May 18
The McDLT: Where Hopefully The Hot Stay Hot And The Cool Don’t
Ben Zobrist, BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, David Price, Desmond Jennings, Justin Ruggiano, Lance Cormier 3 Comments »[table id=11 /]
[table id=12 /]
Archive for the 'Lance Cormier' Category
Apr 30
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss A Team With No Heart
BJ Upton, Jason Bartlett, Joe Maddon, Lance Cormier 16 Comments »
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: See less evil. We did something we never do. We turned the game off after the second inning. We left the house and had a nice Mexican dinner. the game was over, and this team absolutely makes us sick right now. No pitching. No fielding. No hitting. No fundamentals. No heart. None.
THE BAD: First Inning. Single, infield single, walk, wild pitch, dropped pop up, another infield single, another wild pitch, another walk. 4 runs. Game over.
THE TELLING: This 4-game set against the Red Sox is either exactly what the Rays need or more likely it is the worst possible timing. The Rays know they can compete with the Red Sox, having taken 2 of 3 to start the season, but the Sox are playing at a different level now. The rivalry could spark the Rays. Or they are about to run into a juggernaut while playing like the Devil Rays. But worst of all is that this is a 4-game series. It is so hard to win a 4-game series. Sure it would be nice, but a split is far more realistic, and all a split does is stop the bleeding for a few days.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Lance Cormier. 4 shutout innings. 3 hits and no walks. We thought his position on the team was limited with Jason Isringhausen almost ready to join the team. But Joe Maddon has gotta love a reliever than can give him 3-4 innings and save the rest of the bullpen for the next fight.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Great. The one player on the team that is hitting the ball, Jason Bartlett had to be removed from the game after the 5th inning with a sore hamstring. [The Heater]
- Joe Maddon says he has no intentions of taking BJ Upton out of the leadoff spot, even temporarily. Also Maddon wants to see Matt Garza recognize what needs to be changed during the game, rather than waiting until after the game and saying “I should have done this.” [St. Pete Times]
- Joe Henderson outlines why this is Joe Maddon’s biggest test yet and wonders how low it can go. [Tampa Tribune]
- Jonah Keri tries to separate early season fact and fiction…What we learned from the piece is that the Blue Jays are basically the exact opposite of the Rays right now. Everybody on their team is playing above their career norms. [SI.com]
- Her Rays suggests that Joe Maddon find his inner Lou Piniella for a few days. [Her Rays]
- Around the Majors takes a look at some of the bigger names with contract options for the 2010 season including Carl Crawford. [Around the Majors]
- Rise of the Rays speculates on what Desmond Jennings hot start means for him and the Rays. [Rise of the Rays]
- More Hardball has some fun with few Rays images. [More Hardball]
Apr 25
The McDLT: Where Hopefully The Hot Stay Hot And The Cool Don’t
Carl Crawford, Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett, JP Howell, Lance Cormier, Matt Garza 2 Comments »[table id=5 /]
Apr 05
Rays Have Deal In Place With Rockies, But Questions Remain
Aneury Rodriguez, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, Lance Cormier No Comments »
[Update 11:35am] Joe Smith says a Rockies scout was in the stands to watch Hammel pitch today and Smith has some quotes from Jason Hammel about the possibility of being traded.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Hammel said. “It’s been pretty rough actually. I’m just trying to not think about it. We’re just taking it in stride…I’ll throw strikes for whatever color,” Hammel said. “Whatever happens, happens…“Its been a pleasure here. I’m not saying I’m gone. But they’ve given me a lot of opportunities. Sometimes it is what it is.”
[11:00am] Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post is reporting that the Rays have accepted the Rockies offer of double-A pitcher Aneury Rodriguez for Jason Hammel. But, they are waiting to see if another team can best the offer.
The Rockies and Rays have agreed on the parameters of a deal that would land Colorado right- handed reliever Jason Hammel, but Tampa Bay is still mulling other offers…The Rockies would send Double-A pitcher Aneury Rodriguez to the Rays, whom Tampa Bay scouted heavily in Tucson last week.
