Matt Joyce Remains A Question Mark For Opening Day.
by Tommy Rancel on Mar 22, 2010 7:00 PM EDT
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I'm starting to think the Rotoworld widget is just bad luck.
Matt Joyce, sidelined with an elbow issue for the last few weeks, will continue to be out of action, at least defensively, for the time being. Joyce started at DH yesterday, and belted a solo home run, but remains uncomfortable throwing the ball. He provides little value as a DH on a team with Pat Burrell and Hank Blalock.
With Gabe Gross in Oakland, the right field job was his for the taking; however, this latest news may have pushed back those plans. Ben Zobrist is more than capable of holding down right field against right-handers with our best kept secret, Sean Rodriguez, playing second base. Gabe Kapler would continue to play against lefties with Zobrist moving back to second base.
One name to keep an eye on is Justin Ruggiano. After a trip to the swing mechanic, Ruggiano has impressed with his power this spring. On the other hand, Ruggiano is right-handed, and with Kapler also a righty, it probably wouldn't be the best fit.
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It would seem to me that Rodriguez makes more sense on this team than Joyce at this point.
He’s got more position flexibility and it seems he might probably has a higher overall ceiling. With the spring Rodriguez is having, it may leave Joyce a man without a roster spot even when healthy.
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yups.
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Blalock though is how close to making the team?
He’s had a good spring.
Luckily Joyce is expendable thanks to S-Rod, he will fill in nicely.
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Mar 22, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I was assuming Blalock didn't make the team.
Pena, Zobrist, Bartlett, Longoria, Shoppach, Navarro, Aybar, Crawford, Upton, Rodriguez, Kapler, Burrell in my opinion should be the team, with the last spot coming down to Joyce and Brignac. Not sure I want Briggy on the bench, but he’d be in AAA for the 3rd straight year. How much does he really benefit from being down there?
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With Rodriguez, Brignac would be wasting away on the MLB bench burning service time.
Either way, his talent is going to be wasted, but in Durham he wouldn’t be eating away at his arb clock.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 22, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Joyce should be on the team opening day.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Not if he can't throw.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 22, 2010 8:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
We're weeks away from opening day, I would hope he's fine by then.
And even if he can’t throw, as mentioned below, I’d rather him DH versus righties than Burrell.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Weeks?
Like 9 days, right?
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"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
This is why the Kapler contract was a mistake
Not because he isn’t worth what we’re paying him, but b/c we could have the same or close to the same production for a lot less.
Which is awful bad luck for Ruggiano
who will be spending more time in Durham because of the contract.
If the power surge lasts, does Ruggs have any trade value?
by ChiBurbRaysFan on Mar 22, 2010 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I can't think he could have too much
i.e. Matt Murton, a superior player with a similar skill set is playing in Japan.
by CubFanRaysaddict on Mar 22, 2010 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions
because releasing completely useful players on a cheap contract is a good thing?
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 22, 2010 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions
For who? Blalock?
Kapler is the better player. Hell, Kapler might be a better player than Pat Burrell at this point.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions
He said dat.
I was the head of the Eric Berry bandwagon- Im sad to say its over.
Puffy Rod's Bandwagon continues forever.
New head of the Matthew Barnaby Bandwagon!!!
I'd rather have Joyce at DH than Burrell.
Obviously, this isn’t going to happen though.
There is really no reason to entertain Brignac for the opening day roster
Its unfortunate for the kid, but his day will come, and it will be glorious
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Didn't Joyce hurt his foot in ST last year?
I hope he’s not the next Shawn Riggans… power + injuries.
At the least, it’s unfortunate timing for a guy trying to get his chance in the bigs. I know the body of work in AAA is much more important than ST, but it’s still a chance to show what you can do against ML pitching.
Joyce has a half season of MLB success in addition to his stellar minor lg numbers.
If he’s healthy, he should be the RF opening day (assuming Millwood starts).
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 22, 2010 8:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Huh?
In 2008 with Detroit in 242 AB; .252/.339/.492 and 65 K’s
in 2009 with Durham in 417 AB; .273/.373/.482 and 98 K’s (also age 25)
I don’t understand the fascination with this guy. He is a 4th OF or AAAA at best. If he is the regular RF then the Rays have another hole in the lineup.
by kimo from kauai on Mar 23, 2010 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions
.373/.482 with + defense from a cheap left-handed bat is awful.
We should release him.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
That would be his ceiling, no?
I would think .339/.492 would be closer to his actual talent at the ML level at this point. If that’s the case he’s still extremely valuable, he’s just not quite J.D. Drew yet.
"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 23, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Other 450 PA that's +15 offensive runs.
Figure in +5 defense, subtract the positional, add the playing time, that’s like a 3 win season. I’d take it all day.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.
At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this board is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
It's a Irish thing
if we are not falling off barstools we’re having elbow strains or groin problems.
Would have cost too much in arbitration
Gross will do well in Oakland early on but the wear and tear of the travel will probably get to him. Playing on the west coast is such a grind.
There's absolutely no factual evidence for this.
I don’t even know where you came up with this.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't remember Gross being a factor as much in 2nd half of either of 08 or 09
Horrible 2008 playoffs as well. As for west coast Adam Kennedy was great for Oakland early than faded. Long plane flights do wear a team down as such not that many teams on west coast with titles or for that matter appear in WS.
I'm not trying to be a dick, but do you understand the concept of regression to the mean as it applies to baseball players?
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Take a look here:
Kennedy’s wOBA by month: .474, .267, .311, .277, .388
Kennedy’s BABIP by month: .424, .234, .323, .273, .404
He still hit well, well, well above what we’d expect from him, but of course he didn’t continue a .474 pace. He hadn’t been above .310 for a full season since 2006. That’s not because he played on the west coast (which, by the way, makes no sense considering his BEST offensive seasons were with the Angels), but because he regressed towards the player that he is.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 22, 2010 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I understand that all players come to the norms
but if you really believe Gross still belongs on the Rays at 2 plus million which is what he would have cost via arbitration than you are wrong. What makes more sense having Gross in RF with Zobrist at 2B vs left handed pitching or just going with Zobrist in RF and Rodriquez at 2B everyday. Kapler should be traded for bullpen help if Andrew can work some magic.
I was pretty clearly joking about Gross.
Hence the “/SF1” part of my comment.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Thats the first I've heard of this theory
I understand that going west is a grind for the Rays, but when they play in Vegas it will be cake.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
The Rays might be shopping Kapler for bullpen help
and PTB might be sitting on the bench come opening day with Blalock as the DH. Kapler certainly would gather interest from many clubs with his team friendly contract and ability. I just don’t see a fit for Joyce right now as sad as that makes me feel. Injury prone and lack of playing time/experience is a big strike going against Matt at the moment. Brignac should not be sitting on the bench and is best served playing everyday in Durham. Pat can come off the bench as a righty bat and fill in for Carl in LF when his legs start screaming. Burrell looks to be in super shape to open sunflower seed bags for the guys this season.
Now I know you're just trolling
Pat in LF?
"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 22, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
After reading it again, I'm assuming in this scenario the LF is short for Lasagna Feasts.
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by Passionate Apathy on Mar 23, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
What exactly is the nature of Joyce's injury right now?
by benderbrodriguez on Mar 22, 2010 10:32 PM EDT reply actions
He's got a broken heart
"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 23, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Elbow strain. He can swing just fine, but has an issue throwing the ball.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 23, 2010 11:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If it were bad enough that he wouldn't be able to play at the beginning of the season
I don’t think they would have let him DH that game. That means if they put him on the DL they can’t start it retroactively as far back. I see this as a positive sign for him making the team.
by staplemaniac on Mar 23, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Ruggiano actually hits righties well...
Pre swing mechanic his minor career splits are :
vs LHP 278/378/448
vs RHP 300/376/502
Not advocating him being in RF, just sayin…
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