Recap: Percival is Fragile

by P Brady on Aug 14, 2008 8:21 PM EDT Comment 43 comments

Carlos Pena = Clutch

James Shields pitched a lackluster start to the tune of an Un-James Shields like 5 walks, while striking out 3. Chad Bradford is proving to be a great pickup as he'll be a bridge to the 7th-8th inning for our starter. Jason Hammel has pitched his 2nd good outing in his last 3, and Grant Balfour, despite a hit, was Grant Balfour.

The death of our offense was greatly exaggerated, BJ, Carlos, Aki, and the Suddenly Patient Floyd give our offense High-OBP guys. Give Navi's consistent Base Hitting and the megaplatoon of Hinske-Gross-Rocco-Ruggs an you have an O that can win games with the pitching behind them.

Random Thoughts:

The Battle to be Called up is Dohmann or Salas, Not Price. Price would likely not be able to pitch for 3-4 days going into a Rangers series with a taxed bullpen.
Beej Pulling the Ball = Good Sign
Funkier Delivery - Ziegler or Bradford?
Ump's Zone = Terrible
Winning Two Straight Road Series = Great

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Dohmann is not on the 40 man

There is no reason to add him when Salas simply needs to be removed from the restricted list. It has to be Juice!

by ClemsonRay on Aug 14, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not the case

A 40-man spot would have to be cleared up for either one.

by Vin on Aug 14, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't be too tough to waive Birkins

whose ERA is around 7 in AAA.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 14, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH GOD SALAS HAD A TRA OF 5.84 LAST YEAR

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Aug 14, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I may be wrong...

but I think there are only 39 guys on the 40 man right now if you do not count Salas.

Does anyone know if he still has an option year available?

by ClemsonRay on Aug 14, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He still has an option

And removing Rocco from the 60-day DL took up that last open roster spot.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 14, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot about Rocco.

Like you said, it would be real easy to simply DFA Birkins. Ryu could be an option as well.

by ClemsonRay on Aug 14, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ryu could always go on the 60-day DL. He hasn’t pitched in months.

by RATW on Aug 14, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

SALAS PLEASE

I wish Price didn’t pitch just yesterday because the signs were there with Jackson in the bullpen and Percival getting hurt.

Plz give him the call before September, he will help in the playoffs!

by joeybw on Aug 14, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn, I was thinking we call Talbot up

and actually use him but I see he started tonight.

How about Jeff Niemann?

Salas is my fav option but we seem to be against calling him up for some reason, Dohmann and Birkins suck, Talbot and Price can’t even be used for 3-4 days…. and then there is Wade Davis who I think doesn’t see the majors until June 2009

by joeybw on Aug 14, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just checked into it

Niemann would be on full rest for tomorrows game and he can eat up a lot of innings for our tired bullpen

I think I have put him ahead of Salas as my #1 option

by joeybw on Aug 14, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense

wouldn’t even have to waste an optin

by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 14, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but

wouldn’t you want Salas on the postseason roster? And Salas uses an option this season anyway, since he’s on the 40-man but in the minors.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 14, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This texas series is kind of worrying me...

They are coming home right after they get shit on by boston and im sure they will be pissed and looking to kill whoever they play next which is the rays…..millwood is coming off the dl and will start tomorrow and padilla on sunday alot better pitchers than the sox faced

by Rays4ever on Aug 14, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will be so hit or miss

for all 3 pitchers( Garza, Jackson, Kazmir) it depends which one shows up. It is certainly possible that all 3 don’t last long.

However, after blowing the lead and a great chance to score then winning with only Hammel and Miller left in the pen, I just can’t have any doubts.

Another 2 out of 3 is my prediction which would make for a 7-3 road trip.

by joeybw on Aug 14, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Off Topic: John Lynch just singed a 1 year deal worth 1.5 mil with the Patriots

I love John Lynch.

I hate the Patriots.

