***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:28 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Here are the transactions that took place before Spring Training:

* Released OF Greg Vaughn (Thank GOD)

* Traded SP Joe Kennedy and CL Lance Carter to Cincinnati for CF Ken Griffey Jr. and SS Felipe Lopez

* Signed CL John Rocker (2 yrs / 12 pts)

* Signed DH David Justice (1 yr / 26 pts)

* Released 1B Lee Stevens

* Signed SP Chuck Finley (1 yr / 29 pts)

* Traded 3 prospects to St. Louis for SP Rick Ankiel

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:28 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Here are the transactions that took place before Spring Training:

* Released OF Greg Vaughn (Thank GOD)

* Traded SP Joe Kennedy and CL Lance Carter to Cincinnati for CF Ken Griffey Jr. and SS Felipe Lopez

* Signed CL John Rocker (2 yrs / 12 pts)

* Signed DH David Justice (1 yr / 26 pts)

* Released 1B Lee Stevens

* Signed SP Chuck Finley (1 yr / 29 pts)

* Traded 3 prospects to St. Louis for SP Rick Ankiel

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:33 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

25-Man Roster

Manager: Lou Piniella

C Toby Hall
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Brent Abernathy
SS Felipe Lopez
3B Jared Sandberg
LF Carl Crawford
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
RF Ben Grieve
DH David Justice

C Hector Ortiz
SS Rey Ordonez
1B Travis Lee
OF Jason Conti
OF Jason Tyner

1. Chuck Finley
2. Dewon Brazelton
3. Jim Parque
4. Travis Harper
5. Rick Ankiel

CL John Rocker
MR Kevin McGlinchy
MR Bobby Seay
MR Travis Phelps
MR Victor Zambrano
LR Blake Stein

Pitching appears to be my major weakness

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:33 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

25-Man Roster

Manager: Lou Piniella

C Toby Hall
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Brent Abernathy
SS Felipe Lopez
3B Jared Sandberg
LF Carl Crawford
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
RF Ben Grieve
DH David Justice

C Hector Ortiz
SS Rey Ordonez
1B Travis Lee
OF Jason Conti
OF Jason Tyner

1. Chuck Finley
2. Dewon Brazelton
3. Jim Parque
4. Travis Harper
5. Rick Ankiel

CL John Rocker
MR Kevin McGlinchy
MR Bobby Seay
MR Travis Phelps
MR Victor Zambrano
LR Blake Stein

Pitching appears to be my major weakness

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:41 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays Lose Home Opener 7-6 in 11 Innings

March 31st, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave it everything they had, but came away with their first loss of the season after losing to the Boston Red Sox 7-6 in 11 innings of play.

Ken Griffey Jr. got things going for the Devil Rays in the bottom of the 1st inning when he connected for a 2-run homerun to right. This was Griffey's first at-bat as a Devil Ray...welcome to Tampa Bay!

The Devil Rays took a 2-1 lead into the 8th inning of play. Jeremy Giambia doubled down the left field line to score 2 and the Red Sox had the lead 3-2 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Lou Piniella called for a squeeze play in the bottom of the 8th, scoring a run and things were locked 3-3.

The Red Sox took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 9th after a double by Nomar Garciaparra scored 2 runs, but The Devil Rays fought back. Ben Grieve hit a monster shot with two down in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.

Garciaparra doubled again in the top of the 11th, scoring 2 more runs. Tampa Bay scored 1 in the bottom half of the 1th, but couldn't muster anything more and lost 7-6.

BOS 7 13 1
TAM 6 8 1

WP: Bob Howry (1-1)
LP: John Rocker (0-1)

Home Runs:
Ken Griffey Jr. (1)
Ben Grieve (1)

Current Record: 0-1
Next Up: vs. Red Sox

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:41 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays Lose Home Opener 7-6 in 11 Innings

March 31st, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave it everything they had, but came away with their first loss of the season after losing to the Boston Red Sox 7-6 in 11 innings of play.

Ken Griffey Jr. got things going for the Devil Rays in the bottom of the 1st inning when he connected for a 2-run homerun to right. This was Griffey's first at-bat as a Devil Ray...welcome to Tampa Bay!

The Devil Rays took a 2-1 lead into the 8th inning of play. Jeremy Giambia doubled down the left field line to score 2 and the Red Sox had the lead 3-2 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Lou Piniella called for a squeeze play in the bottom of the 8th, scoring a run and things were locked 3-3.

The Red Sox took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 9th after a double by Nomar Garciaparra scored 2 runs, but The Devil Rays fought back. Ben Grieve hit a monster shot with two down in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.

Garciaparra doubled again in the top of the 11th, scoring 2 more runs. Tampa Bay scored 1 in the bottom half of the 1th, but couldn't muster anything more and lost 7-6.

BOS 7 13 1
TAM 6 8 1

WP: Bob Howry (1-1)
LP: John Rocker (0-1)

Home Runs:
Ken Griffey Jr. (1)
Ben Grieve (1)

Current Record: 0-1
Next Up: vs. Red Sox

**EChavez** · 03-27-2003, 11:46 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

I like what you're doing with the franchise. Getting Griffey was a great move IMO. Now all you need is some pitching and you'll be competing with the Yanks in no time. Good luck and I look forward to reading your thread...

**EChavez** · 03-27-2003, 11:46 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

I like what you're doing with the franchise. Getting Griffey was a great move IMO. Now all you need is some pitching and you'll be competing with the Yanks in no time. Good luck and I look forward to reading your thread...

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:47 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays Win First Game of 2003

April 1st, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - This is no April Fool's joke. The Devil Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-0 today and claimed their first victory under manager Lou Piniella.

Dewon Brazelton was perfect through 6 innings before giving up a lead-off single to Johnny Damon in the top of the 7th innings of play. Brazelton pitched his first complete game/shut out of his career.

BOS 0 3 0
TAM 6 16 1

WP: Dewon Brazelton (1-0)
LP: Derek Lowe (0-1)

Player of the Game:

Dewon Brazelton 9IP, OER, 3H, 6K

Current Record: 1-1
Next up: vs. Red Sox

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:47 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays Win First Game of 2003

April 1st, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - This is no April Fool's joke. The Devil Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-0 today and claimed their first victory under manager Lou Piniella.

Dewon Brazelton was perfect through 6 innings before giving up a lead-off single to Johnny Damon in the top of the 7th innings of play. Brazelton pitched his first complete game/shut out of his career.

BOS 0 3 0
TAM 6 16 1

WP: Dewon Brazelton (1-0)
LP: Derek Lowe (0-1)

Player of the Game:

Dewon Brazelton 9IP, OER, 3H, 6K

Current Record: 1-1
Next up: vs. Red Sox

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:49 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

EChavez...if only I had Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito.

You're lucky!

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:49 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

EChavez...if only I had Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito.

You're lucky!

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:57 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays edge Red Sox 1-0

April 2nd, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - Tim Wakefield and Jim Parque faced off in a classic pitcher's duel. Neither pitcher allowed a run through 8 innings of play. The Red Sox stranded 2 runners in the top of the 9th and the game appeared to be headed for extra innings.

Felipe Lopez walked with 2 outs. Ken Griffey Jr. singled to right center. Runners were at first and third with David Justice coming to the plate. Justice lined a 3-2 pitch off the wall in center and the Devil Rays improved to 2-1 in 2003.

BOS 0 3 0
TAM 1 5 0

WP: Parque (1-0)
LP: Wakefield (0-1)

Player of the Game:

Jim Parque: 9IP, OER, 3H, 5K

Current Record: 2-1
Next Up: vs. Red Sox

**CNLJ1981** · 03-27-2003, 11:57 AM

Re: ***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

Devil Rays edge Red Sox 1-0

April 2nd, 2003
Associated Press

Tampa, FL - Tim Wakefield and Jim Parque faced off in a classic pitcher's duel. Neither pitcher allowed a run through 8 innings of play. The Red Sox stranded 2 runners in the top of the 9th and the game appeared to be headed for extra innings.

Felipe Lopez walked with 2 outs. Ken Griffey Jr. singled to right center. Runners were at first and third with David Justice coming to the plate. Justice lined a 3-2 pitch off the wall in center and the Devil Rays improved to 2-1 in 2003.

BOS 0 3 0
TAM 1 5 0

WP: Parque (1-0)
LP: Wakefield (0-1)

Player of the Game:

Jim Parque: 9IP, OER, 3H, 5K

Current Record: 2-1
Next Up: vs. Red Sox

***From worst to FIRST? A Journey Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

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