TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS --- John Wagner

If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were a cruise ship, they would be the Titanic. If they were a musical group, they would be Milli Vanilli. If they were a ballot for president, they would be well, they "are" a team that plays in Florida, right?

Aw, you get the point. The Bay Devil Rays are just not good. In fact, they are starting to challenge the Los Angeles Clippers for the title of Most Cursed Franchise In Professional Sports."

Actually, this teams troubles began even before it took the field. Remember the furor the teams nickname caused when it was announced? The nickname Devil Rays didn't sit well with religious groups in the area. That's not exactly the working definition of getting off on the right foot.

Things have gone downhill from there. In the team's three years of existence it has posted a 201-284 (.414) record, the worst in the AL during that period. It didn't help that Tampa Bay's expansion sister,the Arizona Diamondbacks, earned a playoff berth in just its second season. To counter the success of the Diamondbacks, the D-Rays brought in several big-name players last season in hopes of giving the impression that they, too, were close to the playoffs.

They weren't. In fact, the result of those free-agent signings was a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness that resulted in a 69-92 train wreck. The Rays finished last in runs scored as well as seven other offensive categories, and in the bottom half of the league rankings in ERA, strikeouts, and numerous other pitching categories.

What's worse, last years moves saddle the D-Rays with several disappointing players this season. The dead weight from last year includes Vinny Castilla, who hit only .221 with six homers and 42 RBI in an injury-plagued year; Jose Guzman, who made exactly one start for the Rays because of right shoulder trouble; and Wilson Alvarez, who didnt even take the mound once for Tampa Bay last season due to left shoulder miseries.

The Devil Rays are banking on the return of guys like Guzman and Alvarez to make the rotation stronger, which may happen. But it very easily might not happen, leaving Tampa Bay with a rotation that includes Albie Lopez as the ace and Mets reject Paul Wilson as one of the horses. Or is that donkeys?

Things get worse when you consider one of the teams few strengths, the work of closer Roberto Hernandez, has been turned into a weakness, thanks to the trade that sent Hernandez to Kansas City for Oaklands Ben Grieve. The 24-year-old Grieve might help the offense improve. The return of Castilla to his Colorado hitting form, combined with Fred McGriff and Greg Vaughn hitting something like they did earlier in their careers, would help the offense improve, too. But it won't improve much, and it certainly won't improve enough. The only reason this team wont finish in sixth place in the American League East this season is because there are only five teams. But that's this year. There is plenty of talent on the horizon to turn this club into an actual winner in the future. Grieve turns 25 in May, and hes just one of the teams bright young prospects. Brent Abernathy, a 23-year-old the Rays received from Toronto in the Steve Trachsel deal, may earn a shot at second base; another 23-year-old, Aubrey Huff, may push Castilla out at third. And speedy outfielder Jason Tyner, who turns 24 in April, may get a shot at the leadoff position after coming over from the Mets last year.

On the mound Tampa Bay is touting pitching prospect Jesus Colome, a 22-year-old who brings a 100 mile-per-hour fastball from Oakland.He will probably begin the season as a starter in AAA but may become a closer and a Devil Ray before seasons end. And on the horizon are such hot prospects as 19-year-old outfielder Josh Hamilton, the first pick in the 1999 draft, and pitchers Bobby Seay, Jason Standridge and Matt White, all just 22 years old. Of course, not every one of those prospects will become a major-league star, will they? If you consider the Devil Rays history of bad luck, the answer is probably no.

And by now you've heard about the teams newest and hottest prospect, Toe Nash. Well, don't get too excited about the 18-year-old five-tool prospect from Louisiana: scouts say Nash is raw and several seasons away from the majors. What's worse, Nash has been arrested five times during the past year on charges ranging from misdemeanor drug possession to battery to a felony count of robbery. Figures. After all, a curse isn't something that just goes away. Ask Milli Vanilli.