A New Day in the Bay: Hamilton's Rays

[Josh_Hamilton]

Hey, new to the forums, veteran of the game! I just downloaded HoustonGM's facepack and rosters and I love it! I've already started a dynasty and didn't think I would post, so, I'm halfway through my first season with the Rays. And yes, I'm not only using the Rays for a challenge, but, I'm also a Rays die-hard! Anyway, I'm halfway through the season so I'm going to pick up right where I am. In the next post I'll update you on stats, trades, call-ups, DFA's, etc. Hope you enjoy, I'll update as much as I possibly can...which should be each day.

Settings:

Game Difficulty: Manager
PBP/Manager Difficulty: Manager

Hope you enjoy!

[HoustonGM]

btw, i suggest downloading ChrisJNelson's hi-res photos and placing them over my portraits. All players that have hi-res photos will be repalced with the hi-res shots, and all the other players will still be there.

[Josh_Hamilton]

UPDATE:

Calendar Date: July 22nd 2006
Cash: $8,978,990
Record: 43-52 (Last AL East; 13.0 GB)


Stats:
Team BA: .263
Team ERA: 4.44

Team Leaders:

Batting Avg. T-1st Russell Branyan/Josh Paul (.291) - Pathetic I know!
OBP: Russell Branyan (.381)
SLG: Russell Branyan (.553)
Runs: Julio Lugo (58)
Hits: Rocco Baldelli (101)
2B: Julio Lugo (22)
3B: Carl Crawford (7)
HR: T-1st Jonny Gomes/Ty Wigginton (17)
RBI: Jonny Gomes (68)
BB: Jonny Gomes (39)
SB: Carl Crawford (23)

Wins: Scott Kazmir (7)
Losses: Casey Fossum (8)
ERA: Chad Harville (2.88)
IP: Scott Kazmir (127.1)
Runs: Chad Harville (18)
ER: Chad Harville (18)
HR: Travis Harper (3)
BB: Travis Harper (13)
K's: Scott Kazmir (131)
BAA: Chad Harville (.234)
SV: Travis Harper (17)

Rotation:
1. Scott Kazmir
2. Casey Fossum
3. Jae Seo
4. Chris Seddon (Just called up; Only 1 ML Start thus far)
5. James Shields

Bullpen:
Long Relief - Doug Waechter
Middle Relief - Jon Switzer (Just called up)
Short Relief - Chad Harville/Rudy Lugo (*Lugo just called up)
Set-up - Brian Meadows
Closer - Travis Harper

Lineup:
1. Julio Lugo SS
2. Carl Crawford LF
3. Jorge Cantu 2B
4. Jonny Gomes RF
5. Russell Branyan DH
6. Rocco Baldelli CF
7. Ty Wigginton 3B
8. Josh Paul C
9. Greg Norton 1B (Just called up)

*From time to time, depending on matchups, the lineup changes. However, this is the most consistent lineup we go with.

Bench:
1. Dioner Navarro C
2. Damon Hollins OF
3. Tomas Perez IF
4. Sean Burroughs 3B
5. Ryan Christenson OF

***Transactions Next!***

[Josh_Hamilton]

Transactions:

Call-ups/Demotions:

- P Seth McClung sent to AAA Durham/P Doug Waechter called-up to ML Club

- P Shawn Camp sent to Rookie League Princeton/P Rudy Lugo promoted off DL

- P Chad Orvella sent to AAA Durham/P Jon Switzer called-up to ML Club

- P Tim Corcoran sent to AAA Durham/P Chris Seddon called-up to ML Club

- 1B Travis Lee sent to AAA Durham/1B Greg Norton called-up to ML Club

Trades:

Houston Astros Receive: 3B/OF Aubrey Huff
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Receive: SS Ben Zobrist/P Jason Hirsh

*I couldn't do the exact trade b/c Mitch Talbot isn't in this roster set, so I did my best to compensate.

[Josh_Hamilton]

btw, i suggest downloading ChrisJNelson's hi-res photos and placing them over my portraits. All players that have hi-res photos will be repalced with the hi-res shots, and all the other players will still be there.

I'll definitely do it!

[HoustonGM]

Batting Avg. T-1st Russell Branyan/Josh Paul (.291) - Pathetic I know!
It's not so much pathetic that your batting average leader is only .291 as it is that Russell Branyan is actually batting above .240! :p

[Josh_Hamilton]

It's not so much pathetic that your batting average leader is only .291 as it is that Russell Branyan is actually batting above .240! :p

LOL. Well, when the strength of your team is supposed to be your offense and your team leader is at .291 that's sad. But, I will say this, Branyan has never corrected his mechanics, thus, he'll always be a low average, free-swinger who can just mash. I'll tell you one thing though, he is killing RHP so far since the Huff trade. He was on the bench before that and since the deal he's been playing he is just crushing the ball...when he makes contact.

[Josh_Hamilton]

July 22nd-24th Tampa Bay Devil Rays (43-52) @ Chicago White Sox (54-41)

Game 1 Probables: Jae Seo (5-5) V Jose Contreras (5-3)
Game 2 Probables: Chris Seddon (0-1) V Freddy Garcia (10-3)
Game 3 Probables: James Shields (4-5) V Jon Garland (7-7)

Game 1: Jae Seo was cruising along and was given plenty of run support via a Josh Paul grandslam, a Greg Norton 3-run homerun and plenty of extra base hits. Seo might have been left in one inning too long as he let up 3 ER's in his last inning of work. Seo went 7 IP, 5 ER, 6K's. Rays Win 13-8.

Game 2: Youngster Chris Seddon took the mound for the second time in his career and this outing was not nearly as impressive as his first. The bullpen didn't look to great either. Doug Waechter came in to finish the game and was just as bad. The White Sox put on a clinic. Seddon and Weachter combined for 7 walks and 5 homeruns! White Sox out-muscle the Rays 10-5.

Game 3: The impressive James Shields looked to continue his growth as a major league pitcher when he took the mound. His growth, however, would be stunted by a White Sox club with some hot-bats. Shields gets bombed and the White Sox overpower the Rays 10-2.

League News:

Trades:

Baltimore Orioles Receive: C Vance Wilson, OF Craig Monroe
Detriot Tigers Receive: C Brandon Snyder

Minnesota Twins Receive: C Pete LaForest, P Shawn Estes
San Diego Padres Receive: 2B Nick Punto