Tampa Bay Devil Rays
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2000 RECORD: 69-92 (5th IN AL EAST)

REVIEW
A season that began with so much promise ended like all the rest for the Devil Rays. The front page of their 2000 Media Guide proudly displayed the formidable power of GREG VAUGHN, FRED McGRIFF, JOSE CANSECO and VINNY CASTILLA. They even had the gaul to compare them to some of the great slugging teams in baseball history. Instead, injuries and age sapped the Rays power, and the team's .257 average was the worst in the league. Injuries also cost them veteran starters JUAN GUZMAN and WILSON ALVAREZ, who pitched a grand total of 1.2 innings in 2000. The biggest surprise was centerfielder GERALD WILLIAMS, who became just the seventh leadoff hitter in history to have 20 home runs and 80 RBI.

LOOKAHEAD
In order to upgrade their sagging offense G.M. CHUCK LaMAR dealt for former Rookie of the Year BEN GRIEVE and his 104 RBI bat. But it cost them their closer ROBERTO HERNANDEZ and his 32 saves. His departure leaves ESTEBAN YAN, with one career save, as their closer. 11-game winner ALBIE LOPEZ heads the rotation, but after that it's wide open. One player to watch is second baseman BRENT ABERNATHY, who they acquired from the Blue Jays for STEVE TRACHSEL. ABERNATHY impressed alot of scouts with his performance in the Sydney Olympics. In only their fourth season in existence, help should start to come from the minors, but that is about a year away.

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
He's the only manager that they've known, but LARRY ROTHSCHILD is clearly on the hot seat. After losing 99, 93 and 92 games, this team must improve significantly to save ROTHSCHILD's job. But after looking at the roster, and the fact that the unbalanced schedule means they'll face the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays a grand total of 57 games, there's not much hope of that.

STATS MAN SAYS
Too many question marks > 5th