I’m confused.

by kericr on Aug 14, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gooooooo

NFL Europe

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 14, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the worst 18-1 team ever, i hate those bastards

right when it seemed like they were going to go undefeated i was hopeing they would and loss the super bowl and my wish came true

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. BJ UPTON IS NOT LAZY! ! ! Gabe Gross= clutch. David Price is the next big time pitcher.

by RaysOfHope on Aug 15, 2008 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also btw

How awesome is it that Hammel got the W and Miller got the save? I can see why we didn’t make a move, we really take advantage of every single player on this team.

by joeybw on Aug 14, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The new Gabe Gross

They do it all with gills!

by LONGO4PREZ08 on Aug 14, 2008 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone think paul byrd will beat roy halladay tomorrow night????

by Rays4ever on Aug 14, 2008 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol i just got off the floor from laughing at that one

halladay really only losses to the rays

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. BJ UPTON IS NOT LAZY! ! ! Gabe Gross= clutch. David Price is the next big time pitcher.

by RaysOfHope on Aug 15, 2008 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Durham tonight:

Talbot – 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Dohmann – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Thayer also pitched a scoreless inning.

by RATW on Aug 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

- Lancaster

But from the way the closer looked following today’s game, it would be a major upset if he is not placed on the disabled list for the third time this season. Percival’s right leg was encased in a heavy brace from mid-thigh to his ankle and he was using crutches to move around. He claimed his sprained right knee didn’t hurt as long as he was wearing the brace, but it certainly didn’t bode well for his short-term prospects.

9 = 8

by websterjtc on Aug 14, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this sucks cause now balfour is going to be the closer...but he's much more usefull coming in at the most crucial point of the game whether it be the 7th or 8th inning or perhaps earlier.

9 = 8

by websterjtc on Aug 14, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes, those 3-run saves are pointless

but closers actually do tend to get used in higher leverage situations than setup men. yes, you COULD use a bullpen ace in even more important situations (i.e. fewer unimportant situations) than the closer is typically used, but we all know Maddon’s not going to go that route.

my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance

by Sky Kalkman on Aug 15, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Percy back on the DL?

by sternfan1 on Aug 14, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Back to the Rays?

The Baltimore Sun reports that Aubrey Huff has cleared waivers.

The team now has until August 31 to deal Huff, who is signed for $8 million next season. George Sherrill, however, was claimed by an unnamed American League team and was pulled back by the Orioles. He’ll stick with the team for the rest of the season.
Source: Baltimore Sun

by sternfan1 on Aug 14, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's rather startling

The Rays could use a bat, but I don’t know if they could use HIS bat.

by kericr on Aug 14, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could play 3B, RF or DH

but he’s having a great year

by sternfan1 on Aug 14, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess he's not much worse than Gomes defensively

The only thing I miss about him was his ability to play balls off the wall, but other than that, he was pretty rank in the OF.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 15, 2008 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I wouldn't bitch about having Barry Bonds, I can't really bitch if they manage to grab Aubrey Huff either.

It does make me wonder that if he was on waivers, why didn’t the Rays claim him?

by kericr on Aug 15, 2008 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barry's got much better numbers though, screw Huff, go Lamar

They do it all with gills!

by LONGO4PREZ08 on Aug 15, 2008 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

O's throwing in the towel

is sweet

we have 7 games left with them

by sternfan1 on Aug 14, 2008 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Huff plz

by putupyourDUKES on Aug 14, 2008 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

$8MM? No thanks.

Marcel projection: .274/.339/.461

my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance

by Sky Kalkman on Aug 15, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i wonder why the rays or any other team didn't claim him... $8 mill for huff on his contract year isn't that bad.

9 = 8

by websterjtc on Aug 14, 2008 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The JD / Stephen Drew fanfiction site got shut down.

Good job guys.

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Aug 14, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

...

….

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Aug 14, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huff is actually posting some good numbers, but would he fit back in the clubhouse? I remember him "not being to happy" here in Tampa.....

However, a banged up team who could use a strong bat with a versatile glove. For the O’s this year, Huff has a .909 OPS and a .359 OPB with a .550 SLg. The guy is hitting .300 with 352B 25HR 80RBI. That’s better than our leading hitter who is currently on the DL. Thank god Pena has arrived. It would be better to see others follow suit (see Upton). I say sign Huff…..now before the RedSux/Yankmees do. Lowell is on DL. It wouldnt suprise me to watch them go after Huff and that would suck.

by Rays Rule on Aug 15, 2008 12:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs