After eight years with almost no notable accomplishments, the Devil Rays franchise virtually started over this winter with a new owner, Stuart Sternberg; a new general manager, Andrew Friedman; a new manager, Joe Maddon; a new marketing slogan, "Under Construction"; and what Devil Rays fans have to hope is a new outlook.
The final season of the Chuck LaMar administration — the franchise's only GM — was more of the same, with 67 wins, hopeful performances by a spate of youngsters, but not enough talent around them to build momentum. Young second base-man Jorge Cantu, who had a team-record 117 RBIs, and rookie outfielder Jonny Gomes both looked like Devil Rays fixtures for years to come. And lefthander Scott Kazmir, who pitched the whole season at 21, was dominant at times, striking out 174 batters in 186 innings and compiling a 3.77 ERA. Manager Lou Piniella, once seen as a savior for the franchise, grew tired of the building project and was bought out of his contract.
The old administration made another misstep in alienating two of its best prospects, BJ. Upton and Delmon Young, by not calling them to the major leagues in September, but the new group smoothed things over with both players and seemed to bring new hope to the franchise. They have plenty of young talent to work with, but building around it and contending in the American League East is a daunting project. |
