Apr 04
Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser has the rosters for all four of the upper-level minor league affiliates (links below). We have updated the Cork-Board (organizational depth chart) in the sidebar accordingly.
A few notes on the minor league rosters…
- The Cork-Board only reflects the rosters at this point. The starting pitcher rotations are accurate, but the lineups will be updated once the season begins.
- The remaining players will remain in extended spring training. Most of these players will be assigned to one of the short-season teams in June. A few of the players are rehabbing injuries and will be assigned to one of the upper-level teams when they are ready.
- A few of the bigger names that have yet to be assigned to a minor league affiliate include James Houser, who is on the 40-man roster, Nick Barnese, who is part of the next big wave of talented pitchers, Wade Townsend, who is out for the year, Albert Suarez (see Barnese), Glenn Gibson, who was the player the Rays received for Elijah Dukes, DJ Jones, a toolsy draftee that some are high on, and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds.
- Tim Beckham is once again united with his brother at low-A Bowling Green.
Apr 04
[Update 2:15pm] Marc Lancaster says he would be surprised if the Rays don’t make a deal by tomorrow for either Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann.
[2:10pm] Troy Renck of the Denver Post is reporting that the Rays have spent the past week scouting Aneury Rodriguez, a double-A pitcher for the Rockies, who may end up being a key piece in a deal that would send Jason Hammel to the Rockies.
There is growing momentum for a trade to transpire between Tampa Bay and the Rockies involving right-hander Jason Hammels. The Rays heavily scouted the Rockies this past week, keeping a close eye on Double-A starter Aneury Rodriguez.
Earlier today, Fanhouse quoted a Rockies official that said talks with the Rays had resumed. The Rockies are targeting Jason Hammel and the official said a deal could be finalized by tomorrow.
Rodriguez is a 21-year old right-handed pitcher that made 27 starts for Modesto of the California league. He was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and an impressive 139-to-40 strikeout to walk ratio in 156.1 innings.
If the Rays do trade Hammel, Jeff Niemann would then become the Rays fifth starter to start the season and Lance Cormier would be the final relief pitcher.
Rays look at Rodriguez as they try to find trade fit [Denver Post]
Rockies, Rays Could Make Deal Soon [Fanhouse]
Apr 04
Four weeks ago we addressed 10 questions hovering over the Rays in spring training. Let’s take a look at those questions and see if we are any closer to getting some answers…
- What can we expect from BJ Upton this season? We are still in “wait-and-see” mode with BJ Upton as he never played in any spring games with the Rays. He has played in minor league games, but we are starting to wonder if he will indeed be ready to join the Rays for their home opener in a week. We have learned that apparently Upton will not alter his swing to protect his fragile shoulder that has been injured each of the past six seasons. MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: JURY STILL OUT
- Who is going to leadoff this season? Joe Maddon just confirmed what we suspected for a while. When BJ Upton returns from the DL, he will hit leadoff. MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: BJ UPTON Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 04
Time to bring back the GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.
THE GOOD: Scott Kazmir. Three scoreless innings, only 2 hits and 1 walk. We have said it before, but we think this will be Kid K’s breakout season…Troy Percival. Another game, another scoreless inning. He did walk a batter…Evan Longoria. Dirtbag singled 3 times in 4 at bats.
THE BAD: Scott Kazmir. We have seen this photo before, but it always makes us giggle. That is Kaz on the right…Philadelphia. We are yet to hear a good explanation for why the Rays are even playing these two games in Philadelphia…Minor Leaguers. The minor leaguers on call helped give away the game, literally. A dropped fly ball, 3 walks and a single in the 9th inning without even recording an out and the WFC* scored twice to win.
THE TELLING: This was the most likely opening day lineup with Aki Iwamura leading off, Matt Joyce batting sixth, followed by Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross and Jason Bartlett…BJ Upton will play center field in a minor league game today…The regulars will only get one at bat today.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Marc Topkin has a fun Q&A with Stuart Sternberg…We love that Sternberg’s ringtone is Howard Cosell’s call from Ali-Frazier, “Down Goes Frazier!” [St. Pete Times]
- Michael Sasso takes a closer look at the Rays business strategy for 2009 in which the Rays expect to lose money because of their $60 million payroll. The Rays are hoping to increase attendance from 1.8m to 2.0m this season. [Tampa Tribune]
- Dennis Maffezzoli of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune spoke with Joe Maddon about the importance of all his young pitchers learning a changeup, a pitch that Andy Sonnanstine is trying to add to his already vast repertoire. [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
- The Phillies honored Pat Burrell in his first game back in Philadelphia, with The Bat calling it “pretty special.”…Also, Marc Topkin is reporting that the team will not make a decision on the final two pitching spots until tomorrow. [St. Pete Times]
- Mitch Talbot will get the opening day assignment for Durham on Thursday. David Price will start on Friday, followed by Wade Davis on Saturday and Carlos Hernandez on Sunday. Lefty Jason Cromer will be the 5th starter. [Durham Bulls]
- Chris Mason and Eddie Morlan have been assigned to double-A Montgomery. [Biscuit Crumbs]
- Ryan Reid, one of the top relief pitcher prospects in the organization will miss the start of the season after missing two weeks with elbow pain. [Montgomery Advertiser]
- Marc Topkin talks to some of the Rays about what it is like being back in Philadelphia. [St. Pete Times]
- Peter Gammons called David Price one of the young players that has made a major impression on him. [ESPN]
- Joe Maddon insists that nothing is different from last year, and he is hoping that the Rays will be this year’s Rays. [Tampa Tribune]
- The Bradenton Herald takes a look at Ron Porterfield, the Rays head athletic trainer. [Bradenton Herald]
