David Price Likely To Replace Scott Kazmir In Rotation; Percival Pondering Retirement

by Tommy Rancel on May 22, 2009 5:28 PM EDT Comment 48 comments

All hail the Velociraptor(Photo By Dennis Adair)

It's being reported various places, and we've heard from sources of our own that David Price will more than likely take Scott Kazmir's turn in the Rays rotation this Monday. Price has been kept to a strict pitch count in Durham around 75-80 pitches per start. He battled control issues for most of the season, but is coming off of his best start of the season in which he allowed no hits, walked just two batters while striking out nine in five innings. He owns a 3.93 ERA/3.42 FIP in eight starts this year. As mentioned above, his BB/9 of 4.72 is unsettling, but probably a byproduct of working on specific pitches, His K/9 of 9.17 is the second highest output at any level he's pitched at. If I had to sum up this move in one word, I think FINALLY...would do,

In other news, as reported earlier by Marc Lancaster, "Closer" Troy Percival will fly back home and is possibily considering retirement after this latest injury. The Rays will go with a closer by committee, but with Dan Wheeler and Jason Isringhausen on the roster we'll see how that goes. We here at DRB nominate J.P. Howell, but who listens to us anyway.

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Is it monday yet?

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by putupyourDUKES on May 22, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tborays

Closer will be matchup-based, allegedly, but, you know, this is one of the reasons they brought in Isringhausen…

www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on May 22, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That would be phenomenal, and the best strategy for this team. Plus, their current situation gives them a good excuse to do it, preventing any backlash from traditionalists.

Howell’s probably the best reliever, although I still like Balfour as an equal, even with his decreased velocity. A soft-tossing lefty and a power righty make for fantastic playing-the-matchup options, with even a groundballer thrown in the mix. It doesn’t get much press, but groundball/flyball hitters show as much of a platoon differential as lefties and righties.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 22, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Percival

Has no one to blame but himself. Got to think the front office has taken charge of the situation and overruled Maddon.

Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!

by joedobr on May 22, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

After last night

I think even maddon knew he was done. This was his call.

by putupyourDUKES on May 22, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it.

There is no reason to think that Maddon and the front office have not been on the same page all the time. Maddon does not operate based on favoritism or loyalty to old friends, despite what many fans think. He is patient with people in whom he believes or who he thinks can help the team, and while this sometimes leads him to stay with some players longer than some of would like, the overall effect has been positive. Witness Upton, Howell, Zobrist, Shields and at least last year, Navarro, all of whom either started their careers in the majors badly or who went through early stretches of bad performance.

It is inevitable that any approach, whether patient or impatient, will lead to some misjudgments, or to some failures. But even those are not always as obvious as we think. His patience with Stokes and Camp, for example, did not work out for the Rays, but may well have had each been allowed even more time. Who knows whether his similar patience with Edwin Jackson also has borne fruit elsewhere. So perhaps his reliance on Percival and Wheeler has been misplaced, but it is also possible that the certainty of some of us that they were not useful is balanced by insights and observations he has made close up that suggest they can help.

In any case, there is no reason to assume that his decisions have been based on anything other than judgments about what is best for the Rays, nor any reason to assume that the front office has had to overrule him on anything. All the evidence suggests that he and the front office work in consensus as to the best approach to team building and team managing.

by bobr on May 22, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So is it Monday yet?

I have a Price jersey unworn all season, that will change on Monday

For gods sake, give me this rotation from here on out. 1 James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3, David Price 4. Andy Sonnanstine(i guess I trust him) 5. Wade Davis

by joeybw on May 22, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who want's to fly up to Cleveland?

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on May 22, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UNEMPLOYMENT! FUCK YEAH!

"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 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't wait for the Magic to be Cleveland-ized

2009 Rays Baseball: God Damn It, Guys

by JMB on May 22, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That Cleveland series will be testy

But who among them can fight a Velociraptor?

by bucpimpin on May 22, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

OMFG

Thank the GODS, they have finally listened

by Longorious on May 22, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The David Price Era begins....

by twenty5psi on May 22, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can't wait till Price buzzes V-Mart with 96 over his dome

by 813Dynasty on May 22, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Duemig's all over this, claiming he had it first

and IDing a source who was on a plane with Percy to Vegas, who says Percy was pissed off

by Raymondo on May 22, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now Percy knows how we've felt watching him pitch this season

What's on my mind

by Jason Collette on May 22, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awww, wittle Percy is pissed off?

lolz

2009 Rays Baseball: God Damn It, Guys

by JMB on May 22, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get it

He’s likely thrown his last major league pitch and that’s not an easy thing to handle. Still, it’s team before self and he’s clearly hurting the team

What's on my mind

by Jason Collette on May 22, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dueming

Just making shit up. Typical right wing radio host btw.

by putupyourDUKES on May 22, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So the burning question is...

…who goes down when they call Price up?

AC/DC + Tampa Bay Rays = Big Balls on a Budget

by Orlando Rays on May 22, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thayer

www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on May 22, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope not after seeing him tonight...

Strikes, strikes and again, strikes. low to mid 90s, movement, quick worker. Tiny sample size, but from what I just saw, I would take him over both Wheeler and Nelson. Also, isn’t it interesting that Thayer should remind us of another reliever who was burning up Durham about this time last year, and then came up and made a big impact. DFA Wheeler before sending Thayer down.

by ValricoBrian on May 22, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doh

I was looking forward to facing Kazmir again.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 22, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Throw strikes at Indians

by rays_world_champs on May 22, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's funny how easy it's become to DL somebody

I’m not finger pointing – NY’s treatment of Wang may be the worst example of this yet. “Hip weakness”??? Dice-K’s shoulder weakness fits too.

But was there any talk of a quad issue with Kaz before this news today? Well, something had to be done.

by nyyfaninlaaland on May 22, 2009 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There was talk on this blog

several days ago about what fake injury would be used to get Kazmir some time off

Should’ve had a contest:

a. “Shoulder tightness”
b. Sore back.
c. Mild quad strain
d. Early-onset anxiety disorder

No records in the last 10 years should count.

by Maris6161 on May 22, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not Davis?

Heck, why not Davis & Price?

The season is 25% gone & the Yanks & Sox are playing well.

There’s no time to fool around using less than the best pitchers available.

Replacing Percival with Wheeler as closer would be like replacing the current version of Kazmir with Oliver Perez: no real change.

No records in the last 10 years should count.

by Maris6161 on May 22, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To me Howell's more valuable in set-up.

Closing isn’t as critical as what he does.

by nyyfaninlaaland on May 22, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Contractual repercussions?

I thought we had another year of control of DP if we waited till June 1st…

We’re so close to that date now, wouldn’t it make sense to have just waited?

(Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the move)

by DRays07 on May 22, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's Super-Two.

We’re more than 41 days into this year, so he won’t accumulate an entire year of service time.

by R.J. Anderson on May 22, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Balfour closing games out now?

I wouldn’t mind that.

by Matt0611 on May 22, 2009 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just my two cents

Howell to closer, Niemann to pen, Price and Davis into rotation. When Kaz comes back whoever is pitching the worst of Price, Davis and Sonny go. If Davis back to AAA, if Sonny to the pen or the trade block if Price…..nah, not even worth discussing.

by TheGrinch on May 22, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand why anyone is considering Davis

His AAA #s so far this year are not impressive at all. Look at his walk rate. We need someone who is going to take some pressure off the pen in his starts.

by Lurch's Lobbyists on May 22, 2009 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's the new Price.

No idea why people honestly think he takes a spot before Price.

by R.J. Anderson on May 23, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I, for one, feel real bad for Percy. He really was a big part of what we accomplished last year. A great clubhouse guy. A real pro knows when he can’t get it done anymore and won’t hurt his team just for the sake of sticking around. He could have pulled a Clemens and ‘roided up to last a few more years but he wouldn’t do it. I was at the game last night and it was a shame to see him get lit up and then have the fans boo him off the field. You could see the way he was hanging his head that that really hurt him. Thanks for the memories Percy. Hope things work out for the best for you.

by srqraysfan on May 22, 2009 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree. Well stated. Even though he was ulcer inducing, he was a gamer and left no doubt he was giving it what he had...

after years of Fossum and Camp looking like their dog just ran away when things got tough, at least Percival continued to work, even though he didn’t have the bullets he used to have.

by ValricoBrian on May 22, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Camp was unlucky with us.

by R.J. Anderson on May 23, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was below replacement level last year.

He actually hurt the team.

And he tried playing through injuries, that hurt the team.

I don’t condone booing your own players, but I also don’t condone hurting the Rays record.

by R.J. Anderson on May 23, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is very exciting.

That’s all I can really say right now.

by steve-o1285 on May 22, 2009 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eventually

I fully expect for Price to be nicknamed King David at some point in his career by someone

by Transplanted on May 22, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does tonight change Monday?

I was under the assumption that Thayer was going to go but he looked good tonight. What are the chances that either Wheeler or Nelson gets “hurt”? Also could we possible see Kapler get DL’ed or DFA.

by Dbullsfan on May 22, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Price to Rotation. New Closer?

I didn’t think it would matter when we brought up Price because didn’t we sign him to a six year deal to push it through his arbitration years. Hopefully some time on the DL will give him time to cure his ailments whatever they are. I mean how do you go from K king to an ERA over 10.00. Price and a healthy Kaz would really solidify the rotation. But many teams over the years have proven you need a closer to win/close out games (Mets 08, 09.) Maybe pick up Street from Colorado, he has a very low value right now and with Corpas on the roster they may be willing to move him at the right price. Maybe Sonnanstine and a low level prospect for Street because eventually a spot needs to be opened up for Wade Davis. With Street we could have a young and potential dominant closer to mature and grow with our rotation.

by Bluechips85 on May 22, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Price's signing bonus is spread out over six years.

He’s here for six years too, but it’s not the same thing.

Price is right

Its about damn time i cant wait to see Price buzz Victor Martinez that jerk i know theres gonna be some fireworks in that series cant wait.That guy tonight Thayer looked great but something tells me anyone would have gotten those guys out the Marlins looked like a Double A team playing a major league team man they really sucked lets hope we can sweep this series before the 4 game war with Cleveland next week.

by Jason B on May 23, 2009 12:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Price better not do anything to get himself ejected.

by R.J. Anderson on May 23, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Percy still could have a great impact on this team

If he chooses to retire, then the Rays are off the hook for the rest of this year’s salary, correct? This would allow the Rays to use already allotted budget money for a mid-season acquisition if so desired, for example Matt Holliday? Just a thought…

by raysfaninminnesota on May 23, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

but why would we get Matt Holliday for half a year?

We need Robots....The time is now Bud.

by Some other guy who does not care on May 23, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone know what the minor league moves were to fill out the Durham roster?

I was thinking Chaves would be the position player but he played for Montgomery tonight as did Fernando Cortez, a former Bull. Possibly Sesar Cuarez? As far as the pitcher it was Heath Rollins’ spot in the rotation tonight and he did not pitch, however he would have been on 3 days rest so they may have just gone with bullpen 9 innings because of the rest.

by Dbullsfan on May 23, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs