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Curse of the Devil (Rays)
By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 8, 2005
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Pitcher Juan Guzman's tenure with the Rays lasted less than two innings.
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[Times photo: Michael Rondou 2000]
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[Times files]
Devil Rays pitcher Tony Saunders writhes on the ground in agony May 26, 1999 after injuring his left arm.
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Photo gallery
What went wrong: What the fans say
400 telephone interviews conducted from Feb. 2 – 12, 2005, from randomly chosen households in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties of people who describe themselves as “baseball fans.”
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Is anyone watching?
The Devil Rays are hoping to rebuild their attendance. Here is how they have drawn for games at Tropicana Field.
Seven-year itch
Through their first seven seasons, the Rays stack up as one of the least successful expansion teams in baseball history. Here are the seven year records.
Keeping pace
A big reason the Devil Rays can’t compete with the Yankees on the field is that they aren’t even in the same ballpark in terms of payroll. Here is a look at how the disparity has grown over the years.
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There have been a lot of curse words in baseball lately.
The Red Sox reversed the most famous curse by winning their first World Series since 1918. The Cubs, who haven't been to the World Series since 1945, are trying harder than ever to break theirs.
But there appears to be another curse in place, one that has added a serious dose of bad luck to the bad decisions, bad planning and bad efforts that have plagued the Devil Rays over their 10 years.
MATT WHITE
The Rays envisioned White as a 20-game winner at the front end of their rotation for years. But eight-plus years later, they are still waiting for him to get to the majors. White has been plagued by back and shoulder injuries, and the Rays haven't gotten much for the record $10.2-million bonus they gave him when he became a free agent due to a loophole in draft rules.
PAUL WILDER
Wilder was a big man who was supposed to be capable of doing big things. But the attention that came with being the Rays first first-round pick in 1996 far exceeded the production. Wilder couldn't stay healthy, never made it out of Class A and was released in 2002.
WILSON ALVAREZ
Alvarez cast a large shadow over the organization, and not just because of his five-year, $35-million contract that is still largest in team history. He spent as much time on the disabled list as the mound and rarely looked to be in shape, winning only 17 games. He joined the Dodgers after being let go and has won 13 games in two seasons.
TONY SAUNDERS
As the first pick in the expansion draft, Saunders was supposed to make headlines. Unfortunately, he did so tragically, breaking his left arm while throwing a pitch in May 1999, then again 15 months later while attempting a comeback. His story, though, could have a happy ending - he's trying another comeback this spring with the Orioles
JOSH HAMILTON
The Rays may have never been more sure about a player than when they made Hamilton the first pick of the 1999 draft. And they may never be more surprised than when his career, which had already been stalled by injury, was derailed by severe drug problems, leading to a lengthy suspension that carries into this season.
JOSE CANSECO
Before becoming a hit author, Canseco used to hit home runs. He was off to a tremendous start in 1999, leading the American League and threatening record pace with 31 homers in 86 games while being chosen for the All-Star team. But after playing the outfield in an interleague game in Miami, he developed back problems and ended up having surgery and missing six weeks.
JUAN GUZMAN
You had to look quickly to catch the Juan Guzman's Devil Rays era -- like the first two innings of the April 7, 2000, game. Signed to a two-year, $12.5-million contract after the Rays were turned down by free agent Aaron Sele, Guzman got five outs in his first start and never pitched again due to a worn out shoulder.
HURRICANE GORDON
If the storm hadn't forced cancellation of the Sept. 17, 2000, game at Tropicana Field, the Rays might have had one more loss, which could have given them the first pick in the 2001 draft rather than the third -- which would have put star pitcher Mark Prior in their rotation rather than Dewon Brazelton.
VINNY CASTILLA
In the four seasons before the Rays acquired Castilla in a trade from Colorado, he averaged 40 homers and 118 RBIs. In 33/4 seasons after being released by the Rays, he averaged 24 homers and 88 RBIs. In the 11/4 seasons he was with the Rays, he had 8 homers and 51 RBIs, hit . 219, and missed 85 games due to injuries. And he made $13-million for stopping by.
NICK BIERBRODT
Bierbrodt, who was Arizona's first pick in 1996, seemed like a solid trade pickup in 2001, a young lefthander with an upside. Control problems sidelined him the next spring, but the real tragedy occurred in June 2002. Bierbrodt, in Charleston, S.C. on a rehab assignment, was sitting in a cab at a fast-food drive-through when he was shot in the arm and chest. He made it back to the majors in 2003, but was let go by the Rays and has struggled elsewhere.
GREG VAUGHN
The Rays signed Vaughn to a four-year, $34-million contract on the strength of what he did the previous two seasons, hitting 50 homers in 1998 and 45 in 1999. With the Rays he hit 60 -- in parts of three seasons -- and was released in spring training 2003.
JASON ROMANO
The Rays traded a decent infield prospect, Antonio Perez, to the Dodgers to arrange what seemed like a happy 2004 homecoming, acquiring the Tampa native to provide depth at second base and shortstop. One problem that senior scout Syd Thrift somehow missed -- Romano hadn't played the infield in a year and wasn't comfortable doing so.
ROCCO BALDELLI
The way Aubrey Huff, Carl Crawford and Baldelli stepped up has been one of the few bright spots for the Rays. Then came a painful misstep in November as Baldelli tore up his left knee while playing baseball in the backyard of his family's Rhode Island home with his 6-year-old brother. He hopes to be back around midseason.
[Last modified March 8, 2005, 06:19:50]
[Last modified March 8, 2005, 17:22:13]
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