The Rays Tank: Only 14 More Days...
by Steve Slowinski on Feb 6, 2012 8:25 AM EST
in The Rays Tank
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Now that football season is over -- I actually watched my first football game of the season last night, man -- baseball season seems all that much closer.* Pitchers and catchers report in a mere 14 days, so we're only two weeks away from a momentary burst of baseball bliss...before remembering how tedious and boring spring training is and starting the countdown for the actual season to begin.
*I used to be one of those people that say, "Now that football's over, there's nothing else on the calendar until baseball season!" But that was before I got into hockey. The Bolts are playing some damn important games right now, as they're trying to resurrect their season and make a final push at the playoffs, so now is a great time to tune in and catch some action.
And I suppose there's basketball on too, if that floats your boat. There's always the USF Bulls, who....well, yeah.
There hasn't been much baseball news over the past couple days -- even GMs were distracted by the Super Bowl, apparently -- so we'll just hit up some quick links:
- Sam Fuld hosted a clinic this weekend for young, diabetic athletes. It wasn't a baseball camp, but it was open to any child with diabetes that played a sport. It sounds like a great, unique idea, so I hope Fuld felt it went well enough to do it again in the future.
- So the Angels might trade Peter Bourjos for John Lannan? I'd be okay with that; it'd mean the Rays would stand a chance of having their drives to centerfield against the Angels actually hit the ground.
- As Steven Goldman points out, pinch hitters are ever so slowly disappearing from the American League. So maybe we shouldn't be that concerned that the Rays project to have a weak offensive bench? Theoretically, the Rays won't be pinch hitting all that often anyway.
- Ground-rule doubles used to be ground-rule home runs? Chalk that up as something I didn't know. Now that would be an interesting rule to dredge back up from the archives.
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"pinch hitters are ever so slowly from the American League"
Disappearing?
But yeah, I am in the worst funk this morning. Baseball can’t come soon enough.
Whoops, bad edit there...thanks.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
Follow @steveslow
by Steve Slowinski on Feb 6, 2012 8:48 AM EST up reply actions
That Lannan/Bourjos rumor cant be true
I would trade Niemann or Davis for him in a heartbeat
by BossmanJunior333 on Feb 6, 2012 9:03 AM EST via mobile reply actions
There are still a few PHers out there, at least that's what i
categorize them at. Ibanez, Chavez, Ordonez and Matsui to name a few might look nice coming off the bench and you can still put a glove on them for an inning if you need to
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
I am not sure any of those guys have a role on the 2012 Rays
Chavez would be nice, but he is likely Bronx bound again. Probably done seeing MLB deals; minor league deals and possible trades are all that’s left.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
jason hammel appears headed back to the ale
Orioles swapping guthrie for him and lindstrom
by Dbullsfan on Feb 6, 2012 9:24 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Guthrie for Hammel and Lindstrom
A weird trade for both sides, but more power to them.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
I wonder if there is much of a market out there for Niemann/Davis
Maybe the offers so far are pretty weak. It just seems strange putting Davis in the pen, if it comes down to that. Guess it will work itself out.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
This is what occurred to me also.
I don’t think Davis or Niemann are perceived as being more valuable than Guthrie. I would certainly not be happy with that kind of a return for either.
Of course, it isn’t so clear a connection. In Rays favor: Different GMs. Different salaries. No current arbitration issues. Longer time under team control. Younger and perhaps (just perhaps) higher upside. All pluses for the Rays pitchers compared to Guthrie.
Still, in response to a question about the Rays acquiring someone like Hundley and perhaps Guzman or Blanks, if the return on Guthrie is anywhere near what we could expect, I doubt it happens. A starting catcher and useful RH bat seem to me significantly more valuable than a rather ordinary back of the rotation starter and very erratic reliever. Why would the Padres give up so much more for Davis or Niemann than Colorado gave up for Guthrie?
closer to his mormon roots
9 recs.
Steve, the front page is calling……
by mr. maniac on Jan 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST
"Please break your typewriter and computer and never come out of your ass cave again"
That proposed Lannan trade would be a coup for Washington
More players have to be involved; if true.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
It would be a huge mistake for the Angels.
Bourjos and Trout should be anchoring that OF for years if they really want to win.
by Peter Piontek on Feb 6, 2012 10:00 AM EST up reply actions
Do you think they stick with Wells if he starts the year bad?
His contract makes it awfully hard for an owner to allow a DFA. Trading Bourjos just adds overwhelming insult to injury. That Wells trade was so terrible.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
I'd have to stick him at DH and DFA Abreu
That contract is an albatross
by Peter Piontek on Feb 6, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
On a minor deal i'm wondering if Xavier Nady has anything left. I
haven’t heard a word on. Anybody else know more on him? Looks like he hasn’t done much since ’08, hurt all of ’09 but still just 33 yo him this off season
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
I have heard only negative chatter regarding what he has left
I would prefer a Conor Jackson minor league deal.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
Again, the Guthrie trade is just odd
I do not get the Rockies’ plan. What are they trying to do?
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
This is a head scratcher for sure.
I don’t see how this trade is much of win for anyone except the O’s getting another year of control. JH can be good at times but he may get pounded quite a bit this year.
Just go with it.
The innings Guthrie would provide > than Hammel and Lindstrom
With young starters/international 1st timers, you would think a bit of stability might be valued. The Rockies are using some hidden logic I can’t see too.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
Rockies needed an innings-eater for 2012
while their large collection of young arms develops.
Their would-be ace, Jorge De La Rosa, is projected to return in June from Tommy John surgery.
None of their young guys has ever come close to 200 IP. Guthrie does that consistently. He’s a FA after 2012, and they needed a one-year gap-plugger. If they’re out of contention by July & DLR is back to regular form, they can deal Guthrie to a contender.
Hammel’s + Lindstrom’s salary = Guthrie’s. The Rockies also free up a roster spot on a twofer.
Lindstrom, while he had a good 2011, is injury-prone & about the no. 4 reliever on the Rockies,
who have two good RH relievers (Betancourt & Belisle) extended through 2013. They’ll miss Lindstrom, but he’s expendable.
As to Hammel, “inconsistent” is a kind word to describe his time in Colo.
Who else is outraged at the lack of ST games in the TB area??? I WANT TO SEE MY TEAM
If you like free speech, come to OTTOTD.com
I haven't looked but don't the Yankees, Jays and Phils have a full slate of home games?
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
Only 2 games on TV; maybe 3
I hope other team’s channels air their games vs the Rays. When I’m in the area, I enjoy going to see the Rays play at Bradenton; although they always send the D-squad. Last year I got to see Beckham for most of the game.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
I'm proud of Hambone for saying that "bad things happen to me" and not that he brings them upon himself.
he’s a good person.
9 recs.
Steve, the front page is calling……
by mr. maniac on Jan 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST
"Please break your typewriter and computer and never come out of your ass cave again"
I really disliked the media hype surrounding his "recovery" year at the HR Derby
How he projected himself in that media hype annoyed me; hopefully he strikes out every time he faces Rays pitching until his retirement.
"My ambition is handicapped by laziness"
I just would like to have some sort of amber alert so that we know if he's on the road after having a few
He’s already killed a fan and is indirectly responsible for the crash his parents were involved in. It’s one thing to destroy your own body with drugs and alcohol, but when you start talking about taking other lives I begin to get a bit pissed off.
I got away from the one thing that kept me on the straight and narrow, and that was my relationship with the Lord
by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 6, 2012 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
Just spit-balling a theory
With the new CBA rules, certain players force a team to do one of 3 things before a season starts. (1) They have to be added to 25-Man/40-Man roster 5 days before OD rosters or (2) given their release or (3) have to be paid 100 K….
With the Russ Canzler trade to the Indians netting the Rays a cool 100 K, one would think that the Rays are going to use that 100 K to sign a player to a MiLD to stash them in Durham for later use.
C-Jax was just mentioned, but how about an arm like Mike Wuertz or someone like that?
That seems contrived
I doubt the Rays were hurting for 100K. Then again, it is the Rays
by benderbrodriguez on Feb 6, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
watching MLBN top 10 right now on SS (great series btw)
and I didn’t realize Elliot Johnson was actually tied for 5th (with Tulo) with 11 runs saved at SS last season. I knew he was pretty good defensively but damn.
on this thought a bit, does Reid have an option left
if he doesn’t show some significant improvement with the bat this Spring I wonder if the Rays would consider going to with Johnson over Brignac at SS because Reid has the flexibility of being sent down to Durham ala Gomes in the pen.
Not sure what the point would be to send Brignac down...
it may be time to cut bait. His presence in Durham probably retards the development of Bex and HJL.
Boom. Outta Here.
Follow @RyanGilliss
Reid wouldn't have to play SS
His problems are bat-related. He could play second, DH, maybe even OF. And greater proficiency in the OF would make him more valuable to the big club. Right now, he’s just an emergency choice at COF.
All that said, I don’t think he’s getting sent down.
"release brignac" - gillissdaddy
9 recs.
Steve, the front page is calling……
by mr. maniac on Jan 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST
"Please break your typewriter and computer and never come out of your ass cave again"
I just saw this from Dave Cameron
d_a_cameron
Top four players viewed on @FanGraphs today – Geovany Soto, Kurt Suzuki, Nick Hundley, Ryan Hanigan. Catcher-only roto league prep day?
3 Feb
Good work, folks.
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