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Joey Johnston/The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

AL EAST: THROUGH THE YEARS

2008 (current standings)

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Rays	96	64	.600	-	$43.8 million
w-Red Sox	94	66	.587	2	$133.4 million
Yankees	88	72	.550	8	$209 million
Blue Jays	85	75	.531	11	$97.8 million
Orioles	67	92	.421	281/2	$67.2 million

2007

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Red Sox	96	66	.593	-	$143 million
w-Yankees	94	68	.580	2	$189.6 million
Blue Jays	83	79	.512	13	$81.9 million
Orioles	69	93	.426	27	$93.6 million
Rays	66	96	.407	30	$24.1 million

(World Series: Red Sox d. Rockies 4-0)

2006

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	97	65	.599	-	$194.7 million
Blue Jays	87	75	.537	10	$71.9 million
Red Sox	86	76	.531	11	$120.1 million
Orioles	70	92	.432	27	$72.6 million
Rays	61	101	.377	36	$35.4 million

(World Series: Cardinals d. Tigers 4-1)

2005

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	95	67	.586	-	$208.3 million
w-Red Sox	95	67	.586	-	$123.5 million
Blue Jays	80	82	.481	15	$45.7 million
Orioles	74	88	.457	21	$73.9 million
Rays	67	95	.414	28	$29.7-million

(World Series: White Sox d. Astros 4-0)

2004

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	101	61	.623	-	$184.2 million
w-Red Sox	98	64	.605	3	$127.3 million
Orioles	78	84	.481	23	$51.6 million
Rays	70	91	.438	30.5	$29.6 million
Blue Jays	67	94	.416	33.5	$50.1 million

(World Series: Red Sox d. Cardinals 4-0)

2003

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	101	61	.623	-	$152.7 million
w-Red Sox	95	67	.586	6	$99.9 million
Blue Jays	86	76	.531	15	$51.3 million
Orioles	71	91	.438	30	$73.9 million
Rays	63	99	.389	38	$19.6 million

(World Series: Marlins d. Yankees 4-2)

2002

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	103	58	.640	-	$125.9 million
Red Sox	93	69	.574	10.5	$108.4 million
Blue Jays	78	84	.481	25.5	$76.9 million
Orioles	67	95	.414	36.5	$60.5 million
Rays	55	106	.342	48	$34.4 million

(World Series: Angels d. Giants 4-3)

2001

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	95	65	.594	-	$112.3 million
Red Sox	82	79	.509	13.5	$109.7 million
Blue Jays	80	82	.494	16	$76.9 million
Orioles	63	98	.391	32.5	$74.3 million
Rays	62	100	.383	34	$56.9 million

(World Series: Diamondbacks d. Yankees 4-3)

2000

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	87	74	.540	-	$92.9 million
Red Sox	85	77	.525	2.5	$81.2 million
Blue Jays	83	79	.512	4.5	$46.4 million
Orioles	74	88	.457	13.5	$83.1 million
Rays	69	92	.429	18	$64.4 million

(World Series: Yankees d. Mets 4-1)

1999

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	98	64	.605	-	$88.1 million
w-Red Sox	94	68	.580	4	$71.7 million
Blue Jays	84	78	.519	14	$48.2 million
Orioles	78	84	.481	20	$70.8 million
Rays	69	93	.426	29	$37.8 million

(World Series: Yankees d. Braves 4-0)

1998

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Payroll
d-Yankees	114	48	.704	-	$63.2 million
w-Red Sox	92	70	.568	22	$51.6 million
Blue Jays	88	74	.543	26	$48.4 million
Orioles	79	83	.488	35	$70.4 million
Rays	63	99	.389	51	$25.3 million

(World Series: Yankees d. Padres 4-0).

d-won AL East.

w-won AL wild-card.

Note: Payroll figures from USA Today.

YANKEES

Player	2008 Salary
1. Alex Rodriguez	$28 million
2. Jason Giambi	$23.4 million
3. Derek Jeter	$21.6 million
4. Bobby Abreu	$16 million
5. Andy Pettitte	$16 million

RED SOX

Player	2008 Salary
1. J.D. Drew	$14million
2. David Ortiz	$13million
3. Mike Lowell	$12.5 million
4. Jason Varitek	$10.4 million
5. Josh Beckett	$10.2 million

(Note: Manny Ramirez was Red Sox's top-paid player at $18.9 million before trade to the Dodgers).

RAYS

Player	2008 Salary
1. Carlos Pena	$6 million
2. Carl Crawford	$5.4 million
3. Troy Percival	$3.9 million
4. Scott Kazmir	$3.8million
5. Dan Wheeler	$2.9million

WORST TO FIRST

The Rays became the ninth team to go from last place to a division title since major-league baseball went to divisional play in 1969:

Season	Team	Division	Rec.	Finish	Previous Season
1991	Twins	AL West	95-67	Won World Series	74-88 (1990)
1991	Braves	NL West	94-68	Lost World Series	65-97 (1990)
1993	Phillies	NL East	97-65	Lost World Series	70-92 (1992)
1997	Giants	NL West	90-72	Lost NLDS	68-94 (1996)
1998	Padres	NL West	98-64	Lost World Series	76-86 (1997)
1999	Diamondbacks	NL West	100-62	Lost NLDS	65-97 (1998)
2007	Cubs	NL Central	85-77	Lost NLDS	66-96 (2006)
2007	Diamondbacks	NL West	90-72	Lost NLCS	76-86 (2006)
2008	Rays	AL East	96-64*	????	66-96 (2007)

*-with two games remaining in the regular season

WAVE YOUR FLAGS

Only 11 Rays players and coaches have previously been part of division-winning clubs at the major-league level:

•RHP Chad Bradford (4) - White Sox (2000); Athletics (2002, 2003); Mets (2006).

•Third-base coach George Hendrick (3) - Athletics (1972); Cardinals (1982); Angels (1986).

•DH Cliff Floyd (2) - Mets (2006); Cubs (2007).

•Manager Joe Maddon (2) - Bench coach, Angels (2004, 2005)

•LHP Trever Miller (2) - Astros (1998, 1999).

•Bench coach Dave Martinez (1) - Braves (2001).

•RHP Grant Balfour (1) - Twins (2004).

•SS Jason Bartlett (1) - Twins (2006).

•RHP Matt Garza (1) - Twins (2006).

•OF Eric Hinske (1) - Red Sox (2007).

•RHP Troy Percival (1) - Angels (2004).

WELCOME TO THE CLUB, RAYS

Here are the other division titles won by Tampa Bay's professional sports teams.

Season	Team	League	Title	Record	Postseason Result
1979	Bucs	NFL	NFC Central	10-6	Lost to Rams 9-0 in NFC Championship Game
1981	Bucs	NFL	NFC Central	9-7	Lost to Cowboys 38-0 in NFC Divisional Playoff
1999	Bucs	NFL	NFC Central	11-5	Lost to Rams 11-6 in NFC Championship Game
2002	Bucs	NFL	NFC South	12-4	Defeated Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII
2003	Lightning	NHL	Southeast	36-25-16-5	Lost to Devils 4-1 in Conference Semifinals
2004	Lightning	NHL	Southeast	46-22-8-6	Defeated Flames 4-3 in Stanley Cup Finals
2005	Bucs	NFL	NFC South	11-5	Lost to Redskins 17-10 in NFC Wild-Card Game
2007	Bucs	NFL	NFC South	9-7	Lost to Giants 24-14 in NFC Wild-Card Game

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