why no love for juan salas?

by RaysOfHope on Jan 7, 2009 10:43 PM EST

I know we are all doing the Rays roster in our heads, on this amazing blog and well me on paper. But everytime we talk about the bullpen Juan Salas isnt mentioned, i still think that he could be a power reliever out of the pen for the Rays, but it seems like the RFO has kinda put him on the back burner and maybe he isnt going to get another shot at the big league club unless they trade Dan Wheeler or Chad Bradford, or unless someone needs to go on the DL. It seems that he has also fallen out of favor with the RFO since he tested positive for a Banned substance in 2007 and was suspended 50 games. Also how many option years does Salas have left?

also i wish the pen was like this next year

Balfour,Howell,Bradford,Nelson,Niemann,Salas and Rodriguez

Im hopeing for the day that they trade Wheeler, and i didnt include percy in there because i dont like him until he can prove to be healthy and effective. Also no closer, i didnt buy into the no closer thing at 1st because barely anyone has ever done it with success, but i think that the Rays could be successful with those arms in the pen.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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He's mentioned.

But he’s in the Dale Thayer boat. Yes, I like him (he’s The Juice after all) and want to see him in our pen, but he’s still got options left, and his MLB outings have been a mixed bag.

Plus I think the seizure caused the Rays to chill on his outings last year.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 7, 2009 10:48 PM EST reply actions

Until they trade Wheeler or Bradford, Salas really doesn't have a shot to make it this spring

well maybe they will call him up when Percy goes on the DL/retires

TB Rays in 09!!!

by RaysOfHope on Jan 7, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

It's just rude to wish for his death

oh wait you didn’t

hell is waiting for me.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 7, 2009 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

I completely forgot about the seisure

by kericr on Jan 8, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

The Juice is loose!

by floridaroar on Jan 8, 2009 12:49 AM EST reply actions

Is it just me

or does Salas really need to work on his second pitch more before being considered a solid bullpen option? I remember when ever he would pitch, people would keep saying, just throw the cutter, stop throwing the slider. I still think his slider needs more work and he needs at least one more average pitch to compliment his cutter. Even if its just a show me pitch or using his slider to expand the zone. Not going to get many swings out of the zone with a cutter.

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 8, 2009 2:50 AM EST reply actions

I think that is the case

I think thats been the case ever since he got called up from AAA a coupel eyars ago when he was dominating the minors, and then he got called up and we realized he’s not Mariano Rivera (yet) and he needs more pitches or else he is hittable.

Either way, I’ll take the 1-trick pony Salas over Troy Percival

by Rays4242 on Jan 9, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

Im confused, does everyone hate Dan Wheeler now did I miss the memo?

Or is just that everyone would prefer him and his contract get traded? Bceuase I thought that was teh case, that everyoen just thought we had cheaper replacements who were as good.

Until we trade Wheeler and get a nice return, I love having him in our bullpen. He is the most reliable reliever we have, if you consider Percy sucks and Nelson, Howell, and Balfour havent strung together many succesful seasons

Aside from that, Im all in favor of having Juan Salas on the roster and eating Peercy’s salary and telling him goodbye

by Rays4242 on Jan 9, 2009 2:13 PM EST reply actions

Joe Nelson is a cheaper version of Dan Wheeler

It wouldn’t hurt to keep Wheeler (he’s still an above average reliever), but he’s probably making more than he’ll be worth to the team, and we have another cheaper player who’s a virtual clone of Wheeler now.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jan 9, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions