Brignac Era Starts Early as Bartlett Hits DL
by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 3, 2008 4:27 PM EDT
in Tampa Bay Rays News
Email
PrintThe Mitch Talbot era in St. Petersburg turned out to be a short one, as he was demoted back to Triple A Durham before even throwing a pitch as the Rays made a flurry of off-day roster moves. SS Jason Bartlett has been placed on the 15 Day DL due to a right knee sprain that he suffered in yesterday's win over Boston. Since he was the only shortstop on the roster, the Rays called up not one, but two players to take his place. Ben Zobrist begins a third tour of duty with the team, while more intriguingly, top prospect Reid Brignac gets the call.
More on this move a bit later on, but I can't possibly seeing anyone but Brignac getting the bulk of the playing time at shortstop in Bartlett's place. Lou Piniella doesn't manage this team anymore, so unlike B.J. Upton's poorly-handled debut in 2004, I imagine the Rays will set out with a plan to see Brignac get regular playing time. Zobrist is their middle infield insurance policy, and quite frankly I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick, given the tumult that an injury to Bartlett has provoked. I'm sort of disappointed to see that Talbot won't get an extended opportunity to prove himself at the major league level, but I guess the need for roster flexibility on the infield was the paramount concern.
56 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Kinda strange...
I am guessing Barty jacked his knee up some with that steal of 3rd base last night, although later on he singled in 2 runs…. Weird to see him go on the DL now….
I cannot wait to see Reid get his shot here, curious to see what his role will be, and if he gets demoted once Barty gets healthy…
What if he hits .300 with some power and good defense?
No options for Gomes
And Brignac seems to struggle every time he makes a jump right away, seems to take ahim a little to adapt… But I am excited to see what he can do. Could Barty have a future ad the UTIL SS???
I am really surprised that they didin’t just call up Zobrist and leave Talbot in the ‘pen…
Yeah
Definitely an interesting choice to bring up Brignac, given the risks associated with the move if he fails, and even if he succeeds. More than anything else, the move doesn’t have a ring of permanency, so it seems to me that Zobrist would be the more logical stopgap.
No matter, I definitely look forward to watching Brignac play.
by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 3, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone know anything about Brignac's defense?
BP has him in the negative up through 2007, and thenn pretty good in 07…
He was atrocious at the lower levels
But from what I understand, he has improved greatly in the last year or two.
by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 3, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't some one mention before how defense at the low levels is always atrocious?
Because I’m sure I used to hear about Longoria’s “suspect defense.” Maybe it takes a year or two to get used to playing fo’ real.
B Rad the Ray Fan
9 = 8
Brignac's glovework
He was VERY solid in 2007 Arizona Fall League – very impressive glove and excellent footwork. His arm is adequate but his stick – while proven on other levels – was essentially a wet noodle at Fall ball…
All things considered – if he gets off to a decent start (Hello, K.C. pitching staff!!!) he very well could stick. But the realist in me thinks he’ll go back down and be back in September.
The Realist in me also thinks he’ll be the reason Tim Beckham ends up at 2B or RF!
If you're not having fun, what are you having? There's already WAAAY too many serious moments in life.
I CANNOT WAIT.
I have been waiting to see Reid to play forever.
Hmmm... This could pose a fantastic problem.
Imagine… if Brignac takes the Cal Ripken route. Cal came in as an injury sub. If Brignac can hold down the fort at shortstop and put a couple dingers over the wall, we may have a winner.
As long as he can turn the DP with the finesse Bartlett had and can exhibit some decent range, I think we all may be in for a pleasant suprise.
+1
I am really looking forward to see Brignac’s defense.
by Cory Alexander on Jul 3, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
If he puts up some offensive numbers
I wonder if it would make up for his percieved lead-footedness?
I agree on all fronts
I feel like Reid has been inthe minors for like 10 years.
I really love what Barty has done for us defensively, I am really excited to see these two have competition with each other… I expect Briggy and Barty to compete full on next spring for the starting job…
Any chance this is more than a "knee sprain" (ACL sprain, minor tear, cartiledge, miniscus)
Maybe they called Brignac up knowing this could be a until September kind of thing, and want the “best player” avaialbe everyday at SS
Lancaster:
Friedman said the Rays consider the diagnosis a positive, as it could have been worse, and they expect Bartlett back for the beginning of the second half.
Link
Longlorious.
ask and you shall recieve
good sleuthing
by Hazleton Jason on Jul 3, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
The Rays are calling up both players because of lingering uncertainty over the status of Zobrist’s shoulder.
That’s the only reason Reid is being called up.
Couldn't they be showcasing him for a deadline deal?
by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 3, 2008 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe dor Bay or Holliday
tho I’d rather them just DFA Gomes for Ruggiano and let him platoon with Gross…
by Hazleton Jason on Jul 3, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
This is rough. Only 11 pitchers means more of Glover and Hammel and possibly more of Miller in non-LOOGY situations. Plus, the downgrade on defense.
Ugh.
Longlorious.
With Talbot here
they essentially had an 11 man staff anyway, and Glover was going to get more innings anyway, as he did yesterday. I understand people’s frustration with Glover, but he has not been bad this year, particularly recently. In his last 10 appearances since May 27 he has allowed 1 run in 3 and 0 runs in the other 7. He also finished 6 of them, often in blowouts which has been his role, something useful to have. One of those 1 run affairs was last night which I count as an excellent performance.
As for Hammel, since he moved to the bullpen on May 2 he has rarely appeared more than once a week. In one case he went 12 days between appearances and has not pitched since June 28.
In other words, going to 11 pitchers makes no difference because with Talbot as #12 both Glover and Hammel would have increased their loads the same way as if there were only 11. And so far Glover has been useful.
Point taken regarding Talbot, however it would have been nice to see him get an opportunity to pitch with the big league club and perhaps overtake Hammel and/or Glover on the depth chart.
As for Glover, he is useful as a low leverage mop-up pitcher and I made many of the same points as you regarding his recent run of success in one of the Pirates game threads, but he’s had other runs of scoreless outings over the past two years only to match them with equally bad strings of outings. The sooner he is dropped back to a low leverage mop up role, the better.
Longlorious.
I can take almost anything
but I can’t take more Glover.
Brignac will hit some growing pains
But let’s get that stuff out of the way and the All-Star shortstop of the future is HERE!!!!
His glove is definitely ready. He has unusual pop for a middle infielder. It’s gonna come down to making contact and getting used to life in the bigs.
The kid definitely has the goods, but – here’s the warning – be patient with him!
If you're not having fun, what are you having? There's already WAAAY too many serious moments in life.
Or future 2nd Baseman. We'll see how Beckham pans out
by Cory Alexander on Jul 3, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
you guys don't want to resign Iwamura?
I tihnk Muurah is essential to keep the next 2-3 years until Becks is ready…
by Hazleton Jason on Jul 3, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I have a feeling he will K a lot and struggle at first....
but he will slowly get it going as Bartlett heals
by Hazleton Jason on Jul 3, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Me thinks Beckham will be the RF
Brignac IS a shortstop by nature… Beckham is an “ath-e-lete”.
Becks seems like he’s got more room to fill in as he gets older, and he’s already a meaty fella…
Either way, no matter what happens… WHO CARES!!!!
Let David Price come up and decide who plays where!!!
Isn’t it AWESOME having all these FOR REAL studs???
If you're not having fun, what are you having? There's already WAAAY too many serious moments in life.
I see Beckham moving to 2B... like Dan Uggla
The line it is drawn/The curse it is cast/The slow one now/Will later be fast/ As the present now/Will later be past/The order is/Rapidly fadin'./And the first one now/Will later be last/For the times they are a-changin'..- Bob Dylan
by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 3, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Alright
Briggy finally reaches the show, so that’s cool. Bartlett needs to come back strong, though.
Oh, STOP GETTING HURT ALREADY!
TAMPA BAY RAYS: 2008 CITRUS SERIES CHAMPIONS
Doubt it...
I’m not too concerned if it does happen. Zobrist has had his bumps at the major league level and seems to have learned from it. Briggy is going to struggle as well. Zobrist would help relieve the pressure.
Talbot know what it is like to be Dan Johnson
The line it is drawn/The curse it is cast/The slow one now/Will later be fast/ As the present now/Will later be past/The order is/Rapidly fadin'./And the first one now/Will later be last/For the times they are a-changin'..- Bob Dylan
by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 3, 2008 7:29 PM EDT reply actions
His Numbers in AAA for those who care
.265 Avg.
.312 OBP
.431 SLG
.743 OPS
He had 8 errors in 78 games.
This is a nice way to get the kid a taste of the bigs. A no pressure situation. He gets a Royals series under his belt before a trip to the Stadium.
Especially when you see his .328 OBP in AA last year
Your post led me to look at his #’s, and led me to the conclusion that he is likely overvalued. He really hasn’t hit in 1.5 years now, and strikes out too much.
He may have more upside than Zobrist, but I think Ben is the better of the two right now, which should be the focus during a pennant race.
by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 4, 2008 3:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Somewhat misleading
There are questions about Brignac, but his numbers at Montgomery are somewhat misleading. His totals do not look good primarily because of a low BA and that due to a very slow start after which he did pull it up considerably. More to the point he showed progress in that compared to the previous year he walked a great deal more and struck out less. Meanwhile he maintained his solid power hitting with 17 home runs and 30 doubles. This was in a pitchers’ park and a pitchers’ league.
He has regressed this year, although again he has been picking it up lately, and it is reasonable to question his rating, but in the various sites I have visited, he maintained his high status among the prospect analysts. He has been leading the league in doubles this year.
And from everything I have read, his defense has gone from suspect to outstanding. Additionally he has a reputation as a “gym rat” type, one who never stops working on his game. From what I have seen of Zobrist, Brignac is probably the better shortstop right now. But if he holds true to form, he will likely struggle with the bat at first. If he does, we have to hope it does not affect his defense.
Nice points
Progress is a key. I think it is really important to look at how much work Reid has put into his defense. In 2005 and 2006, he made 63 errors. Last year he made 22 errors, but look closer…he made just 3 errors in his final 43 games. That brings him up to just 11 errors in his last 120 games as a shortstop.
I have no doubt someone pulled him asside last year and said: “Look, you have the bat, but if you can’t get the job done in the field, you can’t play short in the bigs.” Then he takes off. The glove work improves. As he settles in, he has shown at each level he will hit.
I like Zobrist for what he is….a future utility guy. OK glove. Poor hitter. But versatile. That’s a nice role player. Reid though, could be that Jeter-esque combo of solid bat, good defense.
Did anyone see him and Longoria play together. Seems I remember these guys had a real nice feel for each other over there. Could be fun to watch if that’s the case.
I have missed your posts
Pat…..
Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls
BELIEVE in 08!
So have I...
Patrick is lucky enough to get to do some traveling this summer.
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.
~George F. Will, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, 1990
I think we have seen the last of Bartlett as our everyday SS
I saw Evan a lot last season in Durham and I’ve seen Brignac a decent amount this season and I agree with Baseball America or whoever it was that said he was the best infield defender in the system. He has great range and a cannon for an arm that is as accurate as strong. My point being he definately won’t be a let down defensively and I will put the farm on his OBPS being above .592 which is what Bartlett has. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bartlett stick around unless someone really wants him in a trade but I definately think we would be much better off with Brignac here everyday.
If he doesn't give us a drop off defensively
and can show some plate discipline then I think you may be right…
but those are two big IF’s
Blake
USF--Class of '09
FWIW
Bartlett’s plate discipline has dropped off tremendously this season.
by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 4, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Congratulations!
Howdy Rays fans. This post is mildly off-topic, but I picked Reid Brignac in my fantasy keeper league last year, one of many many Rays, so perhaps it kind of relates.
Bored by the Jays’ mediocrity and as someone with a soft spot in my heart for the Rays, I decided to check in and say hi.
My condolences on the loss of Jacob McGee—while the misery of my fantasy team pales in comparison to his setback, I’ve been watching a lot of your prospects closely. It must be very exciting to have a range of high ceiling guys that are close to (or already in) the majors, as opposed to a franchise with one exciting prospect in Double A.
While success for the Rays will mean the Jays fall into a 4th place, instead of a 3rd place rut, I empathize with your many years of misery. The years of 1984-1993 were absolutely fantastic as a Jays fan and if you get to experience something close to that, it will more than make up for the team’s history up until now.
After many years of torrential sucking, you now have a great team, and I will take consolation that excellent performances from Pena, Longoria, and Iwamura will help my team in pretend baseball, if not the real world.
Enjoy the ride!
P.S. I, and every single one of my Jays-loving friends would rather see you guys win a world series that the hated Yankees or Red Sox. Especially the Red Sox. Fortunately, they appear to be the only team that we can beat consistently, so we will knee cap them for you in September if the playoff race is tight.
by Another Jays Fan on Jul 4, 2008 11:23 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Please read our Community Guidelines.
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
![Zobrist wallpaper I made :]
Actual Link: http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb472/lewiedesigns/Wallpapers/Zobristwallpaper.jpg](http://cdn1.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/237766/Zobristwallpaper_small.jpg)
DRB Suggestion Box
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
- Will Bryce Harper start the season with the Nationals?
- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
- Robinson Cano and Denzel Washington face off in Jay Leno’s Yankees trivia contest
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
