Joe Dillon's Life is Hardcore

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 17, 2009 1:18 PM EDT

Rey Sanchez, then of the Mets, once received criticism for getting a haircut during a game. At this point, Joe Dillon could open his own barbershop in the Rays clubhouse and nobody would notice. Dillon has a total of three at-bats since June 10^th. He's like the guy in the office who doesn't do anything, but makes sure to not piss anyone off because he loves the pay raise and desk that comes with working on that floor.

Outside of talking with Pat Burrell and occasionally George Hendrick, I'm not even sure what Dillon does during games. Thankfully, I was able to acquire one of the paper scraps that Dillon uses to generate lists daily. It's a rather short list, but hey, it's better than nothing:

~~1. Write list.~~

~~2. Make sure list is in pocket.~~

~~3. Casually pull list out.~~

~~4. Casually pull pen out.~~

~~5. Act intrigued.~~

~~6. Scratch items off on list.~~

Avoiding ink stains and wandering eyes are two of the pressure-filled tasks Dillon attends to daily. Sure, being the last guy on a major league bench may seem glorious, but perception is rarely reality. Dillon deals with struggles that most humans would only whither from.

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Comments

I don't see methamphetamine on that list.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

other tasks

-give fist bumps / high fives when neccesary
-act exciting in a walk-off win

by BrendanHarrisLives on Jul 17, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Question

How much is he getting paid to sit?

by Suckerpunch on Jul 17, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

ML minimum.

So ~400k for an entire season.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 17, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

If only I'd worked harder, I could have been Navarro.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

thats a lot of tacos, i dunno

by BamaRama on Jul 17, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

There's one difference between Navarro and I.

Between taco and burrito based meals, he lets people throw baseballs at him. I take a nap.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Good one DRB user Suttree

by rglass44 on Jul 17, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

John McDonald 34 plate appearances this season

He and Dillon should make a bet as to who finishes with more appearances. 44 PA’s should win it comfortably.

by RATW on Jul 17, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Kick ass

Pandora just threw some Regulators at me, my day is almost complete.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

OT: You listen to the Dead Weather album yet?

I like it, but Cut Like a Buffalo might be the biggest piece of shit Jack White’s ever written and performed on.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I hadn't hear it, is it a compilation album?

If anyone is interested Marchman breaks down the ALE for SI.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Tampa Bay

Six-and-a-half games out of first and 3.5 out of a wild-card spot, Tampa Bay is the team that most badly needs to do something. Luckily for them, they may be the one most capable of doing it. Mild rotation issues should sort themselves out: If Scott Kazmir proves ineffective on his return from injury, or David Price continues to walk six men per nine innings, the Rays can try out passable substitutes like Andy Sonnanstine or prospect Wade Davis, who has little left to prove in Triple-A. And as noted, the team will just have to live with DH Pat Burrell, who has at least been hitting tolerably if not well for the past three weeks. But they do have one spot where they can easily improve: catcher.

Dioner Navarro is 25 and has done far too much in his career for Tampa Bay to give up on him, but facts are facts: Of the 66 major league catchers who have at least 50 plate appearances this year, Navarro ranks 64th in OPS with a miserable .223/.254/.332 line. No team in a race with the Red Sox and Yankees can tolerate a void like that in the lineup, and the Rays shouldn’t when there are solutions at hand. Uninspiring as he may be, for instance, the New York Mets’ Brian Schneider will be worth perhaps a win more than Navarro over the rest of the season assuming each plays as he has to date. Given that the Mets just shipped out the Schneider-like outfielder Ryan Church in exchange for Jeff Francoeur, maybe the worst regular in the majors, in a move that signaled they’re tacitly giving up on the season, one would think a random live arm from the Rays’ deep system would be enough to land the reliably mediocre veteran, a free agent after this year.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

My only issue with the upgrade a catcher over Navarro is that Dioner could go on a 2007 like second half tear very easily.

I have no problem acquiring Schneider or Zaun to improve upon the Michel/Jaso/Riggans pu-pu platter, playing 2-3 times a week.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

What is your probability of it happening?

10%? Unknown, for sure, but unrealistic in my mind. Whether Navi starts or platoons in that scenario, Michel takes his groundball to short ass out of here and we get someone on the cheap that at least provide some utility.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I imagine it's just as unlikely that Navarro continues to suck this badly.

But, yeah, we need to get a catcher.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say it's more likely he OPS 800 than 600 from here on out.

by rglass44 on Jul 17, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Is Jaso

still up?

by reachin on Jul 17, 2009 3:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

no sent back down

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

No, they're like a full fledged band, kind of splintered from the Raconteurs.

The song writing is mostly done by Allison Mosshart and Dean Fertita of the Queens of the Stone Age. White’s on drums, Jack Lawrence on bass. The last track is really excellent, although very reminiscent of Highlands by Bob Dylan.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll have to check it out thanks.

I’m not usually a big fan of super groups, though.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Most of them suck. The Raconteurs were iffy. The first album sucked, the second album was good though lacking.

I have an unhealthy obsession with Mosshart, though.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

How do you feel about The Arcade Fire?

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Not crazy about them, but I'll admit to not having listened to them enough.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh god I love RJ comedy posts

Type Strong
Let's work together to combat Terminal Rocco Disease.

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jul 17, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

No mention of cheetos, though.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez

and I would be much more valuable to the club than Joe Dillon.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

Since June 1st, Cormier has thrown 11 innings.

Something tells me another long reliever isn’t needed.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 17, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

how about adding Shouse when he is ready

I just don’t understand while being an AL team we need an extra guy on the bench.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I imagine they'll just DFA Shouse and see if he gets through waivers.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

What advantages does carrying 13 pitchers have?

I can’t think of a single one. I can’t think of many that carrying 12 has. We could throw a pinch runner on the roster if we only carried 11. Or a third catcher. Or whatever else.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 17, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I see a better chance of Price, Kazmir, or anyone else going an inning or two

than 2-3 guys getting hurt in the same game (knock on wood). I also agree that a pinch runner would be more valuable than Dillon. With the flexability of Aybar and especially Zobrist I just don’t see any way barring at least 2 guys getting injured during a game that Dillon ever plays.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

on that note, while he hasn't been tearing it up

Elliot Johnson is on the 40 man and I think would be a better fit than Dillon.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends on whether you value defense or offense off the bench more.

I’ll take the offense.

by Suttree on Jul 17, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

if we were in the NL I'd agree with you

but I see a higher probability that we would use that 25th spot as a pinch runner than a pinch hitter so in order I would take speed/defense/offense

by Dbullsfan on Jul 17, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Tommy Dreamer thinks the premise for this is silly.

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 17, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Sabu says, "Fuck Tommy Dreamer."

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 17, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Joel Gertner say Roses are red, Floridians are hicks....The women here seem pretty, but most of them have--

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 17, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Sign Guy Dudley doesn't say

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jul 17, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

And Bill Alfonso just bleeds...

The shows they used to have at the fairgrounds were some of the most entertaining events I have ever been to.

by tallyray on Jul 17, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Elliot Johnson would be up here right now if he didn't break his hand

on Joe Dillon. head

by 13frain on Jul 17, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

Dillon's head?

by reachin on Jul 17, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

why not Briggy or Matt Joyce

Rays baseball + Colorado Football= amazing

by raysfan81 on Jul 17, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

From what I heard..

Johnson and Dillon got in a fight and that’s how Elliot brokw his hand.

by 13frain on Jul 17, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

where, Dillon was still with the A's when EJ broke his hand.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 18, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions

This

heard it was another Bulls player

by reachin on Jul 18, 2009 4:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

This is plainly more brilliant management by Joe Maddon

Dillon was swinging the bat pretty well, but was due for an extended slump. Since he’s, you know, Joe Dillon. So Joe benches him preemptively and avoids the entirety of Dillon’s slump. Joe will start six of eight games at the end of July, go 14 for 32 with 3 homers, and then promptly be preemptively benched again. It’s brilliant!

by nomoredevil on Jul 18, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions