DRaysBay: FanPosts

Is Maddon Fair Game?

2013-05-10T01:58:41Z

Joe Maddon gets a ton of credit for managing the Rays during their greatest era and that's okay. Records mean something and Maddon's is far and away the best in franchise history. But at times, he gets in the way more than he should. As a firm believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it', sometimes Maddon's moves are a bit...well...maddening.

Last year, he had a formula that worked in games the Rays led after seven innings. That was Peralta in the eighth and Rodney in the ninth and chalk up a W. This year, the Rays are three games under at 15-18 and in 14 of those losses, they have had the lead. Just in the last four home games up until their win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, the Ray lost three games they should have won.

They led the Yankees in the one game the Yanks took in that series after seven innings by a run. Maddon let David Price start the eighth, and the Rays wound up losing.

Then the first game back from their road trip, he brings Rodney in the game in the eighth of a game the Rays led at one time 7-0. Rodney ran out of gas one strike from the finish line in the ninth inning when he gave up a home run to win it for the Jays. So not only do the Rays lose that game, but they burned Rodney and could not close the game on Tuesday either and lost yet another game they led after seven.

In Maddon's defense an error by Yunel Escobar in the ninth extended the Monday night game. Rodney should have gotten the save in that one. But, in fairness it was Maddon who put Escobar in the game as a defensive replacement in a game he didn't start due to an injured hand after being hit by a pitch on it the day before.

So the question is, is Joe Maddon above criticism? At times, his moves leave us wondering what he is thinking?

They led the Yankees in the one game the Yanks took in that series after seven innings by a run. Maddon let David Price start the eighth, and the Rays wound up losing.

So the question is, is Joe Maddon above criticism? At times, his moves leave us wondering what he is thinking?

Is It Time To Start Worrying Yet?

2013-05-05T03:52:25Z

It is only early in May, But the Rays are not playing well. What is worse, they are in a division where the Boston Red Sox are running off an leaving everybody. The Rays are only 6.5 games out, so it is surely not time to panic, but there are some troubling signs.

1. David Price is not pitching well at all. Last season, when he lost or got a no-decision it was because of no run support. He can't say that so far this season. He is just getting hit and hit hard. He is 1-3 with an ERA up around 6. Not good. The Rays have also lost the games in which he got a no decision too.

2. Evan Longoria has been playing every day, yet the Rays are still losing. The last two years, Longoria missed half the season. In the half he missed, the Rays played around .500. When he was in the lineup, the Rays were closer to a division winning percentage. Not the case this year.

3. The bullpen is very leaky. That had not been the case in the past few seasons. This year, the bullpen has been terrible. Jake McGee, Brandon Gomes, Jamey Wright, they all seem to get hit hard. The Rays have had the lead in 11 of their 16 losses. Not all were blown by the pen, but that is not good.

4. Still no Jeff Niemann. It's getting to the point where we have to wonder if the Rays will ever get anything form him. He is always on the DL.

5. Cannot win on the road. The Rays are normally a good road team. Not so far this year. They are 5-12 on the road. That won't get it done.

The Rays will not go anywhere without Price and Longoria carrying them. Matt Moore has been great, but he can't keep up his pace all year. Jeremy Hellickson and Alex Cobb look good. Jury is still out on Roberto Hernandez. The bullpen has got to get better.

Does Price have a bit of pressure following his Cy Young year? Maybe. Opposing teams get geared up a bit more when facing him. He is also the ace now that James Shields is gone. Hopefully he will find it soon.

Will this slow start cause the Rays to call up Wil Myers a bit earlier than maybe they want to? That will be interesting to watch. With the Rays, finances often dictate decisions such as these. If they bring Myers up, then he starts his service and that makes him eligible for free agency and arbitration that much sooner.

The New York Daily News had him pegged as this year's Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, yet still no sign of him. The Rays can't afford to give fans the impression they are not doing all they can to win. Look down south at what happens when a team does that.

4. Still no Jeff Niemann. It's getting to the point where we have to wonder if the Rays will ever get anything form him. He is always on the DL.

5. Cannot win on the road. The Rays are normally a good road team. Not so far this year. They are 5-12 on the road. That won't get it done.

Don't forget how awesome Ben Zobrist is

2013-05-03T23:47:14Z

I know it probably doesn't need to be said on DRB but just in case, don't forget to remember that Ben Zobrist is officially awesome.

Yeah, he's never hit .300 in the Major Leagues and is offensively down a bit thus far this season, but let's not forget that WAR is a counting stat, not a rate stat. From 2009 to 2012, Zobrist has played in a minimum of 151 games each season. He drew 359 walks in that time period, never leading the league but coming close most of the time. He is an above-average outfielder and shortstop and an excellent second-baseman, accumulating 52.9 runs above replacement in the same timespan. While Longoria's first contract was a steal, Zobrist's is really not far behind. He is by far the Rays most reliable player - both in terms of consistency and lack of injury - beating out Longoria by a long shot. We've had to put up with a lot of streakiness from our hitters - Pena in particular comes to mind - but Zobrist is the one guy who you can count on to get on base every game. Plus, given his all-around game there isn't much reason for us to expect a huge Pujols-style drop-off. He doesn't rely on extraordinary power or extraordinary speed, and his best skill - his batting eye - should be expected to improve.

In short, Zobrist = Jesus. Well, he probably wouldn't like me saying that, so let me gently suggest that for Rays fans, Zobrist - and not Longoria or Price or even Moore - should be your personal Jesus.

I know it probably doesn't need to be said on DRB but just in case, don't forget to remember that Ben Zobrist is officially awesome.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Their Lack of Attendance

2013-05-03T00:17:34Z

What do you think about this article Rays fans? Is it true that a gulf divides Tampa and St. Pete, thus making it too difficult for Tampa fans to make the trip to the Trop? As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay area, I have heard a lot of reasons why the Rays do not get a lot of fan support. After hearing it all, this is my take on the attendance issues that continue to face the Rays. By the way, I am a Mets fan at heart, but the Rays are a close second!!! http://voices.yahoo.com/the-tampa-bay-rays-their-lack-attendance-12082762.html?cat=14

The, "We decided not to post GDT tonight" GDT (please push to front page)

2013-05-02T00:29:15Z

May 1st 2013

Rays at Royals

Hellickson tries not to have a Cobb-like implosion.

Remember, KENNY LOGGINS IS PLAYING AT TROPICANA FIELD MAY 11

"As the Rays' attendance figures typically attest, baseball isn't really a big draw at Tropicana Field. No wonder then, that the "Rays Summer Concert Series" has been created to provide that extra bang for the game-goer's buck -- buy a ticket, get to see the Rays play thePadres, and once that preliminary is out the way, catch some tunes! It's just one more way to get those recalcitrant residents of Tampa to cross the bridge and slum it in St. Pete."

- The amazing Goldman.

May 1st 2013

Rays at Royals

Hellickson tries not to have a Cobb-like implosion.

Remember, KENNY LOGGINS IS PLAYING AT TROPICANA FIELD MAY 11

- The amazing Goldman.

An Supplemental Unofficial Response to the Official Response

2013-04-30T15:15:15Z

I had a fun little rant posted here...but then you guys jumped all over the Kenny Loggins post and ruined it for me. Well done. So let me quote JRG, since I still need 75 words and don't want to delete this:

Why would any of us voluntarily come back to a dead site that is dead of your own doing? Mr. Bopp, you’re absolutely correct that a “dumb, sexist joke in the comments is not equal to a dumb joke in the article”, but you’re incorrect in the measure. The dumb, “sexist” joke by a commenter is in no way equal to or as offensive as a writer and editor of SBN making inflammatory and offensive articles/posts. A commenter is a member, whereas the writer is and should be a representative of the brand. Your representative is a disgrace. As a woman, I’m far more offended by the tasteless humor and lack of journalistic integrity of Mr. Goldman than by anything @SandyKazmir ever said.

by JaxRaysGirl on Apr 30, 2013 | 3:56 PM

slow

clap

by JaxRaysGirl on Apr 30, 2013 | 3:56 PM

slow

clap

Vogt and Chirinos off to Good Starts in AAA...Dang It

2013-04-17T03:09:45Z

Vogt especially is tearing it up. I have to believe either one of these guys could have hit better than at least Jose Lobaton (who has no business coming anywhere near being an everyday catcher) or Ryan Roberts. Personally, I've always felt that Lobaton was a placeholder until someone like Vogt or Chirinos was ready, but apparently the organization feels differently. I get that both have their question marks behind the plate, that it's a small sample size, Chirinos is coming off a major concussion and has limited experience at catcher, and that Vogt was 0-28 in his time up last year. I also get that Jose Lobaton is not the everyday catcher, was out of options and his strengths are primarily defensive, but I was under the impression that Molina's strengths were defensive as well. So why have catchers with the same strength?

But when the hitting is this bad, my eyes just can't help but wander to what we let go of. Virtually all of Vogt's minor league career indicates that he can hit, so I would naturally assume that his 0-28 streak would actually be more of an aberration than an indicator of his talent level at the majors.

I know there's a process, and patience is key. More than likely the Rays will rebound at some point and Friedman will have proved himself a genius yet again. But I can't help but question letting go of these guys for what will probably be spare parts (but I could be wrong) and in the process depleting depth at a position that the organization already is lacking in, particularly at the upper levels. Wasn't Chirinos a must have in the Garza deal at one point? Did the concussion really set him back that badly?

It's easy to criticize when things aren't going well. And I don't pretend to be an expert. I'm just a set of amateur eyes calling it like I see it.

Robinson Chirinos

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=455139

Stephen Vogt

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=519390

It's easy to criticize when things aren't going well. And I don't pretend to be an expert. I'm just a set of amateur eyes calling it like I see it.

Robinson Chirinos

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=455139

Stephen Vogt

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=519390

Did the Rays mishandle the off-season? It's early, but...

2013-04-17T02:08:14Z

It's early. It's early but... This team is 6 outs away from a 4-9 start in an unforgiving division. And if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, its Andrew Friedman. Right? Okay, now that we said that, lets look at some of the moves the Rays made this offseason. The salaries are to the best of my recollection, so don't jump on me there...

Sign Kelly Johnson for $3.25 Million

Re-sign Ryan Roberts for $3 Million

Re-sign Sean Rodriguez for $1 Million

Cut Luke Scott ($1 Million buyout) and resign him for $5-6 Million

Offer arbitration to and Re-sign Niemann for $3.25 Million

Trade for Yunel Escobar who's making $5 Million each of the next 2 years

Trade Shields for (potentially very good) prospects, including Wil Myers, saving $10 Million this year

Let Carlos Pena walk (good move) having paid him $7.25 Million last year

Allow team HR leader BJ Upton to leave as a free agent (for $75 Million)

Bring in Roberto Hernandez (aka Fausto Carmona) for $3.25 Million plus incentives

Allow Jeff Keppinger to depart, he got $12 Million over 3 years from the White Sox

Bring in James Loney after a down year for $2.5 Million plus incentives

OK my fellow Rays fans... Tell me which of these moves you think was absolutely a no brainer? To me, many of these moves were curious. Letting BJ go was probably the one painful yet necessary decision. I could argue against it but I won't. I'd have let him go. But none of the other moves are no brainer to me and many seem too clever by half.

We got three utility infielders, all coming off very poor years, for a combined $8.5 Million. We signed a pitcher who has been consistently hurt in Niemann and another in Hernandez who barely pitched last year and struggles the two before, for a combined $7.5 Million +. We let a solid hitter (admittedly with no pop) in Keppinger go, but bring in another in Loney who struggled last year. Yes, his defense is better at 1B than Kepp would have been. We brought in a temperamental SS who had a down year for $5 Million, for two years, when Hak Ju Lee may be ready next year.

I just don't get these moves. Would we have been a worst team with Zobrist at SS and Keppinger either at 2B or 1B? Defensively, a bit. Offensively, we'd be better. Would it made sense to just let Sean Rodriguez go and keep a cheaper alternative in the much maligned Elliot Johnson. And I know Wil Myers may yet be a superstar, and Shields was at his highest trade value and a year away from being unaffordable. So ok, it's tough, but make that trade. But why include the affordable Davis, a proven major leaguer? I think I would have passed up on Odorizzi to keep Davis, and passed on Hernandez. The thing about eating up innings... I don't love that theory. Not if it is at the expense of a quality bat.

My bottom line is that its early and all these moves may prove genius. But the whole offseason I had this gnawing feeling that we looked too deep into the garbage heap or the discount bin, passed up on some potential proven bats (Melky Cabrera, baggage and all, went to Toronto CHEAP; Berkman at $10 Million wouldn't have been obvious, but to DH instead of, say, Roberts and Scott? I think I'd rather spend the money on Lance.

So I'd love to hear what others think... I am not the stat expert many people on this site are, but I'm a baseball guy. Former player, a coach, and a knowledgeable fan. I just... Don't feel... Right.

Am I crazy?