Looking back, should we have done it?

by BombinRays on Mar 7, 2008 6:19 PM EST

Jorge Cantu, he was one of the best prospects in our system, had a phenomenal 06 year, and it all went down-hill from there. He was being brought up and down from Durham to the big leagues. He got fed up, didn't wanna play here, so he and Brian Cumberland and cash was traded to Cincy for Medlock and Shackelford. Now with our big hole in 2nd, should we have traded him?

Travis Harper, this guy must've been the worst pitcher I have ever seen. He was atrocious, we had him for 7 years, and he sucked in every one of those years. Should we have kept signing him?

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Wait

What big hole at second? I swear Rays' fans underrated Iwamura far too much. And Harper's arm was blown, we walked away at the right time.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 7, 2008 6:32 PM EST reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

My reaction was, why wouldn't Cantu be a big hole at second?

And Medlock could prove to be a useful pen piece sooner rather than later, while Rocco might not even be in the majors - with the Fish no less - to start the season.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 7, 2008 6:36 PM EST reply actions

I agree

Rocco won't be in the majors to start this year, at least with the Fish.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 7, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

Wasn't the big hole at 2nd when Cantu was playing the position and any GB came his way?

by ttnorm on Mar 7, 2008 6:36 PM EST reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

I had to look twice to make sure the original post wasn't from last spring.

Anyone who likes Cantu more than Aki as an everyday 2nd baseman (or any other position, for that matter) should be charged with an E-4, imo.

by zengator on Mar 7, 2008 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

In his first two years on the team, Travis Harper practically didn't pitch. (6 & 2 games respectively) In the third year, he did poorly but in 2003-04 he was actually quite good. His ERA+ was 116 & 117, he gave up fewer hits than innings pitched and walked less than 3/9 IP. He was then awful in 2005 and after being given much less work in 2006 was released by the current management team.

So the answer is yes, the Rays dealt with him exactly right, giving him an opportunity to prove himself when he was young which paid off with two solid years and then releasing him when he showed precipitous decline.

Cantu was not only an impossibly terrible second baseman who never took a walk. He also had become a malcontent and had to be traded. Receiving Medlock, even if he never pans out, was a good example of getting something for nothing.

by bobr on Mar 8, 2008 12:13 AM EST reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

Considering some of the truly bad pitching that's come through the Trop over the years, I still don't understand why Travis Harper is the whipping boy of so many Rays fans.

Must be that 9-run outing against the Yankees in 2005 when good ol' Lou absolutely refused to pull him.

by RATW on Mar 8, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions

Re: Looking back, should we have done it?

Actually, I give props to Harper, not for his pitching, but for his team first approach at that game. Few remember that the Rays took 3 of 4 in that series. Harper's blowup occured in game 2 and he never said a word about Piniella. The fact was that pulling Harper would not have won the game but would have weakend the pen for games 3 and 4.

I believe that game was properly managed by Lou and while Harper couldn't get an out, he bore his burden very well. The Rays owe him one.

by ttnorm on Mar 9, 2008 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions