DUSTBIN

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001

March 31, 1998

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays both lost their debuts as major league baseball teams. The Diamondbacks finished their inaugural season 05-07; the Devil Rays were 63-99.

The Diamondbacks have been quite successful since that first season, pushing their three-year record to 250-236. In 1999 they won the West by 14 games, the fastest trip to the postseason for any expansion team. The Devil Rays haven't done as well, compiling an overall record of 201-284.

The teams appear to be going in opposite directions again this year. The Diamondbacks have a veteranladen team that is getting ready for what might be a last-gasp run for the playoffs. The Devil Rays, meanwhile, are trying to build a winner with a 40-man roster that includes more players (18) under 25 than any team in the majors.