2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Season
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' 2007 season, the 10th season in franchise history, involved the Devil Rays trying to improve on their 2006 season, where they finished last in the American League East Division, and managed to finish the season with a league-worst record of 61-101. During the offseason they signed Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura to a three-year deal. Their manager was Joe Maddon who entered his 2nd season with the Devil Rays.
Although the Rays again finished last in the division, they improved their record by five games, to 66-96. Their season attendance increased by 18,653 to 1,387,603. This marks the first time home attendance has increased in consecutive seasons. Joe Maddon's option years through 2009 were picked up by the club on September 8, 2007. The season was marked by incredible pitching performances by club ace Scott Kazmir and rookie James Shields, and the bats of club standby Carl Crawford; rookies Delmon Young, B.J. Upton and Brendan Harris; and free agents Akinori Iwamura and Carlos Peña. Several club single-season records fell during the course of the season.
This was also the last season with the team being named the Devil Rays. The team dropped the "Devil" from the name. Out of nowhere, the following year the team would win the AL East, beating the usual contenders, the Yankees and the Red Sox. The team would win the pennant, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
Read more about 2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Season: Regular Season, New Team Records, Season Standings, Game Log
Famous quotes containing the words bay, devil, rays and/or season:
“A great work by an Englishman is like a great battle won by England. It is an unfading bay tree.”
—Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)
“We are oft to blame in this,
‘Tis too much proved, that with devotion’s visage
And pious action we do sugar o’er
The devil himself.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The rays which stream through the shutter will be no longer remembered when the shutter is wholly removed.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Utterly frozen is this youthful lady,
Even as the snow that lies within the shade;
For she is no more moved than is the stone
By the sweet season which makes warm the hills”
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)