1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season
Encyclopedia
The 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season was their first season in franchise history. This season, they finished last in the AL East
division and finished the season with a record of 63-99. Their manager
was Larry Rothschild
.
As of , Randy Winn
and Miguel Cairo
were the last two players from the inaugural Tampa Bay team still playing in Major League Baseball. Cairo is the only active player remaining from the Opening Day roster.
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
division and finished the season with a record of 63-99. Their manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
was Larry Rothschild
Larry Rothschild
Lawrence Lee Rothschild is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager. He currently serves as the pitching coach of the New York Yankees.-Playing career:...
.
As of , Randy Winn
Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
and Miguel Cairo
Miguel Cairo
Miguel Jesús Cairo is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds. He has mostly played second base during his career, but has played every position in baseball except catcher and pitcher. He currently plays mostly third base, in place of Scott Rolen during his...
were the last two players from the inaugural Tampa Bay team still playing in Major League Baseball. Cairo is the only active player remaining from the Opening Day roster.
Offseason
- March 11, 1997: Luis Polonia was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- May 10, 1997: Pete Laforest was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- June 3, 1997: Jason Standridge was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1st round (31st pick) of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1997.
- June 3, 1997: Kenny Kelly was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1997.
- November 11, 1997: Mike Kelly was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for a player to be named later. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays sent Dmitri Young (November 18, 1997) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
- December 9, 1997: Wade BoggsWade BoggsWade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. - December 16, 1997: Scott McClainScott McClainScott Michael McClain is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who is a scout in Nippon Professional Baseball....
was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. - December 18, 1997: Josias Manzanillo was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- January 27, 1998: Dave Silvestri was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- January 27, 1998: Jerome WaltonJerome WaltonJerome O'Terrell Walton is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , California Angels , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Round 1
| Pick | Player | Position | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Saunders Tony Saunders Anthony Scott "Tony" Saunders is a retired American Major League baseball pitcher for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. He was the first player selected by the-then Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the expansion draft.... |
LHP Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... |
Fla Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at... |
TB |
| 4 | Quinton McCracken Quinton McCracken Quinton Antoine McCracken is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball, and was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise's first center fielder and batter on March 31, 1998.... |
OF Outfielder Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder... |
Col Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
TB |
| 6 | Bobby Abreu Bobby Abreu Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu , nicknamed "El Comedulce" and also "La Luche", is a Major League Baseball left fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.... |
OF | Hou Houston Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... |
TB |
| 8 | Miguel Cairo Miguel Cairo Miguel Jesús Cairo is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds. He has mostly played second base during his career, but has played every position in baseball except catcher and pitcher. He currently plays mostly third base, in place of Scott Rolen during his... |
2B Second baseman Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base... |
CHC Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... |
TB |
| 10 | Rich Butler Rich Butler Richard Dwight Butler is a former outfielder for the Major League Baseball Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays... |
OF | Tor Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
TB |
| 12 | Bobby Smith | 3B | Atl Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
TB |
| 14 | Jason Johnson Jason Johnson Jason Michael Johnson is starting pitcher for the Camden Riversharksin the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He throws and bats right-handed.-Career:... |
RHP | Pit Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... |
TB |
| 16 | Dmitri Young Dmitri Young Dmitri Dell Young is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Young is 6'2" and 275 pounds... |
1B First baseman First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team... |
Cin Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890.... |
TB |
| 18 | Esteban Yan Esteban Yan Esteban Luis Yan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League... |
RHP | Bal Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league... |
TB |
| 20 | Mike DiFelice Mike DiFelice Michael William DiFelice is a former Major League Baseball journeyman catcher and is currently the manager of the Rookie-level Kingsport Mets in the New York Mets organization. He is a graduate from the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round of the... |
C | StL St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to... |
TB |
| 22 | Bubba Trammell Bubba Trammell Thomas Bubba Trammell was a Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee.... |
OF | Det Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant... |
TB |
| 24 | Andy Sheets Andy Sheets Andrew Mark Sheets is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners , San Diego Padres , Anaheim Angels , Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He played first base for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp , and Hanshin Tigers , of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.... |
