Rays Sign Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon for $7.25M
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 9:37 AM EST
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PrintI'm still in shock. This feels like something out of a dream. This is probably the Rays' biggest splash on the free agent market, and they managed to pull in two above-average players for less than Derrek Lee is making with the Orioles. This is the definition of a coup.
But wait a minute, I'm getting ahead of myself. In case you didn't hear the news, the Rays signed both Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon last night, with Manny making $2M and Damon making $5.25M plus incentives. Manny signed for less than Jeff Francouer is making this year (h/t bobr), and will serve as the Rays' designated hitter. Damon's deal is a bit more expensive, but Damon is less of an overall risk and will likely slide in as the Rays' new left fielder. Both of these players will give Maddon more options, allowing him to move players around and play match-ups (as he is wont to do).
We covered Johnny Damon yesterday, and this move maximizes Damon's value. His bat his declining, yet still above average, and he's still got above average range out in left field. His arm is pitiful and makes his total defensive set merely average, but by playing the field every day, Damon is a near lock to put up at least 2 Wins Above Replacement in left field. He's aging, but at the same time Damon has never played in less than 140 games in a season since the first year of his career (and that was 1995). He'll hit for a strong average, walk a good amount, hit for a moderate amount of power (and possibly see a power spike moving away from Comerica Park), and play nearly every day.
Manny Ramirez is a bit tougher to project. He missed some time last season due to injuries, and scouts seem to feel that his bad speed has declined. Maybe this was a result of his injury or maybe it's for real: after all, the man will be 39 years old this season. However, even with battling injuries and a declining bat, Manny posted a .298 / .409 / .460 line, good for a .870 OPS and a .382 wOBA. That's a better line than anyone on the Rays posted last season, including Longoria and Crawford; Longoria had a higher slugging yet lower on base percentage and wOBA, while Crawford had a higher batting average and slugging, yet lower everything else. Even if Manny's bat doesn't improve any from last season, he's still an incredible hitter and will likely be the best DH the Rays have ever had.
Oh, and per Peter Gammons, Manny is in "unbelievable shape". Remember, he's only one season removed from hitting a homerun ever 22 plate appearances, better than everyone else on the Rays outside of Carlos Pena (who averaged one every 20 plate appearances last season).
I'm hesitant to project a specific WAR total for Manny, considering he's a high-variance case and could produce at a number of levels, but Matt Klaassen took a look at him yesterday on FanGraphs and concluded he could probably produce around three wins as a DH, and he'd be a steal if signed for less than $8M. That's...awesome. Even if you don't like Manny, you have to applaud the Rays on this move: if things don't work out, then they're only down $2M, and the upside for the team is tremendous.
The biggest loser in this signing is likely Desmond Jennings, as he's going to find it tough to break onto the Rays' roster to start the season. There are many different ways Maddon could choose to align the team, but the Rays now have a surplus of outfielders: Damon, Upton, Joyce, Zobrist, and Fuld. Fuld will likely be a defensive back-up, with the other four rotating spots depending upon match-ups and situations.
For fun, here's a taste at how the Rays' line-up could look next season:
Damon LF
Jaso C
Manny DH
Longoria 3B
Joyce RF
Zobrist 2B
Johnson 1B
Briggy SS
Upton CF
This is pretty simplistic, and Maddon will of course be rotating players based on platoon splits and such. My assumption is Joyce, Zobrist, and Rodriguez will be rotating through a 2B / RF platoon situation, with some of them (or Damon) seeing time at first base on occasion. For more on how the Rays could construct the roster, check out this great article by Tommy Rancel.
But still....that's one darn impressive line-up. Oh heart, be still.
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I'm actually glad DJ will almost certainly start in AA now
The pressure and immediate comparisons to Crawford and unreasonable people expecting him to immediately fill his production would have been tough. Obviously the service time is huge, but I assimilating in under a better situation should be helpful long-term.
And great point on Fuld. I could easily see him replacing Damon late in the game as a regular move.
Suggested edit Steve
For Joyce and S-Rod to a /Zobrist. At least I’m assuming that is the logical platoon.
Oh! Wow...forgot about him somehow.
Too many names to fit into this line-up.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 9:52 AM EST up reply actions
And Zobrist?
So Zobrist doesn’t play against RHd’ers? And if you play him at second(in a platoon with Rodriquez) than basically you are saying that Rodriquez will not get a fulltime shot at playing everyday but Joyce will in RF.
I like them both but I think Rodriquez has the better chance to be the fulltime, very productive and gifted defensive 2nd baseman than Joyce does being an all around superior RF’er.
Yeah, whoops. It's all fixed now.
Should have put more thought into that to begin with.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
I wish Joyce and Sean could both play everyday
But If I have to pick one, its Joyce easily. He’s a far better hitter right now.
Agreed
But I think Rodriquez is a far better hitter against RHd’ers than Joyce is against LHd’ers.
I really thin Sean has a chance to be a Ryan Braun type hitter if given the chance to play fulltime
Ryan Braun = Evan Longoria at the plate, you really think Roddy has a chance to be in that conversation?
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
"Sean Rodriguez can be as good as Chase Utley, given the opportunity." - Suttree
@thekidpow
by PlayOnWords on Jan 22, 2011 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
LOL, he's probably been binge eating since this conversation yesterday, gotta put all that anger somewhere
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
If he gets the AB’s and can then learn to be more selective. He has power to all fields and has begun looking for pitches away to drive to right. It’s all about getting the opportunity and continued coaching. I think he has the natural talent. And defensively, he’s a GG caliber fielder menaing you could pencil him and platoon elsewhere.
I think Reid Brignac can be the next Derek Jeter
If he gets the AB’s and can then learn to be more selective. He has power to all fields and has begun looking for pitches away to drive to left. It’s all about getting the opportunity and continued coaching. I think he has the natural talent. And defensively, he’s a GG caliber fielder menaing you could pencil him and platoon elsewhere.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
someone here wrote a good peice
last season comparing SRod to other 2 baggers early in there careers. When the dust clears of yesterdays move I would love to explore that further. I think Sean and his scout father are in a hitters cave going over every AB from last year and figuring how to cut down on K’s and drive the ball up the middle. He is a very promising player.
And drawing walks maybe
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Jan 22, 2011 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
His career .285 wOBA against righties in 393 PAs suggests that he's just not going to be able to excel against same-handers
Even if he improves, league average would be the absolute pinnacle of what he can do there and if he could do that he should be able to play everyday. That’s his biggest obstacle, but I love his glove, attitude, and positional flexibility. It’s a small sample, but you can see that he’s pretty ineffective thus far and the Rays did a good job of giving him a chance to prove himself last year (.283 wOBA in 242 PAs). Saying that he hasn’t been given a chance to hit against righties is dishonest, and self-serving.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Based on his first chance to get extended AB's
…last season, when he played 2nd base his numbers were better…266 BA,.331 OBP, .434 slu, and .765 OPS. His sOPS was 112. And many of those AB’s came playing a couple of games in a row here and there before sitting out in the platoon. All I’m saying is that I would like to see what he could knowing he is the the everyday 2nd baseman and getting a chance to hit both L/R’s without having to sit 4 games a week.
That probably won’t happen as long as Zobrist is around who frankly I would love to see play RF full time as wqell.
Hard to sit Joyce
I love Rodriguez but he will get the short end of the Zobrist, Joyce trifecta.
I think Maddon knows how to manage his roster
But it also may very well limit some of his players from reaching their full potential as a result. And that includes Zobrist. It’s not easy focusing on hitting when you carry three different gloves in your bag.
Could sometimes platoon Rodriguez with Brignac if his defense is up to it
That would improve his value as well, and reduce Brignac’s struggles vs. lefties.
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Isn't this about Rodriguez on bench ~70% of games (vs. RHP)?
Don’t think anyone is suggesting Sean wouldn’t already be in the lineup vs. LHP. But… now hard to see how he gets more than spot starts vs. righties (sans injuries, of course).
Good point
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
There is never any reason to make your sample smaller by incorporating positions, I don't consider anything in this post to be anything but self-serving bull
He had 242 PAs against righties and put up a wOBA of .285.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
Enlighten me
If you want to expose those willing to embrace some Sabermetrics into their analysis, where would one find w/OBA against righties info?
At fangraphs, look you seem like a nice enough guy, but I'm not going to do your homework or hold your hand
Most people here, and the only one’s who’s opinions I respect, have already learned all this stuff and no where to access the information. It is why the motto for the site should be read more, post less.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
Back to my premise
I’ve been using Fangraphs but just found their split category.
Back to my premise about Rodriquez and I accept the raw RH numbers for his career (w/OBA). But there has to be a factor involved in how those numbers are achieved in relationship to how often a player gets his AB’s..especially a young player who is mostly platooned or doesn’t get consistent playing time.
If you agree that S-Rod got his most extensive PT of his career last season here’s some numbers I pulled from game splits.( I’m sticking to a straight hit per AB’s because it is too hard to figure SLUG, OPS, w/OBA game by game). There was a span 40 consecutive Rays game that Rodriquez started(37 games) and played almost the entire game(3 games was pulled, 3 games he came in late) between May 30th and the All-Star game. In those games including the games he entered late he had 52 hits in 175 AB’s(BA of .297), including a 14 game hit streak. Safe assumption that he was hitting against an average split of righties and lefties over such a long span.
Including a couple of 8 games starting streaks he played in the rest of the season, he was used as a PH’er and spot platoon player or defensive replacement with some AB’s and he had 34 hits in 203 AB’s((167 BA). Small sample yes, but a breakdown of his play when given the chance to play everyday. And from watching almost every Ray game, I saw that pattern with the eye test as I’m sure many fans did. I won’t debate advanced numbers through those spans(or how much power or run production he had) but more to my point is he showed how much better he hit as an everyday player than when he wasn’t.
Could his numbers not project out in terms of future production if he was given the chance to be a full time player or do advanced Saber guys only look at raw past numbers and dismiss such factors? Can they step out of character and be willing to admit that it is a possibility? Or is it strictly sample sizes and stats when projections are made? Is there no margin to add factors like these that do at least have some data to show a pattern?
Correction
In the 40 game span, he went 42-141(BA .298) The rest of the year he went 44-201(BA .219) BTW, in that span he hit .300 off righties(33-110) and .290 against lefties(9-31)
I don't buy that the cause of a nice streak was due to playing everyday, it could be coincidence, but instead of attributing either way let's take a quick look
Open these up in separate windows so you can compare side by side:
May 30 – July 13
Entire Season
I don’t like using merely hits per at bats so let’s go through this and see if we can find anything that looks like a meaningful change.
Pitch Outcomes
He’s swinging about 6% more overall and whiffing 2% less. He hit slightly less ground balls, but a lot less line drives that were converted into fly balls. From righties, he saw slightly less fastballs and slightly more sliders and change ups. Keep in mind that this hot streak is part of his overall data set that we’re comparing to and it’s more than 1/3 of all the pitches he saw so this is definitely introducing a bias to the end of season line. From lefties he saw less two and four seam fastballs and a lot more sliders (a bad pitch to throw to opposite handed batters).
BABIP by Batted Ball Type
During the hot streak he had a .341 BABIP on ground balls, .882 on line drives, and .259 on fly balls. Over the course of the year he had a .297 BABIP on grounders, .745 on liners, and .215 on fly balls. Recall the league average:
It looks like he was pretty dang lucky during the hot streak on all kinds of balls in play while his year-in-total figures were still higher than we would have expected. To me, this seems to point to him going through a scorching stretch where everything was falling in. I don’t think that him playing everyday has much of an impact on BABIP (read: none) so I think it was just a point in the season where he was getting really lucky that has nothing to do with whether he starts or not.
Plate Discipline
Here it looks like he was a lot more of a hacker during his streak. We already mentioned that he was swinging at 6% more pitches overall, but this shows that he swung at 3% more pitches out of the zone and 6% more pitches in the zone. Additionally, he made contact on bad pitches 4% more of the time and on strikes 2% more. He was hacking more and seeing better results, but perhaps the reason that this was a streak and not a broader trend was that pitchers started to exploit his aggressiveness.
We can continue through this but it was a nice toasty streak that coincided with him playing everyday. I don’t see him becoming more of a hacker or getting better luck on balls in play as something that’s under the umbrella of “consistent playing time.”
I may be wrong, it’s happened before, but players go through streaks and it’s usually a fool’s errand to attribute streaks to new batting stances, consistent playing time, eating Wheaties for a week, or whatever other superstitions people want to come up with.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 7:41 PM EST up reply actions
I could easily say that not listening to his coaches trying to teach him how to work a plate appearance to get a good pitch to drive
was just as important to the streak.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Good assessment and here's more
I went back and broke down his season into three parts the first 51 games before the hot streak, the 37 straight games he played and the last 74 games after the All-Star game.
First 51 games
Pitch outcome
He was not swinging very much(41%) and missing a lot(32%) of pitches. He also had pretty much the same results as he did in the hot streak..41%GB..18% LD and 41% FB. Righties were throwing him strictly fastballs (which he could hit)and sliders which he couldn’t. He also had trouble with the few curves he got.Lefties tried throwing him everything, were pretty successful and he could not hit the curve ball. Again, he showed he could hit the fastball.
BABIP
Despite the lack of hitting his BABIP was above average on FB.250 well above average on LD at .875 and average on GB at .222. Not much here considering he only had 15 hits in 74 AB’s(.203 BA)
Discipline
Righties were throwing him strictly fastballs (which he could hit)and sliders which he couldn’t. He also had trouble with the few curves he got.Lefties tried throwing him everything, were pretty successful and he could not hit the curve ball. Again, he showed he could hit the fastball. When he swung, he wasn’t making much contact(69%) and he wasn’t very selective.We could say he was a young hitter, being too patient, trying to learn and hit better pitchers(as opposed to ST) and not playing much. He only saw 335 pitches during this span.
Hot streak
Beginning on the 30th of May, he began a period of playing 37 straight games(starting 34) which started with a 14 game hitting streak.
Outcome
I agree he was very aggressive and hacking away. He swung at 12% more pitches(5% more balls and 16% more strikes) and his contact rate went up by 8% with about the same % of GB, LD and FB’s as his first breakdown. Righties threw him the same except with less fastballs while lefties threw less FB’s(which he continued to hit),tried more sliders, and made the mistake of throwing him less curves for some reason. He was definitely locked in as pitchers did not adjust to him.
I agree with the aggressive approach and the BABIP shows the luck he may have had. He actually struck out as much as he did in those first 51 games. And the plate discipline has been explained.
Again though, this was the only period we he got to play everyday and during this span he saw 540 pitches in a short amount of consecutive games played.
Last 74 games
For some reason, after the All-Star break, Maddon played him sparingly. He only played in 17 of the first 27 games(only 11 starts).
Plate outcome
He went back to being less aggressive at the plate compared to his hot streak.He swung at 9% less while making slightly less contact(2%). His GB, LD numbers were slightly up and his FB’s went down 8%. Both lefties and Righties continued to throw less fastballs(they read the book) but he was still hitting that pitch. He saw more curves and change-ups which gave him trouble all season. Lefties got smarter and threw less sliders although he adjusted to the righties slider.
BABIP
During this last breakdown, he hit .282 on GB’s(.24 league) but was below average on LD .647(.715 league) and average on FB’s. .136(.138 league). A leveling out of these numbers as a result of luck, pitchers adjustment, his lack of hitting the off speed pitch, but maybe his timing and swing being off as a result of the sporadic playing time he had.
Plate Discipline
He swung at 5% more balls out of the strike zone but missed 9% more and swung at less strikes but also made the same amount of contact.He swung less but struckout a similar number of times as the other two spans.He was maybe trying to be more selective at the adjustments pitchers made but had less positive results. Pitchers adjustment, his lack of hitting the off speed pitch, but maybe his timing and swing being off as a result of the sporadic playing time he had could have contributed.
In this last span, he saw 560 pitches but that came over the course of 74 games of which he only started 36(about half) and did not even play in 26 of those games. That is a lot of inconsistent playing time to be able to get comfortable as a hitter when trying to adjust to a pitcher.
I agree the hot streak was a result of being aggressive and involving some luck but it did coincide with the only time Rodriquez got to play everyday for an extended amount of time. The beginning of his season was a feeling out process of top ML pitchers but with little opportunity to play consistently. The last part of his season demonstrated his problems adjusting to pitchers. He maintained his ability to hit the fastball(though with not as much success) as he went back to being too selective and often getting caught on off speed stuff. But it also came during the longest, most sporadic amount of playing time he received all year and not playing at all in 1/3rd of those games could not have helped.
I still think there has to be some correlation to how much consistent playing time a player has(especially a young one) and how they learn to hit successfully and productively. Of course hot streaks can happen to anyone at anytime and probably did in Rodriquez’s case but not being able to see how he could have done with similar amounts of regular PT the second half of the year, prevented that. It would be interesting to see how he would do if given that opportunity. And judging by the fact that he has talent, has hit wherever he has played(minors included) when given a full time chance and seems open to being selective as a hitter having a good eye, and showing some patience at times leads me to think he could be a very good hitter in the future.
Thanks for taking the time to consider my point of view and to do the work to provide some insight on your own opinion
I hesitate to give too much credence to this idea as it only relates to one player. A broader sample showing players consistently hit with a higher BABIP when playing everyday compared to the alternative would sway me to your thinking, but I don’t think there is enough evidence here, nor have I seen it anywhere else.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 23, 2011 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
Personally
I think I would rather have Deezy as the last guy off the bench than Fuld…. But I understand we want to get him ABs and what not. I guess Im just a little upset that we wont be getting to watch Desmond most days. That being said WE HAVE DAMON AND MANNY FUCKING RAMIREZ
Fuld is also out of options. He's all but a lock to make the roster.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 9:57 AM EST up reply actions
If DJ makes the team at this point`
It’s because Bossman has been traded
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Rays projected 13 position player
Jaso
Shoppach
DJohnson
SeanRod
Brignac
Longo
Zobrist
Damon
Upton
Joyce
Manny
Fuld
EJohnson
and who?
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
....that's 13.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 9:57 AM EST up reply actions
Haha, of course.
If I hadn’t read Tommy’s article already, that would’ve got me.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Still a need at first base
I still believe the Rays want a RH bat to platoon with Johnson at first. It couId be Zobrist but AF says he is too valuable elsewhere and would not be surprised if he is still looking to sign a Glaus/trading for a Pearce)meaning maybe E. Johnson doesn’t make the team(Zobrist could back up SS). And if he can find a full time 1st baseman(and a better defensive guy), either by moving Dan Johnson(wouldn’t be needed anymore), Shoppach, or prospect it could be an option.
I still wouldn't be surprised if Helliot doesn't make the team
Though I guess at this point I wouldn’t be disappointed if he does
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
If he had options he wouldn't
they would simply get by with Zobrist/SRod to facilitate a day off at all infield positions and giving those two more ABs. Helliot would remain on stand by in AAA in case of injury. But Helliot probably would not be able to be kept if sent down, and there in’t anyone else in the org ready to step up in that role. It all comes down to how confident we are in Zobrist/SRod’s ability to play SS for an extended amount of time. I imagine they will play them there a lot to see this spring.
So I had the Rays at about a $35M payroll before this.
This would then put us at $42M-ish. Still a bit of room for that last bullpen arm…
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 10:03 AM EST reply actions
They're talking trade at this point.
The free agent market is bone dry now.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
Relievers are also readily available at the deadline
See Qualls and Bradford. I’m really not worried at this point. I’d rather see what he have and deal with deficiencies once teams out of contention are looking to shed payroll..
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
Would we want to get that arm early though to put ourselves in the hunt or take the chance that we may be back a few games.
As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.
I think this team needs one now
if we do that we may be fine for the season depending on J.P. Howell’s health, and if others minor league track record translates to the majors. If they don’t Rays would have to add one maybe two at the deadline.
As for Howell
we may not see him back till June or July, if at all (and I know he told Topkin he was doing great). The bullpen is our biggest concern now and I just hope AF can work another miracle.
exactly...
which means you add one now, and if he comes back strong we are probably fine. If not we are shopping at the trade deadline.
relievers
to sign: Jeremy Bonderman
in trade: Joel Hanrahan, Michael Wuertz
by AndrewTorrez on Jan 22, 2011 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Collette spent me a spreadsheet last night
They’re a couple pennies below $40M.
If they wanted to, they could try to trade for a RP (even Soria), sign Price to a long-term deal, and sign another bat (Branyan?), and still come in around $50M.
Really? I thought I'd calculated pretty specifically.
Although I may have over-estimated by giving 10% raises to all the guys making league-minimum. Either way, though, I agree…plenty of room to still make those moves.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
I may have been more conservative on my raises
$40-$42 tops
by Jason Collette on Jan 23, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that's sounds about right to me. It's a bit tough to known specifically right now with so many players making league-min.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 23, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Matt Capps
would be interesting, but I doubt the Twins will trade him with Nathan coming off of an arm injury.
Maybe Huston Street, but he’s had a history of injuries.
by Blue or CONKZILLA on Jan 22, 2011 10:06 AM EST reply actions
Capps just got a silly contract from the Twins
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 22, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
Chad Cordero could be interesting
He’s got a minor league deal and ST invite with the Jays.
by nomoredevil on Jan 22, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
This is a good use of genre fiction to frame your discussion of baseball
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder why I ever thought that including you in a peer review group would've been a poor decision.
@thekidpow
by PlayOnWords on Jan 22, 2011 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
I think we can all understand the imagery of a time traveling robit, and it really helps us visualize what Manny would be trying to accomplish.
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
I was at the bar when this broke and I did a happy dance, it was a nice long one
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:27 AM EST reply actions
What about the coin needed for drafties?
Do we know if that amount is part of the overall $50mil or so?
We've never been able to actually confirm that.
@thekidpow
by PlayOnWords on Jan 22, 2011 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
How is that confirmed at all?
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Jan 22, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Sternberg and Friedman have repeatedly said so
Gammons’ article from last week (the quotes, not his analysis) being the most recent. Seems as close to a confirmation as you can get without stealing their books.
While Friedman scrambles for a bullpen and a designated hitter, he is looking to June and the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Tampa Bay has 10 picks before the second round, 12 picks through the first two rounds. There have been questions raised about how the Rays will pay the $12 million to $15 million to sign all these players in what is considered a deep Draft; worry not, that money was put aside two years ago. They will sign the players they want. They have to decide whom they want and when to draft them in a process so interesting that thrice they will have two picks in succession.
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
That's awesome. The idea that they're separate budgets had appeared to be wishful thinking on DRB's part until now.
@thekidpow
by PlayOnWords on Jan 22, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
"Chistmas"
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
I feel like it'd been discussed in years past, whenever the draft came up.
I always remembered hearing they had separated budgets, but it’s nice to hear that confirmed.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Best comment from that article
gorays101 wrote:
10 picks in the first round or at least before the 2nd round?? only in baseball!! No wonder why nobody watches the MLB draft.
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
"gorays101"
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Sambizle wrote:
Please please please get rid of shields and let matt moore and Jeremy Hellickson start!!!!!!
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Send Shoppach to Houston for Melancon
and pick up half his salary. They can’t seriously be going Castro/Quintero this season.
by Jason Collette on Jan 22, 2011 10:41 AM EST reply actions
Don't think they are in need of veteran catcher
With them not likely to contend this year.
Castro is a season removed from being a very good prospect
I realize he had an underwhelming year, but he is a plus-plus defender (best in the minors tag on him) with a line-drive stroke and a good approach at the plate. It’s hard to imagine that he could hit for a 22+% LD rate and have his BABIP be .250 again. I don’t see a real way they take on Shoppach’s contract and play him when they’re not going to contend.
by Navi's_Navy on Jan 22, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Best coverage goes to Jerry Crasnick
A couple of former Red Sox are reuniting in another American League East city.
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to one-year deals with free agents Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
Damon agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million plus incentives and Ramirez one year at $2 million, according to SI.com. Both deals are pending physicals. Damon will likely play left field and Ramirez designated hitter.
The moves mark the first major additions for the AL East champions after a devastating offseason in which one prominent player after another left cost-conscious Tampa Bay.
Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Rafael Soriano signed elsewhere as free agents. Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett were traded. A strong bullpen was depleted by the losses of Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls.
Ramirez and Damon played together for years in Boston and helped lead the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title. Both colorful characters are past their prime, but if nothing else they could at least provide an attraction at Tropicana Field for a Rays team that drew just 1.86 million fans last year.
The 37-year-old Damon hit .271 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs with the Detroit Tigers last season. He has 2,571 career hits in 16 seasons with Kansas City, Oakland, Boston, New York and Detroit.
Ramirez, 38, hit .298 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. He was limited to 265 at-bats in 2010 because of problems with his right knee and left groin. The latter led to hernia surgery in October.
In 18 major league seasons, Ramirez has a .313 average with 555 home runs and 1,830 RBIs. The 12-time All-Star believes he can extend his career a bit longer as a DH.
Information from ESPN.com senior writer Jerry Crasnick, ESPNdeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas and The Associated Press was used in this report.
So even though they’re washed up and won’t contribute anything at least they can look forward to turning around the awful attendance
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:42 AM EST reply actions
Is he just writing shit to see if anyone will notice?
A strong bullpen was depleted by the losses of Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls.
@thekidpow
by PlayOnWords on Jan 22, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
I normally like what he has to say, but this is awful
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
saw that shit as well yesterday
it’s why I can’t stand those northeastern basturds. They don’t do any reporting, other than sensationalistic journalism. And if the Yankees or Red Sox signed either one of these guys, it would be a great low-risk high reward move. The Rays do it and it’s only positive is it might help attendance. Thanks for the h/t by the way.
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 22, 2011 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Did I miss a R/A?
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
no, no, I'm serious
saw the article on DotR…just saying thanks.
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 22, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
Oh that was Collette, yeah real concise, I would only add the 9 players acquired for Garza and Bartlett
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
every now and then a RIUN can get something right, eh?
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 22, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
You're not like the others
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Im still in shock too
Gonna try and make it over for the first couple of games at the Trop against the Red Sox , that should be fun !!
Too busy celebrating Hannakkuh
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry, sellabrating
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Cuz the Jays would've snagged 'em...
start up some Napoli skunk to mask the scent
by Jaundicy on Jan 22, 2011 11:08 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree steve
running stats on Manny not as clear as Damon stats.The tweet by Gammons is a very encouraging indicator.If Manny comes to camp in great shape,I think we can expect a very good year from him.Being a DH and a healthy start should improve Manny’s game.
Not to be a wet dishrag, but why would we start believing Gammons now?
And everybody is in the best shape of their life for ST.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the signing. But Gammons is a hack. He does not become less of a hack because I like what he’s saying.
by nomoredevil on Jan 22, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
Report back
when you get a Gammons tweet on the new yankee, Andruw(big butt) Jones.
I think Gammons has gotten a lot better over the last few seasons, actually.
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
The last time we had a guy in phenomenal shape after an offseason at OPI was Pat Burrell 2010
I say this in jest. I have high hopes for Manny but this report doesn’t bear much weight to me.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
AAV
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
Dan
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
This is true. It's one of those things to take it as you will.
I remember hearing that Manny is a workout fiend, so I can’t say I’m really surprised. It’s likely that this is nothing out of the ordinary.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Might as well
use that tweet to figure out Manny’s PA’s.If anybody thinks he comes here and sits on his ass,they are sadly mistaken IMO.
.
Posted by (WestSideWade) on 01/22/2011 at 06:09 am.
They are both one year deals, you dumb a@@es. Manny Ramirez for $2 million??? DUH. WTF is wrong with you idiots? Drunk? Stupid? Just plain baseball- ignorant? Just keep going to work and flipping those burgers and let baseball people make baseball decisions. It’s starting to become crystal clear why we have an attendance problem, based on these comments. Tampa fans are just plain STUPID. I’ll take a large fries with my order, Sha-nee-kwa, and don’t forget the ketchup. Ummmm-hmmmmm. MORONS.
pretty decent little rant for a comment.
Posted by (sf49ers333) on 01/22/2011 at 07:07 am.
This is an obvious attempt by the Rays to put butts in the seats and distract the fans attention from a team that will be in 3rd if not 4th place all year. The Rays already have a cancer in their dugout with Upton there now they bring in the “Mother” of all cancers in Ramirez. Brignac, SRod and Jennings do not need to be around Upton let alone Ramirez also. Manny is not happy unless he is making a ton of $$$ and $2 million is chump change to him. He has not played in 100 games in either of the last 2 seasons and he will not this year either. Unless everyone has already forgot the Rays had a hard time scoring runs last year and now Crawford is gone. What do you think these 2 Grandpas will do? Remember last year when Upton walked his way to that ball hit over his head in center field? Manny will crawl to the ball. Toronto traded Vernon Wells and his $23 million salary to the Angels yesterday. I promise you they will not sign 2 has beens with that $$$. They were a good team last year and with Wells $$$ to spend they will be much better. Damon I believe will be a help to Longoria. He will be a positive in the dugout and with Crawford and Pena gone Damon will help Longo with leading the team. Unfortunately Damon’s positives are far behind the negatives Manny will bring.
what the hell, is this BJ upton hate day?
Posted by (opmac64) on 01/22/2011 at 08:44 am.
Most seem to think Manny will be a club house problem, well you have upton and he is not my #1 person on that team, he is a slacker, he don’t care about the team and he causes trouble with his actions so lay off Manny and start putting your hate toward a RAY not an outsider who hasn’t even been in the club house.
Sha-nee-kwa
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
I stand by my figure that 90% of Rays fans don't know what the hell they're talking about
At least we now has a name for them. Sha-nee-kwa. I like that.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Fans of all sports in this area are absolutely horrible.
That is something I’ve come to learn in the last 2 years of really paying attention to fan reactions. They blindly hate the shit out of anyone that the media blames for losses or puts out there as someone that should be pubic enemy number one. It’s pathetic and I feel embarrassed to even live in this shitty area.
It's a culture of being unable to critically think for yourself
For the most part, they just regurgitate what they hear acting as a speaker rather than a soundboard.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
It really is embarrassing.
For some reason it feels like I’ve seen it more over the past year or so than ever before.
It almost physical hurts to hear some of this shit.
@RealNolenBailey
I think that feeling is just due to paying more attention to everything. It is in my case.
I know I didn’t really look at the comments sections or really listen to people about sports until I joined this site.
Ron had some expert analysis last year about why Randy Choate was the worst pitcher in all of baseball
Did you know at one point his ERA was over 20?!?!? Ron may have hit on that point once or twice.
by News Fedora on Jan 22, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
...
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I updated my spreadsheet for Rays WAR, 100% expected outcomes means 88 wins, but I think it's pretty reasonable to
expect the Rays to finish between 84 and 92 (90% and 110% of expected outcomes, respectively).
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:15 AM EST reply actions
.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhdYS83t3IB7dDdod2d3aGFqejJuWEhaVFpqSnhNOGc&hl=en#gid=0
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
I really like his, if we used that as a page one source that the 100% projection comes from and then my page two scales the projections up and down it could be really really neat.
I don’t like to step on toes, but I might try to combine that
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
I think he'd be psyched about it.
We posted his here in 2009 I think for everyone to use for the team projections. Maybe we should run that back with your’s if you do that.
I'm on it, playing time estimates are shooting from the hip and I'm going to use THT's wOBA forecast and BPs EQBRR for the baserunning, I will probably use CAIRO's fielding numbers
I’m almost done it’s looking pretty neat
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Andy
I think manny will get more PA’s than what you are giving him.
I'm not done yet, how about 550?
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
This is awesome.
I’m gonna be doing a post that touches upon this for Monday….standard deviations and normal curve and such. It cool if I give you a big r/a and use it as an example?
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah that's fine as long as you link it
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
But of course.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Good Job Andy
Klassman has a little higher contribution from Manny,he is hard to figure( Manny thats hard).
If we can get a boost in the pen,that should improve our chances also.Other than those 2 variables, I’m ready to call my bookey.Online odds should make the Rays a good bet.
Cool. Though I'm getting a 404 when clicking the spreadsheet
by Ben Tumbling on Jan 22, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
Click on Download, may need to c/p this
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BxdYS83t3IB7OWQ5Y2U0MDgtOTRiZC00NzY1LWE2NWEtYmIzOTYzOWMzOWUz&hl=en
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Curious as to how many wins if they had retained the 2010 roster?
by Ben Tumbling on Jan 22, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
Now that is a really cool question.
I’ll work on that.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
Just plug in your own projections for departees in the place of new arrivals.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Salary
Manny for 2mil? What a steal. Damon for 5mil? Way too much. Both for 7mil, still a great deal.
Package deal offered by Boras
Appearently if we gave Damon what he wanted(well most of it and whatever a attendance bonus is…), we get Manny for peanuts.
Under construction
I wonder if Boras wanted to make it up to Damon after last offseason
Damon had insisted the Yanks not make an offer south of the $13 mill he had previously made with them, and ended up getting $8 mill to be exiled in Detroit
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
What non-rays fans need to understand ...
is that just cos we added two considerably old players, we still have a team built on young talent. We have plenty of draft picks and many extremely talented prospects; we are still generally a very young team!
6. Posted by Linda Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:57 pm EST
Better the Rays get a new owner…
This has gone from sad to just plan scary.
Its all anyone can expect when the ownership goes on the cheap.
I hope the brown bags that will be needed for this seasons Rays games will at least keep the teams spirit afloat…by coloring them plaid :P
Soon to be the next uprooted Rays fan displaced to Chicago?
I know some people say it's like this in every sports market, but I have a hard time believing it's this bad everywhere.
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Try checking out the commenters on the Baltimore Sun
Half of them are dead convinced that if the Os would only sign Vlad Guerrero, they’d be competitive this year.
Seattle (Note, I just took these from the top baseball story on the cities largest daily)
Milton Bradley is a loser, and I blame Jack Z for even gambling on the guy. No competent GM with the intention of being competitive would have ever signed this cancer. Let’s face it, the Ms traded a cancer for a bigger cancer.
In the end, the Ms and Bradley are meant for each other: one threatens to beat people, the other doesn’t beat anybody.
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
I was all set to do a whole thing here, but The Cincy Enquierer's website is so awful I just gave up
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
"one threatens to beat people, the other doesn’t beat anybody."
Well at least the fans in Seattle try to be clever.
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Lets check in on Milwaukee?
Sports fans wake up and stop going to these games until these players are paid based on performance, rather than these absurd guaranteed salaries! The insane prices (tickets, concession food, etc.) won’t stop until enough people opt out. Vote with your wallet!
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Man, they really hate the Fielder resigning
It’s that system that’s sick.
Why do I have to go to arbitration with a player under contract ??
Or in the case with Ben Sheets a few years back: He was a Free Agent, missed the season because of his elbow injury and the Brewers had to pay for the medical costs …
WHY ?? He was NOT under contract
That system is terribly sick and I think nobody outside of the management level of MLB teams understands what stupid regulations really exist
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
I have lived
In Seattle, NYC, Connecticut it is by far the worst here. Not even close.
Haha, there's not a chance that's true. You just might be more cognizant of it here, but WFAN
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Nothing comes CLOSE to Francesa
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
I grew up on WFAN
Fat Mike is a know it all but him and Russo were entertaining.
WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING FOR FREE
At what point do you have enough money!?
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
Lol
Opium for the Masses. Just keep throwing your hard earned money at these dudes. They laugh all the way to the bank.
They got their Mansions … you got yours?
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
Baseball contracts = religion via karl marx fyi
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
hahahaha
and these same people bitch when we want to tax the super wealthy more than the middle class.
“THEY EARNED THAT MONEY”
Billy Butler is locked up
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/royals-butler-agree-to-long-term-contract.html
4 years at 30 mil for the 24 year old.
Team friendly contract to set up a trade soon?
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Well, I guess they locked up their DH
Because Hosmer is their 1B by some point this season.
Under construction
Good for him.
Wanted him for a while but glad he is staying in KC
love it love it love it
i hate one person more than Pap smear—his name is bin laden
by sternfan1 on Aug 12, 2010 3:33 PM EDT
Jim Joyce's BFF is about to be traded
I think he would of made a decent RP but I am gonna guess he joins the Yankees rotation.
Under construction
Loll
Seems like a great guy but he isn’t very good
by benderbrodriguez on Jan 22, 2011 1:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Here's the information you were looking for
RallyBoobs Rally Boobs
#rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs #rallyboobs
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Steve Pearce for a B/C prospect
If the Rays want an inexpensive young, RH platoon for Dan Jo, he would be a good combo based on his splits against RH’ers(in limited sample, 115 AB’s). And frankly, Dan Johnson’s numbers are not very good against anybody (over his career), accept his ability to walk and his defense is average at best. Pearce is a better fielder.
Hanrahan or Meek w/ Pearce
would be something to work towards. Maybe a B prospect and a low minor C.
Beckham and a B prospect for both
Beckham is behind Lee now and would become the Pirates #1 SS prospect maybe ready in another year. And they need a SS.
Seriously?
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Oh come on
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
We don't have to give that much
Freidman can fleece the Pirates and would still value Beckham a lot more than that.
Under construction
Think a guy like Joe Cruz holds much value?
Was thinking about prospects and he seems about right, I am not sure if Barnese should be dealt for those 2, although it would finish off our roster..
Under construction
How
Is Beckham not enough for Hanrahan to Huntington?
Or is too much for AF for Hanrahan?
I think the implication is
that Beckham is to much, I disagree but I am not high on Beckham.
Your arguments are horrible
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
ok, now that the lineup looks complete, let's discuss how we get a back end reliever
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
anyone still pissed off we didn't pull off the Milton Bradley deal (RJ)?
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
He would have been great here.
With the guidence of AF ,Joe, and all our clubhouse comradarie.lol
and the fact of him only once for 110 games has he had a
productive, trouble free year doesn’t diminish your thoughts
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
If it had happened before last year and he was our DH and he helped us HIT in the playoffs i would have really liked it
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
HAW HAW HAW
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
TGN--ya know i love ya--but this fucking guy is trouble with a capital T
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
He's a good hitter though? And I don't think he's THAT much trouble. Just because he dissed your fave mistake by your fave lake
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
has nothing to do with it--i'm not an Indians fan since '08
and is he that good? only his year in TEX has he put up numbers for a whole season
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
I think he's good, he's just rarely ever in a good situation. Its a moot point now since we have a lineup
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
I've been a Rays fan since 2008
-SF1 (0-2012)
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
which rhymes with P and that stands for Pool!
appropos of nothing. But the world needs more Music Man references.
Me, IRL:
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
Isn't it "lead the big parade?"
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Hrm
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
Hellickson = music man
from Iowa
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
Better than PtB amirite?
by benderbrodriguez on Jan 22, 2011 1:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
OK, combining Sky's WAR calculator with my WAR percentile calculator I've got 92.2 wins
Here’s my new post and you can download the tool within. Here’s what I have for batters:
and pitchers:
And my look at percentiles, updated:
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:29 PM EST reply actions
Here's the link to my post
http://dockoftherays.com/2011/01/22/updating-team-war-win-projections/
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Only inputs for pitchers were IP and ERA which I pulled from THT, I think those could be tweaked, but I wanted to stay true to my sources
and let the reader make the adjustments. They have Beej set to have like a .327 wOBA I think. Certainly can make some adjustments in there.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
Read above, I'm staying true to my source data and am leaving it up to the reader to make the tweaks, download the workbook and make the adjustments I'd love to see wh atyou think
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
So basically, 92 wins would be seen as our mean projection right now.
Sounds right…that’s about where I had them. Trying to make this match up with standard deviations is a bit rough though….this suggests we’d have quite the high deviation. I think the MLB average is normally 6 games, but according to this, one SD would place us at 106 to 78 wins? Hrm.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
I don't disagree that ~92 wins is right, but the components in the table are...off.
I could easily see this team winning 94, 95. Longo had 6.9 fWAR last year and I see no reason why he can’t repeat that or go higher. Especially if some of those doubles get more loft.
@thekidpow
Oh, of course, that's why the mean projection is just that: the mean.
It’s the 50-percentile projection: half the time the team would be expected to do better, half the time they’d do worse.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
Can you fucking read you stupid guido, if I start imposing my own biases on one area then I have to do that across the board
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
I rely on you for statistical analysis so I don't have to do it myself.
Redo this or wrap it up, PERMANENTLY.
@thekidpow
Well you shoudn't because I'm biased to guys like Brignac and Upton while unintentionally slighting other guys
To remove my bias I use their projections. Sorry for trying to be honest, supreme commander POW
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Almost thought I made a they're mistake here, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
You mean more rallykilling homeruns?
Topper rarely shows his ignorance, but today is a golden day
Hell yeah it is.
Unless me trying to match up the percentages here is inconsistent theory-wise and such.
Yeah, actually, I think I’m looking at it the wrong way.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 22, 2011 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
Enjoy the moment, these don't come along all that often. Still time to find another arm
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
Figure it out yourself
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
This looks sick
RHP
Jaso
Zobrist
Longo
Damon
Manny
Joyce
Danjo
Upton
Brignac
LHP
S-Rod
Zobrist
Longo
Damon
Manny
Danjo
Shoppach
Brignac
Upton
Would it be possible to move Upton lower in that lineup?
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
The higher up the batting order the more PAs, so I don't think they're irrelevant
The caller said the boy, after removing the bulb from its socket, left the building and threw the bulb on the ground. When the bulb broke, the caller said the boy screamed "I am going to deem your kids as a POS"
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jan 22, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
.278/.381/.538 with a .919 ops against LHP last year
BUT THE STIRKEOUTS!
by ballsdeep187 on Jan 22, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
actually, he has a k% of 23 against the lefties
BUT WHERES THE HUSTLE?
by ballsdeep187 on Jan 22, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
It's the mature thing to do.
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
Im sure im the minority here.
But I watch baseball to see players play the game. I dont give one shit what Longo or Price have to say about attendance, I dont care that Crawfords heart is in boston, and I dont care if Luke Scott hates Obama. As long as they do what they are paid to do, it makes no difference to me.
by ballsdeep187 on Jan 22, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions
I would want Longo in between Damon and Manny
Or Manny and Joyce, Damon shouldn’t bat clean up though.
Under construction
The best use of Longo's power and discipline is in cleanup
Damon’s not a terrible fit for the 3hole, but I picture him batting first or second in some combination with Zobrist or Jaso.
Rays/Cubs - AnotherCubsBlog.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
I know I had some concerns about making sure that Manny was 'happy' to sign for the Rays
But to be honest, at $2m, I don’t give a shit if he’s happy or not. If he acts like an ass, the Rays can literally just throw him away.
12-19-2010 - TAMPA, Fla.: The Detroit Lions erased some painful memories by ending the longest road losing streak in NFL history against YOUR Tampa Bay Succaneers.
Also, melanin makes people lazy.
They've got dumpsters.
12-19-2010 - TAMPA, Fla.: The Detroit Lions erased some painful memories by ending the longest road losing streak in NFL history against YOUR Tampa Bay Succaneers.
Also, melanin makes people lazy.
Heyman:
damon texted me in nov. he wanted to play for #yankees, rays or #redsox. manny told peeps he wanted rays or jays (a rhyming thing?)
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
He probably expected more than $2m. I was afraid he'd end up signing for $4 or $5m
12-19-2010 - TAMPA, Fla.: The Detroit Lions erased some painful memories by ending the longest road losing streak in NFL history against YOUR Tampa Bay Succaneers.
Also, melanin makes people lazy.
After Thome signed for 3, I wasn't worried about it.
Damon got more than I thought he would, but I suppose that’s because he’s going to play the field.
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
Overall the money is great
Manny regardless of his performance should be movable(or releasable in a worst case) if things go badly for the Rays. However, Damon at 5.25 lower his value at the deadline. Its being picky, but would have been better if the split between the two was even.
The fact that he's getting some deferred money from his LAD contract
probably plays a part in the dollar amount
Rays/Cubs - AnotherCubsBlog.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
I think he's still gonna clear 10 mil this year.
So yeah, I agree.
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
Cuse finna pull this out
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 1:47 PM EST reply actions
Or not
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
I was wrong
I felt we would trade for a young, cheap, versatile type to fill our needs. After Burrell I didn’t see Maddon and Friedman wanting to tie down the DH spot with a hitter only. I also thought that if we didn’t get Damon at last years trade deadline he just wasn’t in the cards. I have never been so happy to be wrong.
I love this.
Damon and Ramirez for a combined $7.25 million could prove an incredible bargain — especially when you consider that the Rays would not have signed one without the other, according to major-league sources.
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
Where would he fit though?
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
I like Johnson given the chance at a full season
Branyan would be good, but would rather see efforts concentrated on a BP arm. Branyan might end up being so cheap, that Rays do it anyway.
Branyan is better defensively than I thought he was.
But didn’t he have back surgery again last year?
If he was playing the field nearly everyday, I’d have to think he’s a lock to hit the DL at some point and probably multiple times.
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
and is he really that much better then danjo, if at all?
www.dhazebay.com
by putupyourDUKES on Jan 22, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Muscle has back surgery every year
His power is more legit than DanJo
by Jason Collette on Jan 22, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
But he is as horrid against lefties as well
But would be a slight upgrade over Pena’s 2010 season. The difference would be with the OBP upgrade with Manny and Damon, the Rays would score runs with Branyan’s power than Dan Jo’s OBP skills.
I'm not sure I agree
A healthy Branyan hurts baseballs, but he’s a pretty big risk. Why don’t you believe in DanJo’s power?
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
Sluggers don't get sent to Japan
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 7:45 PM EST up reply actions
Cecil Fielder went to Japan for a season at age 26
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
4 yrs in Toronto .781 OPS
After Japan, 7 years in Detroit .849
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
It was an attempt at humor
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:25 PM EST up reply actions
Oops
I’m a DanJo apologist. Back to back big league seasons with ISO north of .200. Dominated AAA for two years sandwiched around Japan. I’m excited to see him get a chance.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Jan 22, 2011 10:28 PM EST up reply actions
I'm looking forward to big things
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 22, 2011 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
It's hard telling, but probably not.
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
I might rather have Elliot Johnson in that role
Better hitter but less power. Switch hitter gives more bench flexibility for Maddon.
I think Helliot can top Aybar's .344 SLG from last year.
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
speaking of Willy
Heard nothing about him or Cormier, I see NRI’s in their future
Under construction
Aybar will make a team in spring ball somewhere.
www.dhazebay.com
by putupyourDUKES on Jan 22, 2011 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
Unless it's for the league min. No way.
www.dhazebay.com
by putupyourDUKES on Jan 22, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
This is real good from Jonah on the "Manny effect"
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-manny-effect/
I love this bit…
“Or how about this: Manny Ramirez owns a .422 wOBA vs. right-handed pitching in the past three years, also second-best in all of baseball. If Manny matches or comes close to his three-year average, he’ll be the best hitter on the Rays, better even than Evan Longoria.”
If the Rays make the playoffs Friedman HAS to win exec of the year
Unless the other team from the AL East is Toronto. Then that probably goes to Alex Anthroufpashihos I would think.
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
How satisfying would it be
for the Jays and the Rays to beat out the Red Sox and Yankees. Lots would have to go wrong in Boston for that to happen though.
I think pulling that Wells trade off while giving up barely any cash at all should make Alex Anthropottamus an automatic.
12-19-2010 - TAMPA, Fla.: The Detroit Lions erased some painful memories by ending the longest road losing streak in NFL history against YOUR Tampa Bay Succaneers.
Also, melanin makes people lazy.
No fucking clue why the angels did this. Desperation for not landing cc?
www.dhazebay.com
by putupyourDUKES on Jan 22, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
There are angel fans who think this is a good deal.
Im just saying.
Something about its 4 years of wells instead of SEVEN years of Werth, or Crawford. I really have no idea how you can convince yourself of that though.
by ballsdeep187 on Jan 22, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Getting Napoli probably isn't a bad thing either.
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, Alex Anthraphylococcus boned the Angels.
Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.
by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
Yahoo is scrolling an article on their front page.
Of course its semi satire, but he does a Keri name drop. Any press is good press right? Unless its about attendance of course.
how's it hangin Rays fans
any chance some of you could grade your offseason against everyone else in the AL East? I’m doing a little project to figure out who came out on top this past winter.
Get 'em.
"it ain't no sin in goin to da scrip club."
Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010
Rays solid A, 9/10
Founding member of the Leslie Anderson fan club. This support has little merit, but if he's ever any good then I called it.
by staplemaniac on Jan 22, 2011 9:25 PM EST up reply actions
Solid A??!!!?!?!
For signing two players way past their prime? The Rays two best players from last year (Crawford and Soriano) are now with their biggest rivals. Even with all the losses this offseason, the Rays are still a good team, they have the best 3rd baseman in the league and a good young rotation and Manny and Damon will help this team, but they just don’t have the firepower that the Red Sox and Yankees have.
by The Last Shall Become First on Jan 23, 2011 2:18 AM EST up reply actions
I'm a bit of a shill, but I'd also rank us rather high.
We did everything we wanted to this off-season, and did it really, really well. All the players leaving was expected, and we great value in both the trades we completed. Manny and Damon are better hitters than most of us were expecting we’d get, and while the jury is still out on the bullpen, it’s not half bad as is.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jan 23, 2011 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
6
Despite the losses, I think our offense is slightly better between losing a couple of black holes and adding these two and Chirinos (who I think will be more productive than either of these guys). That said, the defense obviously suffers a bit, and the bullpen will probably be 3 or 4 wins worse. If we sit pat at this point, then fans need to bank on a good rookie year from Hellickson and a bounce back from some guys who underperformed last year, like Zobrist.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 23, 2011 3:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Two great signings.... had it been 10 years ago
This very well may be both Damon and Manny’s final year in the MLB and I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one of them is traded by the trade deadline.
I’m forever grateful to Damon and I wish him nothing but success. Manny, on the other hand, it’s going be good to see him one last time. He is a shell of his former self but he still got a little left in the tank.
by The Last Shall Become First on Jan 23, 2011 2:12 AM EST reply actions
if either one gets traded
It’s immediately worth it, because they’re both likely to be Type A.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 23, 2011 3:04 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
that said
If we’re out of the race come mid-july, I do think this makes an Upton trade much more likely.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 23, 2011 3:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
love the Manny move, more neutral on Damon
I really hope this means Matt Joyce brings his first baseman’s glove to spring training. Not sure Damon is an upgrade over him at this point. Manny for $2M is a coup. If he’s actually toast (as I suspect), he still OBPs in the .380 range and is worth it. If he’s not, he could put up enough production to make both deals worth it. Plus, we’ll finally get to lead off sportscenter whenever he inevitably pulls some antics.
Not exactly a vote of confidence for Zobrist though.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 23, 2011 3:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Wouldn't it be more productive
to have Damon bring a 1st baseman’s glove than for Joyce to do so? Joyce is the better defensive outfielder and is expected to have a future with the Rays who remain short on outfield prospects at the upper levels.
It seems to me the real vote of confidence issue is with either Dan Johnson (if Jennings makes the team) or more likely with Jennings who may be back in Durham. Zobrist’s versatility should get him near a full season of ABs even if he is now less likely to play much 1B, which is probably not the best way to use him anyway.
Isn’t the question of upgrade also not between Damon and Joyce but between Damon and Jennings? I think Joyce is secure, barring unexpected problems, as an outfield starter, probably in RF. The only question I see is how much, if at all, is he platooned against lefties.
With Guyer alongside Jennings, our OF depth is looking much better
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Good point,
but I still wonder at the notion of playing Joyce at 1B rather than Damon and think that Damon more likely affects Jennings or Dan Johnson’s playing time more than Zobrist’s. It is possible that Damon cannot play 1B adequately which would make Brickhaus’s comment more valid to me, but assuming he can do the job well enough, I think the Rays would prefer Joyce to Damon in the outfield.
I wouldn't be shocked to see both get a looksie
We don’t know the status of the health of Joyce’s arm that limited him early in 2010. I also think Damon will get plenty of rest given his age. There will be probably be plenty of PA for everyone with those showing growth or avoiding declines likely earning more over time. Its quite the nice problem to have. Outside of Longoria and Manny, there really are no position players that cannot be replaced. Maybe BJ, but Fuld is serviceable.
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Damon's streak
JD’s streak of playing at least 140 games in 15 straight years could come to an end this year due to Maddon’s player rest patterns and our depth. Only Aaron, Brooks Robinson and Rose have played 140 games in 16 straight. Mays is the only other at 15.
In the trade for a reliever
Ruggiano is going to get thrown in now that any chance of a roster spot for him has effectively gone. If not, PTBNL in Bartlett deal (there was one right?)
Waiting?
Anyone curious on to why the organization is being so quiet on the proposed signing of Damon and Manny? I know it’s not Rays policy to announce moves before making it official but it’s been almost three days. It may be formalities and finalizing wording or physicals or anything but stranger things have happenned. Is this a done deal?
I think the physicals are today.
In any case, it seems to me that a lot of deals have not been made official for 3 or more days. Just following mlbtraderumors.com, they often announce a deal and then 3 or more days later they re-announce it as official, and that is for all teams, not just the Rays.
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