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Tampa Bay Devil Rays
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| Projected Lineup |
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| CF |
Jason Tyner |
| 2B |
Brent Abernathy |
| 1B |
Steve Cox |
| LF |
Greg Vaughn |
| RF |
Ben Grieve |
| C |
Toby Hall |
| DH |
Aubrey Huff |
| 3B |
Jared Sandberg |
| SS |
Chris Gomez |
| Projected Rotation |
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| RHP |
Tanyon Sturtze |
| LHP |
Nick Bierbrodt |
| RHP |
Paul Wilson |
| LHP |
Joe Kennedy |
| LHP |
Wilson Alvarez |
| CL |
Esteban Yan |
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By Ryan Hunt, CNNSI.com
After four years of serious growing pains, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finally have their own direction and identity: Young and younger. So much so, it's fitting that the Rays' uniforms featured the color green for the first time last season.
The Toby Halls, Brent Abernathys and Joe Kennedys have arrived. The Vinny Castillas, Gerald Williamses and Juan Guzmans are gone. But the age-old question is whether that can translate into more than 70 victories for the first time in franchise history.
And if the second half of last season is any indication, the kids are alright. The full-out commitment to youth paid immediate dividends for Tampa Bay. After starting on a pace only the 62 Mets could be proud of (25 wins in their first 85 games), the Rays closed the season a respectable 37-40 after July 6.
And they did it with rookies like Hall, Abernathy and Kennedy, and guys like Steve Cox and Jason Tyner getting their first full-time shots.
How young is this team? Greg Vaughn is the lone leftover from the train wreck known as the "Hit Show" - for now - and the 36-year-old outfielder is one of only three starters (including the projected starting rotation) over the age of 30. The others: shortstop Chris Gomez (30) and probable Opening Day starter Tanyon Sturtze (31).
But with youth comes a lot of questions. Ben Grieve still is only 25, but he is coming off the worst season in his career, hitting .264 with 11 homers and 72 RBIs. Can he regain his pre-Rays stroke that averaged 24 homers and 93 RBIs in his three previous seasons?
And how will the starting rotation hold up? Sturtze was a major surprise in 2001, winning 11 games after becoming a full-time starter for the first time, while the injury-prone Paul Wilson has shown flashes of brilliance. Young southpaws Kennedy and Nick Bierbrodt will go through their first full seasons. The fifth starter could be anyone from the still-struggling Ryan Rupe to the always-injured Wilson Alvarez to another 20-something Jason Standridge or even to last years No. 1 pick Dewon Brazelton.
But is it good enough to get the Devil Rays out of the AL East basement for the first time? And, more important, is it enough to finally get the Tampa Bay area to care?
Up for grabs: Surprisingly, about the only real position battle the Rays have to settle is third base, where Jared Sandberg and Aubrey Huff likely will share time. Huff is the better offensive player of the two, although his .248 season was a step backward in his development. Sandberg, on the other hand, has a much better glove, but hit only .206. If Huff was even semi-reliable defensively, the job would be is. He isn't, so it isn't. If Sandberg gets the full-time nod, look for McRae to get Huff some at-bats as the designated hitter.
Spring chicken: Brazelton was the first college pitcher ever to be selected by the Rays in the first round of the draft. And his trip to the majors likely will be the quickest in franchise history. The former Middle Tennessee State star was the No. 3 pick in 2001 and spent September watching from the Rays' bench after signing a contract. He may be back for real - for good - by this September at the latest.
| Arrivals |
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| Pos. |
Player |
From |
Via |
| OF |
Troy O'Leary |
Red Sox |
Free Agency |
| C |
Sal Fasano |
Rockies |
Free Agency |
| IF |
Wilmy Caceres |
Angels |
Trade |
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| Departures |
|---|
| Pos. |
Player |
To |
Via |
| RHP |
Mickey Calloway |
Angels |
Trade |
| OF |
Jose Guillen |
Diamondbacks |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Jeff Wallace |
Red Sox |
Free Agency |
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| Tampa Bay Devil Rays Spring Training Schedule |
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Home games at Florida Power Park, St. Petersburg, Fla.
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| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Site |
| March 2 |
Atlanta |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 3 |
Atlanta |
1:05 p.m. |
at Disney |
| March 4 |
Philadelphia |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 5 |
Texas |
1:05 p.m. |
at Port Charlotte |
| March 6 |
Kansas City |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 7 |
N.Y. Yankees |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 8 |
Cleveland |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 9 |
N.Y. Yankees |
1:05 p.m. |
at Tampa |
| March 10 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 11 |
Cincinnati |
1:05 p.m. |
at Sarasota |
| March 12 |
Minnesota |
1:05 p.m. |
at Lee County |
| March 13 |
Toronto |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 15 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
at Bradenton |
| March 16 |
Philadelphia |
1:05 p.m. |
at Clearwater |
| March 17 |
Minnesota |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 18 |
Detroit |
7:05 p.m. |
at Lakeland |
| March 19 |
Texas |
1:05 p.m. |
at Port Charlotte |
| March 20 |
Boston |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 21 |
Montreal |
1:05 p.m. |
at Jupiter |
| March 22 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Lauderdale |
| March 23 |
Atlanta |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 24 |
Kansas City |
1:05 p.m. |
at Baseball City |
| March 25 |
Texas |
1:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
| March 26 |
Toronto |
1:05 p.m. |
at Dunedin |
| March 27 |
Philadelphia |
7:05 p.m. |
at Clearwater |
| March 28 |
Detroit |
7:05 p.m. |
St. Petersburg |
ss - split squad All times local.
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