IF | Sea Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... |
TB |
| 26 | Dennis Springer Dennis Springer Dennis Leroy Springer is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was known for his use of the knuckleball... |
RHP | Ana Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles... |
TB |
| 28 | Dan Carlson Dan Carlson Daniel Steven Carlson is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 33rd round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut for them in . He also pitched one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in... |
RHP | SF San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
TB |
Round 2
| Pick | Player | Position | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Brian Boehringer Brian Boehringer Brian Edward Boehringer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , and Pittsburgh Pirates . He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was drafted in the tenth round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros, but... |
RHP | NYY | TB |
| 32 | Mike Duvall Mike Duvall Michael Alan Duvall was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft, and pitched parts of four seasons in the majors for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins.- External links :... |
LHP | Fla | TB |
| 34 | John LeRoy John LeRoy John Michael LeRoy is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played one game with the Atlanta Braves on September 26, 1997, throwing two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and three walks while striking out three more and picking up the victory. LeRoy died on June 25, 2001 in Sioux City,... |
RHP | Atl | TB |
| 36 | Jim Mecir Jim Mecir James Jason Mecir is an American former baseball player. He played for five teams in an 11-year career, and retired from the Florida Marlins in . He was a right-handed pitcher.... |
RHP | Bos | TB |
| 38 | Bryan Rekar Bryan Rekar Bryan Robert Rekar was a pitcher for the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Kansas City Royals.- External links :... |
RHP | Col | TB |
| 40 | Rick Gorecki Rick Gorecki Richard John Gorecki is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Gorecki was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 19th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft.-External links:... |
RHP | LA | TB |
| 42 | Ramón Tatis Ramon Tatis Ramón Francisco Tatis Medrano is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1990 and played parts of two seasons in the majors, and . He also played in Japan for the Nippon Ham Fighters in .- External links :... |
LHP | CHC | TB |
| 44 | Kerry Robinson Kerry Robinson Kerry Keith Robinson is a former American professional baseball player. Robinson started at an early age playing baseball for N.Y.A. in St. Louis MO... |
OF | StL | TB |
| 46 | Steve Cox Steve Cox Charles Steven Cox is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.... |
1B | Oak | TB |
| 48 | Albie Lopez Albie Lopez Albert Anthony "Albie" Lopez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Mesa Community College. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. Lopez was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second round of the expansion... |
RHP | Cle | TB |
| 50 | Jose Paniagua José Paniagua José Luis Paniagua Sánchez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who had his most prominent years with the Seattle Mariners organization. His most recent major league stint consisted of one game with the Chicago White Sox in . As a member of the Chicago White Sox, Paniagua came in with a 6... |
RHP | Mon | TB |
| 52 | Carlos Mendoza Carlos Mendoza Carlos Ramón Mendoza is a former professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies , primarily as an outfielder... |
OF | NYM | TB |
| 54 | Ryan Karp Ryan Karp Ryan Jason Karp was a major league pitcher.-Baseball career:Karp was born Jewish, to Harvey Karp, a Beverly Hills commodities broker. Out of high school Karp was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 73rd round of the 1989 amateur player draft... |
LHP | Phi | TB |
| 56 | Santos Hernandez Santos Hernández Santos Secundino Hernández was a baseball relief pitcher who is most notable for being on Panama's roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He played professionally from 1994 to 2007.... |
RHP | SF | TB |
Round 3
| Pick | Player | Position | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | Randy Winn Randy Winn Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays... |
OF | Fla | TB |
| 60 | Terrell Wade Terrell Wade Hawatha Terrell Wade was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.Wade was signed by the Atlanta Braves originally as a free agent in 1991. Wade earned a World Series ring by pitching in three games in 1995, a total of four innings... |
LHP | Atl | TB |
| 62 | Aaron Ledesma Aaron Ledesma Aaron David Ledesma was a Major League Baseball infielder.-Playing career:Ledesma was drafted in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Mets. Prior to the 1996 season, he was traded by the Mets to the California Angels for Kevin Flora... |
IF | Bal | TB |
| 64 | Brooks Kieschnick Brooks Kieschnick Michael Brooks Kieschnick is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a relief pitcher and left-handed pinch hitter... |
OF | CHC | TB |
| 66 | Luke Wilcox | OF | NYY | TB |
| 68 | Herbert Perry Herbert Perry Herbert Edward Perry, Jr. is a former American college and professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for all or part of nine season during the 1990s and 2000s... |
IF | Cle | TB |
| 70 | Vaughn Eshelman Vaughn Eshelman Vaughn Michael Eshelman is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1995 through 1997 for the Boston Red Sox... |
LHP | Oak | TB |
Regular season
- June 22, 1998 - The first interleagueInterleague playInterleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
game between the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays took place at Tropicana FieldTropicana FieldTropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
. The rivalry would be known as the Citrus SeriesCitrus SeriesThe Citrus Series is the name given to the interleague series between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball. The Marlins broke into the league in as the Florida Marlins, while the Rays had their first season in as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The first meeting between the two...
. The Marlins won the game in twelve innings by a score of 3-2.
Opening Day starters
- Wilson AlvarezWilson AlvarezWilson Eduardo Álvarez Fuenmayor is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...
- Wade BoggsWade BoggsWade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
- Miguel CairoMiguel CairoMiguel Jesús Cairo is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds. He has mostly played second base during his career, but has played every position in baseball except catcher and pitcher. He currently plays mostly third base, in place of Scott Rolen during his...
- John FlahertyJohn FlahertyJohn Timothy Flaherty is a television baseball broadcaster and a retired Major League Baseball player. Flaherty was a catcher, and last played in the major leagues for the New York Yankees.-Early life:...
- Mike Kelly
- Dave Martinez
- Quinton McCrackenQuinton McCrackenQuinton Antoine McCracken is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball, and was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise's first center fielder and batter on March 31, 1998....
- Fred McGriffFred McGriffFrederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
- Paul SorrentoPaul SorrentoPaul Anthony Sorrento is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
- Kevin StockerKevin StockerKevin Douglas Stocker is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitter. Stocker played with the Philadelphia Phillies , Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels ....
Notable transactions
- May 26, 1998: Jerome Walton was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- June 2, 1998: Aubrey Huff was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 5th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1998.
- July 1, 1998: Josias Manzanillo was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Roster
| 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches (First Base) (Third Base) (Pitching) (Bullpen) |
||||||
Game log
| Game Log | |
|---|---|
Player stats
| = Indicates team leader |
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In; SB = Stolen Bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | Avg. | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | John Flaherty | 91 | 304 | 21 | 63 | 3 | 24 | .207 | 0 |
| 1B | Fred McGriff | 151 | 564 | 73 | 160 | 19 | 81 | .284 | 7 |
| 2B | Miguel Cairo | 150 | 515 | 49 | 138 | 5 | 46 | .268 | 19 |
| 3B | Bobby Smith | 117 | 370 | 44 | 102 | 11 | 55 | .276 | 5 |
| SS | Kevin Stocker | 112 | 336 | 37 | 70 | 6 | 25 | .208 | 5 |
| LF | Quinton McCracken | 155 | 614 | 77 | 179 | 7 | 59 | .292 | 19 |
| CF | Randy Winn | 109 | 338 | 51 | 94 | 1 | 17 | .278 | 26 |
| RF | Dave Martinez | 90 | 309 | 31 | 79 | 3 | 20 | .256 | 8 |
| DH | Paul Sorrento | 137 | 435 | 40 | 98 | 17 | 57 | .225 | 2 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | Avg. | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Boggs | 123 | 435 | 51 | 122 | 7 | 52 | .280 | 3 |
| Rich Butler | 72 | 217 | 25 | 49 | 7 | 20 | .226 | 4 |
| Tim Laker | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 | 0 |
| Kerry Robinson | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Dave Silvestri | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .071 | 0 |
| Bubba Trammell | 59 | 199 | 28 | 57 | 12 | 35 | .286 | 0 |
| Jerome Walton | 12 | 34 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 3 | .324 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|
Team leaders
- Home Runs – Fred McGriff (19)
- Runs Batted In - Fred McGriff (81)
- Batting Average - Aaron Ledesma (.324)
- Hits - Quinton McCracken (179)
- Stolen Bases - Randy Winn (26)
- Walks - Fred McGriff (79)
- Wins - Rolando Arrojo (14)
- Strikeouts - Tony Saunders (172)
- Earned Run Average - Albie Lopez (2.60)
- Saves - Roberto Hernández (26)