RATW
Feb 11, 2008 Oct 10, 2008 52 3432
website: Scout.com
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Another lackluster outing for Price
vs. Indianapolis (Pirates):
4 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 88 pitches, 4 GO, 4 FO
about 1 month ago
RATW
9 comments
0 recs
Royals minor league reliever placed on suspended list
SPRINGDALE - Northwest Arkansas Naturals relief pitcher Jarod Plummer was arrested for driving while intoxicated and driving left of center by Fayetteville police early Wednesday morning.
Teammates Brian McFall and Matt Peterson were with Plummer when police stopped Plummer's Dodge Ram pickup at 2:01 a.m.
According to the Fayetteville police report, both passengers "were not cooperative" and McFall became "very belligerent" and was threatened with arrest. Police called a taxi for McFall and Peterson and both left the scene without further incident. The report also stated that Plummer was cooperative and apologized to the arresting officers for McFall's and Peterson's behavior.
2 months ago
RATW
3 comments
0 recs
Minor leagues: Kaaihue 3-for-4, HR (26) today
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but this is driving me nuts. I understand he's 24-yrs-old repeating Double-A, but what the heck do the Royals have to lose by moving him up, finding a place for his bat somewhere in the Omaha lineup and seeing if he can repeat this total dominance of the Texas League? He leads the league in OPS (1075 before today) by a good distance. First in HR (26) and walks (80); 10th in batting average. He has 80 walks to 40 strikeouts and an overall line of .307 / .462 / .614 prior to today's game. He has a great approach at the plate and hits the ball solidly even when he makes an out. What more can he possibly do? Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless the Royals add him to the 40-man roster at the end of the season, he will become a minor league free agent. Better to find out now what he is capable of doing at a higher level than possibly let him walk for nothing. I realize Shealy is at Omaha and it's possible the guys at NWA are pushing to keep him in place as he has become the fan favorite of the inaugural Naturals who are trying to build a fanbase, but there are more important things on the line here.. like his career and the improvement of the Royals. Also, Shealy is about to turn 29 and had his chances. There is nothing lose and plenty to possibly gain. What is going on here?
2 months ago
RATW
47 comments
0 recs
A hint as to the Rays plans for Price?
Passan on the Futures Game: Absent was David Price, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft and among the game’s best pitching prospects. A year after letting Evan Longoria compete for Team USA in international competition, the Rays withheld Price, figuring he might help the team in August or September if need be.
2 months ago
RATW
3 comments
0 recs
Rays FSN viewership up 32.4%
by RATW
on Jul 8, 2008 11:13 PM PDT
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Mirroring the increase in attendance, the Rays TV ratings have seen a healthy gain over last year. |
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| RSN | Team | 2008 avg. rating (% change) |
Households avg. (% change) |
| CSN Chicago | Cubs | 4.87 (51.2%) | 169,000 (52.3%) |
| FSN Florida | Rays | 2.77 (31.3%) | 49,000 (32.4%) |
| FSN South | Braves | 3.31 (23.0%) | 76,000 (28.8%) |
| FSN Rocky Mountain | Rockies | 3.56 (16.0%) | 53,000 (20.5%) |
| FSN Ohio | Reds | 5.78 (14.9%) | 52,000 (15.6%) |
| CSN Chicago | White Sox | 1.82 (13.8%) | 63,000 (14.5%) |
| SunSports | Marlins | 3.49 (11.9%) | 54,000 (12.5%) |
| FSN Midwest | Cardinals | 8.04 (5.9%) | 100,000 (7.5%) |
| CSN Bay Area | A's | 2.09 (5.6%) | 51,000 (8.5%) |
| FSN Florida | Marlins | 3.41 (5.2%) | 52,000 (4.0%) |
| FSN Southwest | Rangers | 1.49 (4.2%) | 36,000 (5.9%) |
| CSN Philadelphia | Phillies | 5.02 (3.9%) | 148,000 (4.2%) |
| MASN/MASN2 | Orioles | 3.05 (1.7%) | 33,000 (0.0%) |
| YES | Yankees | 4.40 (0.0%) | 325,000 (0.3%) |
| FSN Wisconsin | Brewers | 6.73 (-0.9%) | 60,000 (0.0%) |
| FSN North | Twins | 6.92 (-6.9%) | 118,000 (-5.6%) |
| CSN Bay Area | Giants | 2.51 (-7.4%) | 61,000 (-6.2%) |
| SportSouth | Braves | 3.24 (-8.2%) | 75,000 (-3.8%) |
| FSN Detroit | Tigers | 6.16 (-9.5%) | 119,000 (-9.8%) |
| SportsNet New York | Mets | 2.76 (-10.4%) | 204,000 (-10.1%) |
| SportsTime Ohio | Indians | 4.45 (-12.4%) | 68,000 (-12.8%) |
| FSN Arizona | Diamondbacks | 3.92 (-16.9%) | 71,000 (-12.3%) |
| FSN West | Angels | 1.24 (-17.9%) | 70,000 (-17.6%) |
| NESN | Red Sox | 9.75 (-19.4%) | 233,000 (-18.8%) |
| FSN Pittsburgh | Pirates | 2.96 (-21.9%) | 34,000 (-22.7%) |
| FSN Prime Ticket | Dodgers | 1.57 (-22.7%) | 89,000 (-21.9%) |
| FSN Southwest | Astros | 3.36 (-25.7%) | 69,000 (-28.1%) |
| Cox/SD4 | Padres | 5.08 (-30.6%) | 53,000 (-29.3%) |
| MASN/MASN2 | Nationals | 0.39 (-43.5%) | 9,000 (-43.8%) |
| FSN Northwest | Mariners | 4.67 (-47.2%) | 83,000 (-45.4%) |
| FSN Kansas City* | Royals | 3.01 (NA) | 28,000 (NA) |
| * Royals games aired locally on KC Metro Sports last year, making comparisons not applicable. Note: Comparable data for the Blue Jays was unavailable. |
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15 comments | 3 recs
Kila Kaaihue
Kila Kaaihue has two more HR's tonight for NWA, the first a shot to dead center field in the first inning and then a monster grand slam in the fifth. He also has two singles. The guy has owned Double-A this season with an OPS of 1.034, and that was before tonight's explosion. He's walked a ton, hit for power and now his batting average is above .300. What more can he possibly do for Northwest Arkansas? The problem is he is getting old for the minors, moreso for Double-A. Given his performance this season combined with his age, shouldn't he be in Omaha?
3 months ago
RATW
17 comments
0 recs
Congrats to Cedrick Bowers
One of the original Devil Ray draft picks (4th Round, 1996), after eight years in the Rays system (three at Triple-A) and four years in Japan, Cedrick Bowers finally got "The Call" yesterday; he was promoted to the major leagues by the Colorado Rockies.
Best of luck!
3 months ago
RATW
11 comments
0 recs
J.P. Howell workload
by RATW
on Jun 8, 2008 1:45 PM PDT
Since the start of the season, JP Howell has gone from garbage man/inning eater to the high-leverage bridge between the starter and the stopper/closer. Some (not only here, but the Rays radio guys and probably others I am unaware of) have gone so far as to call him our MVP to this point in the season, which some may see as a reach but not without merit and indicative of his importance. With this success in this new role has come not only increased use, but use in key high-leverage situations.
Just how much has he been used? By my quick and dirty (translation: lazy and possibly wrong) math, even after a slow start to the season Howell is currently on pace for almost 60 appearances and 115 IP this year out of the bullpen.
If memory serves, most high-use relievers usually top out around 80-85 IP, while lefty specialists such as Scott Downs, Jamie Walker and our own ex-Ray Joe Beimel piled up upwards of 80-85 appearances last season.
So my question is..
a) is this kind of consistently high-leverage, heavy workload (by bullpen standards) sustainable or is there an increased risk he is going to either burn out or come down with an injury?
b) are there examples of similar bullpen workload profiles to compare? my memory is falling short here.
c) disregarding the workload, how likely is it that Howell will continue to perform at this level?
Considering Howell has been almost exclusively a starter since at least his college days, I'm probably more concerned about the 60 appearances which would double his career norm (college/minors or minors/majors). Also keep in mind, Howell is only 25 and not a grizzled workhorse.
Some extreme examples of high-leverage, high IP guys from last year: Heath Bell led the majors last year with 93.2 relief innings and seems to be just fine. Aussie Peter Moylan did 90 IP for the Braves last year and he's out for the 2008 season.
10 comments | 0 recs
Orioles Magic.. this is Birdland.
4 months ago
RATW
1 comments
0 recs
Behind the scenes with Gordon Beckham
a.k.a. some guy the Rays are unlikely to draft
4 months ago
RATW
0 comments
0 recs
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