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Around SBN: Post-UNC Thoughts

Willy Aybar Leads Rays To Victory In Longoria's Absence; Matt Garza shuts down Jays again

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More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

Back on Christmas Eve 2008, Dave Cameron said of all the non starting major league players that deserved a full-time job, Willy Aybar stood out from the rest of the pack. Over six months later, Aybar still remains ahead of the pack. Filling in wherever needed, Aybar has accumulated 170 plate appearances this season. All he has done is put up the best numbers of his career. After last night's three hits including his seventh home run, he is hitting .287/.382/.483 with 14 extra base hits. He also has as many walks (23) as strikeouts (23).

Star-divide

Most teams would be panicking to replace a player of Evan Longoria's caliber, but for the Rays all they need to do is just pencil Aybar's name in. A switch hitter, Aybar just fills in, becomes the Rays #3 hitter and the offense doesn't miss a beat. While Longoria remains one of the best defenders at third base, Aybar is an adequate replacement despite what "local experts" say.

Longoria's cranky hamstring is going to be an issue for the next few weeks; however, Aybar's steady play should ease some of the pain. After signing an extension worth a possible three years and $4.8 million dollars this offseason, Aybar has produced 0.9 WAR or $4 million dollars worth of production so far. He won't grab many headlines, but Aybar likes to keep it on the "low" anyway.

B.J. Upton got things started early last night hitting a solo home run on the first pitch of the game. It was Upton's seventh home run of the season and his fifth in June. It was also the team's 39th home run for the month of June, setting a new team record for jacks in a single month. As the weather has heated up, so has B.J. With his shoulder finally healthy, Upton hit .324/.395/.562 with 15 extra base hits in 120 plate appearances for the month. Maybe those who vote for team MVP should take note that with a healthy Upton the Rays went 19-7 in June; I'm just saying.

Carl Crawford continues to torment Toronto's pitching staff. CC hit his second home run of the series, his eight of the year. Like Upton, Crawford also hit five home runs in June and finished a slugging percentage of .500 or better for the second straight month. His power looks to be blooming, however his speed has been lacking a bit. After starting the season a perfect 30-30 in steals, CC went 10-16 in June and grounded into four double plays. There haven't been complaints publicly, but you have to wonder if the turf is taking its toll on his legs once again.

I don't know if a day off is in Crawford's future, but Ben Zobrist returned from a semi-day off. After missing most of Monday's game (9th inning defensive replacement), Zobrist officially went 1-1 last night, however he reached base three times (two walks) and drove in a run via sacrifice fly. Jason Bartlett also had a hit, but whiffed twice on two pitches that were about four feet off the plate. Even MVP's have a bad game here and there. The Rays were once again a little too aggressive on the bases with a caught stealing and a pickoff, however the bats again were mighty with three home runs and two doubles.

The Rays got another stellar start from Matt Garza, who scattered seven hits and allowed just one run over seven plus innings. Like Jeff Niemann the night before, Garza didn't strike out many (3) and relied heavily on his defense. Once again he threw over 70% fastballs and maintained velocity throughout. Garza averaged 95 mph on the fastball and maxed out at 97.4. His last pitch of the game registered above 96 on the gun. There is something about Garza and the Blue Jays. In his last six starts against Toronto he has allowed just two earned runs in 45 innings; call it blue magic.

James Shields takes the mound against Ricky Romero in the matinee finale. The Rays have pulled three games ahead of Toronto and are now just four games behind Boston. They could do some serious damage to the Blue Jays psyche with a sweep today. The Jays are just 6-11 against the AL East while the Rays are 15-12.

Final note: Don't call J.P. Howell a closer, just call him the Iceman; six games "chilled" and counting.

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Absence

Absense is probably a word made up by Gabe Kapler.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 1, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

http://www.rotoinfo.com/read_article.php?articleId=318

DId anybody see this crap? Im sure its bogus but thought I would post it anyway. Supposed 103 names on “the list”.

by BJ the Bossman on Jul 1, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Brent Abernathy???

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Selgy

by mittens on Jul 1, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And my favorite part about this

Is that this means someone went through pretty much every 2003 opening day roster and just picked random names. Hilarious.

by BJ the Bossman on Jul 1, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

For this reason

I’m surprised Pujols wasn’t thrown on the list.

by nolesblogger on Jul 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think this list has appeared before, and has been debunked.

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 Jul 1, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

CC

I think the problem is the attention. Teams are really focusing on him stealing and he hasn’t adapted. He is trying too hard to steal. He needs to slow it down and pick the spots. We are starting to see many more throw overs, many more pitch outs, and he seems to be running on lefties more. Since his attempt/pitch ratio is pretty high those factors are going to kill his success rate.

by matthan on Jul 1, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Any basis to the idea that K's will be down against the Jays since

they supposedly have the green light to swing at anything they can hit? It could explain both Starters having such high BIP so far.

Giraffery’s start:

It’s not like they expanded the zone all that much, but they also aren’t murdering bad pitches.

Matt Garza:

They aren’t really hitting great pitchers pitches, but not too many meatballs either

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Good thought.

It also means they’d likely have a lower xBABIP because they would be swinging at bad pitches and not getting into hitter’s counts.

by rglass44 on Jul 1, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heard that quote...

still not sure what he meant by “saucy.” But, I will say Maddon loves him some “Willy”

Visit the Rays Revolutionary Blog at http://raysrev.blogspot.com

by Rays_Rev on Jul 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yea...I think CC could use a day off.
His power looks to be blooming, however his speed has been lacking a bit. After starting the season a perfect 30-30 in steals, CC went 10-16 in June and grounded into four double plays. There haven’t been complaints publicly, but you have to wonder if the turf is taking its toll on his legs once again.

by walkoffwalk on Jul 1, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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