Maddon Impact or what?

by David Bloom on Apr 17, 2006 9:07 PM EDT

- One great sign of improvement that this year's DRays team has shown is their willingness to take a walk. They currently lead the majors with 60 base on balls.

- More DRays news, Chad Orvella was recalled from AAA yesterday, but don't look for him to take over as closer. In fact, if Miceli struggles, look for Shawn Camp to get a few more chances to close. Camp pitched two innings on Saturday for a save, and then came in to a big jam in the 8th on Sunday and got an inning ending double play.

If someone teaches Carl to take a walk, that will make the season for me. Its almost May, still no Rocco sightings. Carl might of had a good point about Rocco getting similar money.

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The Rays will not be in the top 3 by the end of the season. One bad game by Daniel Cabrera (9 BB / 60 total) should not be interpreted as a renaissance of plate discipline. Yes, Gomes has a good eye, but no way Gathright has a walk rate like that throughout the season. Gathright can't hit - no one is going to be giving him walks (other than the cellar dwellars like the Royals and Orioles, both of whom the Rays have faced).

Send Orvella back to AAA and recall Delmon. That's the better move. Can we send Gathright down as well and recall Upton?

by delmonfan on Apr 18, 2006 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

Send Orvella back and call up Delmon?

That has to be one of the stupidest moves the rays can make. The bullpen is the weakest point on the Rays right now, and you want to send a pitcher down for a hitter who will at best platoon with Gomes in right and at DH, as of right now? What did Delmon pick up a fastball, slider and curve in this latest trip to AAA?

this space for rent

by jtintle on Apr 18, 2006 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Gathright

Acutally, if you bothered to look at his minor league track record you'd see that he actually has a very good eye and him walking as much as he is shouldn't be much of a surprise. He will he eventually and when he does, he will be a very productive leadoff hitter.

Chuck Lamar, you're fired- Stuart Sternburg

by Tyler on Apr 18, 2006 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, no

If you bothered to look at his minor league track record, you would see that he averaged a walk every 10 AB. He's got 8 BB in 28 AB so far this year, a pace that there is no chance of him keeping up.

He'll never be a very productive leadoff hitter because he doesn't have enough pop in his bat to keep anyone honest, and because I don't think he's as good a hitter as his stats indicate. I think most of his average is tied up in his speed and will never approach what he did in the minors because major league fielders will be able to throw him out on ground balls more often than in the minors.

by delmonfan on Apr 18, 2006 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait....

You failed to mention Upton or Young in that post....

First off, you ramble on about calling up Upton and Young without providing a certified "clear cut" reason why we should start the arbitration clock on them in what is thought by most to be a losing season. Do you want Delmon to complain more than he already has? Do you think calling him up will stop his primadonna attitude that he appears to have? If we bench him, he'll complain...if we play him everyday, he may put up bad numbers and hurt the team. We're in a no win situation if we rush him. I could care less about his .350 average, he's got 2 XBH(neither of them being HRs) and has drawn only 2 walks. He averages 3 pitchers per plate appearance and that isn't helpful to a "middle of the road" team like us in the big leagues. In the majors, unless you're a proven major league power threat...you want to extend a pitcher's count as long as you can. Once he starts hitting HRs on a consistant basis, my tune may change. Yet, right now, Delmon has shown little reason to deserve a call-up.

As for Upton, how are you going to say that he deserves a call-up? He already has more errors than the Rays team has and is hitting around the Mendonza Line. I know that Green hasn't done anything great, but he's not flinging balls over T-Lee's head...now is he?

If you have a problem with Branyan on the team, call TB radio stations, write the front office...call someone who cares. Right now, the Rays are 7-6 and we're doing it with a team full of injuries....

by Jacob Larsen on Apr 18, 2006 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh lord....

I get hammered when I mention B.J. and Delmon and you guys hammer me when I dont. Frickin' haters.

a) I don't care if Delmon is a primadonna or not, as long as he hits he's okay with me. He will hit. Reggie, Ricky, Canseco - all those guys were complete primadonnas and they all won rings.

b) 3 pitches per AB : like Vernon Wells? And Garrett Anderson? Yeah, those guys definitely don't help their clubs. The kid is hitting .400 and has cut down on his K's a great deal. The power will come.

c) The "losing year" this year presents the opportunity to get B.J. and Delmon situated and let them break in. You want to contend next year with those guys just breaking into the big leagues? It would be easier if they worked out the kinks this year in the majors.

d) BJ's defense : yes, he makes errors. The Rays have to make a decision here. Either he's a SS and you bring him up, or he's something else and you move him now. Making him play more SS at AAA is wasting time.

e) Why start the arb clock? To get them broken in for when you want to contend. Unless next year is a "losing year" also, it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep them in AAA all year.

by delmonfan on Apr 18, 2006 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

delmonfan

I understand your enthusiasm for Delmon and Upton. But please stop with all of this one sided arguing. You aren't making any valid points when no matter the topic you respond with CALL UP DELMON AND UPTON.

by selgy on Apr 18, 2006 1:41 AM EDT reply actions

Huh?

Regardless of how you feel about BJ and Delmon, the Rays' walk rate is an illusion. I don't feel like arguing that is "one-sided", it's just true. When you play the worst teams in baseball (Royals / Orioles) and 1/5 of your walks come in one game, then your stats are inflated.

by delmonfan on Apr 18, 2006 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Delmon and Uptown and other musings..

I as much as I am ready to see more hitting, the thing is the Rays just don't need to bring these guys up now. The Rays are getting it done offensively and neither of these two guys are tearing up AAA. And again, even if they were, whats the hurry? As for Upton, if he doesn't sort out SS soon in AAA then I dunno..... perhaps the Rays should consider trading him somewhere as we have too many OFs and sign Lugo for a 3 yr deal. Perhaps we can package Upton and make some kind of trade with the Marlins who are looking to shop Dontrell Willis. Rumor has it Marlins are looking for prospects and we have plenty.

I am also hearing from time to time the argument that Edwin Jackson shouldn't have been sent to AAA but I see in his last AAA start, he got rocked again so no, he isn't ready.

Overall, I've been impressed with the Rays start given the injuries. The Rays' starting pitching has improved over their first time thru rotation and we have found out what a valuable pick up Ordaz and Wiggington have been. I can only imagine that we will be even further improved with the return of Lugo, Badelli, Huff, and Hendrickson. Now its time to see how the Rays measure up against some better competition. I'm looking for the Rays to continue what they've started and hopefully they can go .500 on this difficult road trip. If they can, Rays fans will have lots to be happy about.

by BabySayGoRays on Apr 18, 2006 1:27 PM EDT reply actions