Opening Day Starting Lineup Projections

by Price14 on Feb 20, 2009 10:08 PM EST

With Current injuries here they are.

1B - Carlos Pena

C - Dioner Navarro

2B - Akinori Iwamura

3B - Evan Longoria

SS - Jason Bartlett

RF - Hopefully Im wrong - Gabe Gross - I want Kapler

CF - Fernando Perez (for B.J.)

LF - Carl Crawford

SP - Scott Kazmir

SP - James Shields

SP - Matt Garza

SP - Andy "dandy" Sonnanstine

SP - Hopefull David Price - If not Jeff Niemann

Relievers- Joe Nelson, J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour, Brian Shouse, Chad Bradford, Troy Percival, Jason Isringhausen.

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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Bradford will be on the DL and Percy probably also

Replace them with Niemann(if Price wins the spot) and Wheeler

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Feb 21, 2009 12:17 AM EST reply actions

I bet Beckett starts opening day

Which would make Kapler the RFer. And I think Hammel will be the #5 starter. It makes too much sense. Maddon already said he thinks Niemann could be a good long reliever. If he thinks that’s his future than we shouldnt delay it. Plus if Hammel does well than he raises his trade value. If he’s awful and no one wants him for anything than we can DFA him and he’ll likely clear waivers, sending him to Durham.

by dannythegreat on Feb 21, 2009 12:25 AM EST reply actions

What?

by kstruthe on Feb 21, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, Gross would be in a Beckett game.

by twenty5psi on Feb 21, 2009 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

oops

wrong Gabe.

by dannythegreat on Feb 21, 2009 12:55 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think that Hammel would clear waivers

Teams are always looking for young pitching with upside. I would personally love the Cardinals to take a flyer on a guy like him.

vivaelbeñsheets

by vivaelpujols on Feb 21, 2009 2:53 AM EST up reply actions

I dont think Niemann’s “future” is as a long reliever. The only guys who have “futures” as long relievers are failed starters, and Niemann is not that right now. For sure Niemann’s short term plans are for the bullpen, but I dont think he really needs much preperation for that. If NIemann is better than Hammel (which he is), and outpitches him then he shouldnt be relegated to bullpen duty until all of his starting options have been exhausted. If Price is in AAA, then there is nothing blocking Niemann anymore and we can continue his development as a starter until Price is ready. At that point you may have an injury somewhere else, in which case Niemann remains a SP for longer. I dont think his “future” is as a long reliever at all, that is just the only place we can put him for now

by Rays4242 on Feb 21, 2009 7:19 AM EST up reply actions

I understand what your saying

And I do agree with you. If it were up to me I would have Niemann starting like you said. I still think Hammel will start tho.

by dannythegreat on Feb 21, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

Confused

I want Kapler

Are you saying you hope we face a lefty on opening day, or that you want them to scrap a platoon in favor of giving Kapler the full-time job. If it’s the latter I strongly disagree.

by GomesSweetGomes on Feb 21, 2009 10:10 AM EST reply actions

Kapler

I think is the best right fielder lefty or righty.

by Price14 on Feb 21, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

I hope its like this
C – Dioner Navarro
1B – Carlos Pena
2B – Akinori Iwamura or Willy Aybar
SS – Jason Bartlett
3B – Evan Longoria
LF – Carl Crawford
CF – B.J. Upton
RF – Gabe Gross/Gabe Kapler platoon (the only other option in my mind if Gross full time, but this platoon is great).

SP – James Shields
SP – Scott Kazmir
SP – Matt Garza
SP – Andy Sonnanstine
SP – Jeff Niemann (I can only hope)

RP – Grant Balfour
RP – Dan Wheeler
RP – J.P. Howell
RP – Joe Nelson
RP – Brian Shouse
RP – Whoever performs at ST
RP – Jason Hammel (no reason to just let him get claimed if hes not going to KILL us in the bullpen as the last guy)

by Navi's_Navy on Feb 22, 2009 11:27 AM EST reply actions

This is the IDEAL Roster right here

Assuming BJ can get back on the field quickly enough this is how it shapes up.

Also Gabe Gross is trash Matt Joyce is 24 and just started hitting MLB pitching for a really high .OPS. Why ruin his progression by keeping him in Durham when he slugged over .500 against right handers last year. That is stupid. We should trade Gross or release him. He cost us the World Series with his crap play in the outfield (Anyone remember his throw straight into the ground?) and who knows how many times he struck out. Andrew Friedman made a mistake offering arbitration to him and cutting Jonny Gomes. It looks like a shit move on paper and is a even worse when when you think about we could get kept Gomes instead of signing Kapler. You do not trade your Highest winning pitcher on a AL championship team for a RF just to keep him in the minors. That is RETARDED. Anyone who thinks otherwise should be taken out and SHOT!

Good luck in Cincy Jonny I love you with all my heart. Thank you for one of the best days in my life. The day You Smashed the A’s pitching the umps robbed you of another Tropicana blast and you guys went on the CRUSH the Athletics during Scotty Kaz’s record breaking K day! Greatest MLB game of my life!

Devil Rays World Series 2009

by Japhei on Feb 22, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

ROSTER

C – Dioner Navarro
1B – Carlos Pena
2B – Akinori Iwamura
SS – Jason Bartlett
3B – Evan Longoria
LF – Carl Crawford
CF – BJ Upton
RF – Matt Joyce
DH – Patt Burrell

Bench

UTL- Willy Aybar
UTL-Ben Zobrist
UTL-Adam Kennedy
OF-Gabe Kapler
OF-Gabe Gross

SP – James Shields
SP – Scott Kazmir
SP – Matt Garza
SP – Andy Sonnanstine
SP – Jeff Niemann

RP – Grant Balfour
RP – Dan Wheeler
RP – J.P. Howell
RP – Joe Nelson
RP – Brian Shouse
RP – Jason Isringhausen
RP – Jason Hammel

Chad Bradford
Troy Percival

Devil Rays World Series 2009

by Japhei on Feb 22, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

No back up catcher?

'talkin 'bout practice?

by CubFanRaysaddict on Feb 22, 2009 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

And 26 man roster even without the backup catcher.

by bobr on Feb 22, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

Just a thought

If Justin Ruggiano finally figures out how to hit ML pitching this spring, does Kapler go?

I have kept waiting for Ruggiano to get it done when he has had his limited opportunities but has failed so far. he can hit for average, power, and has good speed.

by Dbullsfan on Feb 22, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions

Unlikely. Even if he does put it together

he’s unlikely to be any better than Kapler offensively against lefties and he’s certainly not better than him defensively. Plus, it would cost us Kapler. He’s almost guaranteed to go back to AAA.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Feb 23, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions