I don't think that assessment is fair - yes, Devil Rays prospects have had a series of troubling derailings (Josh Hamilton? Toe Nash?) and Dukes has had repeated problems; still, I seriously doubt that no other team would want Delmon Young (even now the top prospect in the game) or BJ Upton (Top 5-10).
Now perhaps the Rays have a problem handling/grooming their prospects. But at least they've shown a willingness to sign top talent rather than drafting for fiscal reasons. (Matt Bush to San Diego, almost anyone but Alex Gordon to KC.)

Yeah, I think this is more of a problem with Tampa Bay management and how they run their minor leagues then a black mark on their drafting strategy. They should be helping these kids to learn to cope with being huge prospects and having a lot of money.

While it may be an issue with Rays management, it's probably as much an issue with enabler agents who get these kids huge signing bonuses, and an entire pre-MLB system that's coddled them and their boorish behavior just because they were better than everyone.

I would love to see the Devil Rays actually try to field a winning team. I feel like they are confused and don't know how to build a ballclub.

I understand they're iun a tough division...but seriously, so far this year they're 4-11 against the Yanks and BoSox combined. That's a .266 winning percentage.

Against the rest of the league, they're .454. Now, couldn't they at least beat some teams? The only teams they have a winning record against, are the White Sox (2-1), Marlins (3-0), Royals (5-1), A's (2-1), and Phillies (2-1). That's 14-4 against those teams, and some of them are good teams. So why aren't the Devil Rays able to win?

Take that 4-11 record against the Yanks & Red Sox, and add it to the 14-4, we get a combined record of 18-15. They're over .500 when we put together their best records and their Yanks/BoSox records. So that means they're scratching their heads against the rest of the league...

They are 11-26 against the rest of the teams they've played. That's a .296 winning percentage against 6 teams, that's dragging them down.

Of course, any stats junkie will be quick to point out that there's only 2 teams the D'Rays are dominating (Royals and Marlins), and they're 8-1 against them. That means, against everyone else, they're only 21-40, for a .344 winning percentage. That's 70 points lower than their overall percentage right now.

They're on pace to win 67 games at a .414 winning percentage, but, they don't play KC (no games) or Florida (3 games) much for the rest of the year. Let's see, a .344 winning percentage for the remainder of their year would give them 32 more wins. So at this pace, combined with the fact they don't play Florida or KC much, they'll win only 61 games. If they don't get hot soon, they'll be flirting with another 100 loss season.

I should start my own blog. I only meant to point out that the D'Rays should be better than this after 8 years in the league....management is horrid.