Archive for May 17th, 2008

May 17

[THE ARCHIVES] One Year Ago On Rays Index

The Archives Cork Gaines No Comments »

My. What a difference a year makes. One year ago on Rays Index we told you that the Rays starting rotation had three of the eight worst pitchers in baseball.

Juuust A Bit Outside [Rays Index]

May 17

[DELMON YOUNG] Delmon Young One Of Worst Hitters In AL

Delmon Young admin No Comments »

Jim Souhan has a very telling headline in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “Muscular singles hitter is not what we had in mind”. Of course, I don’t need to tell you that Souhan is referring to former Devil Dog Delmon Young.

Touted as a power hitter, Delmon Young is gettting outslugged by almost all of his new Twins teammates.

Actually, Young is getting out-slugged by most of the American League. In the first 41 games of the season, Young has 6 extra-base hits. Not one of those extra-base hits are home runs. And 2 of the 5 doubles came last night. Including those 2 doubles, Young has an OBP of .319 and a SLG of .321. That’s right. We are 1/4 the way into the season and Delmon Young has an OPS of .640. The .321 SLG and Young’s .640 OPS rank as the 5th worst in the American League. Both of those numbers are the worst among all AL outfielders.

This is a strange phenomenon — a big, strong player with impressive bat speed whose career will be judged on his power and run production, swinging like a tennis player attempting a drop shot…

Not sure what the scouts saw. Maybe they should have talked to a few Rays’ fans.

This is beyond alarming. This is approaching pathetic.

Ouch

Playing in the Metrodome, with its large left field, could explain the power decline, but Young’s problem has not been warning-track outs — it has been getting the ball out of the infield. He rarely pulls the ball, and when he does, he does not do so with authority…He has taken the concept of the “inside-out” swing — à la Mauer — to a ridiculous degree, dragging the bathead through the hitting zone so belatedly that his hits can only be ground balls up the middle and bloops to right field.

Mr. Souhan: Young’s swing is not a new “concept”. That is exactly what Young’s swing looked like last season. In other words, it sounds like Young hasn’t taken to the “Twins Way” yet. Color me shocked. Delmon Young? Not coachable? Couldn’t be.

Young has played in 205 consecutive games. Might he require, or deserve, a day on the bench? “He likes to play,” Gardenhire said. “He’s here to play, and we’ll see how long we can ride with it.”…Or Gardenhire could play Craig Monroe in left for a few days, and see if the rest enlivens Young’s powerless bat.

We are only at the quarter-mark of Young’s first season in Minneapolis and already the writers are calling for Young to be benched for a spell.

To all Twins fans: He’s your problem now. We tried to warn you to not get too excited about the “Hall of Fame Potential”.

Muscular singles hitter is not what we had in mind [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

May 17

[KING DAVID] David Price Ks A-Rod Twice

Alex Rodriguez, David Price, King David slayed Goliath admin 2 Comments »

David Price made what should be his last extended spring training start today, with a twist. He faced the New York Yankees extended spring squad which featured a rehabbing Alex Rodriguez.

In 5 innings, Price faced A-Rod 5 times. Rodriguez went 1-4 with a home run, a walk and 2 strike outs. Price allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in those 5 innings, striking out 10.

Price is scheduled to make his pro debut on Thursday for Vero Beach, nearly one year after he was drafted by the Rays with the #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft.

And according to commenter Diana, Thursday night is also $1 beer night in Vero Beach. Road Trip anyone?

Price dazzles vs. A-Rod, Yanks [Rays Report]

May 17

[RAYSHEADS UNITE] RAYSHEAD Spotted In St. Louis

RAYSHEADS admin 3 Comments »

That is a RAYSHEAD if I have ever seen one. Despite rumors to the contrary, The Professor was not in St. Louis last night. As far as I know.

May 17

[THE SATURDAY MORNING REVOLUTION] The Duke Was Dealing; Rays Win First Game Of Interleague

Andy Sonnanstine, Carl Crawford, Dioner Navarro, Edwin Jackson, James Shields, Shelley Duncan is a lil' bitch, Troy Percival admin 1 Comment »




DRG here again to get you through the weekend. I can be reached here..
  • The Good: Andy Sonnanstine scattered 8 hits over 8 innings and only allowed 1 run on a solo home run in the 8th. Sonny only had 2, 1-2-3 innings (1st/7th), but managed to avoid any serious trouble.
  • The Bad: Andy Sonnanstine gave up a solo home run in the 8th in a 3-0 game. Really not that bad, except why did it have to be Shelley Duncan’s brother?
  • The Telling: The home run off of Andy Sonnanstine was the first allowed by a Rays’ starting pitcher since May 2nd.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Her Rays likes Andy Sonnanstine’s package. What? Too far? [Her Rays]
  • Rob Neyer points out that the Rays run differential shows that the Rays record is about right where it should be. [ESPN]

Not only are the Rays in first place, they’re in first place on merit, as their +25 run differential is slightly better than that of the Red Sox (+23). Everybody else in the division — Orioles (-7), Blue Jays (-1) and Yankees (-6) — is bunched up around .500, exactly where they should be. In fact, what’s often so striking about run differentials, even this early in the season, is just how closely they correspond with the actual records. Of the 14 teams in the league, only the Angels are more than two wins off their “expected” record … and the Angels are three games off. No sleeping giants here (at least not according to runs, though the Yankees’ history might suggest otherwise).

  • A Red Sox fan was rooting for the Yankees in the Yankees-Rays series? My eyes deceive me! [Wicked Good Sports]
  • Minor League Ball takes a hindisght look at Edwin Jackson, the prospect. [Minor League Ball]
  • Bugs & Cranks is looking for your best Devil Rays haiku. [Bugs & Cranks]
  • Loud Mouth of the South takes a look at what the AL All-Star squad might look at if the game were held this week. They predict two Rays, Carl Crawford and James Shields. Not sure how they can leave Troy Percival off. Yes he has two blown saves, but he is the anchor of one of the best bullpens in baseball and he has a WHIP of about 0.500. And then there is Dioner Navarro. Sure he missed two weeks, but can a manager keep him off the squad if he is still hitting .370? [The Loud Mouth of the South]
May 17

[DOWN ON THE FARM] Price To Make Debut; Salem Out For Season

David Price, Emeel Salem, Jeremy Hellickson, Tim Beckham admin 2 Comments »

Durham 9, Toledo 3. Mitch Talbot gave up 3 runs in his 6 innings of work and improved to 4-3. The Bulls hit 4 home runs, including 2 from Joel Guzman who was 3-4 and drove in 3.

Montgomery 5, Tennessee 1. Wade Davis did not allow a run despite walking 5 in 6 innings…

Palm Beach 3, Vero Beach 2.

Columbus 3, Augusta 1.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

  • David Price will make his pro debut on Thursday for Vero Beach. [Tampa Tribune]
  • Emeel Salem, who was leading all of minor league baseball in stolen bases, broke his elbow sliding head-first and will miss the remainder of the ’08 season. [Biscuits Batter]
  • Baseball America posted a mock draft for the first round of the amateur draft. They have the Rays picking Tim Beckham, the high school shortstop. [Baseball America]


Tampa Bay is keeping quiet about its intentions, and the two names that pop up the most are Posey and Beckham. Posey would help the Rays more quickly and fill a bigger need, but he’s unlikely to accept a heavily backloaded deal like David Price did in 2007. Five-tool shortstops are just as rare as all-star catchers, and industry sources are starting to think that Tampa Bay will lean that way. If the Rays opt for a pitcher, Matusz has moved ahead of Crow.

  • In this week’s “Prospect Hot Sheet” from Baseball America there are no Rays in the Top 13, but Jeremy Hellickson is in the “just missed” section. [Baseball America]