Mar 18
One year ago on Rays Index we unveiled our favorite “Separated at Birth.”
Separated At Birth? [Rays Index]
Archive for March 18th, 2009
Mar 18
I will make an appearance on Mike Silva’s New York Baseball Digest Radio Show tonight at 7:00pm. You can listen live by going to their website.
You might recall New York Baseball Digest recently when we took them to task for saying the Rays will always be the Rays for demoting David Price to delay his free agency and arbitration clocks.
They say the show is being called “Friendly Rivals,” but just in case they go all Shelly Duncan on us, we are bringing Jonny Gomes along for the ride.
What? Jonny is no longer with the Rays? Ummm. Is Joey available?
Friendly Rivals: Cork Gaines of Rays Index Tonight @7pm [New York Baseball Digest]
Mar 18
According to Joe Smith, Joe Maddon commented on the closer situation and how he might handle the last inning of the game for the first few weeks of the regular season. It sure sounds like he wants to get Jason Isringhausen in the mix, but isn’t sure yet if he will be ready.
“I don’t want to just get [Troy Percival] out there and start pushing him on a daily basis,” he said. “If we were to get hot and then you’ve got 3-4 wins in a row that are close situations, that would be counterproductive to get him out there that many days in a row. If we were able to figure out how to get (Jason Isringhausen) within the mix, then of course you’d be able to bounce it back and forth, and obviously that’s been in the back of my mind.
So either Izzy is the “backup” closer or he isn’t on the opening day roster at all. That is a ton of experience in the back-end of the bullpen, but there is also a LOT of mileage on those guys.
Tampa Bay Rays newcomer Joyce feels “great” in first spring test of injured leg [St. Pete Times]
Mar 18
For many teams it is tradition on St. Patrick’s Day to switch either their cap or their cap and jersey from their traditional colors to green. Two years ago, when the then Devil Rays still wore green, the team became the first team in the history of spring training to wear less green on St. Patrick’s Day (see image at right).
Last year, when the Rays exorcised the Devil and eschewed the green for blue, the team was mysteriously idle on St. Patrick’s Day and were spared from having to either where something akin to a throwback cap/jersey or be seen as insulting a baseball tradition and the greatest of holidays.
So what did the Rays decide to do this year? They once again had an off-day on St. Patrick’s Day. Two years in a row? A coincidence? Or did the Rays forsake St. Patrick when they ditched the green?
Mar 18
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss The Super-Utility Of Zorilla
Ben Zobrist, Brian Shouse, Eduardo Morlan, Jake McGee 5 Comments »
Around these parts, we occasionally poke fun at the new vogue term “super utility” player. Back in the day, players like Jose Oquendo would regularly play all positions and we don’t ever remember him being called “super.” Nowadays, if a player has more than one glove in his locker, he is a “super-utility” player. And yet nobody can explain to us what the difference is between a utility player and one that is super.
Yesterday, in our post in which we broke down spring playing time, one commenter (thanks Charles) noticed that Ben Zobrist had played every position this spring except catcher. In fact we will take it a step further…Zorilla has started a game at every position this spring except catcher. And we wouldn’t be surprised if he was third on the regular season depth chart at that position also.
That, my fellow Raysheads, is super-utility.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- If there is a best-case scenario for Tommy John surgery, Jake McGee may have found it. The injury was clean and the surgery was clean and to date he hasn’t had any setbacks and there is hope his elbow will be stronger than prior to the surgery. He will start the season in June or July with Port Charlotte and hopes to work his way up to double-A by the end of the season and expects to be 100% next spring. [MLB]
- The Brewers have designated Eddie Morlan for assignment, in essence offering him back to the Rays for the fee of $25K. No decision has been made yet, but we assume he will be back with the club in a few days. [Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]
- Looks like Karma bit JC Romero (from the WFC*) right in his cheating ass. And why is he pitching in the WBC if he is currently suspended? [Bugs and Cranks]
- The Rays Party makes a case for Jeff Niemann to be the fifth starter. [The Rays Party]
- James Shields pitched against the Twins triple-A team throwing 5.1 shutout innings, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 5. Shields needed to pitch yesterday to stay on schedule to start the opening day with normal rest. [Tampa Tribune]
- Matt Joyce also participated in the minor league game at Rays camp yesterday going 0-2 with a walk and a strike out. He said it felt great to get out on the field. [Tampa Tribune]
- 8 years ago in triple-A, Jim Hickey may have saved Brian Shouse’s career by having him throw sidearm. Now they are back together with the Rays. [St. Pete Times]
