Apr 23
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 31.0%.
- The most common response for “Confidence in future of franchise” was 8 and 9 equally with 30.3%.
- Confidence in the 2008 Rays ranged from 1 (The Rays will lose 120 games) to 10 (The Rays are built/playing like a World Series contender).
- Confidence in the future ranged from 3-10.
- 33.4% of respondents feel the Rays have a shot at the playoffs in 2008. That number is down from 57.3% a week ago.
- 84.5% of respondents feel the Rays should be at least a .500 team in 2008. Last week that number was 92.1%.
Apr 23
Two years ago on Rays Index, we declared our love for “The Fossum Flop“
The Fossum Flop [Rays Index]
Apr 23
Andrew Friedman, Andy Sonnanstine, Dan Johnson, Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross, Joe Maddon, Josh Butler, Justin Ruggiano, Matt Silverman, Nathan Haynes, Trever Miller Cork Gaines
THE GOOD: James Shields showed us that he is a winner last night. He struggled early without his best stuff and with shoddy defense behind him, but fought through it and still managed to give Joe Maddon 7 innings. For all the changes to the bullpen, the biggest reason the relief corps is better this year is because the starters are working deeper. Any bullpen will be better if it only needs to throw 2 innings instead of 3-4…And last night wasn’t any different. Shields handed the ball off in the 8th to Dan Wheeler (a role we expect he will keep once Al Reyes comes off DL) and then Troy Percival in the 9th. The two combined for 2 perfect innings…Eric Hinske continues to swing a hot bat, only this time it was against his former team and went to the tune of a double, triple and home run…Dioner Navarro added 3 hits in his return. We still can’t get over Navi. Nobody hits more line drives. And nobody hits the ball softer than Navi…Jason Bartlett finally did something productive with the bat, executing a perfect hit-and-run with Dioner Navarro running from second base.
THE BAD: James Shields walking the first two batters of the second inning, followed by the play that led to the Jays first run. On the play the Rays were only charged with 2 errors, but there should have been three plus a couple of mental errors. A ground ball to Eric Hinske’s right was bobbled after the runner on first distracted Hinske. Hinske then tried to backhand the ball to Shields covering first and missed him by 10 feet with the ball rolling towards the plate. For some reason, with a runner now on 3rd, Dioner Navarro left home to retrieve the ball. Shields sprints home to cover the plate. Throw from Navi was in time, but Shields dropped it.
THE TELLING: The Rays are now 4-0 all-time in Orlando…The Rays are 2-1 this season during our Live Blog-A-Baloos and 7-10 in all other games. Just Sayin’…The Rays need to sweep the Jays to get out of the cellar of the AL East and reach .500.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- We commented on this last night during the Blog-A-Baloo, but the Rays traded for Gabe Gross from the Brewers, giving up single-A pitcher Josh Butler. Butler was the Rays 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft. Gross is a left-swinging outfielder that can play all three outfield spots…While Justin Ruggiano will likely be the first player to go, this move probably marks the end of the Nathan Haynes-era. Andrew Friedman announced during the game last night that the Rays had been talking to the Brewers about Gross since Spring Training. [Tampa Tribune]
- Outs Per Swing sees the Rays crowded outfield and wonders if the Rays should trade Eric Hinske while the value is at its peak…We say yes. [Outs Per Swing]
- Through 19 games the Rays have the best bullpen in baseball. Trever Miller says that the biggest reason is they are not walking anybody. [Bradenton Herald]
- New Ray Dan Johnson suffered from an infection in the spring that caused him to lose 30 pounds. He has since gained most of it back. [Bradenton Herald]
- Marc Lancaster notes that Dan Johnson’s injury history is quite extensive. [San Francisco Chronicle via Rays Report]
- While the Orlando Magic playoff game may have affected attendance, the Rays could not have been happy with the non-sellout or that a large portion of the crowd was not Orlando residents. [Orlando Sentinel]
- Brittany Ghiroli takes a look at the “Green” practices of the Tampa Bay Rays and notes the team will continue to make a commitment to environmental sustainablity after Earth Day. [MLB]
- The Serious Tip thinks they have figured out why Andy Sonnanstine has struggled at times this season…He’s is jinxed. [The Serious Tip]
- A couple of new renderings of the proposed waterfront stadium, with one that apparently gives a reference to how big the new stadium will be compared to existing structures. [The Heater]
- Matt Silverman and Joe Maddon were set to attend the Bruce Springsteen concert in Tampa on Monday but missed it after the show was postponed until Tuesday. [Orlando Sentinel]
Apr 23
Durham 3, Charlotte 2 (11 inn.). A one-out single in the bottom of the 11th by Jeremy Owens won the game for the Bulls…JK Ryu started and struck out 6 in 5 innings, allowing 1 run…Dale Thayer had a chance to close out the win in the 9th but a lead off walk and a wild pitch that sent the runner all the way to third was followed by an RBI single two batters later…Reid Brignac was 2-5 with a double and is now hitting .258…Fernando Perez was 0-5 with 3 strikeouts and is now hitting .253…Joel Guzman was 2-4 to raise his average to .217.
Jacksonville 6, Montgomery 4 (11 inn.).Wade Townsend took the loss, allowing both runs in the 11th on a double…Richard de los Santos made the start and worked into the 8th inning allowing 4 runs in 7.1 innings…Eduardo Morlan pitched a scoreless 10th inning, giving up only a single…Erold Andrus was 2-6 with a double and 3 RBI, tying the game in the bottom of the 9th with an RBI single…Chris Nowak added 3 hits including a double, while Rashad Eldridge was 4-4.
Vero Beach 2, Brevard County 1.Wilton Noel got the emergency start after Josh Butler was traded. He gave up only 2 hits in 4 innings. 1 hit was a solo home run to account for the lone run. He struck out 3…Center fielder John Matulia was 1-3 and is hitting .359 after 19 games…Ryan Royster was 0-2 and is at .258..Cesar Suarez stole his 5th base.
Rome 6, Columbus 1. Josh Johnson (the pitcher) got roughed up last night, getting touched for 6 runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings…Shortstop Omar Luna was 2-4 and is now hitting .351.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Scott Kazmir will make his second rehab start tonight for Vero Beach. [Tampa Tribune]
- Josh Butler who was traded yesterday for the Brewers’ Gabe Gross simply had to walk to the other clubhouse after the trade as Vero Beach was playing the Brewers FSL affiliate from Brvard County. [Biscuits Batter]
