2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Preview
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Recreation Sports -> subcategory Other.
2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Season Preview
Overview of 2005
The 2005 season was largely disappointing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, culminating in a dismal final weekend with four consecutive home losses to the Baltimore Orioles. The team wrapped up the year with a 67-96 record, a whopping 28 games behind the Yankees and Red Sox. Among the major changes was the departure of Manager Lou Piniella, who negotiated a buyout of his contract.
Despite the struggles, there were a few bright spots. Sophomore infielder Jorge Cantu (.286 average, 28 home runs, 117 RBIs) and rookie outfielder Jonny Gomes (.282, 21 HRs, 54 RBIs) showed promise, alongside strong performances from Carl Crawford (.301, 15 HRs, 81 RBIs) and Aubrey Huff (.261, 22 HRs, 92 RBIs).
Pitching was a major challenge. The only consistent starter was rookie Scott Kazmir (10-9, 3.77 ERA), acquired from the Mets in 2004. The rest of the rotation struggled, including Mark Hendrickson (11-8, 5.90), Casey Fossum (8-12, 4.92), and Seth McClung (7-11, 6.59). Closer Danys Baez (5-4, 2.86) managed to save 41 games, an achievement given the team's overall difficulties.
Off-Season Moves
The off-season brought modest changes. A fan poll on the Devil Rays' website asked which new acquisition would make the biggest impact: Sean Burroughs, Chad Harville, or Ty Wigginton. Burroughs hit .282 with 17 RBIs in 2005, while Wigginton struggled with the Pirates, leading to a stint in the minors. Chad Harville's career record stood at 4-7 with a 5.01 ERA.
On January 14th, closer Danys Baez was traded to the LA Dodgers for pitcher Edwin Jackson (2-2, 6.28 ERA). The team also signed Kansas City free agent pitcher Shawn Camp (1-4, 6.43 ERA) to a one-year deal, which wasn't exactly inspiring for fans.
2006 Outlook
With new manager Joe Maddon at the helm, there's hope for improvement in 2006. The Devil Rays' offense was a relative strength, posting a .274 batting average and scoring 750 runs in 2005. However, pitching remains a concern, with the same starters returning from last year. The bullpen includes Travis Harper (4-6, 6.75), Jesus Colome (2-3, 4.57), Chad Orvella (3-3, 3.60), Tim Corcoran (5.96 ERA in 10 games), and Dan Miceli (1-2, 5.89).
The team is also inviting several non-roster pitchers to spring training, hoping to discover hidden gems. Rebuilding will take time, so patience will be key for Devil Rays fans.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: 2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Preview.
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