Friedman on Percival: "We expect he will be back to anchor our bullpen in 2009"

by Tommy Rancel on Dec 3, 2008 2:55 PM EST Comment 54 comments

The surgery on Troy Percival's back was a successful one according to a report by Raysbaseball.com. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins in California. Most reports say Percival will be throwing off a mound in March. The Rays will look to add a reliever or two to the mix, but for now expect Percival to be closing out games if/when healthy.

"We're hopeful that this surgery will allow Troy to pitch pain-free next season and return to the form we saw in the first half of 2008," said Andrew Friedman, Rays executive vice president of baseball operations. "We believe his various ailments in 2008 were a direct result of his back issues, so we expect he will be back to anchor our bullpen in 2009."

Friedman sure sounds a lot more optimistic that most of us. It's a long shot, but maybe he's trying to hype up Percival's value. At this point if he could find anybody to take Percival's $4 million dollar salary for a PTBNL, I'd consider it a steal for Friedman.

Otherwise we are stuck with Al Reyes pt. 2.

0 recs | Comment 54 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I pray for closer by commitee

but if we decide to choose 1 guy, I am pushing for Aussie

Howell would be a close 2nd.

Wheeler is way too hit or miss and Percy will just get hurt again anyway.

by joeybw on Dec 3, 2008 3:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no to the aussie

I want him in the 7th with the sacks juiced and 2 outs.

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 3, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't want him only in the 9th either

I am saying if we feel the need to have a “closer” then I would take him.

by joeybw on Dec 3, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

in close games, i assume.

do you know how often that occurs compared to important 9th-inning situations? i’m all for using a relief ace approach, but given a closer and two setup guys, the closer will see higher leverage situations.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Dec 3, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Longoria is on WFAN Mike Francesca's show right now.

http://player.play.it/player/player.html?id=62&onestat=wfan

by walkoffwalk on Dec 3, 2008 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah im watching it

He might be hungover

What am I saying “might”

by joeybw on Dec 3, 2008 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea...

by walkoffwalk on Dec 3, 2008 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

said "he was working his tail off"

Hope he really is.

I just don’t want any of our guys to come to ST fat as hell and I hope Navi lost some more weight,

by joeybw on Dec 3, 2008 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We don't want people coming to ST looking like Jonny Gomes.

We don’t even want Jonny Gomes coming to ST looking like Jonny Gomes.

Lay off the stadium, Iwamura

by Orlando Rays on Dec 3, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let me fix this

We don’t want ~~people coming to ST looking like~~ Jonny Gomes.

by kericr on Dec 3, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope you tell Jonny Gomes

stay away and keep your .879 OPS vs. LHP away too.

by Tommy Rancel on Dec 3, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have been round-and-round with this already

There is not a single argument that you could possibly present at this point that’s going to change my mind. His OPS against LHP last year was .705, including a pathetic .281 OBP, that’s WAY off his career mark; there’s also that his OPS was worse in 2007 than it was in 2006, and there’s 2005, where his OPS was HIGHER against RHP then it was against LHP.

This split means jack to me in consideration to him.

by kericr on Dec 4, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea, I expect Percy to be the anchor of the pen too.

He’ll drag our bullpen ERA toward the bottom of the standings.

I maintain the closer of this team is not yet on the roster. Wheeler throws too many flyballs and Balfour is too emotional for the 9th inning and is much more valuable in the 7th averting potential disasters.

by Jason Collette on Dec 3, 2008 3:18 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

haha, post of the year.

by walkoffwalk on Dec 3, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Percy was a below replacement level reliever last season.

I’m sad.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Percy was fun for me last year....

I took him in every fantasy baseball league for $1 as my last pick and traded him in every league by 6/15 while his value was highest. Too bad the Rays couldn’t do the same. Percival never should have gotten a 2 year deal with his age and health record.

by Jason Collette on Dec 3, 2008 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Knowing what we knew at the time, the deal was/is fine.

Was it risky? Absolutely, but so are most contracts to 35+ year olds.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

He was awful in 2005, didn’t pitch in 2006, and threw 45 innings between AAA and STL in 2007 – a total of 71 innings from 2005-2007 and 2 injuries as well as a retirement. That did not warrant an $8,000,000 investment.

by Jason Collette on Dec 3, 2008 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who's to say if he had any influence on the younger guys

It certainly didn’t hurt, and I be shocked if he didn’t help.

by rglass44 on Dec 3, 2008 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather not place value on someone based on pure speculation.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hire him as a coach

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Dec 3, 2008 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this was the buyout I was looking for.

by rglass44 on Dec 3, 2008 10:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be all for this but not at the cost of Bobby Ramos

Since Bogar is gone, that does create an opening

by Jason Collette on Dec 4, 2008 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A half win reliever is worth nearly 3 million.

The Rays should probably avoid paying too much to relievers, but we didn’t exactly overpay him.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This sucks

I need to buy stock in Tums. My heart and stomach won’t be able to take Percy closing out games again.

by Erik Hahmann on Dec 3, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It makes the games twice as exciting though

theraysparty.blogspot.com

by therayspartyleader on Dec 3, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We could also bring back Tyler Walker

Who?

by Tommy Rancel on Dec 3, 2008 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I liked him too

Then the lights went out at Comerica Park and he was done.

The Rays Party

by therayspartyleader on Dec 3, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't see this ending well...

No way, not smart…Bullpen on the fly I call it. Someone has to be ready, because he was done at the end of the year.

Why rely on someone who is going to break down? I agree the closer is probably not on the roster yet. It took 2 years to get him here, so that was to Percival’s personal benefit.

Joe

by joedobr on Dec 3, 2008 3:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

meh

If he’s better great, if not I don’t think the FO and Maddon will give him the leash he had last year.

by rglass44 on Dec 3, 2008 4:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He was pretty solid those first 11 appearances last year to my memory, right up until he got hurt.

I think Maddon showed in the playoffs that his player loyalties only go so far.

by kericr on Dec 3, 2008 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When he changed his bump music from Audioslave it all went to hell for Percy.

by rays_world_champs on Dec 3, 2008 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This will end well.

Brad Ziegler had a scoreless inning streak. Brad Ziegler had not met BJ Upton.

by P Brady on Dec 3, 2008 4:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

weren't his ailments a direct result of playing?

making his back issues a result of his ailments, and his poor performance a result of all of it. just retire man!!!

by davidsmarch on Dec 3, 2008 5:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

POSTURIZATION ALERT. POSTURIZATION ALERT.

It’s generally not smart for a GM to act like Ozzie Guillen and call players out in the media.

And, Andrew’s smart.

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No team is stupid enough to trade for Percival.

Right?

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The same was probably said about Matt Morris.

and the Giants were able to dump his contract.

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

matt morris. i had forgotten. there is hope after all

by daveh33 on Dec 3, 2008 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And the Giants got back Rajai Davis, who's a perfectly fine bench player.

Can’t hit worth a lick, but plays great defense in CF and is an SB threat.

Good late-inning defensive sub.

Steal to get back for Morris.

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But Littlefield.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But Sabean.

If Sabean can do it, Friedman can.

There are other stupid GMs.

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Friedman: Hi Omar

Omar Minaya: Hola Andy.
Andy: So, Omar, I heard that you need some bullpen help.
Omar: I do I do. (blurbs some random Espanol)
Andy: So, I have this guy, named Troy Percival. He has a ring, and a TON of saves. He’d be a PERFECT fit for your bullpen. I mean, I’ve seen Brian Stokes pitch many times, and between you and me, he sucks.
Omar: OK?
Andy: I know, I know. Percival’s white, and adding him would mean that there are one too many white guys on the team. So, just give me some white guy making less than 400K and I’ll call it a deal.
Omar: Si. Si.
Andy: I’ll fill out the paperwork. Enjoy Troy!

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i told u guys that troy percival would be the rays closer if healthy!

when he was healthy last year he was a good closer but when he was fighting health issues it made me go crazy

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds

by RaysOfHope on Dec 3, 2008 6:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

When Helen Keller wasn't mute she was an articulate speaker.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd.

Jon Garland, pleasepleaseplease accept arbitration. Your mad iNNiNgZ eAtEr sKiLLz will be greater exemplified in next year's free agent class. kthxbai.

by Blicks on Dec 3, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips!

by steve-o1285 on Dec 3, 2008 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

shush girl

by BossmanJunior333 on Dec 4, 2008 1:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Random trade idea

Sonnanstine and Bartlett for Kemp or Ethier

discuss…

by BossmanJunior333 on Dec 3, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd go with Kemp. Ethier has better on-base ability right now but Kemp's ceiling is pretty high and he already mashes lefties.

I’d be more comfortable knowing that Brignac was ready, before trading away our starting SS though.

by twenty5psi on Dec 3, 2008 11:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

That seems like a legitimate proposal. Someone would need to run the numbers to convince me one way or the other. I don’t think Ethier is as good as he played last season, but I also think Kemp is better than how he played last year as well. For dealing Bartlett to make sense though, we’d need to get an everyday player who can hit well. Unlike others here, I do think there’s still a pretty big difference between Bartlett and Brignac, and obviously I’d rather trade Jackson than Sonny (although we already know the Dodgers probably don’t want Jackson). I’m guessing I’d want the Dodgers to throw someone else in (Hu?) to get the deal done.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 4, 2008 1:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs