Last night, ESPN's Outside the Lines aired a report on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The fans are growing irritated with the franchise, particularly owner Vince Namioli. The team has not increased payroll the last few years despite previous promises to do so. Manager Lou Pinella seems to grow more and more frustrated with his team's play. However, the Devil Rays are among the most profitable teams in baseball. Owner Namioli seems content to simply place a team on the field and cash his checks.

 

Unmentioned in the report is the poor decision making and roster management utilized by the Devil Rays front office. The report did mention the failed attempt to win and draw fans by signing sluggers Fred McGriff, Jose Canseco, Vinny Castilla, and Greg Vaughn. That movement failed because those players were little besides power hitters, and even then they WERE great power hitters, past their prime.

 

Today, the Devil Rays continually sign washed up players who have nothing to offer besides a name. Players released by their former teams because they were not worth even a roster slot quickly become residents of Tampa Bay. This season alone, the Devil Rays signed C Charles Johnson (.205/.340/.295 in 44 at bats), OF Alex Sanchez (.346/.375/.472 in 127 at bats), and SP Hideo Nomo (6.61 ERA). Yeah, the Sanchez signing does look good. Still, quality talent takes a back seat in this organization. Jonny Gomes is hitting .340/.470/.715 in Durham, yet he sits in AAA while the team calls up OF Reggie Taylor.

 

The Devil Rays have a slew of young talent, including Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, B.J. Upton, Jonny Gomes, and Scott Kazmir. But unless there are some changes in the front office and this team's approach, they are going to blow it.

Don't forget Delmon Young. Peter Gammons said that he thinks he'll be a September callup. Just more than 2 years after his HS graduation.

 

I think even the D-Rays can't mess him up.

Of course, they could always trade him for Kevin Stocker or someone like that.

The team's a joke and I don't mind Sweet Lou speaking out against management.

 

They released Charles Johnson today and designated Alex Sanchez for assignment. That's a start, right?

If Sanches is hitting .346, then why did they release him?

 

Sucks for Charles, he's been released twice this year.

I think the Brewers are still the worst team in baseball.

Not by a longshot. I don't know what your reasoning for that is, but they're one of those bad teams that shows a lot of potential. That Richie Sexson trade helped boost their young talent and now it's starting to show. They've got one of the best pens in baseball, an ace in Ben Sheets, and some solid players in Carlos Lee, Brady Clark, and Lyle Overbay. I wouldn't even call them the worst team in the NL Central.

They were completely dead in the water for all but a season or two in the 90s. They haven't shown any potential for improvement except for the last season or two.

The Brewers acquired a new general manager, and they have a ton of young talent coming up the ladder. Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Jose Capellan, Dave Krynzel, etc. Plus, they have one of the league's top young pitchers in Ben Sheets.

 

There are far worse franchises out there right now.

Off the top of my head, I'd say these teams are worse or worse off than the Brewers:

 

- D-Rays

- Royals

- Mariners

- A's

- Reds

- Rockies

The Athletics and Mariners are relatively well-run, just in a down period. The Rockies haven't figured out how to win, but no one else has either.

I'd even say the Pirates are worse than the Brewers, even though they have a better record. The Brewers have had some hard luck this year, but I think they can pull it together to make a legitimate wild card run. Sheets, Davis, Capuano, and Santos make a very underrated front four in the rotation.

The Pirates have a fine potential pitching staff of their own. Oliver Perez, along with Ian Snell and Zach Duke (18-3 combined at AAA), and Sean Burnett and John VanBenschoten coming off the DL after this season.

The Reds aren't really the worst team in baseball. They've had a rough couple of years but that has a lot to do with every free agent signing blowing up in their face for the most part.

 

I think despite the two World Series the Marlins are a horribly run team for most of their history. I'd agree with Colorado and Pittsburgh being horribly run teams as well.

Here's a key question though through all of this. Is there an argument that any of these teams are worse than the Devil Rays?

I think you could safely say Colorado is at least. Tampa Bay still has some prospects in the minors going for them.

I think you could safely say Colorado is at least.  Tampa Bay still has some prospects in the minors going for them.

Colorado does as well. Ian Stewart, Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Chris Nelson and Jeff Francis. Their lack of success hasn't been a result of stupidity as much as they just struggle to win in the thin air of Coors.

I think there might be a credible argument lurking around somewhere for the Kansas City Royals being in there, as the Devil Rays at least have some semblance of a burgeoning youth movement. The Royals might have the quantity, with Greinke, DeJesus, Gotay, Teahen, Buck, and co., but I don't think anybody, save for Greinke, has the upside of a Delmon Young or a Scott Kazmir.

I wonder if the Devil Rays will be up for contraction the next time owners start whining about out of control spending.

 

EDIT: Basically my main justification for defending them is due to the Zambrano for Kazmir trade from last year.

I think you could safely say Colorado is at least.  Tampa Bay still has some prospects in the minors going for them.

Colorado does as well. Ian Stewart, Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Chris Nelson and Jeff Francis. Their lack of success hasn't been a result of stupidity as much as they just struggle to win in the thin air of Coors.

Well, they struggle to win everywhere, not just Coors. In fact, they're hovering at around .500 on the road, while turning in an abysmal 4-23 road record.

 

And though part of it has to do with the adjustment between climates, a good deal of it has to do with the roster construction as well. There might be five pitchers on the roster that are above replacement level, while castoffs like Desi Relaford hold significant roles on the roster (this, admittedly, has been less of a factor this year). This isn't a revelation - other than the Blake Street Bombers, who were loaded up to impress a new market, this team has really never been built to really win.

I think you could safely say Colorado is at least.  Tampa Bay still has some prospects in the minors going for them.

Colorado does as well. Ian Stewart, Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Chris Nelson and Jeff Francis. Their lack of success hasn't been a result of stupidity as much as they just struggle to win in the thin air of Coors.

Well, they struggle to win everywhere, not just Coors. In fact, they're hovering at around .500 on the road, while turning in an abysmal 4-23 road record.

 

And though part of it has to do with the adjustment between climates, a good deal of it has to do with the roster construction as well. There might be five pitchers on the roster that are above replacement level, while castoffs like Desi Relaford hold significant roles on the roster (this, admittedly, has been less of a factor this year). This isn't a revelation - other than the Blake Street Bombers, who were loaded up to impress a new market, this team has really never been built to really win.

This year they have struggled with injuries. I think the problem is that the Rockies have lacked a solid bullpen, the one thing they had when they did make a playoff run back in 1995. The Rockies' big concern is that they have seemed unable to stick to a plan.

If Sanches is hitting .346, then why did they release him?

 

Sucks for Charles, he's been released twice this year.

Basically the Devil Rays finally decided to give Jonny Gomes a shot. Good.

Some Guy does raise a good point, though. Even though Sanchez is a terrible outfielder who is slugging well above his career average (he actually has around a .800 OPS), why not try to peddle him to a team like the Yankees who are scrambling for OF help? So what if you get a C level prospect? It's better than watching Sanchez clear waivers and get away scot-free.

That's true. The Devil Rays are letting go of Sanchez at the height of his value.

And in that case, I'll redirect everyone to the first post of this thread.