The Rays Love Dale Thayer's Mustache Too; Jeff Niemann Pitches Well

by R.J. Anderson on May 24, 2009 1:20 AM EDT

Easily the best start of the season for Jeff Niemann. Yes, he threw 67 of 90 pitches for fastballs, but he seemed to have his best control of the pitch in a while. Niemann responded from an absolutely atrocious single strike swinging effort last time out to whiffs on 11% of his pitches tonight. That should certainly help increase his seasonal whiff rates. His fastballs were here, there, and everywhere, not showing as nice of a cluster as the previous time out and Pitchfx failed to register a two-seam fastball, so who knows what's going on there. Who knows if this is too little too late for Niemann's Rays rotation hopes. With David Price poised to start Monday, and almost certainly a lock to remain in the rotation heading forward, that leaves Niemann battling Andy Sonnanstine and Scott Kazmir's eventual return date.

Some other random thoughts

Reason #22 as to why you should hope for Troy Percival's retirement (and soon): it creates budget room. If Percival retires, the Rays are off the hook for the rest of the payments. Freeing up~2+ million would be a pretty sweet surprise, especially if the Rays have to make a deadline acquisition for a playoff push.

The draft is like three weeks away and we aren't debating who to take in the top 10. Relish this. I'm not saying we'll be picking in the top 10 anytime soon, but the first time is always the most memorable. Whoever we pick will be the first player since the Rays recorded a win or a loss who was not picked in the top 10 of the first round.

The July 2^nd signing period for international amateurs isn't too far away either. Miguel Angel Sano is the hot name. He's a teenage shortstop with comparisons to Gary Sheffield. Every team in the league is interested, but Sano's reported signing bonus would probably engulf the Rays entire signing budget. Then again, maybe his reported signing bonus isn't accurate, we'll see, just don't hold your breath.

If you thought I was alone obsessing over Dale Thayer's mustache, you were mistaking:

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Comments

As I said in the GDT

The Thayer stache needs to become the 2008 version of the Rayhawk. We should all grow one, and then sell fake staches to girls, kids, and boys that haven’t yet gotten anywhere close to Mannys testosterone levels.

by matthan on May 24, 2009 1:51 AM EDT reply actions

Getting images like this is a good reason to get MLB.TV Premium

NexDef 1.2Mbps makes a better image.

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

by Orlando Rays on May 24, 2009 7:51 AM EDT reply actions

i guess print screen works?

by walkoffwalk on May 24, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I can't believe I missed this and was watching the game at a bar last night.

"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 24, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL

that shit is awesome

by dropkicknu on May 24, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

and only 3 behind toronto in the loss column...

by walkoffwalk on May 24, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

Giggity

by ReasonableDoubt on May 24, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Are you sure the Rays would be off the hook for Percival's salary if he retires?

I believe that under the CBA, a player is still entitled to their salary if they retire (i.e., it’s treated as if the player is injured), and thus it depends on the insurance policy about whether the team has to pay a retired player’s salary. Obviously I haven’t seen these policies, but I remember there being an issue with Jeff Bagwell’s a few years back where the insurance company would only cover his salary if he retired before spring training started.

I guess my point is that I don’t think Percival retiring would provide much (if any) salary relief.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on May 24, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

That's what the Rays employee I asked said.

Maybe they were wrong. Hopefully we get the chance to see.

by R.J. Anderson on May 24, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Google found this.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/If_a_MLB_player_is_signed_to_a_guaranteed_contract_for_5_years_but_decides_to_retire_after_3_years_not_due_to_injury_and_he_is_still_physically_able_to_play_is_the_contract_still_paid

by R.J. Anderson on May 24, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Great, thanks

I wonder why there were all the retirement issues with Bagwell then?

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1106473/index.htm

I guess it was that he would still get paid if he hadn’t retired and said he was injured, due to the insurance policy.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on May 24, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

No idea man.

That makes sense though.

by R.J. Anderson on May 24, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Albert Belle didn't officially retire until his Baltimore contract expired.

He banked for over 2 years by doing nothing. All he had to do was show up to take a physical every so often. He just sat on the 60-Day DL.

M.V.Z. Most Valuable Zorilla!

by SeanDubbs on May 25, 2009 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Class Act

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 25, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions