Tag / Tanyon Sturtze

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Rays All Time Leaders – Through 2025

To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball.  As we head into 2026, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays began life in 1998 as the Devil Rays, dropping the Devil portion of their name in 2008.  I’ve seen 204 players wearing the Tampa Bay uniform in the 31 of their games that I’ve attended live, five as the Devil Rays and the remaining 26 as the Rays, including the 2008 ALDS and two games at their horrible home dome in 2021.

Home Runs

Name Total
B.J. Upton 5
Matthew Joyce 3
Ben Zobrist 2
Luke Raley 2
Isaac Paredes 2

Hits

Name Total
B.J. Upton 18
Ben Zobrist 16
Carlos Pena 9
Evan Longoria 9

Runs

Name Total
Ben Zobrist 11
B.J. Upton 9
Matthew Joyce 7

RBI

Name Total
B.J. Upton 11
Carlos Pena 8
Ben Zobrist 7
Evan Longoria 7

Doubles

Name Total
Wander Franco 4
Ben Zobrist 3
Evan Longoria 3
Jason Bartlett 3
Manuel Margot 3
Brandon Lowe 3

Triples Continue reading →

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Rays All Time Leaders – Through 2019

414_tampa_bay-rays-miscellaneous-2012With baseball shut down because of the corona virus, I thought it would be an interesting time to look back at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue things today with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays began life in 1998 as the Devil Rays, dropping the Devil portion of their name in 2008.  I’ve seen them play 24 times, 5 as the Devil Rays and 19 as the Rays, including the 2008 ALDS, where they defeated the White Sox.

Home Runs

Name Total
B.J. Upton 5
Matthew Joyce 3
Ben Zobrist 2

Hits

Name Total
B.J. Upton 18
Ben Zobrist 16
Carlos Pena 9
Evan Longoria 9

Runs

Name Total
Ben Zobrist 11
B.J. Upton 9
Matthew Joyce 7

RBI

Name Total
B.J. Upton 11
Carlos Pena 8
Ben Zobrist 7
Evan Longoria 7

Doubles

Name Total
Ben Zobrist 3
Evan Longoria 3
Jason Bartlett 3

Triples Continue reading →

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#70 – Tony Graffanino

graffaninoName: Tony Graffanino

Rank: 70

Position: 2B/SS/3B

Years With White Sox: 2000-2003

Tony Graffanino joined the White Sox on May 31, 2000, acquired via trade from the Devil Rays in exchange for Tanyon Sturtze.  He appeared in 57 games for the White Sox after the trade, hitting an acceptable .270 as the White Sox took home their first division title in 7 years.  Graffanino made only one appearance in the ALDS, as a defensive replacement, as the White Sox were swept by the Mariners.

Graffanino returned in 2001 as a backup infielder, hitting over .300 in limited playing time.  2002 saw increased playing time for Graffanino, but his average suffered, dropping to .262 in 229 at bats.

Graffanino’s playing time increased again in 2003, as he appeared in 90 games and hit .260 in 250 at bats.  Following the season, he became a free agent.

Graffanino’s biggest contribution to the White Sox came in the 2005 ALDS, while he was a member of the Red Sox.  During Game 2, he committed an error in the fifth inning on what should have been an inning ending ground out.  The next batter, Tadahito Iguchi, hit a 3 run homer to give the White Sox the lead en route to their 3 game sweep.

Graffanino’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

Continue reading →

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Rays All Time Leaders – Through 2015

414_tampa_bay-rays-miscellaneous-2012With 5 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams.  We start things off today with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays began life in 1998 as the Devil Rays, dropping the Devil portion of their name in 2008.  I’ve seen them play 13 times, 5 as the Devil Rays and 8 as the Rays, including the 2008 ALDS, where they defeated the White Sox.

Home Runs

Name Total
B.J. Upton 5
Matthew Joyce 3
Ben Zobrist 2

Hits

Name Total
B.J. Upton 18
Ben Zobrist 16
Carlos Pena 9
Evan Longoria 9

Runs

Name Total
Ben Zobrist 11
B.J. Upton 9
Matthew Joyce 7

RBI

Name Total
B.J. Upton 11
Carlos Pena 8
Ben Zobrist 7

Doubles

Name Total
Ben Zobrist 3
Evan Longoria 3
Jason Bartlett 3

Triples Continue reading →

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#187 – Tanyon Sturtze

TS_7.24Name: Tanyon Sturtze

Rank: 187

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1999-2000

Tanyon Sturtze, fresh off of rotator cuff surgery, joined the White Sox organization on November 23, 1998 after signing as a free agent.  He spent the 1999 season at Triple A Charlotte, trying to work his way back to the major leagues.  He started the last game of the season for the White Sox, going six scoreless innings against the Twins.

Sturtze found himself in the bullpen as the White Sox broke camp in 2000, but things did not go well for him at all.  Appearing in 10 games, he gave up 25 hits and 23 runs, 21 earned, in only 15 2/3 innings pitched.  On May 23, with an ERA over 12, he was designated for assignment.  A week later, he was traded to the Devil Rays in exchange for Tony Graffanino.

Sturtze’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

Continue reading →