Archive for March 13th, 2007

Mar 13

The Hangover: The Devil Rays Only Love It When It Rains

Akinori Iwamura, Andy Sonnanstine, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, Jeff Ridgway, Mitch Talbot, Reid Brignac, Seth McClung Cork Gaines No Comments »

  • Another loss. Want a good reason to hate the Trop? Based on the Spring results so far (1 win came during rain-shortened game) and the inept bullpen, the Rays will go 162-0 if every game were to be shortened due to rain. Maybe they can force a leak in the roof?
  • Of all the bad signs so far, this one may be the most disturbing. Akinori Iwamura asked to be removed from the game yesterday after his first at bat because he was too tired from playing five straight games.
  • The proverbial axe has fallen on the first set of healthy players (Injured pitchers Shinji Mori and Doug Waechter were reassigned last week). In all 10 players were reassigned with the most prominent names being Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot who were optioned to Durham and Evan Longoria, Reid Brignac and Andy Sonnanstine who were assigned to minor league camp. No surprises here as none of this players have seen any playing time above AA.
  • We cringe whenever we see a story about the Rays in one of the New York City tabloids. They tend to be full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Today, the New York Daily News lives up to the rep with a rather scathing article about the Rays which comes off as a very uninformed piece by a writer that does not know what he is talking about. For example, the writer suggests that Rays should have invested in a starting pitcher such as Steve Trachsel or John Thomson. Trachsel is 36 and has lost more than 15 games in a season as many times (1) as he has won more than 15 games in a season. Thomson won two games has won a combined 6 games the past two seasons. Those are not upgrades. Those are free agent signings for the sake of signing free agents.
  • Joe Maddon doesn’t feel the pressure to have a left hander in the ‘pen. Sorry Jeff Ridgway your stock just took a big hit.
  • Raise your hand if you want a Seth McClung bobblehead doll. Aren’t you listening. I SAID A SETH MCCLUNG BOBBLEHEAD! Don’t be shy…you know you want one. Well, if you do, head on over to Princeton, West Virginia on July 23, for the Princeton Rays Seth McClung bobblehead night.
Mar 13

The Hangover: Rays First Cuts Expected Today

Dioner Navarro, Joe Maddon, Nick DeBarr Cork Gaines No Comments »

  • Apparently the Rays have regressed to the point that a pitcher allowing two hits and a walk in one inning of work is “solid“. And the hits losses just keep on comin’.
  • Those fiesty Tiggers…they just don’t know when it is just an exhibition. For the second time in two days, Detroit was involved in an exchange of gunfire beanballs.
  • WE GOT OUR RULE 5 PICK BACK! WE GOT OUR RULE 5 PICK BACK!! What? Who the hell is Nick DeBarr? What about Josh Hamilton? Damn It. OK, we do know who Nick DeBarr is. DeBarr had some success as a reliever in Visalia last season after missing all of 2005 to have Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox took a flier on him in the Rule 5 draft and decided yesterday that he wasn’t going to make the squad so they returned him to the Rays. DeBarr appeared in only one game for the Sox this Spring, pitching one shutout inning, allowing one hit.
  • Papa Joe Maddon says that he is looking for a first baseman that will produce runs and is less concerned about his defensive abilities. So then why did Travis Lee receive so much playing time last season? Dick Vitale could have produced more offense that Lee.
  • Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman are expected to make their first cuts today.
  • Dioner Navarro and his sore hamstring are likely to return to the lineup by the end of the week. Personally we hate hamstrings. For an athlete they are the worst muscle. The feel great and then they pop again at the most unexpected moments. The legs are obviously an important component for a catcher, but they also tend to be very flexible creatures (even when they are built like Lil’ Pudge). Still, we hope and trust that they are not rushing Navarro back as we have this scary thought in the back of our head that this could be a nagging problem as season.
  • Yet another feel-good story about Shawn Riggans. When should we expect the Sunday night movie: The Shawn Riggans Story? Luckily we are running out of local newspapers that can regurgitate the same piece we have already read five times.