Rays Set Playoff Rotation; No Edwin

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 30, 2008 4:23 PM EDT Comment 38 comments

Per the Heater Edwin Jackson will not be on the post-season roster. That means the Rays rotation will be Shields-Kazmir-Garza-Sonnanstine in the post-season which is absolutely how it should be. Interestingly this leaves Jackson, Jeff Niemann, Mitch Talbot, and Juan Salas off and I would assume Jason Hammel is also out. That cuts the potential pitchers down to the four starters, Price, Wheeler, Balfour, Howell, Bradford, and potentially Percival or Miller, that's if the Rays go with 10 pitchers.

That would leave the team with 15 position players:

Navarro, Hernandez (Jaso?), Pena, Iwamura, Bartlett, Longoria, Crawford, Upton, Gross, Floyd; that's 10, I would have to believe at least one of Aybar and Zobrist get spots, and there's that cluster of Hinske, Baldelli, and Perez that gets sticky.

So far the Rays have made one borderline roster decision and nailed it. I hope this continues.

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I think it is safe to say Jackson's pitched his last game as a Ray

Pretty tough pill for him to swallow to lose his spot to a rookie (assuming Price is on it).

by Jason Collette on Sep 30, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but one would not dare mess with Velociraptor Jesus

by steve-o1285 on Sep 30, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BEN ZOBRIST CANT LUCK INTO ANY MORE BIG HITS

For the love of GOD, cut him

by Acadien on Sep 30, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 30, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I'm not sure why he's wearing a Cards hat but It's a refreshing shade of not-blue

by Acadien on Sep 30, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very tough decision to make by a personel standpoint, but they made the right one.

by walkoffwalk on Sep 30, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feel for E-Jax

He battled all year and really has been an integral part of the team. Hopefully, he can find a role somewhere and be successful, whether it be in our pen or in someone else’s rotation.

by rglass44 on Sep 30, 2008 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well said

Boom. Outta Here.

by WillisDaddy on Sep 30, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Sep 30, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

E-jax

This is only a 5 game series. The next two are 7 game series and he may very well be on one of them. He will definitely be back next year for his continued development. Anyone who saw him last year and this year can see a great improvment If he continues that improvement he will be a very good starter for us for many years to come

by rayalan on Sep 30, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i am not sure he will be back next year....niemann and price will probably make the team out of spring training, and davis will be knocking on the door.

by walkoffwalk on Sep 30, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone needs to be moved

I personally like Niemann, and would like to see him get a chance with the big league team, but so many pitchers are so good in the Rays system, and there’s so little OF depth or quality, that I would HAVE to thinkone (if not more) SPs will be moved. I’m thinking Jackson. His value is very high, he’s shown good improvement, and has good upside. I think the RFO will look at that and parlay him and maybe another minor leaguer into a solid OF for the ML team.

I hope…

by staplemaniac on Sep 30, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i.e.

Delmon Young 2.0

by staplemaniac on Sep 30, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What if you moved Kaz

Someone out there would extemely overpay. Look what the Mets, etc are going to pay to get K-Rod this offseason. With this much young, capable pitching available, it might be worth a trade for some big bat.

BOHICA

by Mr. Tonight TB on Oct 1, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

12% of his pitches result in swinging strikes

Without even throwing his silly slider this year. I want that on my team not on my opponents.

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 Oct 1, 2008 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. He's still a really good pitcher, so need to undersell...

But he’s going to start earning real money, the Rays have plenty of pitching, and just imagine what we might get in return — would Markakis be unreasonable? Probably, but something like that.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Oct 1, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMG I think I just got wood

Markakis on this team. oaisdhfjoi;aslnafd

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 Oct 1, 2008 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's "NO need to undersell", btw.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Oct 1, 2008 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if the Rays would trade withing the division

but I’d definitely do it for Markakis.

by rays1234 on Oct 1, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jackson and Brignac for Markakis and I think we are on to something

He has the same problem as all their other pitchers so he should fit in nicely

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 Oct 1, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sucking is definitely a problem

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Oct 2, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think its gotta be Nando and Rocco over Hinske

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Sep 30, 2008 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Personally I think Sonny over Ejax is pretty easy

The question is when do we skip Sonny? Do we pitch him if we are down 1-2? What about in the 7 game series?

Frankly Andy over Edwin was an easy choice. The bullpen is the tough choice and what to do with the Rocco, Hinske, Perez, Zobrist type crowd is the tough choice.

by matthan on Sep 30, 2008 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nando is a switch hitter right?

by putupyourDUKES on Sep 30, 2008 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oui

by staplemaniac on Sep 30, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd go with...

Aybar and Zobrist, Rocco and Perez, Percy and Miller. No Jaso, No Hinske, No E-Jax, No Hammel.

by K-Rock on Sep 30, 2008 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's my take, assuming 10 pitchers which I think we can do.

SP: Shields, Kaz, Garza, Sonny (Duh)
RP: Howell, Balfour, Wheeler, Price, Bradford, Percy

C: Navarro, Jaso
IF: Pena, Aki, Bartlett, Longo, Aybar, Zobrist
OF: CC, BJ, Gross, Perez
DH: Floyd, Baldelli, Hinske

by rglass44 on Sep 30, 2008 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

no Miller? only one lefty?

by walkoffwalk on Sep 30, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh, howell is a lefty, but i don't think of him as one.

by walkoffwalk on Sep 30, 2008 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Miller or Percy

Having Miller frees up Price a bit, but I feel like Price will be even harder on Lefties and we can use him against righties. Against MIN, I prefer Percy because they’re free-swingers w/o a ton of power, but CHA is a bit more patient and could really take advantage of Percy’s 2 weaknesses.

by rglass44 on Sep 30, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMFG EDWIN JACKSON DIDN'T MAKE THE POSTSEASON ROSTER

Certainties in Life: Death, Taxes, and Gabe Gross coming through in the ninth

by JMB on Sep 30, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

errr ROTATION

Certainties in Life: Death, Taxes, and Gabe Gross coming through in the ninth

by JMB on Sep 30, 2008 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Edwin!

I agree with the many who stated, “Edwin Jackson was an integral part of the 2008 season.” He did a helluva job this year where many thought he would fail. Thanks EJ for a great season, things will only get better next year. IMO, there is no one on the team not named David Price that can equal the thunderbolt the Gods put in Edwins Right arm. If EJ can learn the Shields change up he’ll be devastating.

If the votes are all not counted yet I’ll take Miller over Troy “bombs away” Percival any day of the week. Percival has not earned a playoff roster spot and should not play at all. He is terrible on a good day. I know I’m not the only one who cringes and re-adjusts in my seat wiping sweaty palms on my shorts every time “bombs away” enters the game. Say NO to Troy, PLEASE!

Baldelli over any leftie or Perez. The Rock has a nack for the dramatic and I believe he will excel in the playoffs where his RH power bat is needed.

I love it Price is on the playoff roster. I’d give him a start if possible. This kid will be the most dominant leftie in the BIG lEague’s by his 3rd season. His pitches are explosive, his arm can dial it up at 100 MPH if he wants. He so effortlessly throws in the mid 90’s with one of the best sliders I’ve seen. To think he’s learning the change up that will throw hitters so off balance they’ll be flailing.

Today, it’s good to be a fan of the 2008 Eastern Division Champion Tampa Bay Rays!

by John 63 on Oct 1, 2008 9:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs