Archive for April 16th, 2008

Apr 16

[2008 TAMPA BAY RAYS] Rays Like To Watch…Themselves

Joe Maddon, New Stadium, Tim Bogar Cork Gaines 4 Comments »

In an effort to get back to talk about stuff on the field or at least in the ballpark, we bring you this story from USA Today which talks about the Rays hiring Tim Bogar this past off-season to be the quality assurance coach.

“Quality Assurance” you ask? We’ll let Joe Maddon explain…

“Everybody talks about quality control,” says Rays manager Joe Maddon. “But that means evaluating things after they’ve occurred. Quality assurance means we’re evaluating things in advance — trying to head off our mistakes.”

In other words…instead of just scouting other teams, the Rays are now scouting themselves. Tracking mental mistakes, looking for patterns other teams may exploit and trying to look at things from different perspective.

What we love about this story is that it is just another example of how forward-thinking the Rays organization can be. Even to the detail of where Bogar is stationed during the games…often in the pressbox. This is telling as football assistant coaches have been coaching from the pressbox for years, yet few baseball teams ever thought to try it. It offers the coach a different, more complete view of the action on the field.

It is only fitting that the Rays proposed waterfront stadium goes against the trend in baseball in the last 20 years to build “retro” parks. Rather the Rays are building a futuristic park unlike anything found in the U.S. today.

Much like how Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s have revolutionized how teams scout players, The Rays are also changing the way the game a baseball organization is run.

Self-examination may bring Rays solutions [USA Today]

Apr 16

[NEW STADIUM] Matt Silverman Addresses Concerns Over Environmental Impact Of Proposed Waterfront Stadium

Matt Silverman, New Stadium Cork Gaines 3 Comments »

Tampa Bay Rays team President Matt Silverman wrote a letter printed in the Tampa Tribune in an effort to address issues being raised concerning the environmental impact of the proposed stadium to be built along the St. Petersburg waterfront.

One of the biggest concerns is that the Rays have yet to complete their own environmental impact analyses.

It seems to us that in stating that they found it disconcerting that we have not completed our environmental and engineering analyses, the Agency [on Bay Management] is attempting to have it both ways. Certainly, had we appeared before them after all of the necessary analyses were complete, we undoubtedly would have been criticized for not consulting with them first.

The Rays and our consultants have already completed a number of preliminary analyses, will be starting additional data collection shortly and believe that we are proceeding with an appropriate scope and sequence of activities to create a plan that will limit any environmental impacts of the project.

We are confident that this project will meet all relevant environmental regulations and produce a net environmental benefit to the community.

As noted in Chapter 10 of the Rays’ preliminary design consideration document (submitted to the city on March 11, and readily available to the public on the city’s Web site), by reducing our carbon footprint by over 70 percent, seeking LEED certification for the ballpark and incorporating innovative stormwater management techniques, we believe we will develop the most sustainable ballpark in all of Major League Baseball.

It would be silly for us to comment on the environmental impact of the proposed stadium without any details, even if Conservation Biology is part of our day job. But one thing we do know about the Tampa Bay Rays is that they are probably the most forward-thinking franchise in baseball and possibly all of sports. If any team would try to build a stadium with a minimal amount of impact on the environment it would be the Rays.

There is a perception that many professional sports franchises care only about making money and will screw the fan at any given opportunity if it means padding their own wallets. This may certainly be true of teams with well-established fan bases that are not likely to be impacted greatly by decisions like these. However, the Rays are not one of these teams. Alienating potential fans, even if it is a small percentage of the constituency would be counter-productive to not only building a fan base but also to building the bottom-line.

If they are anything, the Rays front office is filled with smart businessmen. Certainly the Rays want to build a stadium that is more profitable. But we are fairly confident that they also want to build a stadium that won’t leave any negative footprints. This is a franchise that cannot afford any further negative impacts on the local community. And while it is impossible to please everybody, sometimes it is possible to please most. And it seems as though that is what the Rays are trying to do.

Rays Will Be Good Stewards [Tampa Tribune]

Apr 16

[RI CONFIDENCE GRAPH] The Rays Index Confidence Graph: Week 3

Confidence graph Cork Gaines No 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 42.7%.
  • The most common response for “Confidence in future of franchise” was 8 with 36.0%.
  • Confidence in the 2008 Rays ranged from 4 (Will fall short of 81 wins, but won’t finish in cellar) to 10 (The Rays are built/playing like a World Series contender).
  • Confidence in the future ranged from 1-10.
  • 57.3% of respondents feel the Rays have a shot at the playoffs in 2008. That number is up from 37.7% a week ago.
  • 92.1% of respondents feel the Rays should be at least a .500 team in 2008. Last week that number was 86.8%.
Apr 16

[DOWN ON THE FARM] Big Night For Jeremy Hellickson As He Fans 13, Walks None

David Price, Durham Bulls, Heath Rollins, Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Hellickson Cork Gaines No Comments »

Columbus 5, Durham 4. JK Ryu gave up 3 runs in 4.2 innings…Reid Brignac was 0-3 and is hitting .205…Joel Guzman hit his 3rd home run. He also committed his 5th error…Fernando Perez was 1-5 with 3 strike outs.

Tennessee 3, Montgomery 2. Wade Davis allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in 5 innings. He struck out 3, walked 1 and gave up 5 hits…The Biscuits had 11 hits, but only one for extra bases, a solo home run by Patrick Cottrell…Chris Nowak had three hits.

Vero Beach 3, Jupiter 1. Big night for Jeremy Hellickson who struck out 13 and walked none in 7 shutout innings. He allowed only 3 hits. Hellickson faced the minimum for the first 5.1 innings and only struggled in the 6th when gave up 2 singles and balked a runner to third. He got out of the mess by striking out the side…Neal Frontz also had a memorable night. He came on in the 9th inning and struck out FOUR batters in one inning. The second batter reached via wild pitch after the third strike got past the catcher.

Columbus 6, Rome 3. Glenn Gibson was a little better last night, but still gave up 3 runs in only 4 innings, having allowed single runs in each of the first 3 innings. He struck out 2 and walked 2…Emeel Salem was 2-3 with 2 RBI and his 10th stolen base…Maiko Loyola hit his 2nd home run.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

  • MiLB takes a closer look at Jeremy Hellickson’s masterful performance from last night in which he struck out 13. [MiLB]

“Once I got out there, I had command of my pitches,” the 21-year-old right-hander said. “I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes…The fastball felt good,” he added. “I was able to throw it in or out. The curve felt really good, better than it felt in the first two games.”

  • Baseball America spoke to Rays pitching coordinator about several Rays pitching prospects including Jeff Niemann (The pages of history are filled with guys who caught a break and never looked back), David Price (up to 90 feet now, and he’s reported no difficulty, no discomfort) and Heath Rollins (10 pounds heavier, 10 more pounds of muscle … He’s a 92, 93 guy at times, but he can spin the ball). [Baseball America]
  • The Rays have extended their player development agreement with the Durham Bulls through the 2010 season. This was far from a foregone conclusion after the numerous incidents involving several of the Rays top prospects in 2006, including BJ Upton, Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes as well as then manager John Tamargo. [Rays Report]
Apr 16

[THE HANGOVER] Gary Glover Is McGlovin

Aaron Chow, Andy Sonnanstine, Carlos Pena, Charlie Crist, Dioner Navarro, Evan Longoria, Gary Glover is McGlovin, Jeff Niemann, Juan Salas, Matt Garza, Mike Alstott, Mike DiFelice, Shawn Riggans Cork Gaines 1 Comment »


THE GOOD: Jonny Gomes and Justin Ruggiano started against the lefty and went a combined 3-6 with a walk and an RBI…Last night during the Live Blog-A-Baloo we introduced a new nickname. McGlovin. For Gary Glover. He really is faking the whole major league pitcher thing (For those unfamiliar with the reference, google ‘McLovin’).

THE BAD: We don’t know what to call Edwin Jackson’s performance. If he had pitched like that in ’07 against the Yankees, we might have actually been impressed, but this was a little dissapointing for the ’08 Jackson. At least when he isn’t on top of his game against a good team he didn’t embarras himself or the team. He very easily could have given up 9 runs…However, the pitching staff as a whole which was walking less than 3 batters per 9 innings entering last night’s game, walked 9, including 5 from the bullpen in only 4 innings…Twice early in the game the Rays had a runner on third base with 1 out and failed to score…

THE TELLING: Getting swept, even if it is just a 2-game series. The Rays need to be winning series and right now they are letting opportunities slip away…Joe Maddon wanted to give Aki Iwamura the night off. He had Elliot Johnson start at second. That’s fine. But he replaced Aki with Jason Bartlett at the top of the order. Bartlett who entered the game with an OBP below .200. He did go 2-5 and drive in a run, but Bartlett at the top of the order is not something we want to see very often. We know Carl Crawford doesn’t like leading off and we know Maddon likes stability in the order, but would it kill CC to lead off 4-5 times a year when Aki is given a night off?…Mike DiFelice is hitting .429 and the staff has a better ERA with him behind the plate.With Dioner Navarro returning soon, might Shawn Riggans be on the way out to make room for the veteran catcher the team always said they wanted?

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

  • Matt Garza had his first bullpen session since going on the DL. He said he threw pain-free after he was diagnosed by the team doctor’s and given a cortisone shot. Garza says he feels good enough to come off the DL the first day he is eligible, April 24. [MLB]
  • Here is one issue that we have with Fantasy Baseball…You websites that run stories titled “Who Is Better: Evan Longoria Or Kevin Youkilis”. Would this ever be a question in real life? [Fake Teams]
  • A preview of things to come? Andy Sonnanstine will be available for relief duty tonight rather throw his usual between-starts throwing. The Rays say it is because the bullpen has been overused recently…Mike DiFelice is not only hitting well, but the pitching staff has a better ERA with him behind the plate (3.25) as compared to Dioner Navarro (5.21) and Shawn Riggans (4.50)…Juan Salas is expected to return to the US today. [St. Pete Times]
  • Dioner Navarro will play in extended spring training games today and tomorrow and then will catch Scott Kazmir’s rehab start at Vero Beach on Friday. [Tampa Tribune]
  • Sean Deveney of The Sporting News says that it is only one start but Jeff Niemann’s performance was a glimpse into the future of the Tampa Bay Rays. Niemann is the first of several top pitching prospects that will eventually make their way to the Rays. [Sporting News]

No one is confusing the Orioles with the 1927 Yankees. But Niemann is 25, making his debut. The fact that he — and catcher Mike DiFelice — had confidence in his entire repertoire says a lot about where this guy’s stuff is. He wasn’t just using the breaking ball when he was ahead. He was throwing it when he was behind or even in the count.

  • Fanhouse says a Yankees-Rays rivalry is good for baseball. [Fanhouse]
  • DRays Bay continues their profiles of the candidates for the top pick in the June draft. Up next is Aaron Chow. [DRays Bay]
  • Outs Per Swing has moved shop over to the MVN Network, replacing the previous Rays blog. We had forgotten there was a Rays blog on MVN. [Outs Per Swing]
  • Sports Indeed is clearly depressed over the loss of Rays Anatomy…Nahhh! We’re BS’n you. Sports Indeed threw a party. [Sports Indeed]
  • Home Run Derby notes that Carlos Pena may be leading MLB in home runs but he is not hitting anything else. [Home Run Derby]
  • Evan Longoria recounts his first major league home run. [MLB]
  • Sticks of Fire noticed some peculiarities in the treatment of governor Charlie Crist and Mike Alstott on opening day. [Sticks of Fire]