This one comes by request from @11RileyJ on Twitter. It is all 27 outs from Matt Garza’s no-hitter, the only no-no in Rays history.

And since most of us are starting to get some baseball cabin fever, maybe, just maybe this will ease the shakes for a few minutes.

Enjoy!

Clearwater personal injury attorney Matt Dolman

Visit the Dolman Law Group blog to learn more about traumatic brain injuries, from mild to severe. It’s an excellent resource, one that is sure to make the typical football fan look at concussions differently.

Dolman Law Group has developed a statewide reputation for litigating traumatic brain injury claims and the webpage delivers good information on this ever evolving and fluid area of law and medicine.

Dolman Law Group is a Pinellas County and Manatee County personal injury law firm that routinely handles claims and litigates cases involving closed head injuries as a result of an automobile accident. Dolman Law Group actively litigates auto accident and motorcycle accident related cases in Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Sarasota County, Manatee County and Pasco County.

With the addition of Carlos Pena, the Rays 25-man roster is now nearly set, barring any trades. And really, we don’t see a lot of jobs up for grabs in spring training.

Let’s take a look…

A few notes on this projection…

• Barring a trade, the 13 positions spots seem set to us. Can you make a case for Elliot Johnson? Or maybe you think Robinson Chirinos has a shot to beat out Jose Lobaton for the second catcher’s position? Seem like long shots to us.
• The only question we see with the hitters is determining who will play shortstop. Our belief is that, unless there is a bat that is clearly superior on an everyday basis, Reid Brignac will be the shortstop versus righties. His wOBA was 100 points higher in 2010 than in 2011 and he will be given a shot to get back to that level. Against lefties, we see Jeff Keppinger at shortstop and Sean Rodriguez at second base. But you could easily flip-flop their positions.
• We put question marks next to Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann because we feel the recent signings (Carlos Pena, Luke Scott) tell us the Rays are going for it in 2012. That means James Shields is not going anywhere and if somebody is moved to make room for Matt Moore it will be The Giraffe or Big Dub. The Rays could send Davis to the minors, but that seems unlikely.
• Josh Lueke and Burke Badenhop have the best shots at crashing the bullpen party. But it might take a monster spring training to beat out Cesar Ramos or Jake McGee.

According to Marc Topkin, there will be four spring training games aired by Sun Sports.

• Mar. 15 (vs Phillies)
• Mar. 18 (vs Red Sox)
• Mar. 25 (vs Marlins)
• Mar. 31 (vs Red Sox)

We have argued this before, but why are so few spring games aired? The obvious answer is that the ratings don’t justify the production cost.

But on games without the full crew, would it kill MLB.com to send one person to each game with a nice webcam and just point it at the field from the pressbox? Geez. We want the games. Give them to us!

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

• The Orioles are in the mix for our old pal Edwin Jackson but are considered a long-shot. Also, it doesn’t sound like Johnny Damon will end up in Baltimore. [MLBTR]
• BRaysball Talk takes a look at the Rays attendance woes and calls on fans to get to the park. [BRaysball Talk]
• Jose Bautista’s random drug tests don’t appear to be very random at all. But the only way that can happen is if Major League Baseball has reasonable cause. Hmmmm. [BI Sports]
• Mark Dominic discusses the process behind the Bucs hiring a new coach. [Joe Bucs Fan]

For a pretty steep price, you can now guarantee yourself the autograph of your favorite player at FanFest.

The Rays are calling it an “Exclusive Signing Opportunity.” And for $400, yes $400, fans can meet the player of their choice, without waiting in line, and have an object (that the fan provides) autographed. The Rays are only selling 15 of these per player, and it will come with access to the general autograph line.

The list of players available for $400 includes Evan Longoria, David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, and Carlos Pena. There is also a second list of nine players that are available for $200.

The good news is that proceeds will go towards the Rays Baseball Foundation, so it is not just a money grab on the part of the Rays.

We are not sure if this particular issue is out yet, but it appears that Ben Zobrist is on the cover of the latest Eastbay magazine. Here is the cover. And below, you can see a video of Zorilla talking about being on the cover…

Matt Moore is the top prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. And overall, the Rays are well-represented on the first top prospects list of the year, with six players total.

Joining Moore on the list are Hak-Ju Lee (46), Chris Archer (74), Tim Beckham (92), Mike Mahtook (96) Taylor Guerrieri (99). Lee and Archer came over to the Rays organization via the Matt Garza deal. Tim Beckham was the number one overall pick of the 2008 draft. And Mahtook and Guerrieri were drafted by the Rays this past season.

While it is nice to see six players on the list, it also shows that with the promotions of Jeremy Hellickson (#2 in 2011) and Desmond Jennings (#11 in 2011), Moore is now the only big-time prospect in the system. Last year, the Rays had four players in the top 50. In addition to Hellboy and Jennings, Moore was #27, and Archer was #47.

The Rays have extended Spring Training invitations (has a player ever declined a spring training “invitation”?) to shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, catchers Nevin Ashley and Craig Albernaz, and pitchers Ricky Orta, Ryan Reid, Bryan Augenstein and Marquis Fleming.

We’re glad the Rays are more patient than we are. Because if it were up to us, Beckham would be the opening day shortstop for the Rays. He can’t be worse offensively than what the Rays had in 2011. Just give him a shot to sink or swim.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

• Prince Fielder has been worth about as much as Carl Crawford, and both have aging concerns. And yet Fielder is the one with the $214 million contract. [BI Sports]
• Some in Pinellas County are pushing for a light rail system as a way to boost attendance at Rays games. [TBO.com]
• The Rays may be forced to return $33 million to the state because they haven’t been housing the homeless at Tropicana Field on nights in which the stadium is not being used. This is just a guess, but it sounds like backlash against the dubious means used by the Marlins to get the city and county to finance their new playground. Also, it is not clear that the Rays would actually owe anything as the Trop is operated by the city and county. Wouldn’t it be their responsibility? [The Miami Herald]
• And all of a sudden, the Bucs are the only team with a head coaching vacancy. [Joe Bucs Fan]

The Rays added the extra bat they were looking for tonight when they signed Jeff Keppinger to a one-year deal (via Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com).

The agreement is a major league contract, so it would seem that Elliot Johnson’s chances of making the team just took a big hit. Keppinger can play both middle infield spots as well as both corner outfield spots.

In his career, Keppinger is a .324 hitter with a .371 OBP against left-handed pitchers. So there is a good chance Keppinger will be the starting second baseman or shortstop on days a lefty is on the mound.

We will update the 25-man roster projection tomorrow, but first, let’s take a look at the payroll projection…

With the addition of Carlos Pena,  the 2012 payroll projects to be approximately $63.6 million, an increase of 54.7 percent over last season. This is based on raises already built into existing contracts, and projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players and players in their first three seasons.

Here is the breakdown of the projected payroll. Notes on the table, and additional thoughts can be found below…

Notes on the projected 40-man roster and payroll…

• As expected, Justin Ruggiano, who was out of minor league options, was removed from the 40-man roster when Carlos Pena was signed.
• Other key playersout of minor league options who will be fighting for roster spots include Elliot Johnson and Jose Lobaton. However, we project both of those players to make the opening day roster. [Read More...]