Potential September Call Ups Show Next Wave, Top Organizational Depth

by raysfaninminnesota on Aug 31, 2010 1:12 AM EDT

Need another catcher, preferably one with good defensive skills? No problem. Need an outfielder who can wreak havoc on the basepaths? Sounds good. How about a veteran hitter who is an above-average lefty masher for his career? Got that too. Maybe another promising arm for the pen, even greedily asking for him to be a lefty? Done, done, done and done.

On Wednesday the Rays should be calling up Navi, Desmond Jennings, Baldelli, and Jake McGee. That isn't even counting Brad Hawpe and Jeremy Hellickson, two guys who could be key contributors down the stretch and into the post-season.

What other team can assemble talent like this for the season's final 30 games? If you think Maddon is matchup stir crazy now, just wait until the calvary arrives.

The Rays have assembled the perfect combination of in case of injury veterans (Navi, Baldelli, Hawpe) along with MLB-ready prospects (Hellboy, McGee, Jennings). Both point to the amazing job Friedman has done in putting this team together. The Rays preach quality organizational depth, acknowledging the rigors of a 162 game season and they've put together talent that can step in without missing much of a beat.

If the Rays go on to win the division, it will be of no surprise if this next wave gives them the final push needed.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Of all the names you listed, I'm only sure of Hawpe being added.

They’re not going to rape Durham of all its talent while they’re in the playoffs. At least they didn’t in 08 IIRC.

But your point’s well taken. We’ve got some pretty great depth.

If John Jaso somehow strikes out, it means you didn’t do your job right as an umpire.
by raysrule44 on Jul 9, 2010 8:37 PM CDT

by Vin on Aug 31, 2010 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

i'm just going off what Maddon said

i can’t remember where I found it now, but he said he wanted another catcher, a speed guy who can pinch run, and at least one or two arms to “thicken” the bullpen. He may not want to gut AAA, but when you are neck and neck with your own race, majors takes priority.

by raysfaninminnesota on Aug 31, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Please leave race out of this, otherwise a nice pep talk.

If this works, I want the copywrite and patent on the statistic.

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dockoftherays.com, feel me whenever you want.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 31, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

hmm...well played sir, well played

by raysfaninminnesota on Aug 31, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Grazi

If this works, I want the copywrite and patent on the statistic.

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dockoftherays.com, feel me whenever you want.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 31, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I think there's a good chance McGee is added today (8/31) so he'll be included on the playoff roster

unless they use JP’s 60 day DL to get him on later

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Aug 31, 2010 7:53 AM EDT reply actions

I hope we do call McGee up right away so we can see how ready he is for next year's pen

It’ll be interesting to see who ends up in the 2011 bullpen. Wheeler has a 4mil option (or 1 mil buyout), Qualls is a FA, Balfour is a FA, Soriano is a FA, Benoit is an FA, and Howell is coming back from injury. Cormier is an arb guy along with Sonny.

I’d love to see us just keep everyone and have baseball’s best bullpen, but that bullpen will probably cost around 20 or so mil to keep.

by raysfaninminnesota on Aug 31, 2010 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

McGee, Swindle, Howell, Choate, Shouse, Trevor Miller, and Dan Wheeler

would be an awesome sight. Just put Wheeler in RF if a lefty comes up, he’s proven he’s got a rubber arm to only face righties, while we can use all the other guys to face only lefties. Boom, problem solved for about 6M.

If this works, I want the copywrite and patent on the statistic.

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dockoftherays.com, feel me whenever you want.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 31, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions