DRaysBay: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: The cost of firing vs. the cost of retaining head coaches

Will Someone Wake Up Joe Maddon?

Crisis avoided....for now...Matt Garza had just finished 6 2/3 of quality pitching leaving the Rays in position to take a much needed split on the heels of the surging Yankees and Red Sox (who by the way swept the 1st place Toronto Blue Jays) leaving Rays fans optimistic they would salvage the rubber game from their 2nd consecutive 4-game series. And with that fleeting thought of optimism came the not-so-impressive Rays bullpen.

After Dan Wheeler initially let the A's back into the game surrendering a game-tying double, from the likes of Grant Balfour-hater Orlando Cabrera, the rag-tag closing duo of Troy Percival and Joe Nelson nearly let another opportunity slip through the cracks. Entering the game tied 3-3 in the ninth Percival and Nelson surrendered walks and hits alike allowing Oakland to put 2 more runs across the plate. The signs were leading to the daunting possibility of a third straight loss in "oh-so-close!" fashion. Without the miracle work of the man-child, Ben "Zorilla" Zobrist, and the clutch hitting of Carl Crawford the Rays would be left asking themselves "how did we let this one get away?".

And while we don't have to ask that question this time most of  Ray's nation has to be wondering what it will take to re-vamp this pitching staff. The combination of shaky-to-poor starting pitching from Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnenstine, and Jeff Niemann along with the gut-wretching folly of releivers Dan Wheeler, Joe Nelson, and Troy Percival has got to be addressed in the near future. The reality is the rest of the AL East (minus Baltimore) has the potential to take their playoff hopes deep into the regular season and if the Rays want to be a part of that equation they will have to act now.

Let's see Joe Maddon show us why he was the 2008 AL Manager of the year, the manager who just got a 3-year deal to continue to lead this ballclub. Let's see him let Izzy get more set-up/closing opportunites, allow Matt Joyce to show us why we traded new Detroit favorite Edwin Jackson (instead of Niemann or Sonnenstine), have a heart-to-heart with Percy to let him know that he will be on a leash, and finally confront Scott Kazmir about the "mental" mechanics that have plagued his last several starts. Don't get me wrong...these are important issues...but they are also issues that can be resolved...don't count out these Rays...not yet.

1 recs  |  Comment 23 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I like the idea that Maddon controls the roster.

And I knew, just knew, that there would be a mention of Edwin in here. Jesus.

by R.J. Anderson on May 22, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

are we talking about black jesus?

i believe we still have him on the team. Between him and Zobrist, we gotta have a connection to the big guy.

by raysfaninminnesota on May 22, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Edwin blunder is going to be brought up quite a bit

Until we see what Joyce can do. I think Joyce will be pretty good so I’m not upset about it, but you have to see why many people are. Right now on our staff we have THREE soft tossers that cannot go deep in games and we traded a hard thrower that has been going deep in games. Long term we would have no room for Ejax, but he would be far and away better than Kaz, Sonny, or Neimann right now. That hurts.

by matthan on May 22, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

At some point

Results matter more than process.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on May 22, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You didn't have to erase that subthread

All he’s saying is that he wants Joyce up here to show WHY we traded Edwin for him. I see no problem with that.
And a “heart to heart” with percy telling him to sit the fucking down and shut the fuck up might not be such a bad idea.

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 22, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I fear the threat I know more than the threat I don't know

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 May 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's hidden, not erased.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on May 22, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Founded in 2005. DRaysBay is home to "progressive statistical analysis and reasoned argument."
Start posting about the Rays »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

MiLB's Organizational Review: Tampa Bay Rays
Revenue Sharing Numbers
Desert Dogs to play in the AFL championship @ 2:30 EST.
Desmond Jennings Makes the Tops AA-All-Stars
ABC Coalition to Vote on Draft Report Today.
Fan page for Dick Bosman, Rays minor league pitching coordinator
Upton's Struggles vs Lefties
Evan Longoria wins the Silver Slugger Award
09 Minor Leaguers File for Free Agency
Longoria on the MLB 2k10 cover?

+ New FanShot All FanShots >


VPs of Baseball Operations

Nando_small R.J. Anderson

Raysring1_small Tommy Rancel

Zorilla_small FreeZorilla

Price_small Erik Hahmann

Ticket Account Executive

Rays_small Steve Slowinski