Archive for February 20th, 2008

Feb 20

[RI CONFIDENCE GRAPH] The Rays Index Confidence Graph: 6 Weeks Until Opening Day

Confidence graph Cork Gaines 3 Comments »

The Rays Confidence Graph will appear every Wednesday and is a look at how much confidence Rays fans have in the Tampa Bay Rays. The graph is designed to give us a look at how our emotional bias as Rays fans fluctuates through time. The “confidence” in the team is an inexact measure of how fans feel about the team’s current strength as well as how much confidence fans have in the franchise for the next 3-4 years. Notes on this weeks agida-level can be found after the graph..

Notes on the RI Confidence Graph…

  • The most common response for “Confidence in 2008 Rays” was 7 (If things break right, they could be in race for playoffs) with 57.5%
  • The most common response for “Confidence in future of franchise” was 9 with 38.1%
  • Confidence in the 2008 Rays ranged from 3 (Headed for another 90-loss season) to 10 (The Rays are built/playing like a World Series contender)
  • Confidence in the future ranged from 5-10.
  • 76% of respondents feel the Rays have a shot at the playoffs in 2008
  • 95.5% of respondents feel the Rays should be at least a .500 team in 2008
Feb 20

[2008 RAYS PREVIEW] Manny Stiles’ Epic Preview Of The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays

Season Preview Cork Gaines No Comments »

A couple of days ago we wrote the Tampa Bay Rays 2008 Preview for Deadspin, which DRG affectionately chides us as “Rays Index on amphetamines”. That piece was about 1,300 words.

Today we retort DRG’s stance by presenting Armchair GM’s Tampa Bay Rays preview written by Manny Stiles. We love Stiles. We really do. But his preview makes Homer’s “The Odyssey” feel like a short-story. Part 1 comes in at 4,000 words. By comparison, the average St. Pete Times and Tampa Tribune piece on the Rays is 500-700 words. Did we mention it is “Part 1“? There are actually three parts in total. Doesn’t Manny know that internet readers have ADD?

If you are really bored at work then we highly recommend going over to Armchair GM and giving it a whirl.

Part 1: Includes a recap of the 2007 season and touches on every single off-season move.

Part 2: Looks at every position and every single player invited to Spring Training, with some interesting and little-known facts about each player.

We assume Part 3 is in the works, but you never know with Lil’ Manny. He might just be dangling a carrot to see how long we are willing to wait.

2008 Tampa Bay Rays UltraMega Preview by ManRays (Part 1 of 3) [Armchair GM]
2008 Tampa Bay Rays UltraMega Preview by ManRays (Part 2 of 3) [Armchair GM]

Feb 20

[THE HANGOVER] The Rays New Ballpark Is Not As Ugly As Some Would Like You To Believe

Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, David Price, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, New Stadium Cork Gaines 2 Comments »

Tampa Bay Rays (40 days until Opening Day)

Just the links for now…as we crank Warrant on National Cherry Pie Day…

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

  • In case you missed it last night, ABC-7 is reporting that Cal Ripken Jr., is leading a group to purchase the Vero Beach Rays and move them to Charlotte County. [Rays Index]
  • The Bradenton Herald has a list of questions concerning the 2008 Rays. [Bradenton Herald]
  • Apparently some opponents of the Rays new stadium have been showing a rendering of the proposed ballpark with a closed roof that is yellow-orange. We assume their point is that they are trying to scare people into thinking the new stadium will be really ugly. Only one problem. The new roof will not be yellow-orange. It will be white and the Rays have released a new artist’s rendering that shows the proposed ballpark with the ‘roof’ closed. [The Heater]
  • The Rays have decided to contribute their $150 million to the funding of a new stadium in one lump sum up front as opposed to annual payments over 15 years as originally proposed. [St. Pete Times]
  • They say a pitcher doesn’t learn how to pitch until he suffers his first serious injury. That appears to have been the case with Jeff Niemann. [Tampa Tribune]

“When I came back from rehab, I didn’t have my best breaking ball, so I had to learn how to pitch with my fastball,” he said. “There are things you pick up that I would never have gotten taught if certain things hadn’t happened to me. So all things considered, it kind of worked out better. I’m more of a complete pitcher because of all this stuff happening.”

  • David Price is quickly impressing many members of the organization, especially Jim Hickey. [Tampa Bay Rays]

“In terms of stuff, [Price is] extremely impressive,” Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said. “Very nice delivery — under control. [He has] three pitches that, in my opinion, all have a chance to be above-average Major League pitches, [with] pretty good command of all three.

“Even if [one of his pitches] doesn’t necessarily move, it carries well late through the strike zone. It gives that appearance of a little bit of a hop. I’m impressed with that. Overall, it’s a very impressive package. But I don’t think any of that is very much of a surprise. He is what was advertised.”

  • The Ledger ranks the major league rookies by who will have the biggest impact for their respective team in 2008. Evan Longoria is ranked first. [The Ledger]
  • OK. we will link to this post about Barry Bonds joining the Rays. At least this one isn’t serious. Unfortunately, it isn’t really funny either. And it is ‘McGwire’, not ‘McGuire’. It is bad enough that our family probably shares Fermanagh roots with the ‘roider. Let’s not make it any closer than it needs to be. [Barry Bonds Trial]