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This Date in Team History!
In 2010, the Rays sign Joaquin Benoit to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Benoit had missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing surgery. He had once been one of the best relievers in the game, but had struggled in the years preceding the injury. However, after dominating in Durham, striking out over 40% of the hitters he faced, Benoit joined the Rays. He and Rafael Soriano became the best back end of any bullpen in the league.
| ERA | FIP | K% | BB% | AVG | IP | G | WAR | |
| 2010 w Rays | 1.34 | 2.43 | 34.6% | 5.1% | .146 | 60.1 | 63 | 1.6 |
| 2001-2015 | 3.84 | 3.97 | 23.5% | 9.6% | .219 | 970.1 | 661 | 11.6 |
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Trivia Time!
The answer to yesterday's question was Roberto Hernandez, answered by Nobody...ever
A tank record, 13 wrong answers included Chris Archer, Scott Kazmir, Erasmo Ramirez, Mitch Talbot, Enny Romero, James Shields, Erik Bedard, Jeff Niemann, Matt Garza, Alex Colome, Alex Cobb, Wade Davis, and Edwin Jackson,
He always looks fastball first but has learned to adjust to breaking and offspeed pitches. He's a solid defensive first baseman with decent range, good hands and rare arm strength for the position. He has slightly below-average speed but good baserunning instincts and stole 16 bases last season.
Hint: he was twice a top ten prospect in his organization, and once cracked MLB's top 100.
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There are 48 days until Opening Day!
That's the same number of runs knocked in by Akinori Iwamura during the 2008 season.
I've already shown the epic bat flip, so instead enjoy a triple that gave the Rays the lead.
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Links!
- Mark Topkin builds what he thinks the Rays starting line-up will look like.
- Steve Kinsella looks into possible landing spots for dis-positioned outfielder, Desmond Jennings.
- Sarah Hudek, believed to be the only woman playing collegiate baseball this year, won her first game of the season.
- Mookie Betts did to a golf cart what we all hopes happens to the Red Sox this season, he tanked it.
- Bill Chastain takes a quick look at seven of the team's top prospects that will be in spring training.
- Hal McRae, Manager of the 2002 Rays, discusses sliding into second base and possible rule changes