Haynes DFA, Floyd Back

Good to get Big Cliff back.

6 days ago R.J. Anderson Comment 14 comments 0 recs |

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The end of an era.

by SaberToothedPie on May 9, 2008 10:48 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

so is he DH tomorrow or bench for right now?

i hope that they use him as a the DH right away and leave hinske as the main RF and have gomes and gross as the resevre OF’s

by RaysOfHope on May 9, 2008 10:55 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Facing LHP tomorrow

so Gomes/Hinske should handle DH/RF duties.

by Vin on May 9, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

what was the point of doing this tonight?

by websterjtc on May 9, 2008 11:46 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Well

Most people don’t like Haynes anyways, so I really doubt you’re going to hear many complaints about why this move was made.

by Jacob Larsen on May 10, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

So Floyd could come in tomorrow if they want to bring him in.

by KazforPresident on May 10, 2008 12:35 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Gross

now serves as the backup outfielder at all 3 spots and can even play v. RHP whenever they want to give Peña or Longoria a blow by sliding Hinske to the IF. This might work.

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on May 10, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I dunno

I think they’re going to give Longoria the opportunity to play in all 162 games, like Delmon, to help his chances in winning rookie of the year.

Also, when Zobrist returns, he’ll be more than likely playing 5-6 positions(all IF except for C, and some OF work)

by Jacob Larsen on May 10, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Getting Longoria into 162 games will be tricky given he missed the first ten while in Durham.

Hopefully Zobrist is limited to middle infield and late-inning defensive replacement.

Longlorious.

by RATW on May 10, 2008 5:54 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Hopefully Zobrist is limited to middle infield and late-inning defensive replacement.

And I am not sure where he fits as a late inning D replacement. He is looking at maybe a day or 2 a month spelling Aki and Bartlett. Barring injury, he should be getting a lot of bench time.

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on May 10, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

thanks for the walkoff Haynes

now pass through waivers and accept your assignment to AAA…

by davidsmarch on May 10, 2008 11:54 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Zobrist has never looked like a good defensive player to me. He doesn’t seem to be particularly smooth and it seems to me he often bobbles balls before throwing. This is based purely on a few observations but I wonder what the scouting reports say and whether there are any stats to evaluate his defensive work.

by bobr on May 10, 2008 7:27 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

From BA

He is considered a hard-nosed, gritty type who gives maximum effort and makes all the routines plays.

“You could see early on he just loved to play,” said Devil Rays senior vice president Gerry Hunsicker, who was the Astros’ general manager when Zobrist was taken in the sixth round of the 2004 draft. “He was one of those baseball rats. He played hard and got his uniform dirty.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he doesn’t put much into reports suggesting Zobrist has a lack of range and said he is more interested in intangibles. “From reading about this fellow, it just sounds like he’s really solid and it sounds like he’s what we’re about,” Maddon said. (7/06) *
Zobrist, 25, has been old for his leagues but never has hit less than .304 at any of his four minor league stops. A sixth-round pick from Dallas Baptist in 2004, he was hitting .327/.434/.473 with thee homers, 30 RBIs and nine steals in 83 games at Corpus Christi. A switch-hitter, he stands out the most for his ability to handle the bat, but all his tools except for power are average. The Astros often compared him to former standout utilityman Bill Spiers, and Zobrist projects more in that role than as a regular. (7/06) *
2005 Best Tools: Low Class A
Selected by League Managers
August 1, 2005

Best Strike-Zone Judgment
Ben Zobrist
Lexington

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on May 11, 2008 7:43 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I should subscribe to BA

Pretty much what I thought. I know he is considered hard working. I was very happy to get him in that trade because of his plate discipline, an example of the type of hitter the Rays regularly have sought since 2006, and I think his struggles in the majors should not be overstressed. He ought to be a useful reserve. I also think he hits the ball hard and can get his share of doubles.

But I am not so sure about the “routine plays” part. Again, this is based on nothing more than a few observations, but intangibles or not, I have seen an awful lot of bobbles, hesitations and missed grounders in that short time. Proves nothing, of course, but makes me want to see more evidence.

Incidentally, have people been following Ruggiano at Durham? Just 48 ABs, but wow! And he has even cut down his K rate a bit. Seems to excel so far in every offensive category: BBs, power, steals and steal % (8 for 8), improved contact rate.

by bobr on May 11, 2008 8:20 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs