of September, going 2-2 with a 7.58 ERA in 19 innings of work.

"Barry will be fine, I'm sure of that," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Everyone has the ups and downs of a season, and right now he's in a down moment. He's a professional, he'll get better."

The lone bright spot in the game for Tampa Bay was catcher Victor Martinez, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored, and a RBI.

Pedro Martinez will take the mound tomorrow night in hopes of finishing off the Angels. He will be opposed by left-hander Johan Santana. If necessary, Game 5 will be played Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays going to ALCS
Tampa Bay explodes in 12-run ninth
October 4, 2003

ANAHEIM — Game 4 of the American League Division Series may have been the most competitive and closest 13-1 ballgame in history.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Anaheim Angels by 12 runs to advance to the American League Championship Series, even though the Devil Rays never held a lead in the game up until the ninth inning.

With the game tied at 1-1, Tampa Bay had the number 8, 9, and 1 hitters due in the ninth inning. While the club hoped to scrape together a run or two, the Devil Rays sent 17 men to the plate in the final frame, rallying for 12 runs and a huge win over the Angels.

"When Jimmy [Rollins] hit the double to knock in the go-ahead run, I was pretty happy. Then Adam [Kennedy] followed with his double, and we had a little bit of insurance," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "But the next thing I knew, we were up by a few more runs and that lead kept expanding."

There were only four extra-base hits in the game for Tampa Bay, all doubles and all in the ninth inning. Eric Munson finished the night 3-for-6 with a run, two doubles, and four RBI. Rollins went 3-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI. Kennedy and Garret Anderson also had two RBI for the Devil Rays.

Pedro Martinez picked up the win, giving up one run on five hits and two walks in eight innings.

The Angels bullpen was pounded by the Tampa Bay lineup in the ninth inning. B.J. Ryan, Mike Stanton, and Mike James were the culprits with left-handers Ryan and Stanton each giving up five runs.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays prepare for ALCS
Hope to finally get over hump, into World Series
October 7, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will take the field in the American League Championship Series for the fourth time in five years.

The franchise is only six years old, but will have its fourth shot to advance to the World Series. The team has gone to Game 7 of the ALCS each of the last two seasons, only to head home disappointed. Will this year be more of the same, or the year that they get through to the World Series?

The Devil Rays will take on the Seattle Mariners, the American League West division champions. The Mariners went 93-69 this year, finishing six games ahead of the Anaheim Angels.

One ray of hope for Tampa Bay is that they defeated the Mariners five times out of six this season, losing only game to Seattle. The only win for the M's against the Devil Rays was a 6-5 victory.

"They've got good pitching and defense, but so do we," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We've got the better offense so I really like our chances in this series."

The only time these two teams have met in the playoffs before came last year, when Tampa Bay beat the Mariners three games to one in the American League Division Series.

[Moriarty9]

Seattle's Ken Griffey, Jr. and Tampa Bay's Carlos Beltran.

[Moriarty9]

Tampa Bay takes Game 1
M's Kent, Rays Kim out for playoffs
October 8, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, but both teams suffered key losses to their rosters.

Seattle Mariners secondbaseman Jeff Kent left the game with a back injury and was diagnosed with a sever hernia that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the playoffs. Kent hit .263 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI in 94 games for Seattle this year.

Devil Rays closer Byung-Hyun Kim, 24, suffered a knee injury in the ninth inning as the team recorded its second out of the inning. Kim was examined and was told he would have to miss the remainder of the ALCS and any potential World Series games. Kim posted a 3-4 record with 34 saves and a 2.94 ERA in 51 games this year. Rookie reliever Francisco Cordero recorded the final out of the game and is expected to take over as closer for the rest of the playoffs.

"It's a big blow to lose B.K., but we have some good arms, can mix and match, and we'll get through it," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Francisco was lights out all year long and, even though he's a rookie, he's shown he can handle pressure so he's the guy we'll probably use more often than not. Ultimately, though, situations will dictate what we do."

Cordero went 4-0 with seven saves and a 1.44 ERA in 68 2/3 innings of work with a 0.96 WHIP and .202 opponents average against.

Roy Halladay picked up the win for Tampa Bay, holding Seattle to three runs on seven hits and three walks in eight innings, striking out five.

Jimmy Rollins had three hits out of the leadoff spot, including a double, while Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run home run off Matt Clement in the fourth inning.

The Devil Rays won the game, 6-3.

[Moriarty9]

Big win for Big Unit
Martinez tough luck loser
October 9, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Randy Johnson outdueled Pedro Martinez in a frustrating 2-0 loss for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.Johnson threw 8 1/3 innings of shutout baseball, allowing five hits, walking no one, and striking out six.
“We couldn’t really get anything going at all,” said Devil Rays manager Christian O’Neal. “He’s a hell of a pitcher, and he kept us from having scoring chances. Without scoring chances, you can’t win.”
Tampa Bay’s first scoring threat in the game came in the bottom of the seventh when an error by firstbaseman Erubiel Durazo and a single from Aubrey Huff put men on the corners with one out, but Johnson escaped with no harm.
In the eighth, after back-to-back singles to open the inning, Aaron Rowand hit into a double play, and Johnson was again able to escape the inning with the shutout intact.
Johnson was knocked out of the game by a Carlos Beltran single in the ninth inning with one out, and Joey Eischen came on and retired Huff and Eric Munson to close out the game.
Seattle scored its first run early, as a Troy Glaus sacrifice fly plated Alex Rodriguez in the first inning. A Ken Griffey, Jr. RBI single in the fourth wrapped up the scoring the game.
Pedro Martinez suffered the loss, his first of the postseason, by giving up two runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out six in 8 1/3 innings of work.

[Moriarty9]

Mulder, Anderson sink Mariners
Devil Rays take 2-to-1 lead in ALCS
October 11, 2003

SEATTLE — Garret Anderson supplied all the offense Mark Mulder needed in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 at Safeco Field.

Anderson went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI, hitting a solo home run in the first inning and picking up a RBI single in the third.

“It was important for us to get a couple runs early and set a tone for the game,” said Devil Rays manager Christian O’Neal.

Mark Mulder, making his first start of the playoffs, picked up the win with an impressive outing. The left-hander was working on a shutout when Lyle Overbay led off the ninth inning with a home run, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to just one run. Mulder stayed on to retire Ken Griffey, Jr. before being relieved by rookie right-hander Francisco Cordero.

Mulder worked 8 1/3 innings, holding Seattle to one run on six hits and two walks.

Cordero let up a single, but then induced a game-ending double play to record the save.

The Devil Rays now lead the Mariners two games to one in the best-of-seven ALCS.

[Moriarty9]

Overbay homers tie series
Halladay roughed up in Game 4 of ALCS
October 12, 2003

SEATTLE — Lyle Overbay hit a pair of two-run home runs to lead the Seattle Mariners to a crucial 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, knotting the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Overbay homered off Roy Halladay in the third and sixth innings, both times bringing Troy Glaus home with him.

“I got a couple of breaks and was able to drive the ball over the fence,” Overbay said. “We’ve got to be ready to swing and swing hard because it’s all on the line right now.”

Sergio Mitre pitched well for Seattle, holding Tampa Bay to three runs on seven hits and three walks in eight innings on the mound. Joey Eischen worked the ninth inning, giving up one run on a solo homer by Victor Martinez, and picked up his fourth save of the playoffs.

Jimmy Rollins also hit a solo home run for the Devil Rays, taking Mitre deep in the eighth inning.

[Moriarty9]

Beltran, Huff lead way to victory
Devil Rays regain lead in exciting ALCS
October 13, 2003

SEATTLE — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are now one victory away from the World Series after picking up a 6-5 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

Mariners starter Matt Clement and Devil Rays starter Barry Zito each struggled in their outings, but were able to keep the opposition from pulling far ahead. Clement gave up five runs, four earned, on eight hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings, throwing 112 pitches. Zito gave up four runs on eight hits and no walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Tampa Bay took the lead early when Carlos Beltran hit a two-out three-run double in the second inning. It was one of two hits on the day for Beltran.
Aubrey Huff went 3-for-5 with two RBI in the game. Seattle’s Chris Stynes was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Rookie reliever Francisco Cordero continues to impress, picking up his fourth save of the playoffs, throwing a perfect ninth inning on eight pitches, seven of which were strikes.