Morgan Ensberg, Cake, Carlos Pena, and Carlos Hernandez

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 5, 2009 11:13 PM EST

I'm convinced Jayson Stark wrote this same column last spring, but I don't have the initiative to find it. That means I'm going to treat this as new and original, and even quote it:

"Being here, I think that's a blessing," [Morgan Ensberg] said, "because it reminded me what baseball is supposed to be like. I don't think any of this happened by chance. I think I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

Yes, it's a sappy piece about veterans. What did you expect?

Meanwhile, Carlos Pena is still the most optimistic man on Earth.

"It's my big day, right?" Pena said. "I'm really happy about the fact I'm going to be able to go out there and join the team and play in the dugout with the guys and just participate."

And...

."I'm so fortunate to be part of this club," said Pena, selected by Texas with the 10th pick in the 1998 June draft. "I thank God every day to play with these guys. I'm in the presence of some incredible talent. ... These guys don't know how good they are."

Which lead Ira Kaufman to write about his leadership...

"I don't think Carlos gets nearly as much recognition as he should have for what he did when Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria got hurt," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "He carried us for a long stretch."

As for tomorrow:

Left-hander Carlos Hernandez will start for the Rays and will be followed by left-handers Randy Choate, Jason Cromer, and James Houser and right-hander Julio DePaula. Right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier will start for the Pirates.

If you've never heard of Barthmaier, you aren't alone. Here's his FanGraphs page.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think Barthmaier made his debut last year agains tthe Rays

and got destroyed i think

by BrendanHarrisLives on Mar 5, 2009 11:17 PM EST reply actions

Nice memory.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsd.aspx?playerid=6292&position=P&season=

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 5, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

Barthmaier was one of their best prospects a few years ago before injuries

What's on my mind

by Jason Collette on Mar 6, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

He was with the Astros then

He hasn’t been anything that special since he got to the Pirates

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 6, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Call it what you want to call it

but reading these brought a tear to my eye

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 5, 2009 11:25 PM EST reply actions

I was told there would be cake.

www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Mar 5, 2009 11:32 PM EST reply actions

GLaDOS

is a bitch

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 5, 2009 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

Remember

Brad Ziegler had a scoreless inning streak. Brad Ziegler had not met BJ Upton.

by P Brady on Mar 6, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions

I tried playing Team Fortress, but I could never get into it

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 6, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

OT

Anyone know tomorrows lineup, or where to find it?

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 6, 2009 12:01 AM EST reply actions

Barthmaier was a decent prospect with the Astros once upon a time

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 6, 2009 12:39 AM EST reply actions

What do we do with Hernancez?

If it becomes evident he belongs in MLB what are our options?

Trade? Minors as insurance? does he have an out clause?

by Raymondo on Mar 6, 2009 8:09 AM EST reply actions

Minors.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 6, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

Riiiiight

“Being here, I think that’s a blessing,” [Morgan Ensberg] said, “because it reminded me what baseball is supposed to be like. I don’t think any of this happened by chance. I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Shut the fuck up MORGAN! You had the chance to play here last year and passed us up to play for the Spankees.

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Mar 6, 2009 8:23 AM EST reply actions

There he goes with that fag talk again

I think Morgan would get along just fine with Gross and Zobrist. I like his glove but the only hit I’ve seen him get was a nice linedrive that he tried to turn into a double. He was out by 20 feet it was funny.

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 6, 2009 8:57 AM EST up reply actions

.

????

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Mar 6, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Spammy Kazbot

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 6, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

I think my head is about to explode

Note to the Bay: Do not become a Compliance Investigator when you grow up

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 6, 2009 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

What is it?

I’m trying my hand at forensic accounting right now and I like it a lot…

by rglass44 on Mar 6, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

That would be a good class for this line of work, I assume, I never took it

Basically leading an audit program from start to finish.

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 6, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

I'm out of school.

That’s what I am currently doing now for a defense contractor. It’s a contract position, so I’m just gaining experience and trying to decide what’s next. We’re trying to keep the auditors at bay. Are you an accountant Sandy?

by rglass44 on Mar 6, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

trying to decide what’s next

welcome to my life brother. I’m about done with this job, actually. I got degrees in Economics and Business management so I took a few accounting classes, but that was not my area of expertise. April will make 2 years here and I think it’s about time to move on. As stupid as it is to quit now I’m probably going to look to move out of state.

Why yes, I am this big of an asshole in person.

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 6, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

DC area brotha

Ton of young folks here and the job market is fairly strong (yay gov’t spending). Throw in two baseball teams close (one who’s a division rival) and it’s a pretty good spot.

by rglass44 on Mar 6, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions