7/12: News & Notes

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 12, 2008 1:40 AM EDT in News/Opinion Comment 31 comments

Why have the Rays lost five straight heading into today?

There were several theories in the clubhouse, starting with manager Joe Maddon saying the Rays were mentally fatigued, that they had "been playing really hard, and with a lot of emotion, for a long time," and the All-Star break was coming "at the right time."

Starter James Shields said they were physically tired, "pretty much spent" from playing so many tough teams.

Leftfielder Carl Crawford attributed it to bad timing, saying it's "rare to have a whole offense really struggling at the same time."

All are possible explanations. What say you, Scott Kazmir?

"We've got to worry about ourselves and concentrate on what's going on in front of us," Kazmir said before Friday's game. "You see guys coming in right from playing on defense and they're like, 'What's the Boston score? What's the Boston score?' That's not how you're supposed to do it."

Kazmir goes on to basically emphasize the point; that the team's poor efforts have resulted from a sense of complacency about their standing and a lack of focus on the task at hand.

Though what Kazmir says may be true, I'm a bit leery to assign any one factor all of the blame for the Rays' ineptitude over the last several days. In any case, the All-Star break can't get here soon enough. Hopefully we can salvage a split of the series, or at least a split of the next two games.

Elsewhere:

SS Jason Bartlett might not be ready to return when eligible to come off the DL next Friday. If he is not activated on that date, he should be within a couple days thereafter.
RHP Al Reyes saw his fastball velocity sit in the high 80s in a rehab outing on Thursday for Vero Beach. He will throw on Sunday and Monday for the V-Rays, and could be activated after that.
RHP Troy Percival will throw off of a mound today for the first time since going on the DL.

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Comments

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that...

If the Rays are a true talent .630 team, then over the course of 91 games it is statistically probable that there would be a streak of five consecutive losses.

by lailaihei on Jul 12, 2008 3:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BURN THE WITCH! BURN HIM!!!

by acblue on Jul 13, 2008 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still believe...

This team still has 90+ wins in it.

by PewterPirate55 on Jul 12, 2008 6:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Carl Crawford for the week

AVG .048
OBP .091
OPS .139

by RayFanNY on Jul 12, 2008 6:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he is 0 for his last 20

and swinging at more balls than he is strikes

by Jason Collette on Jul 12, 2008 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Realistic Expectations and Looking toward the future

I’m guilty of getting too down on the Rays this week. I’m frustrated, and I apologize.

The incredible start we’ve had, culminating with the 3 game sweep of Boston, has raised expectations too high. We aren’t that good… There, I said it.

This is a 88-90 win team which has a strong shot at the wildcard, particularly with the underperformance of Detroit and the likelihood Oakland will fade. The team I most worry about is Minnesota (or Chicago, if Minnesota wins the Central).

Regression to Mean is taking place. Our defensive BABIP ranked us as one of the best defenses of all time. It was bound to correct.

Our bullpen is hugely improved. But is it really 3-4 runs per 9 better than last season? That’s hard to believe. Again, a correction was coming.

Kazmir was not going to have a sub 2 ERA all season, and Sonny and E-Jax were bound to stumble eventually. Sonny just did, E-Jax will. Our pitching cannot possibly win games on its own all season.

Navarro was not going to hit .330-.340. Another correction was coming. Navi has won me over, but he isn’t Joe Mauer.

Pena’s correction is from last season. His 2007 performance came from nowhere, and while it was possible we had stumbled upon a pot of gold, it was unlikely his previous MLB numbers were moot. You can blame it on injuries if you want, but Carlos is hitting more in-line with his career numbers. Great defense, great power, but poor contact. This is why so many teams passed on him. He isn’t good enough to carry a team to the playoffs. Until we have a legitimate cleanup man, we will continue to struggle offensively.

Boston passing us is not an “if,” but a “when.” The Red Sox are the most complete team in baseball – great pitching and great offense. We need to focus on us, and getting our confidence back. The Rays should be in the playoffs as a wild card in 2008, an incredible accomplishment!

