2010 Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day Roster Appears Set; Mike Ekstrom Claims Final Spot

starters must go deeper this year.

Go find some cases of guys with 400+ innings as starter and a sub-4.5 FIP that failed in relief. Here’s a hint: You won’t find many, if any. He doesn’t even have a discernible platoon split; 4.45 versus lefties, 4.31 versus righties for his career. Yeah, I think that’ll work just fine.

Next, there’s no reason to believe higher leverage innings are going to alter Cormier’s performance. And the dude has back-to-back sub-4.2 FIP seasons.

And oh yeah, Balfour has back-to-back sub-4 FIP seasons, but he’s so scary.

You’re smart, why do you fall into these traps?

Clearly he’s not ready to go. If they put him on the roster now, and he falters, he’d have to pass through waivers. He does not have to do so now, and they can make sure he’s up to gear before throwing him out there.

He did miss a whole season, stuff like that matters

Benoit is hands down, but he hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 08. Clearly, the Rays felt he needs more work than a few ST innings to be at full strength.

We don’t have the luxury of sending him to Durham if he struggles. Its the DL or DFA.

just expressing concerns about its ostensible consequences.

Its one thing to be nervous about the bullpen, a lot of us are for different reasons, but naming names and saying they suck isn’t gonna work and you know this.

Before someone calls dictatorship because I don’t agree with his opinion, save it. We’re all for different opinions and actually encourage them for better discussion, just bring some facts behind it. Spare us all the hyperbole filled “season is over” comments before the first pitch is thrown.

If you look at imperialisms comments in this thread, he brings actual facts. He’s worried about ekstroms age, parks he pitched in, etc. All legit concerns and arguments. I don’t agree with them, but fine with how he presents his case.

We know sf1 hate Balfour, but don’t need to be reminded in every thread. Freezo has ignored his wife and children enough proving you wrong, but if you still want to believe he is OMG SUCKISH that’s great you can believe it. Just bring something better than his home runs allowed that has been debunked here and on RI and DISASTER!!!

But, you can wish in one hand…. you know how it goes. Hammel was inconsistent in the bullpen. Talbot has never actually pitch out of the bullpen, he is a starter. In 7 seasons in the minors, he appeared in 166 games, all but one game he started.

Hammel has one good season, starting in the NLW: GOD I WISH WE KEPT HIM

Sonnanstine, has two good seasons, starting in the ALE: Who knows how he’ll pitch in relief?
Cormier, has two good seasons, relieving in the ALE: He’s just a long-man.
Balfour, has two good seasons, relieving in the ALE: He’s scary.

What?

Only having 1 lefty makes me nervous but I am sure they thought out there options thoroughly.

Outside of Choate, Cormier and Sonnanstine have handles lefties well in their careers. Choate should be used to get the biggest LH outs, but Cormier and Sonny should be able to back him up in small doses until JP returns. Soriano being able to get both hands out also helps.

….the Yankees were even better against LHP than against RHP in 2009.

vs LHP: .286/.365/.480 OPS+ of 124

vs RHP: .282/.360/.476 OPS+ of 122

Their lineup lost Matsui, Melky, and Damon, added Nick Johnson, Gardner, and Granderson

Granderson is owned by LHP, but so was Damon. Johnson has better career numbers vs LHP than he does against RHP. Gardner vs LHP has about the same career numbers (in a small sample size) as Melky does as a RHB

The Rays are best served carrying their best 6 or 7 relievers and not worrying about matching up with NYY (or BOS).

Only one person is saying, concretely, that the pen is going to be a disaster. I think everyone else is in a mode where we’re waiting to see how much of last year for guys like Balf, Sonny, even Corms and Wheels, was misleading. Living in the ALE breeds cynicism. You pretty much just wrote a compelling argument FOR worrying about bullpens.

Granted the level of concern goes up without JP and with Benoit still recovering, but every team has their own questions to answer. Luckily we have great offense, defense, and rotation that are far bigger factors. Who knows no one thought much of Balfour coming out of 08 ST either. You just never know with pens.