Mar 08
We call him The Dirtbag because of how he plays and because he played college ball at Long Beach State whose baseball team has the coolest mascot in sports…The Dirtbags.
The biggest question mark for the Tampa Bay Rays in Spring Training is whether or not Evan Longoria will be named the opening day third baseman. Manager Joe Maddon has repeatedly stated that the decision will be based less on his stats, and more on how the 22-year old handles himself on a day-to-day basis and how well The Dirtbag adjusts to everyday life as a major leaguer. From now until the Rays announce a decision on Longoria’s fate, we will track The Dirtbag’s progress through his numbers, our own observations and quotes from Maddon and Andrew Friedman…
Notes on the Dirtbag-O-Meter…
Yesterday at the plate: DNP. Willy Aybar started at third and went 0-2.
Quotes: None reported.
Summary: The Dirtbag has played 3 official games (and 1 rained out game) and 17 innings at the hot corner. Aybar has appeared in 5 games and played 24 innings at third base. Longoria is 2-7 with 4 walks and 1 strikeout. The Rays have a difficult situation they have to deal with. They would probably love to send Longoria out there everyday and see if he is ready, BUT, if he is not, they also need to get Aybar ready. And keep in mind that Aybar did not play in 2007, so he will need extra work also. And of course if Ben Zobrist is going to be the Rays utility-guy, he needs to get a few innings in at third also. This is where split-squad games will start coming in handy.
Mar 08
Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (23 days until opening day)
DRG here again to get you through the weekend…
Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays 9, Phillies 1. The big news yesterday came from the Rays biggest player, Jeff Niemann. Niemann threw three hitless innings with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Ben Zobrist started in center and made three putouts. At the plate he was 0-2 with a walk. Joel Guzman started in left field and went 1-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Fernando Perez got the start in right field. This is something that Prof brought up earlier when he wondered if Perez might be considered at some point to be the 4th element in the RF/DH “triangle”. Specifically he wondered if Perez would get PT in RF this spring. Elliot Johson continues his strong spring, going 2-2. He is now 4-8 with 2 walks, 2 steals and 7 runs scored. Jason Bartlett was 2-3 with 2 steals.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- There is a new Rays blog in the neighborhood and they are looking for a name. How about Ghosts of Adam Sisk (the first Devil Ray) or Free Tim Laker (named in the Mitchell Report). [Sports Indeed]
- Jeff Niemann was a different pitcher in his second spring start compared to his first. [The Ledger]
“I was a lot more confident out there. I wasn’t searching for things. Wasn’t wondering if my mechanics were right, if my hips were doing the right thing,” Niemann said. “It was more just go out there and pitch. You know what you need to do. Keep the ball down, throw and have fun…But it’s still really early in spring. There’s a lot of games to be played, and there’s a lot of guys in the running,” he said. “There’s no guarantees for any of us that are out there fighting for those two spots. We’ve just got to go out there and play ball.”
- David Price will make his professional debut today against the Yankees. [Tampa Bay Rays]
“Just get out there, have a good old time and throw strikes,” Maddon said, when asked what he wanted to see from his young hurler. “Just be a Ray and get his pro career going.”
- Brittany Ghiroli gives us a lesson in geometry with regards to the Rays right field/DH “triangle” which now looks to have more than three sides. [MLB]
With Baldelli’s health progressing slower than the Rays expected and veteran Floyd expressing a desire to maintain the designated hitter slot, the Rays have taken long looks at Gomes, Justin Ruggiano, John Rodriguez, Joel Guzman and Jon Weber to help fill the void.
- The Rays may also look outside the organization for a replacement for Rocco Baldelli including a free agent such as Kenny Lofton. [Tampa Tribune]
- Joe Smith takes a look at Wade Davis as Jake McGee take in their first big league spring training as others wonder aloud about their ceilings. [St. Pete Times]
“With prospects, everyone thinks they’ll be the next Hall of Famer, the next Tom Glavine,” veteran reliever Trever Miller said. “But it comes down to three things: work ethic, ability and blessing – a little bit of luck. If (McGee and Davis) can accomplish those three things, they have no ceiling. They’re masters of their own destiny.”
- Rays Anatomy explores the possible replacements for Rocco Baldelli should he not be on the opening day roster. [Rays Anatomy]
- The Bradenton Herald profiles JP Howell. [Bradenton Herald]
- The Love of Sports names the Rays as one of five teams that could surprise in 2008. [The Love of Sports]
