quick thoughts on what I think the roster will be before the first spring game.
C) Navarro and Josh Paul -- Navarro has the potential to be a useful guy in OBP leagues. Somewhat 'touted' prospect from the Yankees camp a few years ago that has been moved around a few times, and now is the everyday guy here. Massive upgrade from Toby Hall, and like I said, a potential starter in obp leagues. Paul is nothing other than sludge who probably couldn't start in two catcher AL-only leagues. Doesn't even really handle pitchers all that well. In fact, he really does nothing well. Ladies and gentlemen, YOUR TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS!!
Riggins could take Paul's spot, and in fact should. Navarro has been hurt but should be the guy for most of the year.
1B) -- will be the most interesting battle of the spring. Cantu could be moved here, as his 2B defense is laughable, but it'll likely be a combo of Wigginton/Greg Norton/maybe even Johnny Gomes, with one of the others going to DH, and maybe Wiggs to third when Iwamura has a day off. All should be positively horrid defensively, but each carry a decent stick individually to where the team will get some offense out of the corner for the first time in a while. Wigginton was a nice mid-season filler for fantasy nerds in AVG leagues last year, but he too will drain your obp (you'll notice this becomes a theme througout this little piece). I think Gomes will actually bounce back nicely this year, with 25+ homers if healthy (and of course, in spring, who isn't). Norton is an ok bench guy for a real MLB team, but nothing useful in roto unless you're doing AL-only, and even then it better be your utility spot. I imagine he'll be moved this summer to a contender anyhoo.
Seems like Wigginton will be the main guy at 1B...Norton could also get some time there as well when Ty shifts over to 2B for a game or two, but I think Ty will be the guy there until somebody realizes his OBP is hovering in the .305 range.
2B) -- for the moment it's Cantu. Word around the campfire for a while was that it would be Iwamura and that Cantu would go to first, but that's not going to happen. Cantu is terrible defensively, can't take a walk, is slow and was hurt for the majority of last year.
Other than that, he's great.
Ok, he does have some pop in his bat and is young-ish still, but he has a ways to go to not only be a useful major-leaguer, but really even a useful roto guy, unless of course, you're in AVG leagues -- and if you are, why?
Cantu probably getting his Durham ticket punched tomorrow. Upton will be the guy here, as Maddon said today he'd feel comfortable with him starting at second. Brendan Harris will probably be the late-game defensive replacement, and Wiggington may get a start here every now and then with Norton going to first.
SS) -- All Ben Zobrist's spot for the time being. Was acquired in the Aubrey Huff deal from the 'Stros (while in AA) and was in the majors a few weeks later, despite having no pop in his bat and limited range. Ladies and gentlemen, YOUR TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS!!
He does project out to a useful OBP guy again, but likely a 3 hr, 48 rbi, 8 sb guy for the duration of his career. Think David Eckstein, but not quite as funny looking.
nothing has changed.
3B) -- all Iwamura for now. ToddZeileisGod has a great thread about him here that discusses him better than I ever could. The interesting thing will come when either Wes Bankston (well, he's probably going to first) and/or Joel Guzman are ready for the bigs, and most indications are that that day will be coming soon.
nothing has changed.
***SUPER UTILITY GUY*** -- BJ Upton. Possibly plays third, little short, maybe 2nd and all OF positions this year. Personally, I'm not buying it and I think he just flat-out outplays somebody this spring, but maybe this is what they'll do with him. But it's not like guys like Crawford, Rocco or Delmon will need a day off once a week, so if this is the route they take his ABs are going to in fact be limited -- and he's already a bit of a mental patient with the whole fielding mess and staying down in Durham too long thing. The Rays are really going out of their way to ##### this kid up, and it's getting annoying. I don't care if he has to DH, push Norton down a set of stairs and be done with it already. ### ####.
Anyways, with reliable PT I think he's a lock for 25-30 SBs and 15 or so homers. Good eye at the plate too, that didn't really show in his cup of with the big boys last year.
This has changed. BJ won't be going to third and short and RF, etc...only second and maybe the occasional CF start for the time being.
OF) -- Crawford, Rocco, Delmon. Not sure what to say here, other than they all are really, really good, really really fast and really really young. And I have no doubts the Rays will really, really ##### it up somehow. Not going to write up a big report on them tonight, everybody reading this knows how talented this trio is, but what amazes me is how CC continues to get better. He has a 25-30 homer season coming up soon.
Elijah Dukes almost has to make the roster as the 4th OF -- if not, the Durham Bulls have already told the Rays that he's not welcome back this year. That should tell you something. Ladies and gentlemen, you're...
Ok I'll cut that out.
Only thing that has changed here has been how good Dukes has been. As I've said numerous times I really do think he'll be the everyday DH by May.
As for that DH spot, it appears it will belong to Gomes to start, with Norton maybe getting a start there and at 1B a few times a week. Jonny showed enough pop this spring to hold his spot though, methinks.
**Brendan Harris will serve as the defensive replacement at 2B, SS, 3B, for those of you in insanely deep AL-only leagues. God help you.
Quick pitching thoughts before I run:
Kazmir -- positives coming out so far, but again, who cares. No negative news being reported a week in. The injury is a concern, but he has Cy Young-level stuff a few years down the road.
looks good.
James Shields -- nice solid, middle of the rotation guy. Could be a nice winner on a playoff-level team, and probably won't kill people with his ratios as he gains experience.
looks good.
Jae Sao -- can't believe this is the #3 guy in the rotation. Avoid.
Had a good spring, but he will suck. Believe it. Best case scenario here is he throws well for two months and the Rays are able to unload him to the Dodgers for a blue-chip prospect again.
Casey Fossum -- can't believe this is the #4 guy in the rotation. Slit your wrists if he ends up on your team.
ugh
Jason Hammel/JP Howell/Brian Stokes/Edwin Jackson -- one of these guys has to win the 5 spot. I like Hammel's potential, he throws hard. Jackson is out of options so he'll make the team as a middle relief guy at the least. Howell's fastball maxes out at 84 (no shtick) and his best pitch is a change up. A change up of an 84-mph fastball. gllllllll
Stokes is an average prospect guy, but Mitch Talbot and Jeff Niemann should both be in the rotation in 08, or this summer, taking the place of the might Sao/Fossum duo.
This ended up being Edwin Jackson. Most of you actually still reading this may remember him from his days as a highly touted Dodgers prospect, who outpitched Randy Johnson in a 1-0 thriller a few years back. Yea well anyways, he regressed just a tad. But, he had a very nice spring, cut the walks out and the Rays are going to give him another shot at stickin in the rotation. They can't keep jerking him between the rotation and the bullpen though, and Durham and the big club -- give him 15 starts and see whatcha got. Those 15 starts are being wasted on garbage like Fossum and Sao, so this kid deserves his as well.
JP Howell had a rather extraordinary spring and will be called up as soon as Fossum has his third straight 3 inning, 7 earned run performance.
McClung -- somehow the closer. Could be god-awful, or his fastball and curve may be good enough in short spurts. Juan Salas had an out of nowhere year down on the farm last year, but I'm not convinced it will translate. Really only a one-pitch guy, and that doesn't work up here. Corcoran is an ok middle relief/long-arm guy and Lugo, Micelli, Camp are all flotsam. I'd like to see Orvella grab that closer's job, but he has something upstairs kicking him around too.
Discussed earlier. McClung gone, probably for good. Probably Reyes' job to lose for now. Micelli mercifully cut yesterday.
![[icon]](/data/avatars/m/5/5167.jpg?1660313464){kind=avatar}
Thanks for the insights, though.
Hard to believe Madden is going to have Zobrist bunt every. single. time. that Crawford gets on this season. Jeebus Joe, get a clue.
Going, Knightro?
