Odd Thoughts

2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Preview

The Bottom Line:
The Devil Rays look like a team moving in the right direction, well, at least they look good on offense. They’re in a position where the passing of another season means experience and improvement. Their farm system, however, is yet to produce a quality pitcher. Despite the teams overall improvement, every other team in the AL East improved too, leaving the Devil Rays in the same spot they’ve been in since they started: last place. The Rays should be better in 2004. They could even get out of last place if everything clicks, but the improvement of the Orioles and Blue Jays means the entire division should end the same way it has for the last six years, which leaves the Rays in the cellar.

Line Up:

The Devil Rays added a few new components (mostly
ex-Mariners, thanks to Lou Piniella).  They have some good prospects.  Perhaps
what Selig should do is realign the AL and put the Rays, Orioles, and Blue Jays
in the other AL divisions, since the current system allows the Yankees and Red
Sox to run rampant.

 

1. Carl Crawford, LF: Crawford had a great rookie
   season that included a league-leading 55 stolen bases.  He hit a respectable
   .281, but his .309 on base percentage just doesn’t cut in the leadoff role. 
   


2. Rocco Baldelli, CF: Has the same plate
   discipline problems that Crawford does, but the experts believe he will
   develop into a .320 hitter.  If you can remember the two good years from
   Mike Greenwell, Baldelli is envisioned as a guy like him that also steals
   bases.


3. Aubrey Huff, DH: Huff has quietly improved each
   of the last three seasons to the point that he posted a .311 average with
   198 hits, 34 home runs, and 107 RBI.  He’ll be 28 this year, and the best
   may be yet to come.


4. Jose Cruz Jr., RF: Cruz has turned into a gold
   glove defender in right field.  Piniella believes he can make his bat return
   to his 30/30 days.


5. Tino Martinez, 1B: Another Lou Piniella
   project.  The best part is that the Cardinals are paying the bill.  Martinez
   could end up sharing time with Fred McGriff, who’s in search of his 500^th
   home run.


6. Julio Lugo, SS: Lugo turned into the guy the
   Astros had been dreaming off last year.  Unfortunately for them, it happened
   in Tampa.  He hit a shocking .275 with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases in
   119 games.  That’s not exactly A-Rod, but those are really decent numbers
   for a shortstop.


7. Toby Hall, C: This is where the Tampa offense
   fall apart, but hey, they’ve nevr gone six-deep before.  Hall is making his
   third attempt at becoming the player we were told he’d be.


8. Geoff Blum, 3B: He plays good defense.


9. Rey Sanchez, 2B: Ditto.

Note on the Tampa Bench:
Piniella already has two guys on the field that play multiple positions (Blum,
Sanchez).  Huff can play outfield, first, or third, Damien Rolls plays outfield
and third, and Robert Fick can catch, play first or outfield.  As a result, the
line up could be different every day.  While that’s not necessarily a good
thing, it does give the team incredible flexibility in case of an injury.

 

Pitching:

There’s still a lot of work to do
here, but Lou brought in more ex-Mariners to fill the gaps.  He has a few good
prospects, but the following six guys are more likely to elicit a “What?” than a
“Wow.”

 

1. Victor Zambrano, R: He managed to eat a lot of
   innings and have a record over .500 (12/10), but his 106/132 walk to
   strikeout ratio is abysmal.


2. Jeremi Gonzalez, R: Has the same strengths and
   weaknesses as Zambrano.


3. Doug Waechter, R: He was impressive in a late
   season call up.  I watched him shut out the M’s.  He has impeccable control
   and could be either the ace of the future or a Yankee of the future.


4. Damien Moss, L: Moss started off well in San
   Francisco, but was total bust in Baltimore.  Like the top two guys in the
   rotation, Moss has serious control issues.


5. John Halama, L: Will once again get the chance
   to start, but he may have already had his best days in Seattle.

Closer Danys Baez, R: He
was signed away from Cleveland, and has the closer title for now, but Lance
Carter is still in the pen, and Mike Williams has been invited to camp.

 

Remarkably Similar
	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OPS
Fred McGriff (18)	8685	1342	2477	491	1543	72	1296	.285	.889
Reggie Jackson (18*)	8649	1380	2293	503	1516	224	1172	.265	.857

 

No one disputes Reggie’s place in the Hall of Fame, yet
McGriff is usually thought of as the first guy with 500+ home runs that will not
make it.  I know Reggie went on to have at least one more good year after the 18
seasons that are reflected above and McGriff appears to be finished, but those
numbers suggest that McGriff is actually the better player. Unfortunately, it appears
as though McGriff will be released by the Devil Rays before the season starts.
He could be finished.

 

Fantasy Top 5:

1. Aubrey Huff


2. Rocco Baldelli


3. Carl Crawford


4. Jose Cruz Jr.


5. Toby Hall

Posted by at March 30, 2004 11:41 PM