Archive for March 26th, 2007

Mar 26

The Devil Rays Rotation Is Set And Edwin Jackson Appears To Be In

Casey Fossum, Edwin Jackson, Jae Seo, James Shields, JP Howell, Rotation, Scott Kazmir Cork Gaines No Comments »


We are one week from opening day and based on the pitching assignments that manager Joe Maddon has utilized recently, we now know the order of the Rays starting pitching rotation and it hints at who the 5th starter is. First let’s look at the slots…

  1. Scott Kazmir
  2. Jae Seo
  3. James Shields
  4. Casey Fossum
  5. Edwin Jackson/J. P. Howell

We already know that Scott Kazmir is going to be the opening day starter. Kaz made a start on Friday and will get the ball again on Wednesday, which will put him on normal rest for the opening day start in Yankee Stadium. Jae Seo pitched yesterday and will likely get the ball again on Friday. That will put him on a normal four days rest heading into the second game on Wednesday, after the off-day on Tuesday. James Shields is in the third slot, as he is on schedule to pitch the final game of the Yankees series, with Casey Fossum slotted to be the fourth starter. With Fossum pitching last Thursday and again this upcoming Tuesday, a normal four-days rest schedule would have him taking the mound in the Rays home opener against the Jays on Friday.

Kazmir and Seo as the first two starters is a surprise to nobody, but Maddon’s decision to go with Shields in game 3 is a telling one. This could be an indication that Papa Joe is leaning towards Edwin Jackson for the final spot in the rotation. If Maddon had gone with Fossum in the third slot, it would have given the Rays a lefty-righty-lefty-righty rotation at the top. However, given the current order of starting pitchers, if J. P. Howell were to earn the final spot, the Rays will send out lefties on three straight days (Fossum, Howell, Kazmir). That is a situation most managers would try to avoid. Jackson in the 5th spot would break up the two lefties.

Jackson and Howell two have very similar spring numbers. Howell has given up 13 hits, 5 walks and 1 hit batter with 9 strikeouts in 15 innings (1.80 ERA). In 14.2 innings, Jackson has allowed 10 hits, 8 walks and struck out 13 (1.84 ERA). With Jackson out of minor league options Howell probably would have needed to be markedly better than Jackson this spring to win the final spot. Maddon will probably make his decision official on Thursday. Whoever starts on Thursday will be on schedule to pitch the 5th game of the season.

With the off day the first week, the Rays may choose to skip the fifth spot in the rotation the first time through. If that is the case, the Rays will not need a fifth starter until the ninth game of the season, against the Rangers. However, last season Maddon chose to give Kazmir an extra day of rest the first week as he did use the teams 5th starter the first time through the order.

Mar 26

The Hangover: A Tale Of Two Devil Rays Springs

Al Reyes, Carl Pavano, closer-by-committee, Jonny Gomes, New Turf Cork Gaines No Comments »

  • How bad were the Rays first 15 spring games? After the Rays 12-4 win over Pittsburgh yesterday, their 7th in 10 games, they still have the worst record in baseball. Delmon Young picked up three more hits to raise his spring average to .345 and Jonny Gomes smacked his 4th spring home run. Jae Seo was stretched by Joe Maddon going 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Seth McClung is doing his best to assure a return to Durham giving up2 more runs in 1 inning.
  • Al Reyes will pitch today and tomorrow. Joe Maddon wants to see how his arm responds to pitching on back-to-back days. A strong outing on Tuesday could secure Reyes the closer’s job.
  • However, Joe Maddon suggests that he may start the season with a closer-by-committee.
  • Supposedly Jonny Gomes is competing for a spot on the roster. We find that hard to believe. Gomes represents the Rays only real power threat in a lineup that will not hit a lot of home runs.
  • The new turf at the Trop may change the way the Rays approach games this season. We may see the Rays bunting more frequently in 2007 due to the slower speed of balls in the infield.
  • On opening day the Yankees may send out Carl Pavano to face the Rays. Pavano hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 2005.
Mar 26

The Impending Return Of Vince Naimoli

Matt Silverman, Stupid ideas, The Curse of LaMar-Naimoli, Vince Naimoli Cork Gaines 3 Comments »


Normally we begin the day with The Hangover, but something has come to our attention that just couldn’t wait. Buried at the bottom of a longer article on the growth of the Rays as a franchise is a tidbit that made our jaw hit the keyboard.

In what might be (Matt) Silverman’s boldest and most compassionate task, he’s exploring the possible public resurrection of Vince Naimoli – the guy who helped bring the Rays franchise here, then so successfully alienated this region’s entire fan base.

A public relations expert is working with Naimoli, who has an office at the Trop. Can Vince be redeemed? Are we heading to the World Series? In baseball, anything’s possible.

That sound you just heard was thousands of Rays fans gasping in unison.

Let us reiterate what you just read. Matt Silverman has hired a public relations expert to work with the Rays former managing general partner Vince Naimoli in a possible move to reestablish him in the public eye. And how is that going to be good for the team or the fans? More importantly, how is the new front office supposed to lift The Curse of LaMar-Naimoli if Vince Naimoli still has an office at the Trop? This is not the way we wanted to start our Monday.

Raising the Rays right [St. Pete Times]