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Martinez throws shutout
Pedro goes retro on road trip to Oakland
August 15, 2010

OAKLAND — Pedro Martinez has looked better as of late, but this afternoon's game against the A's was his best of the season.

Martinez threw a six-hit shutout against the Athletics, striking out nine Oakland hitters in a 5-0 Tampa Bay Devil Rays win. He walked one batter.

"He looked good out there tonight, from start to finish," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "His pitch count was higher than we had planned to let it go, but we felt it important to give him the shot for the shutout all things considered."

Martinez improved to 7-13 with the win and lowered his season ERA to 5.40.

Martinez is looking like his old self as of late, going 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three August starts, working 24 innings and allowing 18 hits and just three walks in that time. His ERA has dropped by about one run in the last four weeks as a result.

Garrett Atkins hit a two-run home run for the Devil Rays, his seventh of the season. He finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and three RBI.

Ben Francisco went 3-for-5 with a run and Jason Giambi went 3-for-4 in the ninth spot.

The Devil Rays are now 58-60, sitting in fourth place in the American League East. Tampa Bay is only five games out in the division behind the 63-55 Toronto Blue Jays, and 8.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card.

Tampa Bay travels home tomorrow morning and will open up a big three-game series with the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. The Devil Rays will need to take at least two of those three games if they want to make a serious run at the division to make the playoffs. The two teams will face off in Toronto next month for three games as well.

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Huff re-signs with D-Rays
Inks deal through 2012, mutual option in '13
September 22, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the post-season hoeps of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays all but officially dashed, some players have an eye on the off-season. Aubrey Huff is no longer one of those players.

Huff signed a two-year contract extension this morning that contains a mutual option for the 2013 season. Huff, 33, is earning $5 million this year under the final year of a three-year deal signed before the 2008 season. His new contract will pay him $6.5 million next year and $6.8 million 2012. The option for the 2013 season would pay him $7.5 million.

Huff has hit .261 with 22 home runs and 85 RBI in 118 games this year, spending the bulk of time at first base, though he has made 29 starts at third base.

He hit .336 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI in 150 games last season and is a career .298 hitter with 222 home runs, 846 RBI, and 1,505 hits in 1,333 big league games — all in a Tampa Bay uniform.

[Moriarty9]

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

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will spend October at home watching the playoffs rather than taking part, something the club is not quite familiar with.

How did it happen that their nine-season streak of playoff appearances came to and this year after winning back-to-back World Series titles in 2007 and 2008?

Dan Haren got off to a rough start (2-1, 6.10 ERA in five April starts), but got better as the year went along, finishing off at 13-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 30 starts. He posted a 1.12 WHIP and .239 opponents average against, but just did not pitch deep enough into games to win more than 13 games after winning 38 over the previous two years.

Left-hander Jon Lester also got off to a rocky start, but became one of the more dependable pitchers in the rotation. Lester went 2-1 with a 6.29 ERA in April, but dropped his ERA down to the 4.00's the rest of the way before wrapping things up with a 3-2, 3.38 ERA in September. Overall, Lester went 12-9 with a 4.74 ERA in his first full season as a big league starter.

John Lackey was an All Star in 2010, but has his down-times as well. He went 4-0 with a 1.07 ERA in May, and 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA in August, but went south a little in September, going 2-3 with a 4.08 ERA in five starts. Ultimately, he finished the year with a 11-8 record and a 3.56 ERA in 207 1/3 innings of work. He had a 1.10 WHIP and .226 opponents average against.

Zack Greinke came back from the injury that ended his 2009 season but was very inconsistent. Greinke struggled initially, going 0-2 with a 6.12 ERA in four April starts, but pitched well in May, going 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA. In July, he was awful, going 0-3 with a 10.38 ERA in five starts, but wrapped up the year well by going 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in August and 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in September. He finished the season at 10-13 with a 4.44 ERA in 30 starts. Next year, a full season removed from the injury, he needs to improve his consistency.

Nobody was more inconsistent than Pedro Martinez, the six-time Cy Young winner. Martinez went 14-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts last season, but was not even close in 2010. In 31 games, he went 8-16 with a 5.59 ERA, posting a WHIP of 1.50 and allowing opponents to hit .297 against him. Martinez threw some great games — one run on five hits in eight innings at Minnesota on July 20, one run on six hits in six innings at Seattle on August 9, a complete game shutout in Oakland on August 15, one run on four hits in seven innings against the Indians on August 21, and one unearned run on three hits in seven innings at Cleveland yesterday to end the season — but not enough to have a good season by any standard. August was his best month, going 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA in five starts, but his next best performance came in June when he went 1-1 with a 5.04 ERA in five starts. He turns 39 later this month and is eligible for free agency this winter. Martinez said he will not retire and wants to stay in Tampa Bay, but does he have what it takes to keep going?

Jonathan Papelbon, also a free agent this off-season, pitched well in the save opportunities he had. He went 4-4 with 27 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 51 games, posting a WHIP of 0.88 and holding opponents to a .204 average. Papelbon was great, but his team handed him save opportunities in the ninth inning.

Manny Delcarmen, the leading internal candidate to replace Papelbon if he signs elsewhere, was fantastic as well. Delcarmen went 6-1 with three saves and a 2.09 ERA in 60 1/3 innings, keeping opponments to a .222 average against.

Left-hander Craig Breslow was solid once again as well, going 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 56 1/3 innings. He was not terribly good against lefties (who hit .312 against him) but dominated right-handed hitters, who hit just .206 against him.

David Price pitched to potential in his first full season in the big leagues as the big southpaw went 3-2 with a pair of saves and a 2.87 ERA in 45 games. He held left-handed hitters to a .192 average and even made two spot starts.

David Aardsma rounded out the regular bullpen guys with a 2-3, two save, 4.93 ERA season, not much different than his 2009 campaign.

Left-hander Rick Ankiel played outfield and first base, but also pitched for Tampa Bay. In 17 appearances out of the bullpen, Ankiel went 1-1 with a 6.40 ERA. He was used largely in mop-up situations, considering he hadn't pitched since 2006. He has now made 400 career appearances as a pitcher, owning a 48-57 record with 15 saves and 138 starts. Offensively, he didn't get as much playing time as he would have liked, getting just 69 at bats despite being on the roster for the entire season. Ankiel hit .261 with four RBI and six runs scored.

(offensive write-up to come later)

[Moriarty9]

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.

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Playoffs open up tonight
Last year's champs, KC, not in the mix
October 5, 2010

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have the best record in baseball this season, winning 106 games and taking the National League East by 22 games. They will start their road to the World Series by taking on the reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks tonight in Philly.

Arizona entered this year's playoffs as the Wild Card entry after going 86-76. The Diamondbacks will open up with Cole Hamels (13-10, 4.91 ERA) on the mound while Philadelphia counters with Scott Baker (16-6, 3.64 ERA) for Game 1. The Diamonbacks will be without catcher Ramon Hernandez (.239, 13 HR, 69 RBI this year) and Chase Utley (.270, 17 HR, 71 RBI in 113 games this year) while the Phillies are injury-free heading into the postseason.

Also in the National League, the 81-81 Cincinnati Reds will open up in Denver against the 94-68 Colorado Rockies. Colorado sends Rookie of the Year candidate Maximo Rivera (16-7, 4.11 ERA, 276 Ks) to the mound in Game 1, putting a lot of pressure on the 20-year-old rookie. The Reds send their own ace to the mound in Joba Chamberlain, a Cy Young candidate after going 18-5 with a 1.88 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and .194 opponents average against. The Reds will be missing starting pitcher Jeff Karstens (8-10, 3.98 ERA in 22 games) and reliever Matt Miller (3-1, 4.93 ERA, 37 games). Miller will likely be eligible to return for the NLCS, if the Reds can get past the Rockies. Colorado is missing starter John Thomson, 12-10 with a 4.96 ERA, with a knee injury.

In the American League, the 100-win Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open up at home against the Wild Card Minnesota Twins, owners of a 90-72 record. Rick VandenHurk (14-6, 3.16 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Angels while left-hander Bud Smith (9-9, 4.54 ERA) gets the ball for the Twins. The Angels are missing two big starters in Johan Santana and Randy Wolf, both of whom will miss all of the post-season. Santana went 17-9 with a 3.83 ERA while Wolf, in 14 starts, went 5-1 with a 3.22 ERA. Minnesota will have to try and deal without third baseman Chris Davis, who hit .298 with 44 home runs and 140 RBI in 138 games before fracturing his ribs. Davis will miss the ALDS, but would likely be available if the Twins made it to the ALCS.

The Cleveland Indians host the Toronto Blue Jays in the other ALDS matchup. Ken Cloude (10-10, 3.94 ERA) will be opposed by Toronto's Andy Sonnanstine (11-5, 3.57 ERA) in Game 1. The Tribe will be without reliever Chris Resop (2-2, 1 save, 4.30 ERA in 60 2/3 innings) and outfielder Chris Duffy (.266 with 2 HR, 19 RBI, 45 R, 271 AB).

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Martinez re-signed by TB
Future Hall of Famer struggled in 2010
October 23, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the World Series about to begin in Philadelphia between the Phillies and Angels, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made their own news by re-signing Pedro Martinez.

Martinez, who turns 39 in two days, will be taking a drastic pay cut to stay with the Devil Rays. He earned $20 million in 2010, going 8-16 with a 5.59 ERA in 31 games. In 2011, he will be paid $645,045 with the possibility of up to $190,000 in bonuses if he throws 200 innings or more. There is a mutual option for the 2012 season worth $700,045.

Martinez is 271-135 in his career with a 3.39 ERA and 3,870 strikeouts. He has been said to be interested in winning 300 games and striking out 4,000 batters before he retires.

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O'Neal in for three more years
Devil Rays manager agrees to contract extension
October 29, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Christian O'Neal is the only manager the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have ever had, and that will continue to be the case through at least the 2013 season.

O'Neal, who earned $760,000 this year, will be paid $870,000 annually for the next three seasons. The 52-year-old manager owns a .591 winning percentage in his 13 seasons at the helm of the Devil Rays, going 1,245-861. He has won four World Series rings and eight division titles plus two Wild Card entries into the playoffs.

Tampa Bay went 86-76 this season, finishing two games out in the American League and missing the playoffs for the first time 2000, and only the third time in team history.

Though the club missed the post-season, the entire coaching staff will return for the 2011 season, including bench coach Reynaldo Hernandez, hitting coach Jack Clark, and pitching coach Garth McCay.

[Moriarty9]

2010 league-wide recap

Angels win World Series
ANAHEIM — It took 13 innings, but the Angels beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series, winning baseball's championship.
Bruce Bochy's team won 100 games in the regular season. His pitching staff was led by Johan Santana (17-9, 3.83 ERA), Rick VandenHurk (14-6, 3.16 ERA), and closer B.J. Ryan (33 saves, 2.41 ERA). The offense was led by David Wright (.314, 26 HR, 132 RBI), Alfonso Soriano (.268, 24 HR, 96 RBI), and Jacoby Ellsbury (.294, 95 R, 52 SB)

Griffey hangs 'em up in Seattle
SEATTLE — Ken Griffey, Jr. has decided to retire, leaving the Mariners after 22 years in the big leagues.
Griffey only had 151 at bats last season, hitting .225 with one home run and 10 RBI for Seattle. A far cry from his typical season, which would be a .284 average, 33 home runs, and 104 RBI. In his career, Griffey hit .284 with 605 home runs, 1,893 RBI, and 3,071 hits. He retires with 10 All Star appearances, eight Gold Gloves, and MVP awards in 1997 and 1998.

Thome walks away after 20 years
SEATTLE — While Ken Griffey, Jr. has gotten most of the coverage for retiring, Mariners slugger Jim Thome has also decided to call it a career. Thome, 40, hit .253 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI in his one and only season with Seattle. He previously played for the Cleveland Indians (1991-2001), Texas Rangers (2002-2009), and San Diego Padres (2009). He hit .277 with 633 home run and 1,756 RBI in his career.

Watkins flys high as AL's top rookie
TORONTO — Doyle Watkins of the Blue Jays was honored today as the American League Rookie of the Year.
The 24-year-old left-handed outfielder hit .318 with 18 home run and 101 RBI in 136 games.

Gamel climbs the Rockies to ROY
DENVER — Colorado Rockies third baseman Mat Gamel was named the NL Rookie of the Year today after a monster season.
The 25-year-old hit .327 with 41 home runs, 145 RBI, and 117 runs scored in 153 games for Colorado.

Tribe's Wagner wins Cy Young
CLEVELAND — Indians closer Billy Wagner took home his first Cy Young award, putting a feather in the cap of the 39-year-old southpaw.
Wagner went 4-3 with 44 saves and a 2.88 ERA in 64 games out of the bullpen.

Joba rules in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI — Ohio was the place to be for pitching in 2010 as both Cy Young awards were distributed in the mid-western state. In the NL it was young Joba Chamberlain of the Reds.
Chamberlain went 18-5 with a 1.88 ERA for Cincinnati, guiding them to the playoffs.

Rangers' Ramirez wrangles MVP
ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez earned a lot of recognition in 2010, winning the MVP after hitting .383 with 33 home runs, 134 RBI, 126 runs, and 34 steals.

Phillies' Perez gets ring and MVP
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies outfielder Fernando Perez probably thought the highlight of the year was winning the World Series in October, but now he gets to add a MVP award to his resume.
Perez, 27, hit .372 with 47 home runs, 133 RBI, 122 runs, 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts, and 204 hits for the champions from Philadelphia.

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Scutaro returns to Tampa Bay
Went to Series with Philly, now back where he started
December 8, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Marco Scutaro came up with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays but became a real big leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies, and now the infielder is coming back to Tropicana Field.

Scutaro, 35, signed a one-year deal worth $1.25 million with the Devil Rays today, leaving the Phillies as a free agent after the club won the National League pennant and went to the World Series.

"As good as our team was this year, I know the Devil Rays will always have that chance to go and win the World Series," Scutaro said. "I started here, I enjoy it here in Florida, and I'm happy to be coming back."

Scutaro came up with Tampa Bay in 2002 and played in 87 games over four seasons with the Devil Rays before being traded in December 2005 to the Washington Nationals in a five-player deal that most notably included Manny Delcarmen. He played in just 70 games with the Nationals, hitting .316 with two home runs and 19 RBI, before being released and ultimately finishing the year with the Phillies.

He hit .292 with five home runs, 62 RBI, and 95 runs scored in 157 games with Philadelphia last year, splitting his time around the infield. Scutaro started 88 games at shortstop last year, 34 game at third base, and 32 games at second base.

If the front office, manager Christian O'Neal, or Scutaro himself know where he'll be playing in 2011, they're not coming forward with the information just yet.

"I'm here to help this team win and that's the goal," said Scutaro.

His competition will be Cliff Pennington (.271, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 118 G) at shortstop, Emilio Bonifacio (.278, 11 HR, 76 RBI) at second base, and Aubrey Huff (.262, 23 HR, 90 RBI, 128 G) at third base.

[Moriarty9]

Cubs close deal with Papelbon
Closer leaves Tropicana Field for Wrigleyville
March 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have to move on without closer Jonathan Papelbon after all.

Papelbon signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs today that will pay him $16.81 million. It is roughly a half-million dollars more than what the Devil Rays had offered the 30-year-old right-hander who just last week said he expected to be joining his Tampa Bay teammates for the 2011 season.

Papelbon went 4-4 with 27 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 51 games last season, holding opponents to a .204 average and posting a 0.88 WHIP. In 2009, he saved 39 games with a 2.74 ERA. In his career, Papelbon is 27-17 with 129 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 350 appearances, all out of the bullpen.

In Chicago, he will be reunited with former Devil Rays teammate Ryan Howard, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent prior to last season after winning the MVP with Tampa Bay in 2009. Howard hit .311 with 51 home runs and 135 RBI with the Cubs last year.

With Papelbon gone, the Devil Rays are now forced to decide on a new closer. While the team has discussed the possibility throughout the winter, no decision has been made and manager Christian O'Neal has suggested the job will be up for grabs throughout the spring training exhibition season.

Manny Delcarmen appears to be the leading candidate, though left-handers Craig Breslow and David Price are strong options as well. Delcarmen has 13 saves in his career, never picking up more than six in a season. In 2010, the right-hander went 6-1 with three saves and a 2.09 ERA in 54 games. Breslow has six saves in his four-year career, though he recorded none last season. The southpaw went 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 49 appearances in 2010. Price saved two games last year in his first full season at the big league level, going 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 78 1/3 innings of work.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays break camp
Team prepared for 2011 opener
April 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have wrapped up spring training and are now preparing for their season opener.

The 2011 edition of the Devil Rays will open the year with 13 players who are pitchers, or have significant pitching experience. The team has Brooks Kieschnick, a 38-year-old right-handed reliever who signed as a free agent after spending the last five years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He came up as an outfielder with the Chicago Cubs and played some infield for the Minnesota Twins. He is a career .288 hitter with 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 313 big league at bats, though he hasn't been a regular position player since 2002, when he hit .333 with four homers and 18 RBI in 21 games with the Twins. As a pitcher, Kieschnick is 38-33 with 25 saves and a 3.74 ERA in 471 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He is expected to work primarily as a pitcher but will be available as a pinch-hitter and even possibly a spot starter in the outfield or first base as the season goes on, much in the way Rick Ankiel was used last season.

Ankiel will be back this year, working as he did last year, primarily as a firstbaseman and outfielder off the bench but also a left-handed pitching option as needed. Ankiel hit .261 with four RBI in 69 at bats last season for Tampa Bay, bringing his career average to .249 in 607 at bats. Out of the bullpen, the lefty went 1-1 with a 6.40 ERA in 32 1/3 innings over 17 appearances, largely in mop-up situations. Ankiel's career is the opposite of Kieschnick's in that he started as a starting pitcher with the Detroit Tigers in 1998 before becoming a position player while with the Colorado Rockies in 2007.

As far as the guys who will work strictly as pitchers, the team is led by Dan Haren. The two-time Cy Young winner had a down season in 2010, going 13-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 30 games after going 38-9 in the two seasons prior. Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal expects Haren to be back on top of his game in 2011.

"Last year was just a tough year for us all, and a lot of guys had rough seasons," O'Neal said. "I think you're going to see Danny win 17, 18, maybe 19 or 20 games this year."

John Lackey will open the year behind Haren after going 11-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 207 1/3 innings last year. Lackey started 2010 in the bullpen after several mediocre seasons.

Behind Lackey will be left-hander Jon Lester, owner of a 12-9 record and 4.74 ERA in 29 starts last season. Lester is 27-22 in his big league career, and is 22-16 over the last two years, largely in the starting rotation.

After what was easily the worst season in his illustrious career, 39-year-old Pedro Martinez is out to prove it a fluke and show he still has something left in the tank. Martinez went 8-16 with a 5.59 ERA last year, a disappointment after going 14-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 2009, and 17-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 2008.

Rounding out the rotation to start the year will be 23-year-old Ed Hughes, bumping Zack Greinke from the starting five. Hughes went 5-3 with a 4.61 ERA in 19 games, including three starts, with Tampa Bay last season after going 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA in 18 starts in AAA. He had a very impressive spring training while Greinke, who went 10-13 with a 4.44 ERA in 30 starts last season, struggled in the exhibition games.

Joining Greinke in the bullpen will be Manny Delcarmen, who will open the year as the team's new closer. With Jonathan Papelbon leaving as a free agent, Delcarmen won the job with a strong spring in which he allowed no runs and opponents hit just .088 against him. Delcarmen has recorded 13 saves in his career, including three last year when he went 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 54 games.

Working to set up Delcarmen will be Akinori Otsuka, Burke Badenhop and lefties Craig Breslow and David Price. Otsuka, 39, signed a contract for the league minimum in hopes of winning a World Series. He went 3-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 88 innings of relief work with the Texas Rangers last season.

Badenhop, 28, made his big league debut with Tampa Bay last year and went 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA in five games, including three starts. He went 14-7 with a 2.38 ERA in 23 starts in AAA in 2010. He had a fantastic spring training, working 16 shutout innings and holding opponents to a .140 average.

Breslow had a tough spring but the 30-year-old southpaw is confident he'll perform well in the real games. He went 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 49 games last year and is now 24-6 with six saves and a 2.60 ERA in 178 career appearances, all with the Devil Rays.

David Price round out the 'pen, serving as a set-up man for Delcarmen. Price went 3-2 with a pair of saves and a 2.87 ERA last year in 45 games, including two starts. He was a contender for the closer's role, but was left as a set-up man with the thought that he could also make spot starts as necessary.

As for the position players, there are some new faces in key spots, along with some familiar ones. Gerald Laird will once again open the year in a catching platoon, but this year it will be with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, acquired from the Washington Nationals in a January trade involving catcher John Baker. Saltalamacchia hit .292 with six home runs and 61 RBI in 146 games with Washington. Laird, who will primarily play against left-handed pitchers, hit .280 with two homers and 36 RBI in 100 games last season.

Acquired from the Diamondbacks for thirdbaseman Garret Atkins, the Devil Rays have a new first baseman in Derrek Lee. The 35-year-old Lee hit .262 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI in 151 games for Arizona last season and is a career .264 hitter with 244 home runs.

Cliff Pennington and Emilio Bonifacio will start the year as a platoon at second base, though Pennington will also see time at shortstop. Pennington hit .271 with five home runs and 47 RBI in 118 games last year, battling through a few injuries after winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2009. Bonifacio hit .278 with 11 homers and 76 RBI in 141 games last season. Both are switch-hitters.

Marco Scutaro, who played with Tampa Bay from 2002-2005, is back with the Devil Rays after hitting .292 with five homers, 62 RBI, and 95 runs scored in 157 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010. Scutaro will be the regular shortstop, though Pennington will see some time there.

Over at third base will be old faithful: Aubrey Huff. The 34-year-old is back at third full-time after spending time at first base as well in recent seasons. Huff hit .262 with 23 homers and 90 RBI in 128 games last season, battling a handful of nagging injuries.

Filling as needed throughout the infield will be veteran Nomar Garciaparra, who played with Tampa Bay in 2009 but left as a free agent and spent 2010 with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. For the season, he hit .273 with 10 RBI in 88 at bats last year after hitting .269 with seven home runs, 39 RBI, and 50 runs scored in 96 games with the '09 Devil Rays.

The outfield features, from left to right, Ben Francisco, Lastings Milledge, and Josh Hamilton, with Matt Holliday working primarily as the designated hitter. Francisco hit .276 with 19 home runs and 74 RBI in 144 games last season, making one error in the field. Milledge was limited to 101 games due to injuries, but hit .338 with six round-trippers, 44 RBI, and 56 runs scored. Hamilton was the big bat in the '09 lineup, hitting .308 with 29 homers and 107 RBI in 157 games. Holliday fractured his cheekbone the first week of June and was lost for the season as a result, putting his 2009 numbers at .290 with 11 homers and 43 RBI over 224 at bats.

[Moriarty9]

Around the league: Coaches
Taking a look around MLB's coaching staffs
April 4, 2011

ANAHEIM — Not surprisingly, Angels GM Gord Ash has retained all his coaches from the 2010 season when the team won the World Series. This includes manager Bruce Bochy, who has guided the team to three straight division titles in his three years as skipper. Bochy managed the San Diego Padres (1995-1997), Toronto Blue Jays (1998-2001), Atlanta Braves (2002), Padres (2003-2005), and Chicago Cubs (2006-2007) before coming to the Angels.
Working with Bochy will be bench coach Roberto Gonzalez, hitting coach Fred Berry, and pitching coach Alvaro Espinoza.

ARLINGTON — Nicholas Reed has a great resume at the minor league level but not so much in the big leagues, but the Texas Rangers believe he can turn that around as their new manager. Reed managed the Chicago Cubs for the final 47 games of the 2007 season, going 26-21. Ultimately, he was not retained and signed on as manager of the Oakland A's in 2008 and was there until he was fired in May of last year. In Oakland, Reed's teams went 62-100 (2008), 67-95 (2009), and were 9-23 before he was fired in 2010. He became interim manager for the Royals when they fired their manager before the last game of the season, and went 1-0 as Kansas City's skipper.
Bryan Simpson, who managed the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 and Brewers in 2005, is the Rangers bench coach with Andy Ashby as hitting instructor and Jonathan Couch as pitching coach.

ATLANTA — Though signed through the 2012 season, Braves manager Martin Frederick is on the hot seat in Hot-lanta. The Braves went 80-82, finishing in fourth place last season, and have not had a winning season with Frederick at the helm.
Frederick's bench coach is Juan Romero, and Rafael Garcia is the pitching coach. Former Braves left-hander Paul Assenmacher is the team's scouting director and Bruce Kimm, who managed 125 games for the 1999 San Diego Padres, is the team's hitting instructor.

BALTIMORE — Orioles GM Gerry Hunsicker was vocal in his desire to see the O's put a winning team on the field, and after leading the club to a 56-106 season in his first year as manager, Phil Garner may end up looking for work if things don't turn around at Camden Yards. Garner has a wealth of managerial experience: Milwaukee Brewers (1992-2002) and Seattle Mariners (2005-2007) before coming to Baltimore last season. He's only made the post-season twice, however, putting a stigma on the skipper.
Helping Garner this year: Ed Ross (bench coach), Greg Luzinski (hitting coach), and Dan Warthen (pitching coach).

BOSTON — Joe Maddon enters the final year of his contract with the Red Sox, and the Fenway Faithful are growing increasingly frustrated that the team has not seen October in Maddon's seven seasons with the team. The Red Sox went 78-84 last season, finishing in third place. They have finished in second place twice under Maddon, and have posted a 535-553 record under his tenure.
Bench coach Grady Little is popular with the players, as is Maddon, and is one possible replacement if Maddon is not retained beyond the 2011 season.
The Red Sox have Gene Tenace as hitting coach and Bryce Firth as pitching coach, both of whom are regarded as among the best in their respective positions.

CHICAGO — In the fourth and final year of his contract, manager John Turner is hoping to get over the hump with the Cubs. He's won 85, 81, and 80 games in his first three years, never finishing higher than second place or making the playoffs. This year, he hopes, will be different as he looks for a contract extension. Turner has made the playoffs in previous managerial jobs and is best known for leading the Cleveland Indians to a World Series title in 1999 as a rookie manager. He managed the Indians from 1999-2002, making the playoffs twice and winning one World Series. Turner also managed the Oakland A's (2003-2007), making the post-season three times.
Former Kansas City Royals skipper George Lahoda is the Cubs bench coach. Lahoda managed the Royals from 2005-2007 with his best season coming in '05, going 76-86.
Brad Mills is the Cubs hitting coach with Mike Hargrove as pitching coach. Hargrove, a firstbaseman as a player, previously managed the Cleveland Indians (1991-1997) and New York Mets (2007-2010), and is in his first job as a pitching coach.

CHICAGO — In his first year with the White Sox, Mark DeJohn guided the club to an 86-76 record, finishing in third place. The former Florida Marlins manager (2001-2005) is expecting improvement in his second season with the ChiSox, looking for the fourth trip to the post-season in his seventh season as a big league manager.
Helping him out is his bench coach — and successor in Florida — Kazuo Osada. Osada managed the Marlins from 2006 through 2009, taking the team to the playoffs in 2007.
The team's hitting coach is Jim Tracy while former Philadelphia Phillies manager Terry Francona is working as pitching coach. Francona managed the Phillies from 1997 through 2005, making the playoffs in 2003. His Philadelphia teams combined for a 676-671 record.

CINCINNATI — Jesus Cruz managed the Reds to a 81-81 record in his first season at the helm, but it was good enough to get the team into the playoffs, a goal he hopes to reach this year as well. Cruz previously managed the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007-2009), leading the Dodgers to the NL West crown in 2008 with 91 wins.
Helping out Cruz is long-time minor league manager and current Reds bench coach Oliver Wilson, hitting coach Lloyd McClendon, and pitching coach Clint Hurdle.

CLEVELAND — Lucero Vera appears poised to finally get a legitimate shot at keeping a managerial job after leading the Indians to a 94-68 record and division title in his second season with the club. Vera has a string of managerial stints, but has already managed more games with Cleveland than any other team. He wrapped up the 2002 season as interim manager of the Chicago Cubs, leading the team to a 36-39 record. In 2003, he was hired to manage the Boston Red Sox and led the team to a 80-82 record, and was 16-29 before being fired by the BoSox in 2004. He wrapped up 2004 as interim manager of the Colorado Rockies, going 43-43. Vera didn't get another managerial opportunity until taking over the Seattle Mariners in 2008, but he was let go after leading the M's to a 78-84 record in his only season there.
Former journeyman left-handed pitcher Chris Hammond joins Vera this year as the Tribe's bench coach while Rudy Jaramillo is hitting coach and former Indians pitcher John Farrell is the pitching coach.

DENVER — Michel Halle's second stint as manager of the Colorado Rockies is going much better than his first. Halle has taken the Rockies to the playoffs twice since being re-hired as manager in 2007. He previously managed the Rockies from 1999-2004, making the playoffs once during that first stretch.
Working with Halle: bench coach Jerry Narron, hitting coach Jerry Manuel, and pitching coach Juan Maldonado.

DETROIT — Bill Russell led the Tigers to an 82-80 record and fourth place finish in his first year as manager, something he hopes to improve upon in 2011. Russell previously managed the Los Angeles Dodgers (1996-1998), Texas Rangers (1999-2000), Minnesota Twins (2005), and Philadelphia Phillies (2005-2009). He led the Phillies to a World Series title in 2006.
Helping out Russell is Paul Thompson, who led the Toronto Blue Jays to a 421-498 record as their manager from 2001-2006. Randy Hopson is hitting coach and Yakamochi Fujimoto is pitching coach.

HOUSTON — Bruce Benedict took the 2010 season off after being fired by the Texas Rangers, and in 2011 he moves across the state to take over the Astros. Benedict managed the New York Mets (1998-2002) before taking the helm of the Rangers from 2007-2009. He has led his teams to four playoff berths in eight seasons, winning the World Series with the 2001 Mets.
His staff includes Lou Quinn as bench coach, Robert Brown as hitting coach, and Mike Cubbage as pitching coach.

KANSAS CITY — After more than 15 years, Buck Showalter is back as a big league manager. Showalter managed the New York Yankees from 1992-1995, but has spent little time in a baseball uniform since, but agreed to a one-year deal with the Royals to take over as manager.
He will work with bench coach Rafael Fernandez, who managed the 1998 Colorado Rockies, and the Cleveland Indians from 2003-2006. Fernandez's Indians won the World Series in 2005.
Cecil Vaughn is hitting coach and Juan Lozano is pitching coach.

LOS ANGELES — Ernest Allen enters his second full season as Dodgers skipper and is looking forward to striving for a winning season. Allen took over the Dodgers for the final 10 games of the 2009 season and kept the job in 2010, going 73-89.
Working with the manager will be bench coach Tony Nunez, hitting coach Don Slaught, and pitching coach Bobby Cuellar.

MIAMI — After more than a decade managing in the minor leagues, 52-year-old Fernando Gonzalez will get his first opportunity to manage a big league team this year. The Florida Marlins hired Gonzalez, known as a well-rounded baseball guy, with a three-year contract.
Providing some veteran advice will be bench coach Elliott McDonald, who managed the Kansas City Royals from 2008-2010, winning the 2009 World Series.
John McLaren is hitting coach and Floyd Walker is pitching coach.

MILWAUKEE — Pedro Sanchez enters his second year as Brewers skipper, having led the BrewCrew to a 79-83 record last year. He previously managed the Baltimore Orioles (2003-2005).
Hitting coach Pedro Mejia, pitching coach Rick Young, and bench coach Norberto Ramos round out the coaching staff.

MINNEAPOLIS — Kenny O'Brien led the Twins to a Wild Card playoff berth with 90 wins last year, and hopes to get the division title this year. O'Brien's only previous managerial experience came in 2009 as interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, leading the Brewers to an 18-34 record down the stretch.
Former Oakland Athletics (1999-2002) and Seattle Mariners (2009) manager Ron O'Farrell is O'Brien's bench coach with former Colorado Rockies manager (1993-1997) Don Baylor serving as hitting coach. Eugene Montgomery, who managed the Chicago White Sox in 2004 and 2005, will be pitching coach.

NEW YORK — Phil Eveleigh will be the new rookie manager of the Mets, who finished the 2010 season at 84-78, good enough for second place.
Helping out Eveleigh will be veteran big league manager Daryl Crosby as bench coach. Crosby managed the Oakland A's (1998), Pittsburgh Pirates (1999-2006), and Texas Rangers (2010), but has never had a winning record, let alone a playoff appearance.
Mike Bielecki is hitting coach and Bob Apodaca is pitching coach of the Mets.

NEW YORK — Domingo Meza is on the hot seat in the Bronx after leading the Yankees to losing seasons in his first two years as a big league manager. Meza led the Yanks to a 69-93 record in 2009 and 76-86 record in 2010, leading many to believe he needs a playoff berth if manager Kevin Towers is going to let him even have a shot at finishing out his contract.
Diego Alvarado, who managed the Yankees in 2005 and 2006, is Meza's bench coach with Denny Walling as hitting coach and Armando Reynoso as pitching coach.

OAKLAND — After leading the A's to a 69-61 record as interim manager for the final 130 games last year, Glenn Frederick is back as skipper in 2011 with a two-year contract. Frederick previously managed the Chicago Cubs (2005) and Baltimore Orioles (2006-2009), but has never seen the post-season.
Richard Adams, who managed the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003-2004, will be Frederick's bench coach with Amdre Briteiros as hitting coach and Luis Sanchez as pitching coach.

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are happy to have Bob Boone as manager after he led the club to 106 wins in his first season at the helm. Boone previously managed the Royals (1995-1999) and Dodgers (2001-2004).
Former Giants (2002-2005) and Tigers (2007-2009) manager Bartolo Mediavilla is the bench coach for Boone while Sean Berry serves as hitting coach and Mark Wiley as pitching coach.

PHOENIX — Armando Martinez is in the final year of his four-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but it would be surprising if he is not brought back by GM Frank Wren. In his three years at the helm of the DBacks, Martinez has made the playoffs three times, winning the division in 2009. He previously managed the Chicago Cubs in 2003 and 2004, winning 100 games to take the NL Central in 2003.
If an agreement can't be made to bring back Martinez, one candidate to replace him would be bench coach Bruce Anderton, who has eight years of managerial experience in the minor leagues.
The team's hitting coach is Enrique Diaz with Julian Rodriguez as the pitching coach.

PITTSBURGH — James Hunt led the Pirates to a 64-50 record after taking over the team for the last 114 games, and enters his first full season as a big league skipper looking for the playoffs.
Ramon Diaz, who served as interim manager of the Indians in 2008 for a 23-39 record, is the club's bench coach. Aaron LeBlanc is hitting coach and Rick Adair is pitching coach.

SAN DIEGO — Ron Washington enters the final year of his contract as Padres manager, and with no post-season berths during his tenure, the club will need to make some progress if he's going to stay on as skipper.
Helping Washington will be bench coach Tom Kelly, who managed the Minnesota Twins (1986-2004) and Milwaukee Brewers (2006).
Will Warner is Washington's hitting coach and Rene Gonzales is pitching coach.

SAN FRANCISCO — Dusty Baker is in his second stint as Giants manager, but needs to get a winning season to keep it that way. Baker managed the Giants from 1993-1998, then managed the Chicago White Sox (1998-2003) and Washington Nationals (2004-2007), before coming back as Giants skipper in 2009. The Giants went 80-82 in 2009, 76-86 in 2010.
Rex McDaniel is bench coach, Terry Crowley is hitting coach, and Anthony Telford is pitching coach.

SEATTLE — Larry Dierker enters his second year as Mariners manager with goals to improve upon the 77-85 mark his team put together last season. Dierker has experience with both losing teams and winners in his seven-year career as a manager. He managed the Houston Astros (1997-1999) to a World Series win in 1998, and stuggled through 90-loss seasons with the Baltimore Orioles in 2000-2002.
Ray Knight, who managed the Cincinnati Reds (1996-1997), is the bench coach for Seattle with Eddie Murray as pitching coach and Steve Smith as hitting coach.

ST. LOUIS — Dennis Meagher enters his second year as manager of the Cardinals, looking to improve upon a 71-91 season in 2010. He previously managed the Reds to a 72-90 mark in 2009.
Meagher's coaching staff includes bench coach Patrick Jumper, hitting coach Ron Oester, and pitching coach Nick Anderson.

TORONTO — Kyle Greer is in the final year of his contract as Blue Jays manager and nobody seems to know what Doug Melvin and the front office will do with his contract. Greer led the club to a 88-74 record in 2010 and has managed the team since 2007. He previously managed the Dodgers in 1999 and Padres in 2006.
David Sanchez, Yankees manager in 2007-2008, is the bench coach, and former Tigers (1997-2001) skipper Jack Johnson is the hitting coach. Jim Cranney is the pitching coach.

WASHINGTON — Danny Darwin has done a fine job as a big league manager and hopes to improve on a 84-78 record in 2010. Darwin has managed the Nationals since 2008, but has not made the playoffs yet with the club. He did get to the post-season in 2006 while managing the Arizona Diamondbacks. Darwin managed the DBacks from 2004 through 2007.
Zak Bailey, who managed the Twins (2005-2009), is the bench coach with Kevin Gross as hitting coach and Glenn Garcia as pitching coach.

[Moriarty9]

Haren throws three-hit shutout
Devil Rays open season with 7-0 win over Red Sox
April 4, 2011

BOSTON — Dan Haren was in mid-season form when he took the mound on Opening Day at Fenway Park today, throwing a three-hit shutout against the Red Sox.

Haren threw 113 pitches, 72 for strikes, as he led the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 7-0 win. He allowed three hits and walked four while striking out three in nine innings.

"Danny is always ready, always prepared, and it pays off more often than not," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He was really good out there today."

Tampa Bay got on the board in the first inning when Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run off Boston starter Kelvim Escobar. He would finish the day 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, a RBI, and three runs scored.

Derrek Lee was bi for the Devil Rays in his debut with the team, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.

[Moriarty9]

Castro claimed off waivers
Tampa Bay picks up infielder from Padres
April 5, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays today acquired 22-year-old infielder Pedro Castro off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

Castro appeared in 55 games with San Diego last season, hitting .320 with nine RBI and 15 runs in 50 at bats, playing second base, third base, and shortstop.

He will be assigned to AAA Akron.

[Moriarty9]

Holliday homer lifts Rays to win
Delcarmen shaky but successful in closer debut
April 5, 2011

BOSTON — John Lackey and Joe Saunders locked up into an entertaining pitcher's duel at Fenway Park today as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Red Sox, 2-1.

Lackey gave up a run in the eighth inning when Shane Victorino hit a RBI double with two outs, the only significant damage to his otherwise stellar pitching line: eight innings, one run, four hits, no walks, seven strikeouts.

Saunders took the loss with two runs allowed on five hits and five walks, striking out three in 6 2/3 innings. Pat Neshek threw 2 1/3 ininngs of shutout ball in relief for the Red Sox.

Matt Holliday got the big hit for Tampa Bay, hitting a two-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning off Saunders.

Manny Delcarmen made his debut as the Devil Rays closer and found himself in trouble before getting out of the jam and picking up the save. Pablo Sandoval led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and, after a fly ball out, advanced to third base on a Matt Kemp single that put the tying run 90 feet from home plate and the potential winning run on first base with one out for Casey Kotchman. Delcarmen fell behind Kotchman, 3-1, but was able to get the left-handed hitter to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

"It wasn't pretty but we won and that's what matters," Delcarmen said of his first save as the team's official closer. "No harm, no foul."

[Moriarty9]

Francisco lost for season
O's rally off Pedro in fifth for 5-3 victory
April 8, 2011

BALTIMORE — Pedro Martinez was looking good until he wasn't and Ben Francisco will miss the rest of the season as the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-3, at Camden Yards.

Francisco suffered a neck injury that will keep him out of the lineup for the rest of the season, though he will be healthy before Thanksgiving and ready to go come next spring.

The rightfielder was hurt making a diving catch, and was replaced in the field by Rick Ankiel. Francisco was hitless in nine at bats this year, walking once, scoring one run and striking out three times. He hit .276 with 19 home runs, 74 RBI, and 80 runs in 144 games last season for Tampa Bay.

Ankiel went 1-for-2 in Francisco's place at the plate.

Most of the offensive came from one swing of the bat by Aubrey Huff when the thirdbaseman hit a two-run home run off Darrell Rasner in the first inning, staking the Devil Rays to an early lead.

Martinez was doing a fine job on the mound early on, working around danger in the first inning and keeping Baltimore off the scoreboard through three innings.

Scott Podsednik hit a solo home run off Martinez in the fourth inning, narrowing Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1.

It was in the fifth inning that the wheels came off for Martinez as the Orioles put together four runs. Fernando Rodriguez led off with a double to left-center and moved up to third base on an Alex Bellemare single. Stephen Drew hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Rodriguez to score from third base, cutting Tampa Bay's lead to one run.

After walking Brandon Jones, Martinez battled Sizemore who took a 3-2 pitch into left-center for a RBI double, tying the game and putting the go-ahead run at third base. Mike Jacobs — a Devil Rays killer — hit a solid line drive to drive in two runs, capping off the scoring for Baltimore.

Martinez faced two batters in the sixth inning, giving up a double and a walk, before being pulled out of the game. He finished the night with five runs allowed on nine hits and four walks, striking out three, in five-plus innings.

With the left-handed dominant Orioles lineup, southpaw reliever David Price worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

John Meyers will be called up to Tampa Bay to fill Francisco's roster spot. Meyers hit .273 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 110 at bats with the Devil Rays last season. The 20-year-old was just 5-for-26 in AAA this spring.

[Moriarty9]

Lester goes the distance
Lefty improves to 3-0 with quality start
April 17, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jon Lester led the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4-2 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox today, holding the opposition to two runs on three hits in a complete game effort.

Lester improved to 3-0 on the year and lowered his ERA to 4.64. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out seven Chicago batters. He threw 119 pitches, 69 for strikes, and induced a double play ball to end the game with closer Manny Delcarmen warming up in the bullpen.

"Jon was pitching really well and earned the opportunity to finish what he started," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "No matter what happened though, [Raul] Ibanez was going to be his last batter because we were done with the lefty-heavy part of their order."

Marco Scutaro went 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly, hitting a double and knocking in three runs. John Meyers went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored while Aubrey Huff had one hit, a run, and one RBI.

Jose Guillen went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the White Sox while Lyle Overbay singled off Lester for Chicago's only other hit. All of the White Sox hits were singles and neither team hit a home run.

With the win, Tampa Bay is now 8-5 on the year, one game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Chicago falls to 9-4 with the loss.

[Moriarty9]

Burgess plucked off waivers
Devil Rays pick up young pitcher from Pirates
April 28, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays added a young starting pitcher to the organization tonight, acquiring right-hander William Burgess from the Pittsburgh Pirates off waivers.

Burgess, 24, is a surprising waiver wire claim in that he has been pretty good in four starts this season. He went 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 27 2/3 innings for the Pirates.

Burgess went 9-13 with a 5.29 ERA in 31 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year and went 3-2 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts with L.A. in 2009.

Though he has pitched well for Pittsburgh this year, the Devil Rays have assigned him to AAA for the immediate future. If Pedro Martinez continues to struggle, or Zack Greinke is moved, expect Burgess to be the first guy brought up to the big league club.

[Moriarty9]

Bowden tosses no-hitter
Teixeira walk breaks up perfect game
May 2, 2011

ATLANTA — Michael Bowden has been nearly unhittable this season, and tonight the New York Mets right-hander was unhittable against the Braves.

Bowden threw a no-hitter against Atlanta tonight, striking out 11 Braves hitter. Mark Teixeira drew a walk to lead off the fifth inning, proving to be the only thing standing in the way between Bowden and a perfect game.

The 24-year-old rookie is now 3-1 with a 0.87 ERA in the first four big league starts of his career. He threw seven innings of shutout baseball last time out against the Washington Nationals and has now gone 16 consecutive innings without giving up a run.

[Moriarty9]

Hamilton out until July
Devil Rays outfielder fractures jaw
May 13, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Devil Rays star outfielder Josh Hamilton will miss the next seven weeks after fracturing his jaw while making a catch last night.

Hamilton, 29, has hit .328 with nine home runs, 23 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in 33 games so far this year. To date, he was on pace to hit 41 home runs, drive in 104 runs, score 131 times, and steal 45 base in 149 games. Those numbers will obviously be greatly effected.

The struggling Devil Rays, who have now fallen to 16-20 on the year, will sorely miss Hamilton in the lineup. Tampa Bay is hitting .242 as a team, noticeably less than the league average of .260.

The pitching has also been a problem, with the highest ERA in baseball at 5.79 so far.