Rays Release Morgan Ensberg

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 30, 2009 11:02 AM EDT Comment 43 comments

Non-roster Invitee, Morgan Ensberg was released this morning. Ensberg was Durham insurance at best, however, it seems he did not show enough in camp to warrant a roster spot at Durham. When he signed with the Rays there were talks about him playing some second base, but the signing of Adam Kennedy made that unnecessary.

He hit .227/.314/.273 this spring splitting time between first base, third base and DH. According to the heater, Ensberg was expecting a Triple-A assigment, but was not upset with the news.

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I TOLD YOU SO.

by Sylar on Mar 30, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

I take it Nowak is going to be the everyday third baseman in Durham then?

by Vin on Mar 30, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

I would assume so

and that is better, Ensberg has been dont since his 30+ homer season.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 30, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

done*

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

He's earned it with the stick.

I know he’s always been old for his level, but he’s hit everywhere he’s went.

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 30, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Upgrade from Joel Guzman.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Nowak

I think he can play above-average D at 3B, though that makes his bat slightly less valuable, or could play passable 2B, where his bat would seem to fit better. I hope he has a great year.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you see him as a possible bench player in the future, or a starter?

Or trade bait…

by plasticman on Mar 30, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Without having seen him play

He has been successful, for the most part, wherever he has been. He hits a ton of doubles, and I think, that he has probably capped out as far as power. Optimistically, I think he could hit .290/.360/.425 as a Hinske type player with a high end of 20 homers and 35 doubles. Keep in mind that is EXTREMELY optimistic and would involve everyday playing time a year from now at the earliest. If he wants to increase his chance for success he needs to get off 3B, obviously. I compare him to Hinske because if he could play above average at 3B, 1B, RF, 2B? then he becomes a lot more valuable. Ideally, this is the kind of guy that Aybar should be becoming (RF being the big opportunity) mainly because the bat needs to be in the lineup. We will see how this year goes as he gets a whack at a full season of Durham. If he can become positionally flexible, I think he would be worth more to our organization, that seems to put guys in good opportunities for success, than another that might try to keep him on 3B, where I think he would only be about average compared to the rest of the league.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I've been saying this for years now

He reminds me a lot of Kevin Millar, and I think he can have a similar kind of career if he gets a chance. Thing is that Millar is the exception and not the rule. Most players like him never get the chance to become a regular.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Nowak can probably play 2B about as well as Cantu

Which is to say that he can’t play 2B at all. He’s 6’5" and not fleet of foot.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking more of a Zobrist plays SS kind of situation

You know, its possible, but you hope it doesn’t come to that.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think he can even do that

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I retract

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

oh no not Ensberg

bye now

35 men on the roster

Let’s see, Richard, Hernandez, Sadler, Weber, Olmedo are def gone and Upton wont be there

That makes 29 and 4 tough decisions, lets go Cormier and Joyce

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 30, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Hammel on the roster = Cormier to Durham.

Joyce will play the first three months in Durham, just because I don’t feel that Gross has lost his job, and Gross can play all three positions in the outfield as well run a wishbone offense.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 30, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Cormier is out of options. Im sure teams have been watching him.

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 30, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

oh really...

well, the plot thickens.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

A Hammel/Niemann trade wont surprise me still

and Joyce doesn’t care about RF at the moment, he will hopefully be the CF til Bossman returns

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 30, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking about trade options

what could the Rays possibly get for two strong right armed pitchers who are out of options?

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 30, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Depth in the system.

A’s, Padres, maybe M’s could all use a SP — well the M’s could use a righty at least.

I would guess: Isaias Velasquez < x < Matthew Joyce in terms of return value. Of course that’s a wide spread.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Too wide of a spread really...

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

First round bias, but I'd rather keep Niemann if we deal one.

/obvious

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

This is a case of "no space for projects."

I think Chris Nowak has earned the opportunity to play @ Durham I mean the guy has the unfortunate luck of being behind Evan Longoria in the depth chart for the last two years.

Morgan, I wish you well and good luck to you.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

Nothing gained or lost.

I’ll always hold a special spot for the ESPN.com mention we got because of him though.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

Let's make a deal

by Raymondo on Mar 30, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

LaPorta for Hammel, Niemann, Jaso, and Ryan Reid

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know a whole lot about LaPorta or the Indian's pitching needs

But at cursory glance, that actually sounds kinda balanced.

Check out my blog on web development at kericr.wordpress.com

by kericr on Mar 30, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

On second thought

I think it’s dangerous to trade both Niemann and Hammel. The chances are good that at least one of the Rays pitchers will go down with an injury for an extended period of time this year; keeping one of them (Niemann) around is good for insurance.

Check out my blog on web development at kericr.wordpress.com

by kericr on Mar 30, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

LaPorta is a client of Boras

Let’s not give up the farm for him, considering we won’t need him at all till 2011

by Raymondo on Mar 30, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

How's that giving up the farm?

They’re all spare parts. Good spare parts, but spare parts nonetheless. Ideally, none of them (other than Niemann, or Jaso if he can improve behind the dish) will be a regular with this team.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to get something for Reid before he blows his arm out

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn't have any real trade value

Relief prospects with fringy fastballs are a dime a dozen

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what I mean toss him in a deal like this and forget his name forever

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm beginning to wonder if being a client of Boras is much of a big deal anymore.

I don’t want to say he’s losing or lost his touch, because I don’t think that’s happened, but I do think that teams just aren’t listening to him anymore when he threatens to have his clients go all career suicide. I mean, look at the wonderful job he did with Jason Varitek this year! Look at all that extra money the Red Sox gave him once he threatened to file for free agency!

He turned down arbitration and after testing FA, he accepted what was the equivalent to a pity offer by the Red Sox for less then half of what they offered him in arbitration. GG Boras.

Check out my blog on web development at kericr.wordpress.com

by kericr on Mar 30, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

LaPorta also lives in Tampa.

And Pena is a Boras client and he took a below market deal, or at least below where Boras wanted him too. Boras still works for him.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Mar 30, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Nuff said

There is our 1B prospect for a bunch of pitchers that do not have stars in their eyes like the Price, Davis’s, Hellickson’s, Barnese, and Moore’s of the world. I know this is crazy since anything can happen, but think of that being our staff in 5 years, would you rather have those guys or what we currently have? I happen to like what we have now.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 31, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Ensberg Comments

Link

"I’m not mad at all,‘’ he said. "You just want to go and scramble and get a job, and that’s the priority. There’s still a little bit of time. I’m really happy with the way I’ve played, I’ve hit the ball hard and I’ve gotten some hits and I’ve made some adjustments, so that’s made me optimistic. … This is how the game works, and we know that going in.’’

" If I had been playing very badly this would be very difficult, because I’d be like, “Shoot, I just played my way out of a job.” Whereas this wasn’t a play your way out, it simply was that there wasn’t room.’’

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 30, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

I liked the game where he got thrown out at second by about 30 feet trying to stretch a double.

I’m sure in his head he thought he was still 25 again, but his body was saying good one Dumas

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 30, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

"The name is Dumahhh"

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not one for advertisements, but I like that one.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 31, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I saw somewhere today

that Maddon couldn’t stay in camp to watch Niemann because he had to go to Ft. Myers to talk to Ensberg about the release – I think it was in the story about Niemann’s outing in the Times.

Does that mean the Rays sent Ensberg on the trip to the Twins game, then told him he was released there? That sounds incredible. Hope they at least got him a ride back.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 31, 2009 1:29 AM EDT reply actions

Then it sounds almost like Morgan pushed the issue.

because I can’t see any team or any company, for that matter, having a guy travel across the state just to “fire” him. Unless of course Morgan was like “I need an answer about my future here, right now.” If so, I can see the whole scenario going down like that.

Morgan might want to think about playing in Japan or Korea for a year.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 31, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions