Below you will see two polls that ask about your confidence in the Tampa Bay Rays. We will present these same polls every Tuesday. The results will be presented in graphical form on Thursday, and will be displayed permanently in the sidebar. The goal of the Confidence Graph is to get a feeling of how Rays fans feel about the team and the franchise and track how that level of confidence changes through time.
Raysiverse events of the past week that could impact confidence levels…
The Rays have lost 5 straight series and are now 7-12, in last place of the AL East, 6.5 games behind the Jays.
The Rays currently are projected to be about $15-20 million over budget with the team payroll next season. A couple of players are going to have to be moved.
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.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Sweet Fancy Moses! What is more impressive right now? Carlos Pena hitting his 9th home run to lead the AL or Jason Bartlett hitting his 3rd home run and is on pace for 24? His career high is 5…Mad Genius. With Justin Mourneau representing the tying run with 2 outs in the 7th, Joe Maddon left Joe Nelson in the game instead of bringing in the lefty Brian Shouse (isn’t that situation why Shouse is on the team?). Mourneau hit it hard, but right at BJ Upton to end the inning…Jeff Niemann. It wasn’t pretty but he got the job done. He walked 4 and allowed a home run, but that was the only run in 5.2 innings…The Bullpen. 3.1 innings, 5 Ks, 2 hits, no walks and no runs.
THE BAD: Navi’s brain farts. It didn’t hurt the Rays last night, but Dioner Navarro dropped yet anther pitch allowing a runner to go to second behind a lead runner stealing third…Bossman’s brain farts. BJ Upton finally ends an 0-19 skid with a nice opposite-field single and then does what he does worst. He got picked off first base…Wrong team running. The Rays lead the majors in steals, but it was the Twins running wild last night with 4 steals.
THE TELLING: Twins TV announcers didn’t do their home work. At one point, in the middle of talking about how the Rays have much better fundamentals under Joe Maddon, they tried to use the current game situation as an example saying Aki Iwamura would be asked to bunt right then. Of course he did not. That is because the Rays have ZERO sac bunts this season and had the fewest in baseball last season (23). Later the announcers said the Rays are yet to win a series this season. Of course they won the opening series in Boston…The Rays face lefty Francisco Liriano tonight and are 1-7 against lefties this season.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carlos Pena. Several options last night including Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann and Jason Bartlett. But it was Pena’s triple in the first that started the scoring and it was his home run in the 8th that sealed the win.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Rays the Stakes compares the Rays to the Indians…from “Major League 2.” [Rays the Stakes]
The Rays Party adds a new twist to the classic power rankings, looking at just how different publications and writers rank the Rays. [The Rays Party]
Grant Balfour admits that he was better prepared for spring training last season (the spring he was DFA’d) than he was this year, but that he is starting to come around…His velocity has been better the last two appearances with fastballs back up to 94-96. [MLB]
David Laurila interviews Joe Nelson, where he talks about his long road to sticking in the majors and the use of his Vulcan pitch. Nelson is the only pitcher in baseball that is known to throw the unique changeup. [Baseball Prospectus]
Montgomery 6, Jacksonville 5. Neal Frontz blew the save on a 2-out game-tying double in the top of the 10th. But Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the 9th with a single, and would later score on a 2-out single by Rashad Eldridge…Heath Rollins struck out 6 in 6 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned)…Jason Isringhausen made his final rehab appearance in double-A, giving up a run on 2 hits and a walk in 1 inning…Desmond Jennings was 2-5 with a 3-run home run, his 3rd…Rhyne Hughes was 0-3 with 2 walks.
Sarasota 8, Charlotte 7. Jesse Darcy allowed 5 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings…Emeel Salem had a pair of singles and 2 walks, scoring twice…Matt Fields was 2-4.
Bowling Green (off-day).
Notes from Down on the Farm…
In an interesting move, Desmond Jennings started in right field last night for the first time of his career. With Jennings off to a hot start in double-A and Upton firmly entrenched in center field for the foreseeable future, might the Rays be considering a spring training 2010 in which Jennings is competing with Matt Joyce for the right field job at the big league level?
Jeremy Hellickson has done a better job of avoiding home runs. [Montgomery Advertiser]
Rhyne Hughes was named the Southern League hitter of the week. [Rays Prospects]
Rays Prospects takes a look at the caught stealing rates for the Rays minor league catchers. You have to be pleased with the numbers from Nevin Ashley, Jake Jefferies and Mike McCormick. [Rays Prospects]
Matt Walker has returned from his 50-game suspension for testing positive for amphetamines.
Up until first pitch, use the comments section to predict who you think will be the Sunburst Player of the Game. (be sure to use a valid email address while leaving the comment). The commenter that correctly predicts who we will name the Sunburst Player of the Game the most times prior to the all-star game, will win two tickets to a second-half game. Runners-up get their choice of a t-shirt. [Click HERE for rules]
Navi: Well, Giraffe is scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man’s watching. We need a live rooster to take the curse off Bossman’s bat and nobody seems to know what to do about the outfield positioning. We’re dealing with a lot of shit here.
Coach Hickey: Okay, well, uh…running faster helps on the deep flyballs, and uh, maybe you can find a rooster in JP’s locker and the sports shrink is here for Niemann. Okay, let’s get two!…oh and one more thing…you guys really need a little more Anteater Attitude.
Can we please get some more ANTEATER in the house!?!
Three years ago on Rays Index we we starting to receive details of a minor league umpire Gettin’ a Delmon. Delmon Young threw his bat at an umpire and was ultimately suspended for 50 games.
Delmon Young Sticks Up For Striking Minor League Umpires [Rays Index]
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.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Carl Crawford. CC is heating up. 2 more hits yesterday and he has now hit safely in 5 straight. He is 10-20 in those 5 games. He still only has 5 extra-base hits and Crawford’s strength is the double and triples…It’s a Worldwide Suicide. With Pat Burrell on third and Dioner Navarro at the plate, it was not the most ideal situation for a suicide squeeze. But the two executed it perfectly for a 1-0 lead.
THE BAD: Andy Sonnanstine. In 4 starts The Duke has worked 19.2 innings (less than 5ip per start). 28 hits, 8 walks, 1 hbp (almost 2 baserunners per inning). A 7.78 ERA. Whenever David Price or Wade Davis is promoted, are we certain it will be Jeff Niemann heading to the bullpen?…Lance Cormier. A perfect example of how a reliever’s statline can be misleading. Cormier pitched 3 hitless innings with only 1 unintentional walk. But that walk came with the bases loaded, forcing home an inherited runner…BJ Upton’s Quad. Upton had 2 hits in the first game back from his sore quad, but hasn’t had a hit since. Overall he is 2-22 in 5 games after missing 1.5 games.
THE TELLING: The Rays have now lost 5 straight series…The Rays lost 2 of 3 to the A’s, but still managed to pick up a game on the Yankees who were swept by the Red Sox.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carl Crawford. He had half of the Rays hits.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
A quick reminder: Thursday is the final day to submit photos for the Rayshead Army Photo Contest. There are several categories. The overall winner gets tickets to a Rays game this season and others will receive t-shirts. We have already had over 100 photos submitted. Even if you don’t want to enter contest, it is worth your time to browse the pics. [Rayshead Army Photo Contest]
Brittany Ghiroli who covered the Rays last season for MLB.com has started her own blog. Go over and take a gander. [The Rookie in Relief]
Jason Hammel makes his first start for the Rockies tonight. [MLB]
Andy Sonnanstine called his start embarassing and Joe Maddon is looking for Jeff Niemann to have more confidence to throw his breaking pitches in more important situations. [St. Pete Times]
The Tampa Tribune looks at the evolution of Ben Zobrist and points to urging from Steve Henderson to drive the ball more and a talk with James Shields. [Tampa Tribune]
Rise of the Rays says BJ Upton as a leadoff hitter is not working, and feels that Joe Maddon should move Aki Iwamura or Jason Bartlett back to the top of the order until Upton finds his groove. [Rise of the Rays]
Well, FireJoeMaddon.com is not available because the Rays own the domain. But apparently Joe Maddon Sucks was fair game. And they would like you to know that Andy Sonnanstine’s career ERA is 5.14. [Joe Maddon Sucks]
Baseball Intellect breaks down Evan Longoria’s swing, frame-by-frame. [Baseball Intellect]
You really can’t find much not to like. He has what you look for in an elite player: a blend of bat speed and quickness, terrific hand-eye coordination, pitch recognition…you name it.
Norfolk 7, Durham 0. Another rough start for David Price as he allowed 3 runs and hit his 75-pitch limit after 3.1 innings. He struck out 5, but walked 4 and gave up 2 home runs…The Bulls managed only 3 hits, all singles…Matt Joyce was 1-4 with 2 Ks and Reid Brignac was 0-3 with a strikeout.
Jacksonville 6, Montgomery 4. Aneury Rodriguez continues to look better. In his latest start he held Jacksonville to 2 runs in 5 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 3…Chris Mason continues to get pounded and at this point we can no longer consider him a prospect. He gave up 3 more runs in 1 inning and now has a 9.90 ERA…Eddie Morlan pitched 2 scoreless innings…Desmond Jennings was 2-4 with a pair of singles…Rhyne Hughes was 1-4 with a walk and his 3rd stolen base.
Charlotte 3, St. Lucie 2. Ryan Royster led off the 9th with a double and pinch-runner Emeel Salem would later score the winning run on a 1-out hit-by-pitch of Nevin Ashley…Alex Cobb had a strong start, striking out 5 in 6 scoreless innings. He allowed 3 hits and 1 walk…Matt Fields finished 2-4.
Bowling Green 7, Lexington 6. Matt Moore held Lexington to 2 hits and struck out 5 in 4 innings. But he walked 4, threw 2 wild pitches and allowed 3 runs. He now has an ERA of 4.02…Tim Beckham was 1-5.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
David Price is having a rough start to the season. After 4 starts he has an ERA of 3.71. But it might be even worse than that as his tRA is 5.49. King David has allowed 14 hits and 8 walks in 17 innings. Four of those 14 hits have been home runs.
Up until first pitch, use the comments section to predict who you think will be the Sunburst Player of the Game. (be sure to use a valid email address while leaving the comment). The commenter that correctly predicts who we will name the Sunburst Player of the Game the most times prior to the all-star game, will win two tickets to a second-half game. Runners-up get their choice of a t-shirt. [Click HERE for rules]
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.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Blacked Out. not having to watch another anemic performance.
THE BAD: Matt Garza. The Garza Complex comntinues to struggle with his control. 4 more walks yesterday and 10 in his last 2 starts…BJ Upton. Upton had his 3rd straight 0-fer and is now 0 for his last 12 and hitting .171 with no home runs since coming off the DL…Offensive Offense. The Rays are 9th in the AL with 83 runs scored and are 7th with a .787 OPS…Mediocre Pitching. the pitching staff as a whole is 7th in the AL with an opponent OPS of .755. The starters are a little better with a .733 oOPS (4th in AL) but the bullpen’s oOPS is .801 (7th). Last year, the bullpens oOPS was .669.
THE TELLING: Carlos Pena and Aki Iwamura are scheduled to get the day off. Of course. Offense is struggling. Let’s sit the one hitter who is not struggling…The Rays are 7th in the AL with a .771 OPS versus lefties. And they are 5th against righties at .795.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Aki Iwamura. By default. he had 2 hits and an RBI.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Have a replica AL Championship ring? Want a boat? Today is your lucky day. [Rays Revolutionary]
Joe Maddon thinks that the team’s decision to limit the workload for starting pitchers early in spring training may be the reason they are sluggish now. But at the same time, he still thinks it was the correct path to take. [St. Pete Times]
Scott Kazmir and his high school coach talk about Kid K’s time in high school and exactly how dominating he was. [St. Pete Times]
