Mar 09
Two years ago on Rays Index we wrote about David Price’s impressive debut with the Rays.
David Price: And So It Begins [Rays Index]
Archive for March 9th, 2010
Mar 09
Last night it was announced that Hank Blalock agreed to a one-year deal with the Rays for $925K with up to $350K in bonuses based on plate appearances. There is an opt-out clause in the contract that would allow Blalock to become a free agent if he is not on the 25-man roster on April 1.
Earlier today, when asked why he signed with the Rays, Blalock had a not-too-endearing response…
“Well, I didn’t have any other choice. So that’s why I’m here.”
Marc Topkin clarifies that Blalock is “excited for the opportunity.” Still it sounds like he and Pat Burrell will get along splendidly.
So does Blalock have a shot at making the roster? The bench would seem set with Dioner Navarro, Gabe Kapler, Willy Aybar and either Sean Rodriguez or Reid Brignac.
But something strange happened today.
Topkin reportsthat the Rays gave Blalock his customary #9, which was being worn by Elliot Johnson this spring (Johnson will switch to #37). This may mean nothing, or it may mean everything.
It is unusual for a non-roster invitee to be given their usual number if it is already being worn by another player. Typically a switch is only made if the player makes the opening day roster. This move might suggest that the Rays believe Blalock has a good shot at making the team.
If Blalock does make the team, who is out of a job (assuming no injuries)? The obvious answer is Aybar, who has yet to play this spring with a nagging wrist injury.
When spring training began, Aybar’s job seemed as safe as anybody’s. But with Blalock on board, the next three weeks may be a battle between Aybar and Blalock for a spot on the Rays bench. And Blalock may already have a slight edge.
Then again, Blalock smells more like Morgan Ensberg than Carlos Pena.
Mar 09
Why Jeremy Hellickson Might Not Make His Debut In 2010
David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis 4 Comments »The Rays have a nice problem in Jeremy Hellickson. His is one of the top prospects in baseball and already has dominated triple-A batters striking out 70 and walking just 15 in 57.1 innings last year. But with all five of the starting pitchers returning from last year, there is no immediate need for Hellboy on the big league roster.
Still, most think Hellickson will make his big league debut at some point in 2010. But the Rays have always been adamant that the needs of the prospect outweigh the needs of the team. In other words, Hellickson will not be promoted until the team feels he is ready.
And when might that be?
First there is the innings limit the Rays will impose on Hellickson this season. The Rays prefer to limit their pitchers to a 20% increase over the previous season and Hellickson only threw 114 innings in 2009. That would mean a limit of approximately 140 innings this year. A full season in the minors would be closer to 160 innings. So even if the Rays waited until September and used Hellickson out of the bullpen, there is a very good chance he will have already exceeded his innings limit for 2010.
Next, let’s look at Hellickson’s experience and compare that to the Rays last two top pitching prospects, David Price and Wade Davis. Specifically let’s look at how many seasons and innings pitched each had since high school before they entered the Rays rotation…
Price shot through the minors and the lack of experience may have hindered him in 2009. He struggled at times and had a difficult time working deep into games averaging less than 6 innings per start. Meanwhile, Davis looked much more polished and composed as a starting pitcher, albeit in a small sampled size (6 starts).
The Rays have always said that when a prospect is ready is more than just numbers. They believe that it is also important that the prospect spend enough time in the minors that they learn to handle many different obstacles.
Everybody is excited to see what the Rays next great pitching prospect can do at the big league lever, but we may just have to wait until until 2011.
Mar 09
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Another Walk-Off Win, Hank’s New Deal And The Rays #1 Picks
Delmon Young, Grant Balfour, Hank Blalock, Kelly Shoppach, Stuart Sternberg, Troy Percival 7 Comments »
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: Clutch Hitting. Fernando Perez drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th. It was the Rays 3rd walk-off win and 4th win in their final at bat. Joe Maddon said he wanted better at bats late in games. Of course if any of the guys that are coming through in the clutch now are on the roster in April, the Rays are screwed…Matt Garza. Garza worked 3 strong innings, striking out 5 and walking none…Alex Torres. Torres made his second appearance a good one pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out 1 and walking 1…Speed. As in the Rays were just showin’ off yesterday when they started an outfield that included Carl Crawford, BJ Upton and Desmond Jennings.
THE BAD: Pat Burrell. The Bat has a big hole in it so far. Another 0-2 and he is now 1-10 on the spring. So much for coming to spring training in better shape and more determined. It hasn’t translated to the field yet…
THE TELLING: Carlos Pena was given the day off with Chris Richard getting the start at first base…Rafael Soriano will make his first appearance next week.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- The Rays signed Hank Blalock to a minor league deal. He will make $925K plus he can earn $350K in bonuses based on the number of plate appearances he receives…No word on whether there is an opt-out clause for Blalock [Update: He can opt-out on April 1. See comments]. [The Heater]
- There are 14 former #1 overall picks in camp this spring. Four of them are in Rays camp (2 others were drafted by the Rays and play for other teams now). Only two other teams (Twins and Royals) have more than one. [Jayson Stark Blog]
- Hal Bodley looks at some recent comments by Stuart Sternberg on the Rays payroll as the biggest problem with competitive balance in baseball. That is, small-market teams can win, but it is difficult for them to sustain that success. [MLB]
- Tampa Bay Rays Fan makes a case for Dioner Navarro being the starting catcher. [TBRF]
- Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News interviewed Grant Balfour. [Daily News]
- The Biz of Baseball names the Rays as having “The Best Series of Promos” in 2010 including the promo of the year, the Carlos Pena toothbrush holder (including picture). [The Biz of Baseball]
- Around the Majors lists Carlos Pena as one of the first basemen most likely to be traded during the season. [Around the Majors]
- Noah Pransky suggests that the only way the Rays could move to Hillsborough is if they moves to a new stadium on the Seminole Indian property near the Hard Rock Casino…Of course the biggest problem is one Pransky lists: “Major League Baseball would have to sign off on the deal.” And they won’t. MLB won’t let a team move to Las Vegas because it would be near casinos. There is even less chance they will let a team be closely associated with a casino. [Shadow of the Stadium]
- Ben Zobrist talks about how this spring training differs from last year. [Bradenton Herald]
- Joe Smith writes about the non-roster invitees in camp trying to find their way back to the majors. [St. Pete Times]
- Tony Fabrizio has 5 questions for Kelly Shoppach. [Tampa Tribune]
- Fire Brand of the American League wonders if the Rays pitching is overrated calling James Shields “a good start”, saying Matt Garza is a benefactor of great defense, Jeff Niemann “has plenty of questions about his skills,” Wade Davis “struggles to control his pitches and walks to [sic] many hitters,” and David Price “could be back to the pen or even the minors”…We know, that last one made us giggle also. [Fire Brand of the American League]
- Kelsie Smith of the Twin Cities Pioneer-Press writes that Delmon Young might have finally grown up. *Golf Clap*[Pioneer-Press]
- Troy Percival is back to coaching, and this time it might be for good. [LA Times]
