The Devils Rays continued to struggle getting off to a horrible 8-16 start that saw them sink to the bottom of the AL East once again, where they would remain for the entire season, leading to increased frustration from Manager Lou Piniella who made it no secret that he wanted out of his contract, while Rocco Baldelli one of the Rays best young players a few years earlier missed the entire season with a knee injury. The Devil Rays continued to play terrible baseball into the All-Star Break as they held an awful 28-61 record. One of the only bright spots early was their play against the New York Yankees as they took 3 out 4 games in two separate series on the way to winning the season series against their famous division rivals. After the All-Star some of the Rays young talent began to filter up from the minors, while players already on the roster began to adjust to life in the Majors. Players like 2B Jorge Cantu who hit 28 homers while driving in 117 RBI, while on the mound there was Scott Kazmir who posted a 10-9 record with a 3.77 ERA, as the Rays bullpen had the best kept secret in baseball Danys Baez who saved who nearly saved two-thirds of the Devil Rays wins at 41.