The Rays Tank: Day Three, Still No Rays Baseball

How many days again until pitchers and catchers report? I hate the offseason.

Joe Maddon thinks that Wil Myers will win AL Rookie of the Year. He told Bill Chastain of MLB.com, "he should be Rookie of the Year. There's no question in my mind...this guy is going to be a big part of our future."

Myers looked back at his first postseason in the big leagues and told Adam Berry of MLB.com, "I learned a lot this postseason, and I'll definitely be able to know a lot more the next postseason, whether it's next year or whatever. I just thought this was a good learning tool for me." We hope it’s next year, too, Wil.

Adam Berry considers this season a success for the Rays. I guess in a sense, yes, it was. To me though, success is winning the World Series, so I cannot call this season a complete success. Looking back, after the terrible August the Rays had, they definitely turned it around at the end and made the last two weeks interesting.

Marc Topkin examines the busy offseason that Andrew Friedman is currently starting and what players could be re-signed. Also in the article is a quote from Luke Scott about his lack of playing time towards the end of the season. Scott said, "If I'm going to be a 35-year-old male cheerleader, so to speak, then I guess that's what I had to be. Just don't expect me to do cartwheels and handstands and wear a skirt." I would like to see cartwheels, Luke.

Links:

-Justin Verlander threw eight shutout innings last night as the Tigers defeated the Athletics and advanced to the ALCS.

-Manny Machado is now scheduled for surgery on his knee next Monday with an expected recovery time of four-six months.

-Will Leitch of Sports on Earth examines fat baseball players, but there’s no mention of Jose Molina. Cmon man.

-Cal Ripken Jr. has shown interest in returning to MLB, possibly as a manager.

-For your Friday laughter, the Diamondbacks GM thinks his pitchers are too soft and would like to see more retaliation for teammates getting hit by pitches. "I think come spring training, it will be duly noted that it's going to be an eye for an eye and we're going to protect one another," Towers told ESPN.com.