Yet Another Devil Rays Dynasty :D

[sfgiantsflgators]

June 26, 2006

Kazmir Back On Track But Offense The Story In Rays' Win

Scoring

T1: Crawford two run HR; Young walk scores Cantu

T3: Lee two run HR

B4: Willingham double scores Cabrera

T5: Huff solo HR

T6: Crawford foul sacrifice fly scores Young; Cantu fielder's choice, Kazmir scores on error; Huff sacrifice fly scores Upton; Baldelli two run HR

B7: Willingham scores on fielding error

T8: Cantu solo HR

T9: Young double scores Lee; Upton single scores Young; Crawford double scores Upton

W - Kazmir (8-3) L - Nolasco (1-1)

Players of the Game:

Carl Crawford 2-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI

Jorge Cantu 3-6, HR, 2 RBI

Travis Lee 4-5, HR, 2 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

[sfgiantsflgators]

Lowry Struggles Again But Rays Take Series, Move Into Second Place

Following a 15-2 win in game one of the series, the Devil Rays looked to continue their winning ways as they attempt to chase down the Yankees in the East.

In game two, Casey Fossum went up against Florida ace Dontrelle Willis. Fossum was average, giving up five runs (three earned) in five innings, but Willis was yet again on his game. Willis gave up only one run in 8.1 innings, striking out four for the win.

In the rubber match of the series, Tampa sent Noah Lowry out to face Renyel Pinto. Both pitchers pitched well for four innings, but then the offenses took over. Tampa Bay opened up in the fifth for seven runs, including Aubrey Huff's 25 homerun of the season. Florida had an answer though, knocking Lowry out of the game after getting only one out in the inning. The Marlins could only get five runs however, making the score 7-5. Both bullpens allowed a run later in the game and Huston Street pitched the ninth for his eleventh save of the season.

Game 2 Boxscore

Game 3 Boxscore

Leauge Injuries:

CLE SS Jhonny Peralta will miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured ankle.

ATL 2B Marcus Giles will miss at least two months with a torn ACL.

KC 2B Mark Grudzielanek will miss two weeks with a mild concussion.

DET LF Craig Monroe will miss two months with torn MCL.

League Transactions:

DET trades 3B Bradon Inge and 2B Placido Polanco to HOU for SP Juan Gutierrez and 2B Chris Burke.

TEX trades SP John Koronka to CWS for RP Dan Reichert.

[sfgiantsflgators]

Blockbuster Trade Sends Molina, Eckstein To Dodgers

The Cardinals traded SS David Eckstein, C Yadir Molina, and 2B Junior Spivey to the Dodgers today in exchange for RP Yhency Brazoban, SS Wilson Valdez, and 3B Bill Mueller.

[sfgiantsflgators]

[sfgiantsflgators]

Minor League Players of the Month - June:

AAA Pitcher - Jimmy Haynes 6-5, 80.0 IP, 2.59 ERA, 65 SO, 24 BB

AA Pitcher - Dicky Gonzalez 6-4, 81.0 IP, 3.22 ERA, 62 SO, 18 BB

A Pitcher - Jeff Niemann 5-5, 86.0 IP, 1.99 ERA, 70 SO, 16 BB

AAA Hitter - Darnell McDonald .292, 5 HR, 36 RBI

AA Hitter - Ryan Christianson .273, 12 HR, 25 RBI

A Hitter - Luis Mateo .333, 6 HR, 36 RBI

[sfgiantsflgators]

League Leaders:

AVG

American League:

Jeter (NYY) - .343

Rodriguez (NYY) - .340

DeJesus (KC) - .328

Kendall (TB) - .327

Ramirez (BOS) - .327

National League:

Ensberg (HOU) - .350

Pujols (STL) - .347

Koskie (MIL) - .343

Helton (COL) - .340

Vizquel (SF) - .329

Homeruns

Amerian League:

Matsui (NYY) - 26

Huff (TB) - 25

Blalock (TEX) - 21

Rodriguez (NYY) - 20

Cantu (TB) - 19

Wells (TOR) - 19

National League:

Dunn (CIN) - 29

Lee (MIL) - 24

Helton (COL) - 23

Griffey Jr. (CIN) - 22

Ramirez (CHC) - 22

A. Jones (ATL) - 22

RBI

American League:

Cantu (TB) - 70

Rodriguez (NYY) - 70

Sexson (SEA) - 66

Crawford (TB) - 64

Huff (TB) - 63

Matsui (NYY) - 63

National League:

Ensberg (HOU) - 70

Dunn (CIN) - 68

Lee (MIL) - 64

A. Jones (ATL) - 64

C. Jones (ATL) - 62

Stolen Bases

American League

Ichiro (SEA) - 37

Crawford (TB) - 28

Upton (TB) - 20

Sizemore (CLE) - 18

Figgins (ANA) - 17

National League:

Pierre (CHC) - 33

Freel (CIN) - 24

Beltran (NYM) - 19

Ramirez (FLA) - 17

Abreu (PHI) - 17

OBP

American League:

Ramirez (BOS) - .441

Matsui (NYY) - .435

Mauer (MIN) - .434

Giambi (NYY) - .431

Ortiz (BOS) - .420

National League:

Pujols (STL) - .455

Helton (COL) - .453

Willingham (FLA) - .452

Dunn (CIN) - .451

Bonds (SF) - .444

SLG

American League:

Matsui (NYY) - .653

Huff (TB) - .620

Rodriguez (NYY) - .597

Sheffield (NYY) - .587

Blalock (TEX) - .587

National League:

Dunn (CIN) - .719

Helton (COL) - .670

Koskie (MIL) - .642

Hawpe (COL) - .635

Ensberg (HOU) - .633

Wins

American League

Lowry (TB) - 10

Harden (OAK) - 10

Johnson (NYY) - 10

Fossum (TB) - 9

Kazmir (TB) - 8

Many more at 8

National League:

Zambrano (NYM) - 10

Martinez (NYM) - 9

Six tied at 8

ERA

American League:

Halsey (OAK) - 2.46

Maroth (DET) - 2.64

Harden (OAK) - 2.77

Fossum (TB) - 2.86

Washburn (SEA) - 3.13

National League:

Peavy (SD) - 1.82

Ortiz (WAS) - 2.57

Zambrano (NYM) - 2.77

Mulder (STL) - 2.81

Sheets (MIL) - 2.81

Saves

American League:

Nathan (MIN) - 21

Mota (CLE) - 20

Rodriguez (ANA) - 20

Guardado (SEA) - 19

Rivera (NYY) - 19

National League:

Hoffman (SD) - 23

Lidge (HOU) - 21

Belisle (CIN) - 20

Dempster (CHC) - 19

Ramirez (COL) - 18

Hernandez (PIT) - 18

Strikeouts

American League:

Johnson (NYY) - 109

Zito (OAK) - 97

Santana (MIN) - 95

Clemens (CWS) - 92

Moyer (SEA) - 88

National League:

Oswalt (HOU) - 97

Peavy (SD) - 96

Sheets (MIL) - 93

Perez (PIT) - 91

Willis (FLA) - 89

Innings Pitched

American League:

Westbrook (CLE) - 114.2

Buehrle (CWS) - 112.2

Fossum (TB) - 110.0

Halladay (TOR) - 109.2

Bonderman (DET) - 108.1

National League:

Hernandez (WAS) - 119.0

Peavy (SD) - 113.2

Perez (PIT) - 113.0

Willis (FLA) - 112.2

Oswalt (HOU) - 112.0

Sheets (MIL) - 112.0

[sfgiantsflgators]

ALL-STAR VOTE LEADERS - June 30

American League

Catcher

Jason Veritek BOS

Jason Kendall TB

Jorge Posada NYY

Javy Lopez BAL

Victor Martinez CLE

First Base

David Ortiz BOS

Mark Teixeira TEX

Richie Sexson SEA

Shea Hillenbrand TOR

Jason Giambi NYY

Second Base

Jorge Cantu TB

Mark Loretta BOS

Luis Castillo MIN

Brian Roberts BAL

Ron Belliard CLE

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez NYY

Hank Blalock TEX

Aubrey Huff TB

Eric Chavez OAK

Troy Glaus TOR

Shortstop

Derek Jeter NYY

Miguel Tejada BAL

Michael Young TEX

Carlos Guillen DET

Juan Uribe CWS

Outfield

Carl Crawford TB

Hideki Matsui NYY

Gary Sheffield NYY

Manny Ramirez BOS

Johnny Damon NYY

National League

Catcher

Paul Lo Duca NYM

Josh Willingham FLA

Mike Piazza SD

Michael Barrett CHC

Damian Miller MIL

First Base

Todd Helton COL

Carlos Delgado NYM

Albert Pujols STL

Nick Johnson WAS

Derrek Lee CHC

Second Base

Marcus Giles ATL

Ryan Freel CIN

Craig Biggio HOU

Alfonso Soriano WAS

Jeff Kent LAD

Third Base

Morgan Ensberg HOU

Corey Koskie MIL

Chipper Jones ATL

Aramis Ramirez CHC

David Wright NYM

Shortstop

Omar Vizquel SF

Edgar Renteria ATL

Jose Reyes NYM

David Eckstein LAD

Felipe Lopez CIN

Outfield

Adam Dunn CIN

Carlos Beltran NYM

Andruw Jones ATL

Ken Griffey Jr. CIN

Carlos Lee MIL

[sfgiantsflgators]

that's all the updates for tonight finally had a day off work and the giants didn't have a game, so i got quite a few games in. have some big series coming up against the sox and yanks - hopefully i can make a move into first place before the all star break :wtg:

[sfgiantsflgators]

June 30, 2006

[Tomackze]

I think they should just give you the GM of the year award because no one would've guessed the D-rays having a winning record

[sfgiantsflgators]

June 30, 2006

Devil Rays Drop Interleague Matchup Against Nats

Scoring

B6: Soriano double scores Patterson, Guzman; Guillen double scores Soriano

T7: Baldelli double scores Huff

W - Patterson (5- L - Cain (4-6) S - Cordero (10)

Game Notes:

Pedro Feliz, pinch hitting for Dan Smith in the seventh, grounded out with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh...Nationals RF Jose Guillen threw out two runners at home in the game...Chad Cordero struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save.

Players of the Game:

Alfonso Soriano 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

[sfgiantsflgators]

I think they should just give you the GM of the year award because no one would've guessed the D-rays having a winning record

lol - thanks. stupid AL East though - even with the record, i'm 5 games back of the yanks and tied with the sawx...

plus it helps to have an owner that will spend more than 30 mil

[sfgiantsflgators]

Three-Hitter By Kazmir Prevents Sweep

The way the AL East race is playing out, the last thing the Devil Rays needed as they fight to keep pace with the first place Yankees, is a sweep at the hands of a sub-.500 team. But if not for 22-year old ace Scott Kazmir, it would have happened today.

In game two, the Nationals used an eight run sixth inning to ensure a series win. Tampa pitcher Scott Dunn, starting in place of the injured Edwin Jackson, pitched well for the first five innings. It all fell apart in a matter of minutes though, five runs before he could record an out.

Kazmir, like many times already this season, had the eyes of Tampa on him as the city and his team looked to him for hope. And, yet again, he delivered. Going the full nine, Kazmir allowed only three hits and struck out eight, earning his ninth win of the season.

Game 2 Boxscore

Game 3 Boxscore

Leauge Injuries:

LAD 1B Nomar Garciaparra will miss at least a month with a torn meniscus in his right knee.

[sfgiantsflgators]

July 3, 2006

[sfgiantsflgators]

July 3, 2006

Cantu, Fossum Lead Devil Rays Past Boston

Scoring

B6: Huff two run HR

B7: Lee solo HR; Crawford single scores Kendall, Young; Cantu two run HR

B8: Feliz solo HR

W - Fossum (10-5) L - Beckett (5-

Players of the Game:

Jorge Cantu 4-4, HR, 2 RBI

Pedro Feliz 3-4, 2 2B, HR, 1 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

[sfgiantsflgators]

Tampa Bay, Boston Split Four-Gamer

With about a week to go before the All-Star break, the Sox and Rays faced off in a four game series, both trailing the Yankees by 5.5 games. After taking the first two games of the series, the Devil Rays looked poised to stake claim to second place and begin the climb to the summit. Boston wouldn't go down without a fight though, and battled back to force a split.

In game two, the Rays sent Noah Lowry out in search of his eleventh win. He faced off against Boston hurler Matt Clement. Lowry proved to be the better on this day, going eight strong innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out ten. Clement was sharp, going six innings, giving up eight hits and three runs, but reliever Abe Alvarez gave up four in 1.2 innings, giving the Rays a cushioned lead, and the win.

In game three, Tampa jumped out to a 6-2 lead after the first inning, chasing Sox starter David Wells from the game. Boston pulled within two in the third on a homerun by Doug Mirabelli - then it was Matt Cain's turn to yield a big inning. Boston scored four in the fifth, the big blow coming on a three run Trot Nixon homerun. Jonathon Papelbon earned his second win and Keith Foulke grabbed his fourteenth save.

Game four featured rookie pitcher Edwin Jackson making his first start since suffering a minor injury that forced him to miss his last start. He had the luck of facing off against veteran Curt "bloody-sock" Schilling, 6-3 on the year. Jackson pitched well, giving up three runs on seven hits, in 5.1 innings, but didn't get much support as Schilling went eight strong, giving up just one run on seven hits. Foulke earned his fifteenth save as the Rays were forced into the split.

Game 2 Boxscore

Game 3 Boxscore

Game 4 Boxscore

League Suspensions:

SEA SP Gil Meche was suspended for six games.

Leauge Transactions:

KC trades SS Brett Groves, 1B Randall Simon, and 2B Donnie Murphy to SF for 1B Chad Santos, SP Jesus Reina, and LF Dan Ortmeier.

BOS trades RP Abe Alvarez to CLE for SP Jeremy Guthrie.

LAD trade LF Andre Ethier to ATL for SS Elvis Andous.

WAS trades SS Josh Labandeira to HOU for SS Eric Bruntlett.

[Tomackze]

lol - thanks. stupid AL East though - even with the record, i'm 5 games back of the yanks and tied with the sawx...

plus it helps to have an owner that wil spend more than 30 mil

lol thats so true. Check out my dynasty also...

http://mvpmods.com/index.php?name=Forums&f...=21781&start=30

i feel lonely because i dont get any replies on it

[sfgiantsflgators]

Two Blockbuster Trades Open Up July

The first trade occured as the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago Cubs exchanged catchers. The A's sent Dan Johnson to Chicago in exchange for Michael Barret.

The second trade featured many more players and involved the San Diego Padres and Minnesota Twins. The Padres sent SS Khalil Greene, SP Mario Ramos, and LF Ryan Klesko to the Twins while getting LF Shannon Stewart, 2B Luis Castillo, and SP Colby Miller in return. The trade breakdown looks like this:

SD

Shannon Stewart

Luis Castillo

Colby Miller

MIN

Khalil Greene

Mario Ramos

Ryan Klesko

[sfgiantsflgators]

lol thats so true. Check out my dynasty also...

http://mvpmods.com/index.php?name=Forums&f...=21781&start=30

i feel lonely because i dont get any replies on it

yeah, ill check that out.

the best way to tell if your dyanasty is being followed is by looking at how many views it gets. i don't get many replies here, but i know some people look because the amount of views goes up each day :D

[sfgiantsflgators]

July 7, 2006

[sfgiantsflgators]

July 7, 2006

Pena Leads Charge - Johnson Roughed Up In Rays Victory

Scoring

B2: Pena two run HR; Upton grounds into fielder's choice, Lee scores; Crawford reaches on error, Kendall scores; Cantu three run HR

B3: Lee grounds into fielder's choice, Pena scores

T6: Rodriguez solo HR

T8: Rodriguez double scores Jeter; Sheffield single scores Rodriguez

W - Kazmir (10-3) L - Johnson (10-4)

Game Notes:

Wily Mo Pena was a double short of the cycle...This was Scott Kazmir's second straight complete game.

Players of the Game:

Wily Mo Pena 3-4, 3B, HR, 2 RBI

Jorge Cantu 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

[sfgiantsflgators]

Devil Rays End Exciting First Half With Series Win Over Yanks

While a blowout ended the series, preventing the Devil Rays from sweeping the Yankees, Tampa fans have to be proud of their team's first half performance.

Entering the year, most people wrote the Rays off as possible contenders in the strong AL East. With the Blue Jays having made some big off-season acquistions and the Yankees and Red Sox retooled for another playoff run, the Devil Rays were left as an afterthought. But as we enter the all-star break, the Devil Rays are sitting in a position they haven't ever seen - with a chance to make some noise in the second half.

As for the last series before the break, the Devil Rays were in good position to take at least two games from the Bombers, with Casey Fossum and Noah Lowry going in games two and three - both having won at least ten games so far this season.

In game two, it was Fossum going up against Yankee vet Mike Mussina. The Devil Rays jumped on early with a four run first inning - and that would prove to be all that Fossum needed. Fossum went seven, surrendering ten hits and three runs, before looking to Danys Baez and Huston Street to finish his work. Both pitched flawless innings, with Street getting his twelfth save of the year, and Fossum his eleventh win.

Game three saw Lowry going for win twelve against the Yankees' Carl Pavano. As many expected, the Evil Empire wouldn't go home without a fight, and Lowry took the brunt of it. Giving up three in the first, one in the second, and four in the fourth, Lowry was out after 3.1 innings having allowed eleven hits and eight runs. Pavano ensured a Yankee victory with 8.1 strong innings, giving up just three hits and one run.

Game 2 Boxscore

Game 3 Boxscore

League Injuries:

MIN RP Billy Koch was put on the 15 day DL with an MCL sprain.

TEX SP Brian Anderson will miss at least a month with a fractured ankle.

PIT LF Jason Bay was put on the 15 day DL with a strained right forearm.

Leauge Transactions:

KC trades SP J.P. Howell to HOU for CF Preston Wilson.

PHI signs pinch-hitting specialist Lenny Harris to a one year deal worth $200K.

ATL trades SP Dave Coggin to KC for SP Jimmy Gobble.

COL signs RP Eddie Oropesa to a three year deal worth $600K.

[sfgiantsflgators]

Standings at the All-Star Break

[sfgiantsflgators]

All-Star Teams

American League

C - Victor Martinez CLE

1B - Mark Teixeira TEX

2B - Mark Loretta BOS

3B - Alex Rodriguez NYY

SS - Miguel Tejada BAL

LF - Manny Ramirez BOS

LF - Hideki Matsui NYY

RF - Vladimir Guerrero ANA

SP - Rich Harden OAK

SP - Jake Westbrook CLE

SP - Scott Kazmir TB

SP - Brad Halsey OAK

SP - Casey Fossum TB

RP - Francisco Rodriguez ANA

RP - Joe Nathan MIN

RP - Eddie Guardado SEA

RP - Guillermo Mota CLE

C - Jason Varitek BOS

SS - Derek Jeter NYY

CF - Johnny Damon NYY

3B - Hank Blalock TEX

1B - David Ortiz BOS

RF - Gary Sheffield NYY

LF - Carl Crawford TB

National League

C - Paul Lo Duca NYM

1B - Todd Helton COL

2B - Luis Castillo SD

3B - Morgan Ensberg HOU

SS - Edgar Renteria SS

LF - Adam Dunn CIN

CF - Andruw Jones ATL

CF - Ken Griffey Jr. CIN

SP - Ben Sheets MIL

SP - Jake Peavy SD

SP - Dontrelle Willis FLA

SP - Mark Mulder STL

SP - Victor Zambrano NYM

RP - Brad Lidge HOU

RP - Trevor Hoffman SD

RP - Matt Belisle CIN

RP - Ryan Dempster CHC

C - Josh Willingham FLA

1B - Carlos Delgado NYM

CF - Carlos Beltran NYM

LF - Carlos Lee MIL

CF - Jim Edmonds STL

SS - Omar Vizquel SF

3B - Corey Koskie MIL

[sfgiantsflgators]

Yet Another All-Star Game Farce - Cantu Latest In Line Of Snubs

Mickey Brown

I write this as 75% Devil Ray fan, 100% baseball fan - fix the All-Star voting system now!

Every year more and more players are getting snubbed in favor of players that make it for the name on the front of their jersey - not the production that comes out of it.

The latest was Devil Ray second bagger Jorge Cantu, being left off in favor of Boston's Mark Loretta. First, lets look at the stats:

Cantu: 351 AB, .322, 24 HR, 84 RBI, .354 OBP, .584 SLG

Loretta: 365 AB, .301, 9 HR, 53 RBI, .382 OBP, .458 SLG

and just in case some might think it's defense:

Cantu: 81 G, .994 Fldg%, 2 errors, 339 TC

Loretta: 87 G, .989 Fldg%, 4 errors, 373 TC

As you can see, they are fairly close in defense and Cantu has a big lead in the offensive numbers. Yet Loretta is chosen because Boston fans outnumber D-Rays fans.

What do I propose? Keep fan voting - but make it only worth 30% of the total. Managers, GMs, and players votes make up the remaining 70%. While it's a fan event, players that have worked hard all year and have performed like - now get this - All-Stars, should be rewarded for such. Just an angry fans opinion.

Mickey Brown has been a reporter for D-Rays News since the introduction of the franchise. Comments, questions should be directed to mbrown@rays-news.com