So much for that so-called “Accountability”-thingy that Joe Maddon kept talking about. The Rays have announced that Jeff Niemann has been optioned to the minors and the rotation to start the season has been set.
The Rays’ rotation is officially set, with the expected five guys in there—if in a slightly different order. James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, Edwin Jackson and Jason Hammel will open the year in the rotation, with J.P. Howell still “competing” for a bullpen slot. Yes, he has options and Balfour and Dohmann don’t, but he’s the only choice as a long reliever right now and it’s a pretty good idea to have one of those around to open the season.
Just for the fun of it, let’s see how Hammel “won” the final spot over Niemann.
Name
IP
H
P/IP
BB
K
HBP
ERA
WHIP
OPS
Jason Hammel
17.2
21
7.6
9
10
1
7.64
1.70
.810
Jeff Niemann
12.0
12
6.3
5
5
0
1.50
1.42
.695
Maybe Niemann is having trouble hitting breaking balls also.
And boy do the Rays need Scott Kazmir back. SOON. This rotation is no better than the one that opened the 2007 season.
That might have just been one of the coolest things I have ever seen, even with all the jokes at the Rays expense. This reminds of the when I stopped respecting Bill Simmons. Simmons would always sing the praises of Pearl Jam until he started giving up on them. He even said he wasn’t excited about the release of their latest album. As soon as he heard how good it was, he was back-peddling faster than drunk that just realized they called Mike Tyson a fucktard. Simmons loyalties only go so far as the team/band is better than everybody else. Seriously, when was the last time he wrote a Boston Bruins column? He is not a Bruins fan any longer. Might it have something to do with their recent lack of success? And I promise you, he will be all over their bandwagon once again if they make a run in the playoffs.
MLB Video Previews: the Tampa Bay Rays are Pearl Jam [Fanhouse]
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: Evan Longoria started at third and played all 9 innings, going 1-4 with an RBI. He had a ground out in the 3rd, lined out to center in the 4th, popped out to short in the 7th and doubled home a run in the 9th. In the field, he handled one ground ball and threw away another which led to a run.
To paraphrase Joe Maddon on the radio pre-game show: “[Evan] hasn’t been hitting the breaking balls well.” Combine that with, at times, shoddy defense and my intuition tells me Longoria is still going to be a Durham Bull, even if my gut tells me otherwise.
Summary: Seriously? That is going to be the excuse? He doesn’t hit breaking balls well?!?! And tell me, exactly how is he going to learn how to hit a major league breaking ball in the minors?Well, that pretty much makes it official, The Dirtbag is going to the minors and we won’t see him back until Memorial Day (May 26). Willy Aybar is expected to start today at third base. If all goes well, we can probably expect an announcement on Longoria’s fate tomorrow, and it won’t be good.
The Good: Andy Sonnanstine laid claim to one of the final rotation spots, but tossing 5 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks against a Yankees lineup that featured all of their regulars. Evan Longoria’s RBI double in the 9th scored the Rays only run.
The Bad: Evan Longoria commited his second error of the spring that would lead to the Yankees’ second run. Scott Dohmann allowed both runs in his one inning of work.
The Telling: Eric Hinske started and played the entire game in right field. He should be the Rays 4th outfielder unless a player is brought in fro outside the organization.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
The Orioles will decide today whether Jeremy Guthrie or Steve Trachsel will be the opening day starter against the Rays on March 31. [Baltimore Sun]
Joe Maddon wants to have his rotation named by Sunday. From Maddon’s quotes it sure sounds like Andy Sonnanstine sealed his spot yesterday. Was there ever any doubt? [Tampa Bay Rays]
“Sonnanstine looked really good,” Maddon said. “Had all of his pitches working and made pitches when he had to — a very, very impressive performance…Sonnie’s a pro. He comes ready every day. A lot of lefties in that lineup today, he pitched very well against the lefties today. Yes, he made a very good case for himself.”
Willy Aybar is expected to start today. [Tampa Tribune]
The backup outfield positions might be shaking themselves out without a need for outside help. Joe Maddon liked what he saw from Jonny Gomes in center and could fill the role in an emergency basis and Eric Hinske might have played himself into the 4th outfielder spot, with a big aid from having a left-handed bat. [St. Pete Times]
Much like Troy Percival, Cliff Floyd is expected to have just as big an impact in the clubhouse as he is on the field. And when Joe Maddon says “He’s a man’s man…He says what he thinks, is very articulate. This guy is going to be a heck of a coach, maybe a manager someday. He’s that impressive,” you understand why we call him Dr. Huxtable. [St. Pete Times]
“We’ve been learning on our own the past six or seven years, the years I’ve been here,” Crawford, 26, said. “It’s been like, you bump your head real bad, and you have to learn from it. Now I’m glad I don’t have to go through that anymore. We don’t have to fall on our face anymore. We can get advice, and it’ll save us from going through all the big trouble.”
