Pleasant Surprise: You Tell Me

by Steve Slowinski on Sep 9, 2010 1:00 PM EDT

Last Friday, I was a guest on a small internet radio program, talking the Rays on a show that otherwise focuses on the Mets. I don't understand the logic either, but I enjoyed it; it's always fun talking baseball with another die-hard fan, especially those that are obviously devotees of the game. While I was unfortunately reminded why I'm a writer and not an orator - goodness, English is so much tougher when you have to speak it - the host asked me a question that really got me pondering: what's been the most surprising thing about the Rays' season?

That's such an easy question, yet one that's surprisingly challenging to answer. And so I'm now curious - what's been the most pleasant surprise for you this year? We can hark on about the negative surprises, but I prefer to look on the bright side of life. My answer will be coming in one hour, so until then, happy debating.

(Anyone that correctly guesses my post topic wins +10 DRB credits, whatever they are.)

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Benoit

by rglass44 on Sep 9, 2010 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

You sandbagging SOB...

that was my answer

by CBJones on Sep 9, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Winner.

I'll have a bloody mary and a steak sandwich...and a steak sandwich.

by Passionate Apathy on Sep 9, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

How is it anything other than Benoit?

go away percival

by GenghisJohn on Sep 9, 2010 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

Was Benoit really that surprising?

I mean, his sheer numbers are fantastic, but he was a well-established major league reliever coming off injury, but was expected to be healthy. That had good process written all over it.

I would vote John Jaso. His numbers last year were not that good, 27 years old, had Quad-A written all over him.

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, his defense was always viewed as being atrocious and he's been surprisingly adequate in that department.

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll give you credit here for talking me into Jaso early in the year.

i'll tweet that prick right now
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2010 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

by PlayOnWords on Sep 9, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't remember that conversation.

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

"Jaso may have the best eye in the organization" - P. Shoes.

I remember it well because I thought you were saying something typically retarded and was going to call you out when Jaso stopped hitting .389.

i'll tweet that prick right now
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2010 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

by PlayOnWords on Sep 9, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, I'm fucking awesome.

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

And by typically retarded do you mean usually brilliant?

See: Tebow, Tim
Other stuff

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

THE BOOK IS NOT CLOSED ON TIMMY.

i'll tweet that prick right now
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2010 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

by PlayOnWords on Sep 9, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The Good Book, maybe.

by Suttree on Sep 9, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes.

He’s been one of the best relievers in baseball after being signed to an MiLB deal after major arm reconstruction. He’d never been this good before, and he’d been out of pro baseball for a year. That’s a suprise.

Jaso was second for me.

by rglass44 on Sep 9, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say it is the development of replacement players for next season

and guys that can potentially be traded to fill voids. Everyone had Desmond Jennings as the Crawford replacement that is no surprise, however I think that contrary to SF1’s belief I think in what little PT he has had Brignac has shown he can be a more than serviceable option at SS replacing Bartlett, Sean Rodriguez if he can be servicable at SS defensively could platoon with Briggy for an above average SS I’d imagine. Matt Joyce has shown he should be able to be an everyday OF, John Jaso has locked up the catcher position and Leslie Anderson has shown that he may very well end up being a piece in 2011 as well (DH, 1B, COF). Jeremy Hellickson also had the hype but not nearly as much as Jennings and even with his bullpen struggles could be argued with the Strasburg injury the #1 pitching prospect in all of baseball and the most MLB ready guy the Rays have ever had in AAA (yes even more/better than Price). Other pitching prospects have developed in Jake McGee (who could also be a Benoit replacement in the pen if they go that route), Matt Moore who could be major pieces in a deal filling a hole (Rasmus, 1B???) or lower level guys who have emerged like Joe Cruz….The Rays are going to lose a lot this off-season however, I think thanks to the emergence of some are going to be a lot better or at least in a position to be a lot better than people would have imagined going into this season.

C-Jaso
1B- Los(cheap)/Anderson/Hawpe/Trade???
2B- Zoby
SS- Brignac/Rodriguez
3B- Longo
LF- Joyce
RF- Jennings
CF- Upton
DH- Anderson/Hawpe/Trade

SP-Price
SP-Hellickson
SP-Niemann
SP-Shields
SP-Davis
SP-Garza??(I think he’ll get moved)

Pen- Soriano, Howell, Mcgee (??), Balfour, Sonny, Wheeler

I for one have a lot more confidence in that now than I did 6 months ago

by Dbullsfan on Sep 9, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

We're not going to pay 8-10 million for a RP again anytime soon.

where are my gifs? is this a new thread? you guys are litl fucking sluts. uck you guys. i bet you guys tmpons in the womines bathromms and pay 75 cents for each ne. fuck you

by daveh33 on Sep 3, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 9, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Dan Johnson?

reminds ne if the 08 team

i think thy went to the world series

by The Juicer on Sep 8, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

by gforce3 on Sep 9, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

S-Rod's Defense

When we got him, he was billed as a utility player with some pop and upside in his bat. Utility can mean either Aybar, Brendan Harris, or Ty Wiggington (bad defense everywhere), or it can mean Zobrist (plus defense anywhere). I expected S-Rod to be a lot closer to the first group.

by Whelk on Sep 9, 2010 1:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Really?

I assumed based on his having been a SS in the minors he’d pretty adequate defensively, though he has been better than I expected.

by rglass44 on Sep 9, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Jaso in a very general sense.

by blackraven on Sep 9, 2010 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Well, I'm gayso for Jaso

sooo……….

where are my gifs? is this a new thread? you guys are litl fucking sluts. uck you guys. i bet you guys tmpons in the womines bathromms and pay 75 cents for each ne. fuck you

by daveh33 on Sep 3, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 9, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

TV ratings

The great thing about baseball is that it requires careful observation not simply attendance and it rewards the analytical person while consistently befuddling the superficial.

Help others while helping yourself by purchasing this Trade Deadline Primer:
http://dockoftherays.com/2010/07/03/2010-trade-deadline-primer/

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Sep 9, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Beating the NYY in the ALCS in 5 games.

where are my gifs? is this a new thread? you guys are litl fucking sluts. uck you guys. i bet you guys tmpons in the womines bathromms and pay 75 cents for each ne. fuck you

by daveh33 on Sep 3, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 9, 2010 2:02 PM EDT reply actions