The last thing we need to do is mortgage our future for a short term trade. We hold the cards. At some point we need to leverage our plethora of pitching prospects for a big bat, or 3. But panic is not necessary, and could destroy our long term plans.

by RayFanNY on Jul 12, 2008 6:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Bartlett

I really miss Jason at SS. His defense has been the linchpin and Zobrist pales in comparison. Why (oh why) does JM not play Brignac more?

by rays_world_champs on Jul 12, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This quote makes no sense

Starter James Shields said they were physically tired, “pretty much spent” from playing so many tough teams.

Sounds to me like he was saying they were emotionally exhausted from playing so many good teams. This isn’t football, and the quality of opposition has very little bearing on how tired you are at the end of the game.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 12, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily...

I can see a team being both physically and mentally drained after playing such high pressure games. It happens at the recreational level and I doubt the players feel any different in the pros.

by tallyray on Jul 12, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no doubt

That playing higher caliber opponents will drain players mentally. But at the major league level, where the skill level of all teams is so high to begin with, I don’t see why there would be more physical drain. At their level, they go through the same intensity of physical movement no matter who they play…It’s not like Garza gets to throw his fastball 75 MPH against the Royals.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 12, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They go hand and hand...

You’re more physically tired when you are playing intense and emotional games.

by tallyray on Jul 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those quotes really piss me off...

Every team plays a similar schedule, so dont bitch and moan about how spent you are…Espacially when you have a manager that gives more off days then anyone in baseball. If Kazmir is correct, then where is all this supposed “veteran leadership”. There are some very scary quotes in that article. Sounds like people making excuses and having an awful perspective….Maddon helped fuel the fire with his idiotic quote. Can you imagine Leyland saying that? The pitching has been relatively good, outside a few performances, so are they not mentally tired? Just admit the team is going through a slump dammit!

by td32 on Jul 12, 2008 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They're a bunch of twenty somethings...

It’s no surprise that they are struggling and all trying to find an answer for it. It’s easy to say you’re slumping but I am sure the reporters don’t let it end at that and pry for some type of reason. This is why it is so important they put themselves in a position that a few losses in a row wouldn’t devastate them.

by tallyray on Jul 12, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Non-thinking Carl said it best.

Longlorious.
Free Kila Kaaihue!

by RATW on Jul 12, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

CC and Upton are supposed to be two of our best players, right now they are playing like two of our worst

We don’t have the talent to be able to withstand total suckage from two of our best

by matthan on Jul 12, 2008 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

____________________ is playing like one of our worst right now

You could insert pretty much any Ray right now and have that statement be true.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 12, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats not really fair

some players have been playing well. Here are some number over the losing streak

Longo – .277BA

Aki – .347OBP

Pena – .316BA, .381OBP

Aybar – .077OBP

Gomes – .076OBP

Crawford – .091OBP

Navi – .157BA, .200OBP

All of our players haven’t been terrible. CC, Aybar, Gomes and Navi have been terrible.

I am surprised Aybar has received more criticism. He has been as bad as anyone at the plate lately

by Sveet on Jul 12, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought all Gomes needed was ABs...

by rglass44 on Jul 12, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by rglass44 on Jul 12, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Holy crap.

That is so added to the sidebar.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 12, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I finally just made my own photobucket...

So, now my creations can be enjoyed by the masses…

by rglass44 on Jul 12, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hilarious

I think you should change HRs to Runs though

by Sveet on Jul 12, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

Informal Poll?

by rglass44 on Jul 12, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've always been critical of Aybar

But my criticisms are more of him personally than his production. I’ve actually gone so far as to re-write his intro music and sing it when he steps into the box.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 12, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Post Low parody now.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 12, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK

Original Lyrics:

Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

My Version:

I’m Willy Aybar…..I beat my wife
She don’t never question me twice
I hit her jaw, She hit the flo
I get up and scream ‘B!+@# I told you soooooooo”

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 12, 2008 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs