Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 16, 2008 2:53 PM EDT

Lancaster names such targets as Juan Rivera, Reggie Willits, Ryan Freel, Reed Johnson, and somewhat oddly Coco Crisp. I can't see us dealing for Crisp, but maybe the bad blood from the Adam Stern / Julio Lugo mess is over?

Another Lancaster article here foretells of Kazmir likely starting the season on the DL - likely giving either Jason Hammel, J.P. Howell, or Jeff Niemann a major league job - and includes such notes as Charlie Montoyo's son finally going home and Stuart Sternberg's son Jake - no, not Larsen - being at yesterday's game with his lacrosse team.

I would like to point out one thing about Sternberg's comments on today's telecast, mainly about the stadium. This thing has been in planning since he took over, probably before that, getting a new spring stadium raised some eyebrows from the locals, but what it did was clear Al Lang's land for a new stadium as soon as possible based on the vote in November, if the team didn't have the Port Charlotte situation set up the entire process could've been pushed back at least another year. When the organization says it's following a plan, they mean it.

Oh and Sternberg made the point that I've preached here often: just because a player is old doesn't make him a good veteran presence on a team.

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Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

Of these, I would love Willits the best. He has got some speed to burn and can start for many years. He has the most potential and can become a leadoff hitter and push everyone down a spot or two.

Joe

by joedobr on Mar 16, 2008 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

Re Kaz: A few days ago when Kaz's start todya was pushed back, the official site reported:

"Maddon said if Sunday's game was a regular season or playoff game, Kazmir would be deemed healthy enough to throw, but given the situation, the Rays want to err on the safe side."

Now today the news is that Kaz will open the season on the DL. Am I reading too much into this or does this sound like trouble?

by ttnorm on Mar 16, 2008 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

It sounds like trouble, but I'm trying to avoid getting paranoid quite yet.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 16, 2008 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

This makes sense. They said this in 06 when they shut him down too. Now maybe they're just lying to us, but why not let him get a rehab start before coming back. No sense rushing anything. Friedman said the other day that they wanted him to throw 200 innings.

That's positive Tyler. The strain, which by definition is a mild tear, terrifies me. TJ seems like a when not if. But most guys pitch through these, so we'll see.

by Tyler on Mar 18, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

I'm hopeful that selfish Tyler is on the same page when I say I hope the TJ comes in his post-Rays days, maybe a repeat of the Zito situation?

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 18, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

Maybe I am reaching again here but I am feeling a bit better following today's piece at the Official Site. It said in part:

Having Brian Anderson one locker away from him in the Rays' clubhouse might have fueled Kazmir's temperance to a certain extent.

Last week the veteran left-hander experienced a career-ending tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, an occurrence that opened Kazmir's eyes.

"It kind of freaked me out a little bit, to be honest with you," Kazmir said. "You see him come in and the next thing you know he's talking about, 'Oh, I ripped my whatever' and what not. Then I'm like, maybe I should take a little more time.

"I see that going on. I'm thinking, 'Oh, man, I don't want to be in that boat.' And, plus, I've got the time no just to make sure that everything is strong and I'm ready to go."

Kazmir talked to Anderson after Anderson received the diagnosis, but he didn't want to talk to him too much.

"I didn't want to get too many images in my head about what was going on," Kazmir said. "But yeah, I talked to him a little bit about it right when he came in afterwards."

Kazmir said he's all ears when receiving good advice, noting Anderson told him: "Dude, don't rush it at all. This is a perfect time to do that, Spring Training."

That is a plausible reason for the change in Kaz's eagerness to open the season and the Rays change in schedule without any sure connection to bigger trouble.

Hope so anyway.

by ttnorm on Mar 18, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

Didn't catch that, but yes, it does help some. Kinda like a baseball version of Scared Straight

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 18, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Lancaster's RF Options, Kaz to DL?

I'm here for murder, kidnappin', robbery, armed-robbery, conspiracy, breakin' the dude's jaw and breakin' his f*&^in' woman's both her g()^@#$ arms! But f*&^ what's happenin' to me! It's whats' happenin' to juveniles we're concerned about.

by ttnorm on Mar 18, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions