Mel Kiper
Footballguy
Good. More incentive for Zobrist to keep mashing.
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2009 Tampa Bay Rays thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Capella
- Start date
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
It'll come around. They're getting pretty decent starting pitching, which is always the one thing teams have to worry about. The offense will be good, it just hasn't meshed yet.
Although keeping Zobrist's bat on the bench is starting to piss me off.
Although keeping Zobrist's bat on the bench is starting to piss me off.
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Garza and Shields look great so far, but the rest of the rotation has been awful lately.
Sonny and Niemann may get killed in the new Yankee Stadium rocketyard.
Sonny and Niemann may get killed in the new Yankee Stadium rocketyard.
MrPhoenix
Ron Paul Soldier
June can't come soon enough for you.
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
I'm not sure Price would be much better right now. He can't keep his pitch counts down in Durham.I don't think anybody expected Sonny to be this awful. Big game for him tonight.
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Desmond Jennings is absolutly abusing AA ball. Guy is going to be a star. Joyce is tearing up Durham, as well...wish they'd get him up here already.
A 2010 OF of Joyce-Upton-Jennings looks awesome to me.
A 2010 OF of Joyce-Upton-Jennings looks awesome to me.
Norseman
Footballguy
Where is Crawford going?
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Next year is the last option they own with him. I suspect he'll be traded this off-season or midway through next year.UNLESS they can re-sign CC prior, then trade Upton and go with CC-Jennings-Joyce. They have Upton's rights through 2012, and may find it easier to give CC a long-term deal rather than BJ. Upton seems against signing anything.
gump
Footballguy
I've been trying to get a read on Upton from some guys in the FO...they all think he is a good kid, but they all also think he could easily leave...possibly try to play with his brother.On the other hand, CC is the most respected player on the team and loves Tampa.I guess 1 of 2 isn't bad either way, but hate to lose the 1.
Knightro
Footballguy
Front office has an option for CC next year and the way he looks so far, they'll pick that up if they can't get a new deal done.Upton (nor his brother) will sign any kind of deal that will buy out any free agent years according to their agent. I ran into a guy that works at Foley's in NYC whose brother is on the Upton's mgmt team and there will be no kind of deal worked out. Then again, if Upton continues to hit like this, I'd just give up a year of the deal for some extra cash now. His arbitration hearings won't be pretty with these offensive numbers.
Eephus
Footballguy
It's interesting to see how different agents will handle young players. It seems like free agent salary deflation would increase risks of not locking in arbitration and free agent years. Of course, the owners know this and will negotiate accordingly. For someone like the Uptons (especially Justin), time is on their side--there's always the option to sign a short term deal and make it back in their next contract but we're still talking about a short window for earning potential.Knightro said:
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Yea, now that I think about things I've heard/read in the past, losing BJ seems likely.Try to re-sign CC, promote Jennings, trade BJ for a shipload of prospects after 2010? CC-Jennings-Joyce left to right is still a very good OF, at least based off of potential.Knightro said:
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Oh yea, nice win tonight at the Yankee Stadium Graveyard.
To say they messed up that home-field advantage would be an understatement.
To say they messed up that home-field advantage would be an understatement.
Homer @ RJ
Footballguy
Man, Dan Wheeler is done. D-O-N-E. Done. The gastank is on E, folks.
I imagine he's the one who gets the mystery DL slot when Izzy is ready. That was a complete meatball he served up to Damon. Unreal.
I imagine he's the one who gets the mystery DL slot when Izzy is ready. That was a complete meatball he served up to Damon. Unreal.
gump
Footballguy
What about JP?Who goes when Bradford is ready?
gump
Footballguy
That was a great win...needs to kick start a run.When is Bradford back?When do they call of Joyce? I assume they dump Kapler or Gross at that point?
Capella
Footballguy
Bradford is due back mid-June. They need him badly.At this point I wouldn't be expecting Joyce anytime soon, with as well as Zobrist is playing. Let him continue to mash AAA and learn how to hit lefties. He'll be the starter this time next year at the latest.Of course, this changes if Gross or Kapler gets hurt.
Limp Ditka
Footballguy
The Percy thing ends before that....as in today.
Who closes? Izzy, Howell?
Who closes? Izzy, Howell?
Buckfast 1
Footballguy
The Rays placed Kazmir and Percival on the DL today.
ESPN is reporting that the team is expected to call up David Price to take his place in the rotation on Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4200034
ESPN is reporting that the team is expected to call up David Price to take his place in the rotation on Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4200034
Hoss_Cartwright
Footballguy
Neither. I think it's Wheeler. He did well in the role last year.
Buckfast 1
Footballguy
I noticed that Rotowire is saying that Joe Nelson will likely be the first guy to get the opportunity to close. It sounds like it is pure speculation on their part though. The team hasn't said anything official. I'm guessing they will probably go closer-by-committee until someone emerges.
gump
Footballguy
Nice start to the run with 12 runs and a hit by all 9 starters thru the first 3 innings...
Buckfast 1
Footballguy
ESPN is reporting that Price was called up.
http://www.rototimes.com/mlb/news.php?tqid...&nid=134931
Darth Cheney
Footballguy
I guess we can chalk this year up as a learning experience. Another year of experience and they should be right back in it.
gump
Footballguy
Sadly, I agree. Yanks and Sox look too good right now...and the Rays just aren't pitching or playing defense as well this season. The Indians collapse probably just expedited the turn south.I was thinking 85 wins a week ago...that seems like a stretch now.
gump
Footballguy
He's actually been hitting the ball much better the last few weeks...a lot of line outs to outfielders. That was the sign last year, when he stopped hitting those weak ground balls to the right side of the infield.I'd like to see him dropped in the lineup, but with Aki and JB...not sure who there is to move up at this point.
Comer
Footballguy
Fri, May 29
Manager Joe Maddon has no new information on the status of Troy Percival, according to the team's official site.
Recommendation: At this point it looks like chances are he's more likely to retire than return to the Rays. Given the depth of their minor league pitching and their recent bullpen woes, it would make a lot of sense for the Rays to trade for an established closer.
(Rotowire.com)
Who is the Rays closer now?
Manager Joe Maddon has no new information on the status of Troy Percival, according to the team's official site.
Recommendation: At this point it looks like chances are he's more likely to retire than return to the Rays. Given the depth of their minor league pitching and their recent bullpen woes, it would make a lot of sense for the Rays to trade for an established closer.
(Rotowire.com)
Who is the Rays closer now?
Norseman
Footballguy
Whoever Maddon puts in at the end of the game. There isn't really any one pitcher right now.
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Capella
Footballguy
McGee is expected to start pitching again in July I believe, for A-ball Charlotte. He won't be MLB ready until 2011, assuming no further injuries.
Again, this is one of the best offenses in the game (even with no Burrell or Aki), but they can't survive with this pitching staff. Shields and Garza have been fine (not great, but fine) but Kaz and Sonnanstine have two of four worst ERAs in the game and Niemann rarely goes past 6. Couple that with Price just getting his feet wet and a horrid bullpen, and there's not a lot to look forward to, barring some changes.
Wade Davis appears to be ready (bad start last night notwithstanding)...I'd like to see him up, Sonny in the pen, and Nelson gone. Sonny has no future as a SP here, may as well get him in the pen sooner rather than later.
Good news is Bradford should be back by the end of June, to provide some bullpen depth.
Again, this is one of the best offenses in the game (even with no Burrell or Aki), but they can't survive with this pitching staff. Shields and Garza have been fine (not great, but fine) but Kaz and Sonnanstine have two of four worst ERAs in the game and Niemann rarely goes past 6. Couple that with Price just getting his feet wet and a horrid bullpen, and there's not a lot to look forward to, barring some changes.
Wade Davis appears to be ready (bad start last night notwithstanding)...I'd like to see him up, Sonny in the pen, and Nelson gone. Sonny has no future as a SP here, may as well get him in the pen sooner rather than later.
Good news is Bradford should be back by the end of June, to provide some bullpen depth.
corpcow
Footballguy
I'm an absolute guppy when it comes to baseball, but Choate has gotten 2 straight saves. Is this just luck/situation or is a chance he sticks for a little while as the closer?(To give you some context, I picked up the 10th team in my dad's baseball league after the draft/auction already occurred, so I've fielded a team from the leftovers... so, just getting a few save opportunities from him is worth it on my team of rejects
gump
Footballguy
Limp Ditka
Footballguy
Howell the guy now or just a matchup thing?
gump
Footballguy
Howell is still the middle guy I believe. It was just a unique situation of starters throwing a complete game the night prior and 8 innings this game.
greedygoat
Footballguy
I remember watching the 6/2 game against KC, Rays were up 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th, Joyce batting with 2 out and one on. Potential save situation coming up in the top of the 9th and JP was the only one warming up in the pen. Next thing, Joyce hits it out, Rays go up 6-2 and Howell comes in to finish off the Royals striking out Guillen and Teahan.I think he's the guy now. Hopefully we'll get a few chances to find out this weekend.
*Disclaimer* I do own Howell in my one & only $ league.
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gump
Footballguy
I agree he's the guy Maddon trusts the most (and should be after last year)...but JP still gets the pill in the 6th or 7th inning if the starter gets run IMO. Whatever Joe thinks is the biggest moment.
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Limp Ditka
Footballguy
How about a ROY and all star catcher?
gump
Footballguy
He made one good pitch to get Arod out, but that 0-2 pitch to Damon was absolute joke. He's officially taken over for Percy as Maddon's mystery man.
Capella
Footballguy
Yea, they are going nowhere this year with this bullpen. they can't sustain leads, and you can't keep giving away game you should have won.
Balfour is horrible. People are just sitting on his fastball, as they know he can't get that ####ty slider of his over the plate.
Bradford coming back and replacing Grant will make a small difference, but not enough to get them to October, unless the starting pitching just winds back and dominates.
Balfour is horrible. People are just sitting on his fastball, as they know he can't get that ####ty slider of his over the plate.
Bradford coming back and replacing Grant will make a small difference, but not enough to get them to October, unless the starting pitching just winds back and dominates.
Balco
Footballguy
Any prospects in the minors they can bring in for bullpen help?
