Your 2009 Tampa Bay Rays Spring Roster

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 13, 2009 7:00 AM EST

But first, a look at the non-roster invitees to make the Rays opening day roster:

1998: Rolando Arrojo

2000: Dave Eiland, Herbert Perry

2001: Ken Hill

2003: Rocco Baldelli, Jim Parque, Steve Parris

2005: Chris Singleton, Hideo Nomo

2006: Jason Childers, Ruddy Lugo, Luis Ordaz

2007: Gary Glover, Carlos Pena, Al Reyes

2008: Eric Hinske

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Some MLB quality pitchers

have no chance to make this roster

by Raymondo on Feb 13, 2009 7:14 AM EST reply actions

Nowak has always intrigued me as a hitter

And Hernandez, can he pitch in MLB?

by Raymondo on Feb 13, 2009 7:15 AM EST reply actions

He already has 33 major league starts under his belt

Career FIP of 4.89 which is your average 5th starter. He won’t have a chance to make the team, but should fill in the Durham rotation.

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 13, 2009 7:48 AM EST up reply actions

Yet i think his value at this point

if in the BP, being LH

by Raymondo on Feb 13, 2009 7:52 AM EST up reply actions

i'll be interested in seeing Thayer and T-Beck

maybe Ensberg too

by RayOfLight on Feb 13, 2009 7:38 AM EST reply actions

Too bad Thayer only makes this

team if trade/injury is involved

Ensberg is another story. I wonder what Andrew saw there, based on last year

by Raymondo on Feb 13, 2009 7:50 AM EST up reply actions

A low risk/high reward signing

by Erik Hahmann on Feb 13, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

I think of it more as no risk/unlikely reward but worthwhile insurance signing. Either he fills out the Durham roster and that’s it or he comes up to play a few non-descript innings for the Rays out of necessity or he actually does reemerge as a solid or better player and becomes very useful in any number of ways.

Durham has to have a full roster, and it is unlikely that Ensberg blocks anyone with prospect status from playing time, so I see no risk at all in signing him. However slight the chance that he contributes in TB, it is better to have him on hand than someone like Tomas Perez. As terrible as Ensberg has been since his big year, he still takes walks and flashes occasional power. In 2007, he walked 38 times in 282 ABs and hit 12 home runs.

by bobr on Feb 13, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

Anything form Ensberg at the Major League level in 2009 is a bonus.

Behind Pena, Longoria and Aybar there isn’t much depth in the organization as far as major league ready corner infielders go. Ensberg gives you that insurance. He may not be 2005 Ensberg, but servicable if needed. Plus like you pointed out somebody needs to play 3B at Durham

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 13, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

Precisely.

I am emphatically not comparing Ensberg to Hinske. I think those sorts of comparisons reflect flawed thinking. By putting them side by side, I am only trying to demonstrate that a one year or even 2 year decline does not automatically make a player definitely useless.

In 2007, Hinske got 186 ABs for Boston and hit 12 doubles, 6 home runs and had a line of
.204/.317/.398 for an OPS+ of 83. In his two previous years, with more ABs, his OPS+ was 100 and 114.

In 2007, Ensberg got 282 ABs for Houston and SD and hit 13 doubles, 12 home runs and had a line of
.230/.320/.404 for an OPS+ of 88. In his two previous years, with more ABs, his OPS+ was 144 and 120.

True, in 2008, Ensberg cratered both in the majors and in AAA. He also got only 74 ABs with the Yankees and did continue an exceptional BB rate in the minors. But it seems as if he is through as a player. Still, for Durham and on a minor league contract, there is nothing to lose.

by bobr on Feb 13, 2009 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed, Bob.

by Erik Hahmann on Feb 13, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

Thayer probably won't make the team out of ST

but given the fact that he is on the 40 man roster, he should be one of the first options for a call up should an injury happen. He basically takes the Juan Salas seat on the Durham/St. Pete shuttle.

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 13, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Pena

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought Los did not make the opening day roster in 2007. Greg Norton did, got injured, and Los was called up the next day.

by rays_world_champs on Feb 13, 2009 8:16 AM EST reply actions

No, he was on the opening day roster.

The rest of your story was right though. He was cut, Norton got hurt before opening day and Los was added.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Feb 13, 2009 8:25 AM EST up reply actions

It's interesting to think what would have happened if Norton wasn't hurt.

I mean, imagine him getting picked up by another team and having his monster season somewhere else. Man, that would have sucked.

by kericr on Feb 13, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

As I see it

Barring injuries, the only NRI I see having a chance to make the team is Michel Hernandez.

What the heck is a quality assurance coach anyway?

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 13, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions

I thought you said barring injuries.

Hernandez isn’t better than Riggans.

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 13, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

Hernandez doesn't allow 95% of baserunners to advance either.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 13, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

Ahem

Not baserunners, attempted basestealers. But point still stands. If the staff is convinced that Hernandez calls a better game or that the pitchers are more comfortable with him, then he’ll make the team over Riggans. The difference between the two is negligible anyway (I can’t imagine it’s more than a half a win difference on offense, and Hernandez is probably the better defender).

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 13, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions