Archive for November 15th, 2007

Nov 15

[THE HANGOVER] Justin Ruggiano Powers Team USA To Top Seed

Al Reyes, Charlie Crist, Chris Mason, Greg Norton, Jeremy Hellickson, Mitch Talbot Cork Gaines No Comments »

Team USA 10, Chinese Taipei 7.
Justin Ruggiano and Evan Longoria helped Team USA clinch the top seed in the quarterfinals by leading the team to a win over Taipei in the final game of group play. Ruggiano went 3-5, hitting 2 home runs and driving in 5. He had an RBI single in the 4th that gave Team USA a 3-1 lead. In the 7th, Ruggiano broke a 6-6 tie with an opposite-field 3-run home run and added one more with a solo shot in the 9th inning. Longoria finished 3-5, with a double an RBI and 2 runs scored. Team USA will face Korea on Friday in the quarterfinals.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

  • Florida Governor Charlie Crist is supporting the Rays plans to build a new ballpark on the current site of Al Lang Field on the St. Pete waterfront. While he supports the idea, he has yet to back the idea of a tax break on the construction of the new stadium, which may be key to getting the deal done. [tampabay.com]

“I think the opportunity to create an ambiance right on the waterfront in St. Petersburg is brilliant, I really do,” Crist told reporters in the state Capitol…”It provides jobs, jobs, jobs for a lot of people,” said Crist, whose rental condo in downtown St. Petersburg would be blocks from the new park.

  • In a move that surprised nobody, the Rays picked up the $2.3 million option on Al Reyes and declined the $1 million option on Greg Norton. Reyes’ option was originally for $1 million but was upped once he hit certain incentive marks in 2007. [Yahoo! Sports]
  • Sports Grumblings has analyzed the Rays farm system and has listed the top 10 prospects. Not much to argue with as the top tier of talent in the system seems pretty clear cut. We would probably still place Mitch Talbot in the top 10 despite a disappointing 2007 and we are not as sold on Jeremy Hellickson and Chris Mason as much as others are. Hellickson is a small right hander and those rarely succeed in the majors. Mason wins but he is a big right hander that does not throw hard, so there are still questions as to whether or not that will translate to the same level of success above AA. [Sports Grumblings]
Nov 15

[ELIJAH DUKES] The Rays May Be Close To Sending Elijah Dukes To The Nationals

Elijah Dukes Cork Gaines 2 Comments »

According to the Dominican news site 7dias the Tampa Bay Rays may be close to trading Elijah Dukes to the Washington Nationals. And after comments attributed to Dukes, while playing for his Domincan Winter League team, it is looking more and more like the troubled yet talented outfielder has played his final game with the Rays. According to the report, Dukes has told several of his Dominican League teammates that he wants to be traded soon to get his career back on track.

The original report is in Spanish. We had the page translated using Google Translator which is both amazing and funny…HERE is the translated report in its entirety…

The National Washington are very interested in acquiring Elijah Dukes to the Rays from Tampa Bay to become their center fielder, but they refuse to give up their best prospects for pitchers bear the troubled gardener.

A source close to the talks between National and Rays said both team are in agreement on the blueprint moved into St. Dukes. Petersburg to the nation’s capital, but when it is not complete overlap of the price paid in Washington.

“Let’s be clear, the Rays want to leave Dukes and there are people in Washington who think that the guy is not as problematic as paint,” said the source.

It is hard to judge the accuracy of the report based on this translation. If there are two things in this world that Elijah Dukes is not…it is a gardener or a Saint.

Dukes Dominican League team, Licey, is managed by the Nationals’ third base coach Tim Tolman. In addition, the Nationals’ manager, Manny Acta, visited the Dominican Republic to watch Dukes play.

The only thing holding up a deal being completed is an agreement on exactly which prospects the Rays would receive in return. According to the report, the Rays are asking for Washington’s top pitching prospects, but the Nationals are refusing to part with pitchers such as Collin Balester, Colton Willems, Zech Zinicola or Glenn Gibson.

“The issue is that National did not want to release any of their main prospects launchers. Everybody wants pitcheo to move a player from the category of Dukes,” he added.

Despite recent assertions that Dukes was in the process of “Redemption” with the Rays, it now seems that it is only a matter of time before the Mischievous Little Badger is somebody else’s headache.

[Ed. note: Bugs & Cranks is also all over this along with video footage of Dukes' second home run in the DR]

Los Nacionales se interesan en adquirir a Elijah Dukes [7dias]
The National is interested in acquiring at Elijah Dukes [7dias] (Translated to English)
The Redemption Of Elijah Dukes – Week 1 [Bugs & Cranks]