Jason Bartlett To DL; Kelly Shoppach To Return
by Tommy Rancel on Jun 3, 2010 8:40 PM EDT
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After a few days of playing the guessing game, the Rays have decided to place shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day DL. While some of us hoped for Matt Joyce in his place, we will see the return of Kelly Shoppach. Joyce would have been nice, but Shoppach's power is a welcomed presence on the team.
Carrying three catchers is not a great use of roster space, but the Rays employ enough flexible players to sustain the hit for a few weeks. This is pure speculation, but the Rays could use the DH spot as a way to juggle the three backstops. In recent days, Hank Blalock has been working out in right field. It wouldn't surprise me if we see Blalock in right field with Ben Zobrist and Reid Brignac as the middle infield vs. right handed pitching a few times. I'm not saying that's a good idea, but wouldn't be shocked if we did.
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Wow, that was a quick rehab for Kelly
I wonder just where Joyce’s arm strength is. Hopefully this is a precursor to a Navarro trade, though I suspect the market is less than zero. In any event, I’m not sure I like the idea of Shoppach behind the dish vs RHP regularly with Jaso’s emergence. If my choices are Joyce RF, Jaso C, and Blalock DH vs. Blalock RF, Shoppach C, Jaso DH, I take the first set without blinking.
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Shoppach for DH?
Like you said, it was a quick rehab. They could help ease him in and give him some ABs at DH instead of throwing him behind the plate right away.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jun 3, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Joyce missed a bunch of ST
Maybe they want him to get more time to make up the 2 months of missed baseball.
PIZZA?!?
Yeah, that's true
still needs to get more PT really though
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Jun 3, 2010 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry if I'm missing something, but...
Wouldn’t Jaso be behind the plate vs RHP, with Shoppach catching against LHP? As for Joyce vs Blalock..I’d keep Blalock for infield depth., as Longo could play SS if needed, and Blalock has played some 2B in the past, though a minimal amount, it wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be better than Aybar playing in the field.
At this point though, I’d like to see Pena sit for a week or two, with Blalock getting some AB’s.
by Blue or CONKZILLA on Jun 4, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they should trade him this offseason
while he still has value, get prospects, cut payroll, use Briggy
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
AND HE DRAWZ PIPLE TO GMS APPARENTLY.
I don't have a Sig!
by 4QB on Jun 3, 2010 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Nothing against Barty, but I'd be surprised if they don't.
It makes sense, especially with how expensive he’ll be. Then again, I thought the same thing this year.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jun 3, 2010 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
It's pretty much a lock they'll trade him in 2011
I think the reason they kept him this year was that we’re a better team with him starting 2010 than without, this was before Briggy had things starting to click.
PIZZA?!?
Briggy was pretty good last year though
but Bartlett’s outlier of a season overshadowed it
R.I.P. Scott Kazmir 2005-2008
I maintain they couldn't call anyone up..
because the guys didn’t have their passports with them on the road trip to Scranton. Playing a man short really sucked.
Blalock in right field would be ugly given that his throwing arm is barely LF adequate these days
Tomorrow afternoon will be dedicated to the draft.
I took the Friedman approach and let R.Glass take the role of R.J. Harrison as our scouting director/draft go-to-guy.
Then we’re recording the podcast with former scout Frankie Piliere on Saturday. That should be posted early Monday aka Draft Day.
www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel
by Tommy Rancel on Jun 3, 2010 9:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Piliere still working at fanhouse?
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Somebody wrote a good article today about umps
it was Price not Piliere..sorry, anybody interested here’s link http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/06/02/jim-joyces-flub-shows-need-for-accountability-more-than-replay/#cntnt
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep.
www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel
by Tommy Rancel on Jun 3, 2010 9:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Since Blalock and Sonny were working out in RF
It is likely we’ll see Blalock at sometime, even though it might be a disaster..Rather see Zobrist stay in right, Puffy at 2nd, Blalock/Pena-1st/DH, Jaso/Shop-DH/Catcher…Maddon will be Maddon…
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
Now the question becomes
Do we get rid of Navarro when Barty comes back or do we get rid of him when we are ready to bring up Joyce?
I will not entertain the idea of sending Jaso down.
Next move should be Navarro down to AAA (he has an option right?) Joyce to bigs
Barty off DL, Kapler waived?
Good time to mention, I miss JP :(
For the draft, our first rounders, can we and should we go after Nick Castellanos and Bryce Brentz?
Man, I love both
Well Rafael Soriano and Joquain Benoit is very nice also.
Does not matter if Navarro has a option left or not.
Who in their right mind would claim him?
How can you have any pudding if you haven`t eaten your meat? I`m still waiting...
by Barnese and Bailey Circus on Jun 3, 2010 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
There are at least 3 catchers in the organization that are better defensive C than Navarro.
They could not possibly be much worse hitters than him.
How can you have any pudding if you haven`t eaten your meat? I`m still waiting...
by Barnese and Bailey Circus on Jun 3, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
and one of them is the Bull Pen Coach.
by Blue or CONKZILLA on Jun 4, 2010 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Eh, Rangers prob still want him if they don't have to trade him anything
Well Rafael Soriano and Joquain Benoit is very nice also.
If they waive Kapler
and Joyce gets hurt again..then what? Hey I like Kapler either, but what happens if Joyce gets hurt..on that note, Gabe Gross hitting .313..jeesh, but he should be at his under Mendoza by the end of the year as he did here..
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Is Ruggiano doing anything
these days? I’m too lazy to pull up his numbers..I’d love to see Kapler gone, but if they don’t have any depth that is worth anything, they will never do it..Too bad Joyce can’t stay healthy, but at some point the Rays have to take a chance, Kapler isn’t getting anything accomplished
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Ruggiano stole 4 bases in a single game the other night
has a .284/.358/.412 line right now
MLE’s would be .245/.309/.344 – which is still better than Kapler
by Jason Collette on Jun 3, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Well then
Let’s DO IT!!!
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
If you're too lazy to "pull up the numbers" you should be too lazy to post. There's so many great resources out there, back up your opinions.
Hey, Surly only looks out for one guy...Surly!
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jun 3, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe at the trade deadline, they dump him and make a minor move for a
better hitting OF, if there is any available
Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers
by SportsRoadhouse on Jun 3, 2010 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Play Sean Rodriguez every day for 10 games
Shoppach can mash LHP
The Kapler era needs to end
Some guys are much better when they play everyday
It looks like Srod is that type of player
Free Dan Johnson!
His problem was contact
when he makes contact, then it’s all weeeeeeee runz!
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Jun 3, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like B33j
Hey, Surly only looks out for one guy...Surly!
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jun 3, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Bartlett for Montgomery.
KC is that dumb, right?
EVERYONE HIT FOR HOMERS! YOU TOO PENA! Every hit should be a homer! EVEN THE BUNT ATTEMPTS!
Honestly, They are
And they have Yuni playing SS right now
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Jun 3, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
OT: When are the draft content coming?
by Ben Tumbling on Jun 4, 2010 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This is like the stupidest thing ever. The team doesn't need 3 people playing catcher. Let Navi go already and stop dicking around.
When John Jaso strikes out twice in a game, he becomes Kohn Kaso, which is Spanish for "with cheese."
I agree
Unless they want Shoppach to DH vs LHP (knee health), but that renders Aybar next to useless.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
Then I really don't understand this move
Are you sure though? I know the numbers say he does, but I thought there was there was a chance they might have been waived in his last contract. Has anyone confirmed that he has options?
Free Dan Johnson!
Just for information,
since May 1, Navarro has had 49 ABs and 56 PAs. In that stretch he has hit .265 and has an OBP of .357. Of course it proves nothing; in fact it isn’t even evidence for anything. But it is possible that the Rays are seeing something in his approach at the plate that suggests he may maintain the improvement.
Also, in that stretch, he has gotten to the plate in 15 games and gotten at least 1 hit in 11 of them. In one of the other 4 he received 2 walks. Only 3 have gone for extra bases, all doubles, but otherwise he has been a decent offensive player recently.
I had the same thought
His process is better as evidenced by his wakl rate. When I checked his May wOBA, it was still in the .280’s though. Its hard to argue he is better vs LHP than Shoppach, and Jaso is clearly better vs. RHP. He’s not useless, but maybe they are hoping to get something in return for him by keeping him in the majors. There’s also the issue of Shoppach catching back-to-back days in the event of two lefties.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
Before the season my ridiculous prediction was that Navi would walk 10% of the time and be better off for it
He’s at 9.3% (not sure if that factors in all his bunts), but it seems like he hasn’t been all that better. I mean at least he’s finding a way to get on, but even when he hits a double, it’s not a gapper that gets to the wall or anything.
Hey, Surly only looks out for one guy...Surly!
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jun 4, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Navi's Audition
Could Navi be actually auditioning here in front of Ranger execs for a potential trade? Could be a good reason to keep him up here for this series.
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