Is our problem RF?

by LeftRight on Jul 17, 2008 2:09 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

After looking at our club splits by position, the short answer would seem to be no. The biggest lack of offense seems to be coming from the spot in the order designed to produce the most offense - the DH. Our DH spot is producing .237/.315/.383 with an OPS only lower than SS. Our glaring hole is obviously the inability to hit LHP - this is what our slash line looks like as a team against LHP .248/.326/.395 compared to .265/.341/.415 against RHP. The need is not only for a right handed bat, but for one that hits lefties real well. One very cheap solution that would not cost any prospects, or much money at all would be Sexson - against LHP in 2008 - .324/.423/.623 (wow) - a substantial upgrade over Gomes (our current RHB DH against lefties hitting192/.297/.449. Now the argument here will obviously be what to do with the roster since we would be carrying essentially two DH spots on the bench. I think we all agree that Gomes never needs to be in the outfield as it, so he would essentially be serving the same purpose.

The point of this post was not to call for Sexson, but to point to our current DH problem, and the need for a lefty killer. I still love Nady because of his ability to play D, but I dont think the front office will give away too much, and it doesnt seem like he wants to leave. The roster spot is still up for discussion.

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Check out Sexsons career line vs. lefties

I smell a fluke

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 17, 2008 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

.265/.369/.510?

I would take it. And like I said, Sexson may not be the answer, but focusing on a DH and not a RF might be.

Johnny let his baby brother sleep, through the back door and baseball, all the kids are waiting outside, Old days come and go too soon Old friends, heroes, lifetimes. Don't let a single memory fade away

by LeftRight on Jul 17, 2008 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You would?

Then perhaps you’d like .272 .376 .519 even better. That’s Gomes’ career line vs. lefties. I don’t buy into the wisdom of dismissing and/or signing a player based on such a small sample size.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 17, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sexson is done as a far as being a player of any real value.

He’s a decent guy to take a flyer on at the league minimum as the Yankees did, but no Rays fans should be at all upset about missing out.

by acblue on Jul 18, 2008 5:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yanks on verge of signing Sexson

Per, Ken Rosenthal

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8354002?MSNHPHMA

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 17, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Big Richie

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Jul 17, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're actually carrying 3 DHs

Floyd, Hinske, and Gomes are all playing DH roles. Hinske is only marginally better than Gomes in the outfield defensively, and Floyd can’t play the OF at all with his bum knees. With the bench of Floyd, Hinske, Gomes, and Gross, the Rays are carrying 3 right-handed hitting DHs (one of whom can’t seem to hit at all) and a late-inning defensive replacement.

I think we actually need both a RF and a DH, with Gomes being gone for certain. If we can’t find a way to trade away Hinske for value, than Floyd should be the other man out.

by kericr on Jul 17, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

We might be carrying 3 RH DH's

but none of them are producing. Like I said, this position is well below our team average OPS which is pathetic especially since it is a platoon. I am beginning to think of getting Sexson, cutting Floyd promoting Ruggs, and cutting Gomes. Problem solved.

by LeftRight on Jul 17, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I agree with the lack of production.

I’m with you on what you’re saying, but I think the scope of the problem extends to RF in addition to DH. I actually started a fanpost on this myself at the end of the Cleveland series, but usually if it takes me more than 1 minute to type anything I lose interest and discard it.

by kericr on Jul 17, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Problem solved:

AVG OBP SLG OPS
.292 .420 .579 .999

Who’s mystery career vs. LHP split is this?

If the OPS doesn’t give it away, than many the hint of “HGH” will.

Sign Barry.

B Rad the Ray Fan
9 = 8

by B Ray on Jul 17, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Please stop...

I want it so bad.

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Jul 17, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we should initiate a "Sign Barry" campaign.

We could have a bake sale! Maybe lace everything with ‘roids to give it a sort of theme?

B Rad the Ray Fan
9 = 8

by B Ray on Jul 17, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what he said.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 17, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont care that he is another lefty but I think Adam Dunn would be great in our offense

He would instantly become our best power threat and I know he strikes out a lot but we could use the power.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2008 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

adam dunn would be a rental

and for what the reds would want for him i dont see it happening

by RaysOfHope on Jul 17, 2008 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope the Rays don't shy away from a guy because he might be a rental. especiall if he is a Type A FA

This is why, the biggest prospects we have our pitching prospects so those are the guys we would be most likely losing at the deadline (Hellickson, Niemann, Davis) (This assuming Price is off limits). Most likely these guys could help out over the next 2-3 years as opposed to a guy or two guys we get in the sandwich round from the Type A FA. Leaving who might not be able to contribute for 3+ years.

So say we lose both Davis and Hellickson over the next 3-4 years our rotation will look like this

Kazmir
Price
Shields
Garza
Jackson/Sonny/Niemann/Talbot

Most likely both Hellickson and Davis won’t be in the rotation anyway unless we move Garza or Shields to the pen. So pretty much we are saying we are afraid to give up a future bullpen arm and 5th starter in 2 years for a big time bat that could help us get to the playoffs this year. Now yes I understand both Hellickson and Davis are very good young pitching prospects but I think we have the depth not only in our farm system but with 4 very good MLB ready arms (Price,Kaz,Shields,Garza) and serviceable guys for the 5 spot that we can afford to make this kind of move and I think it would be very dissapointing for us not to go for it.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 18, 2008 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's tempting to think like this

But the reality is that pitching – especially young pitching – is INCREDIBLY risky. If all of these guys progress and are knocking on the door of the rotation, sure, go ahead and trade a few. But as of now, the Rays need all of the depth (not just depth, but quality depth) they can get, in order to withstand the injuries which are surely coming.

by Peter Bendix on Jul 18, 2008 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry but i disagree with you about the rental thing

rental players have set back some organizations (remember when montreal traded 3 future allstars brandon phillips,cliff lee,grady sizemore for bartolo colon?) well they sure could those 2 guys in their lineup and lee as their ace, they could even be competitive in that NL east if they didnt do that move! also you know why people are saying that this is going to be the worst rays team over the next 5 years? because of the pitching prospects that are going to be ready from some up right now (longoria), some due up soon (price) and some due up sometime next year(davis,morlan,brignac) but the rays are smart and im sure that they will make the smart move and not trade any of their top prospects and will try and move some other guys Niemann,etc for someone instead

by RaysOfHope on Jul 19, 2008 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Rays have a solid DH option, but he's currently playing RF

Eric Hinske is a DH, not a RF. Signing a real right fielder provides both an offensive upgrade over the current DH trifecta and provides a defensive upgrade over Hinske.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 18, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I have no problem with Hinske being in the line-up, I just don’t want us narrowing our search for only a RF bat. If we can get a better bat or better value at DH, Hinske is just fine in RF

by Dbullsfan on Jul 18, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs