Pat Burrell Hits Second Career Rays Homerun

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 25, 2009 12:01 AM EDT Comment 49 comments

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Pat Burrell's glove is ridiculously clean.

I've been sitting here for the last hour trying to think of what I wanted to say about Pat Burrell and the free agent contract stigmatism. After rolling through 200-300 words worth of failed intros, it became pretty clear that wasn't happening. Honestly, my thoughts fail me on the subject and I keep coming back to one idea. I enjoy watching Pat Burrell hit homeruns and I hope he hits two dozen more as the season progresses.

Joe Blanton pitched seven innings, struck out 10 batters, and walked two. Blanton is usually a decent pitcher, but uh, what's going on here? I had little idea that Blanton currently had a career high in strikeouts per game. Still though, it's Joe Blanton.

At this point I began to think of the innings eater label. It's funny when people say "Well, he's an innings eater", as if that's an admirable attribute. Anyone can throw a ton of innings if quantity is the only thing that matters to you. Also, I giggled at the thought of Joe Blanton eating.

How many finger nails does one have to swallow before it becomes dangerous to one's health?

Dioner Navarro's throw to first on that double play in the 4^th was impressive. I feel like that's the first nice thing anyone has written on Navarro this season.

I'm beginning to get concerned with the attendance talk. When Dewayne Staats is basically begging people to come to games, well, things must be a wee bit unsettling. More on that topic in the coming days.

So, Chan Ho Park has a major league job again, but poor Rodrigo Lopez is in purgatory? Life isn't fair.

Robin Roberts seems to know more about the Rays than Kevin Kennedy, seems more progressive, and somehow doesn't have an announcing job? Life isn't fair.

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Robin Roberts was cool as hell..

Think of how many teams he has seen and he referred to this team as having as solid a pitching staff as there can be. Garza is a badass.

2008 Tampa Bay Rays: The Longest of Longshots

by Kenny845 on Jun 25, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yayyyyy

by Jun on Jun 25, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i'm tired of waiting for Navi to turn it around. Is there any reason why we should think he will? Jaso can surely put up a 4/31 bb/k ratio.

by walkoffwalk on Jun 25, 2009 7:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jaso's BB/K ratio is over 1.2 in Durham

Stay tuned for today’s minor league highlights

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jun 25, 2009 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As for attendance...

The phillies have the highest attendance this year so far and what is their home record? I think it’s a coincidence but you never know

by b-rad270 on Jun 25, 2009 7:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the line up we thought we'd see out of ST, sans Aki

and i’m amxious for PTB to get on one of those streaks we’ve only heard about

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 7:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

word is attendance is only ~20k for tomorrow night (so far)

this is god damned ridiculous.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 8:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Prepare for the firesale

I think ownership goes for it all this year, but if attendance does not pick up significantly I think we lose Pena, Aki, Crawford and possibly PtB (if they can move him) and Navi (which may not be a bad thing) next year.

Its unfortunate but you cannot expect payroll to be anything other than near the bottm of the league if that is where our attendance is. Plus you have to factor in how much it costs them to get those concerts in. It is certainly not cheap.

The problem is that Rays fans are not going to games. Out of each team I bet our fans have the lowest attendance in the league by far. Our attendance every night, and especially vs the RS/Yanks, are made up of their fans. Then on Saturdays the attendance is made up of the bands fans. It is just not a good business model for a franchise to rely on fans of something other than the team to go to the games.

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't payroll pretty much near the bottom now?

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its been increasing by a good clip

Plus those players are due for raises. Therefore we were all expecting to lose 1 and most likely 2 of those guys even if the Rays hit their target attendance. Since it appears they are going to fall way short then don’t be shocked to see them get rid of a couple more.

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think that 10 years of awfulness doomed this franchise

once we didn’t start the season in dominant fashion, the lingering ideas of 2008 being a fluke took a firm hold and now, despite having the best offense in the league and being overdue for luck regression (pyth w-l would tie us for the division lead…), nobody thinks we have a shot.

still – fuck everyone.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is my thought on the situation, the brass is speaking out

not to move the team out of the area, but simply get it the hell out of St. Pete and into a better demographic desirable one, Tampa, N. Pinellas

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

suddenly, radio hosts are all "get out there!"

probably to save the thing they bitch about the most.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Concerts pay for themselves in the extra gate, sad but true

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jun 25, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would argue with Rays bashers who stated the only way they draw is when a concert is attached

Maybe a few weekday summer concerts?

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I'm sure they turn a profit on it

I’m just saying if we draw 35k for 3 doors down or Luda then you need to do a bit of adjusting. Many of the 35k isn’t really there to see the Rays. Also it costs money to bring in those act. So in the end it may be similar to bringing in 25k to the Rays.

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Care to prove any of this?

Or are you just going to provide biased circumstantial evidence and go from the gut thoughts?

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 25, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well its impossible to prove anything like this

But given managements quotations over the past year or so it would be a very likely occurance. Their payroll projections were based upon certain revenue expectations. If they do not get it then why would their payroll projection stay stagnant?

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One point that hasn't been mentioned

If league-wide attendance is down, this will surely have a negative effect on Revenue Sharing. I would think this would have a bigger impact than our attendance increasing at a not-high-enough level as projected. Perhaps, the FO knows this is a fact and is hoping to guilt people into going.

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 25, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With as high as they jacked up prices, I guarantee you the Yankees and Mets are making more this year than last

Even with their drastic attendance drops

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't there some rule with a new stadium a team doesn't have to participate in revenue sharing?

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They made a mistake making the Phillies series prime games

But I think people are panicking a bit too much if they think current attendance “dooms” the franchise. The team needs to move to Tampa, but if Tampa Bay as a whole can’t support the Rays, then nobody who doesn’t have an MLB team can.

And if Sternberg can’t afford to invest in the team at the current level, or even at the raises expected next year, then we need a new owner.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our attendance per game is up 2300 over last year at 34 home games

If we continue to improve from how we’ve done earlier in the first half, and contend for the wild card or even the division again, we will continue to improve our attendance figures.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction: 4200 per game higher

The Royals, as bad as people say they still are at attendance, are 4500 per game higher

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are factoring in the Disney games

If you take them out it is far more modest. Still an increase but nowhere near what is needed. We’d need the same increase year over year for about 5 years to be league average.

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Assuming a 4000 increase per game, which is what it would have been, for three games, it's still an increase of 3900

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the final tally is plus 3400/gm, i'll go skydiving, and i have a fear of heights

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go to one of those "wind tunnel" things that simulates skydiving

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would have, could have, should haves

Just compare the first X amount of Trop home games in 2009 vs the first X amount of Trop games in 2008. No need to adjust the Disney games. Attendance is up about 1500-2000 per game

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also the spike of our 2008 attendance occurred late in the season

So comparing the early 2008 Rays for which everyone thought would suck as normal to the early 2009 Rays which was supposed to be a World Series contender is not really apples to oranges. Getting only like 1700 more per night given the total difference in expectations is pretty bad.

If you take the last 30 home games in 2008 against the last 30 in 2009 I can almost guarantee you that 2008 will have a higher per game average.

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We peaked at selling out last year

If we contend, we will sell games out again, and 2009 will come out higher than 2008 still.

I said it before, improvements will continue if the team gets back in the race.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we ARE in the race

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're in fourth

I mean, I have confidence we get back into contention, and shortly. But a lot of people see what’s on paper, record be damned. We’re in second place in at least two other divisions, but in this one we’re in fourth.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jun 25, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For starters we need to dominate the Jays as we did the O's last year

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

We need to take as many games as we can since we’ve been so tight with them and haven’t even played them yet. That is more make or break in my mind than anything else. We can get buried pretty quick if we can’t take a bunch of those games.

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 25, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

two games back from the wild card lead

you still get into the playoffs if you win that thing. they haven’t changed the rule.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like RJ checks in at tampabay.com

J from Seffner
Jun 25th, 2009 7:42 am

My feeling is he said these things not as a threat to move the team from Tampa Bay, but to get them out of St. Petersburg. I think the feeling all along is that a venue near the forum or another accessible site is what they want

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops, i missed highlighting the 'J' but it's there

by Raymondo on Jun 25, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Winning

I feel like we captured the increase in fans towards the end of last season because of the playoff hype—it took a while for everyone to believe that the Rays were for real. I agree that the slow start took a little bit of wind out of the sails, but establishing some consistency is key for this season. If we can at worst stay in the race all season long, the hype will follow. Having endured 10 straight awful seasons, 1 amazing season will not solve all problems, but I feel a string of seasons at above average ball will help ignite the fire in some fans. I also agree with previous statements that Stu is using the media as leverage to get a new stadium…

by timmyj on Jun 25, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even last year people didn't come out until the stretch run when we had quite a few games against the Yanks

and Red Sox. We were in first for most of the season last year and people didn’t believe until they could smell the finish line. Why should this year be any different when attendance is down league-wide?

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 25, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone know how much our attendance is down

relative to league average?

Jason McEachern watch: 5 ip 3 h 0 er 0 bb 4 so 0.00 ERA
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Jun 25, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

negative something

our attendance is up.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Relative to league average I would say we are up.

Intuitively, if we are up compared to last year, and 2/3rds of the teams are down, then we would clearly be outpacing the league.

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 25, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We are up relative to league average.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 25, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

aren’t we second behind the royals for improvement?

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just because we've improved doesn't mean we will get where we need to be to keep the team and/or keep it viable

by matthan on Jun 25, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

doesn't make the answer to the question any less right.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 25, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

'Twasn't the question.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 25, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's an easy fix

Percy, Bradford, Shouse and Nelson can all walk which is 9 mil

dont pick up Aki’s option, 2B for Zobrist for good saves 4.5 mil

Rushing Kazmir back to showcase him? He is expensive and his contract is only going up. 09:$6M, 10:$8M, 11:$12M, 12:$13.5M club option ($2.5M buyout)

Navi is already making 2.1 mil which will go up, trade for Salty or give Jaso a chance, save about 3 mil

After 2010, Wheeler, PTB, CC and Pena walk which is gonna be 23 mil saved

Bullpen holes filled by Niemann, and inexpensive but good (our norm) arms

Davis fills in for Kazmir

Jaso/Salty/Other young cheap C for Navi

Aybar for 1B/DH? At least until we figure something else out. How about Zobrist at 1B, Briggy at 2B and Aybar at DH? Joyce also figures into that DH role if DJ is ready or he can just be a cheaper Gross.

So right there we save 24.5 for 2010 and another 23 for 2011

End result? Very rough draft but here

C Jaso/Young C
1B Zobrist or Aybar
2B Zobrist or Brignac
SS Barty or maybe Brignac
3B Longoria
LF Jennings
CF Upton
RF Joyce
DH Aybar? Zobrist? the studdy Hughes all the sudden?

I would go with

Jennings LF R
Upton CF R
Longoria 3B R
Zobrist DH S
Joyce RF L
Aybar 1B S
Bartlett SS R (Beckham aint ready for a while, so this is a pricy one)
Brignac 2B L
Jaso C L

Bench: Riggans, MIF signing/ML, Hughes?, Some OF ( its way too early and rough to tell)

As for the top 3, no such thing as a ROOGY so no worries

This is all for 2011 btw

1. James Shields
2. Matt Garza
3. David Price
4. Wade Davis
5. Jeremy Hellickson? Seat warmer then Hell Boy?

Relievers

Jeff Niemann
Andy Sonnanstine?
Grant Balfour (yeah I think hes still there)
New loogy of the year
Can we keep Lance Cormier for a couple more years?
FA Signing
JP Howell L, lock down closer

Ok we are taking 2011 and I can’t see the future despite what I have led people to think but a lot of pieces there and its overall very cheap, opinions?

Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Jeff Niemann 5. Andy Sonnanstine...... Coming Soon: Wade Davis......Scott Kazmir?

by joeybw on Jun 25, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs