Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2004 Season Preview

by Charles Curtis

What did you just guarantee, Coach Pinella?!?

Picture this: you're a 17-year veteran manager whose name brings shudders to every umpire in the Majors. Your name, along with 1382 career wins, was worth so much to a last place team that they practically gave their best player (Randy Winn) away as compensation for your services. But in the American League East, in which the other four teams traded for and signed big-name athletes and sluggers, you announced this guarantee: that your team, which finished 38 games out of first place in 2003, would not end the season last in the division. Your name, by the way, is Lou Pinella.

The 2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays certainly don't look anything like the young team that graced Tropicana Field last season. Sure, there are some familiar faces, but they've matured and are beginning to turn heads. General Manager Chuck LaMar decided to get aggressive and add a few seasoned veterans who will contribute more off the field than on it with their leadership and toughness. While this year may not be the best time to begin climbing up the division ladder, the Rays are attempting to build a team similar to the now-competitive Kansas City Royals. Their strategy: bringing their young stars together with cheap veteran talent.

LaMar has plenty of young offensive weapons, starting with first baseman/designated hitter Aubrey Huff, who wowed fans with a season that showed he's ready to fulfill his potential. Huff hit .311 with 34 dingers and 107 RBIs. He was also 11th in the American League in OPS and finished 7th in slugging percentage. The 27-year-old slugger will benefit greatly from the wisdom of Tampa native Tino Martinez, who was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor league pitching prospect. While the first baseman has lost a step since his days in New York, Tino is bringing a level of grittiness to this young ball club that will benefit everyone.

Huff and Martinez are surrounded by two of the game's most exciting prospects, left fielder Carl Crawford and centerfielder Rocco Baldelli. Crawford will probably lead off this year after stealing 55 bases, leading the AL and trailing only Juan Pierre in the entire league. 22-year-old Baldelli may have struck out 128 times last season, but some plate discipline will help increase his 2003 stats (.289/11/78), which were impressive for such a young outfielder. He added some muscle in the offseason, which will increase his numbers batting third in front of Huff, though his 27 steals may drop as a result.

The rest of the revamped Rays lineup looks more threatening than last year's squad. Right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. was supposed to protect Barry Bonds in San Francisco last year, but he only showed off his great throwing arm. Tampa's coaching staff hopes he'll revert back to 2001 form in which he hit 34 homers and knocked in 88 runs. Third baseman Geoff Blum, tossed aside by the Houston Astros in favor of the younger Morgan Ensberg, will be a solid addition as well. And while shortstop Rey Sanchez and second baseman Julio Lugo may not be the biggest threats in this lineup, they'll make a fun double play combination in the field.

The Rays were able to jettison some of their dead arms, including the biggest disappointment, Joe Kennedy, in the offseason. But Tampa Bay's starting pitching staff is still extremely young. They may benefit from an increase in run support, but there isn't a single big name in the rotation. The best of the bunch, which isn't saying much, was Victor Zambrano, who walked the most batters in the AL with 106 bases-on-balls while posting a respectable 12-10 record on a losing team. Righty Jeremi Gonzalez led all Tampa starters with a 3.91 ERA. The Rays brought in former Giants standout and Australian native Damian Moss, who may have to compete in for a spot in the rotation with former 17-game winner Paul Abbot. Other than this mishmash group of mediocre arms, Tampa Bay's starters don't look too promising. Even John Halama could make a splash in this dismal bunch. The next offseason project for LaMar may be to find a few capable pitchers to match his improved offense.

The Rays' bullpen is a different story, however. They signed former Cleveland Indians closer Danys Baez, who saved only 25 games out of 35 chances for the Tribe last season with an unimpressive 3.81 ERA. If he should falter, Pinella can go to Lance Carter, who made the All-Star team but finished the season with 26 saves. Another 8th or 9th inning option could be another 2003 All-Star and former closer, Mike Williams. While Pinella hopes more save opportunities will be converted, he may have a few heart attacks in the middle of the game since the majority of the arms in Tampa's bullpen are young, from 26-year-old Jesus Colome to Chad Gaudin, a mere 20 years of age.

Though Pinella's motivational guarantee may help the Devil Rays surpass last season's 63 wins, they're still stuck in the logjam that is the AL East. You can guarantee that Chuck LaMar is very well aware that his team needs pitching desperately. But at least this season, fans will start to see a lineup come together and pound the ball while hitting teams with its other weapon, batters with tons of speed. Expect the 2004 Rays to work hard this year and go into the offseason with a lot of hope. Who knows? When the veterans in New York and Boston start to retire, Tampa Bay should begin to push towards the playoffs.