Archive for December, 2011

Dec 31

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 7 (Seven Ticket Mailers In Our Mailbox)

12 Days of Raysmas 52 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the seventh day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, SEVEN TICKET MAILERS IN OUR MAILBOX…

We received the mailer you see below in our mailbox earlier this week (click the “Read More” link). It is an advertisement for Minnesota Twins spring training tickets. We bought tickets to a Twins-Rays spring training game, ONCE, several years ago, and we still get these occasional mailers.

We can’t even count the number of times we have order tickets directly from the Rays. And to this day, we have never received a similar mailer from our beloved team.

Hey. Maybe the Rays have determined that these type of ads aren’t worth the cost. But we know that when we looked at this below, our first reaction was “hmm, are we free those days the Rays are in Fort Myers?” And then we went online and bought four tickets.

Two months ago, St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster raised a ruckus when he said Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 31

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 6 (A SIX-MAN ROTATION IN APRIL)

12 Days of Raysmas 5 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the sixth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, A SIX-MAN ROTATION IN APRIL…

Normally we hate the idea of a six-man rotation. For one thing, most starting pitchers are creatures of habit and prefer a very set routine. And the number of days in between starts and what they do in between starts is part of that routine.

But every once in a while, a six-man rotation can come in handy. For the Rays that might be in April.

The Rays have had the healthiest starting pitchers in the Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 30

Dolman Law Group In Clearwater & Bradenton

Sponsors are glorious No Comments »

Personal injury attorney Matt Dolman leads Dolman Law Group, with offiices in Clearwater, Bradenton and Melbourne. Click to visit DolmanLaw.com.

Dec 29

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 5 (Five-Year Extension For David Price)

12 Days of Raysmas, David Price 13 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the fifth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION FOR DAVID PRICE…

Price still has four years remaining until he is a free agent. But thanks to his Super-2 status, he’ll get a crack at arbitration in each of those seasons. And that means a lot of money for King David.

In those four arbitration seasons, Price could make something in the neighborhood of $50 million (average $12.5 million per season). So if the Rays want to lock up Price and delay his free agency by a year, it will cost them.

Let’s say five years for Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 28

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 4 (Four All-Stars)

12 Days of Raysmas, BJ Upton, Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce 25 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the fourth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, FOUR ALL-STARS…

OK. Asking for four all-stars is a lot. But if the Rays are going to be in the race in July, they need at least four players that are at least worthy of all-star consideration. That means Evan Longoria needs to be healthy. And it means James Shields and David Price need to be pitching well.

Those three guys should be Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 28

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Fielder’s Contract Demand, And Love For The Rays From An Unlikely Source

Ben Zobrist, David Price, Prince Fielder, Sam Fuld 10 Comments »
Click Here For Boxscore
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)

Scott Boras called a report that Prince Fielder would accept a three-year deal “inaccurate and delusional.”

“Not only is that inaccurate and delusional, but it seems that some people have gotten into their New Year’s Eve stash just a little bit early this year…It appears some baseball people are just bored…That’s when you hear ideas like that floated.”

This is in response to a report in which “several GMs” told Peter Gammons that they thought Fielder would be willing to accept a three-year deal with an average annual value greater than Albert Pujols’ new deal ($25M/yr).

While Boras poo-poos the report. It is not clear yet where Fielder is going to get the $200 million contract he is reportedly seeking.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Buster Olney calls the Rays rotation the second best in the baseball. [ESPN]
  • The Rays final game of the regular season was called one of the “Best Games/Events of 2011″ by SI.com. Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit (off of David Price) also makes the list. [SI.com]
  • Ben Zobrist’s big double-header in April (7-10, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI) was picked as the “Performance of the Year” by David Schoenfield of ESPN.com. [ESPN]
  • Sam Fuld receives honorable mention Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 27

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 3 (A Three-Year Contract For Prince Fielder)

12 Days of Raysmas, Prince Fielder 14 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the third day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR PRINCE FIELDER…

Prince Fielder is the best bat still on the free agent market. But while the slugger entered the off-season looking for a $200 million contract, interest in Fielder has been luke-warm at best. And that interest is only coming from a handful of teams that had losing records in 2011.

As a result, some now believe Fielder is willing to accept a 3-year, ~$78 million contract. That would give Fielder a higher average annual salary than Albert Pujols. Also, Fielder would become a free agent again at age 30.

If Fielder is willing to accept a 3-year deal, there is no reason why the Rays shouldn’t try to sign him.

The Rays can trade James Shields and sign Fielder at $25-26 million per season, and the 2012 payroll would still only be ~$70 million, which is about what it was in 2010. And all of a sudden, the Rays go from a playoff contender, to one of 3-4 World Series favorites.

The danger in signing a guy like Fielder is years 5-10 on a 10-year deal. There is very little risk in the first 3-4 years. According to Fangraphs.com, Fielder was a 5.5 WAR player last year, worth $24.6 million. And at age 28 (in 2012), Fielder’s best years might still be ahead of him.

Now, before you guys get too excited, there are some Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 27

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss World Series Odds, The Duke’s New Home, And Eyeing A Closer

Andy Sonnanstine 11 Comments »
Click Here For Boxscore
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)

According to Bodog.com, the Rays are tied as the 9th favorite to win it all in 2012 at 18/1 (tied with the Cardinals, Phillies are tops at 5/1).

That is not bad considering the Rays have yet to do anything this off-season. But you could also make a case that it is far too low.

Even with a weak lineup, the 2012 Rays are a 90-win team. And while in previous years, success was contingent on the rotation staying healthy (they always do), that is really no longer that important. You can make a case that the Rays have eight big league starting pitchers in their organization.

And if the Rays are a 90-win team now, what are they if they add a bat or if a couple of in-house guys catch fire and have a career-year?

We’re not saying these guys should be the favorites. But let’s just say that if we were laying money, there is a lot of value at 18/1.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Andy Sonnanstine has signed with the Chicago Cubs. [ESPN Chicago]
  • Ken Rosenthal says the Rays are one of several teams showing interest in trading for the A’s Andrew Bailey. The A’s closer is a two-time All-Star, and will be 28 in 2012. [@Ken_Rosenthal]
  • Based on a recent St. Pete Times poll, Tampa residents prefer the Rays in St. Pete. But is it because they really want the Rays in St. Pete? Or (more likely) is it because non-sports fans don’t want to pay for a new stadium? [Shadow of the Stadium]
  • Will Raheem Morris be back in 2012?  [Joe Bucs Fan]
  • Evan Longoria recently got the TMZ treatment (video below)

Dec 26

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 2 (Two Players With 40 Stolen Bases)

12 Days of Raysmas, BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Desmond Jennings 15 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the second day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, TWO PLAYERS WITH 40 STOLEN BASES…

The Rays did a lot of things right in 2011. But make no mistake, the inability of the Red Sox to even be mediocre in September covered up a lot of problems, especially on the offensive side of the ball. And one of those problems was speed.

After losing Carl Crawford to free agency, the Rays speed numbers took a significant dip in 2011…

If we look at the Rays stolen bases and their Speed Total (doubles + triples*2 + steals – double plays),  the Rays had their lowest totals since 2008, when Crawford was limited by an injury.

BJ Upton led the 2011 Rays with just Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 26

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 1 (One $8 million bat)

12 Days of Raysmas, Carlos Pena 16 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the first day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, ONE $8 million bat…

Last week we heard the Rays were one of a handful of teams that was considered a serious bidder for Carlos Beltran. OK, the Rays probably weren’t even in the same ballpark as the Cardinals, who eventually signed Beltran to a two-year, $26 million deal. But it does show the Rays were willing to write a sizable check for one big bat in the lineup.

This is just a guess, but the Ray offer must have been at least Read the rest of this entry »

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