This news raises a couple of questions…
- Is this the Rockies’ deal a ‘final’ offer, or if another team does propose a better package, would the Rockies have a chance to up theirs?
- Are the Rays only looking for better offers for Hammel or are they also waiting to see if a better offer comes in for Jeff Niemann?
While those questions still linger, it does appear that Niemann is the fifth starter and Lance Cormier is the seventh arm in the bullpen unless something dramatic happens in the next few hours.
Rockies tentatively set to get Hammel [Denver Post]
Apr 02
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Price’s Rough Outing, McGee’s Return And The Neverending Quest For A 5th Starter
Desmond Jennings, Jake McGee, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, Joe Maddon, Lance Cormier, Uncategorized 2 Comments »
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: Gabe Gross. Gross is heating up at the right time, hitting a home run for the second straight game…James Shields. James the Greater rebounded from the embarrassment of his last start to pitch 4 innings, giving up only 1 run, striking out 4 and walking just 1…Carl Crawford. CC’s wheels are just fine thank you, as he stole his 8th base of the spring…Joe Nelson. Nelson had his best outing of the spring at the right time, throwing two perfect frames, striking out 2.
THE BAD: Lack of patience. Even with the regulars playing most of the game, the Rays still aren’t drawing walks. Yesterday it was just 1 (Carlos Pena).
THE TELLING: Grant Balfour pitched in back-to-back games for the first time this spring…Ray Sadler led the Rays with 4 spring home runs. Of players with at least 35 at bats, Gabe Gross led with a .453 OBP. Jason Bartlett (.423) and Ben Zobrist (.406) were also over .400. Bartlett led the team with a .362 average. Morgan Ensberg led with 5 errors. Nobody else had more than 2. Jason Hammel threw the most innings (25). Nobody else even had 17. Hammel also led with 18 K’s. For pitchers with at least 10 innings, Lance Cormier led with a 1.23 ERA and Carlos Hernandez was second at 2.25. Joe Nelson gave up the most home runs (5) and Mitch Talbot was second with 4.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- David Price got beat up pretty good in a minor league start, giving up 6 runs including 3 home runs. [Biscuit Crumbs]
- According to Marc Topkin, the Rays may wait until the 3pm roster deadline on Sunday before making decisions regarding the final spot in the rotation and the final spot in the bullpen. Lance Cormier will travel with the team to Philly, while Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann will stay behind in Port Charlotte, with Niemann pitching a minor league game on Sunday. Finally, Topkin says there is no timetable for Adam Kennedy who was demoted to Durham yesterday. [St. Pete Times]
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies are considering whether to make a deal for Jason Hammel, but notes they may try and hold out for teams to start designating pitchers for assignment. [Denver Post]
- Spring training attendance in Florida was down 20% this year, but for the Rays it was up 30%. [St. Pete Times]
- Ten minor leaguers will travel with the Rays for their two-game set in Philadelphia this weekend. Stacy Long has the list. [Biscuit Crumbs]
- Jake McGee is back throwing off a mound and last week began throwing breaking pitches. He expects to return to game action in June but is aiming to be 100% in 2010. [Montgomery Advertiser]
- Stacy Long says Desmond Jennings has been “impressive” this week and Jennings hopes to start the season in double-A. [Biscuit Crumbs]
- Marc Lancaster compares the defenses of the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees. Of course, that really isn’t fair to the Sox and Yankees. [Tampa Tribune]
- Joe Posnanski makes some “semi-bold” predictions about the upcoming season and he predicts the Rays will be better this year. [SI.com]
Now many people seem to think that the Rays will fall off this year — and I guess that’s logical — but I can’t help but think the opposite. Now, they have David Price, who I think could have a huge rookie season. Now they have PatBurrell, who I think will have a big impact on that offense. And more, I think all those players I mentioned above could be BETTER in 2009. Upton has the ability to be an MVP candidate. So does Longoria. Pena could be more like he was in 2007. And so it goes…I don’t know how much better a team can be than the Rays of 2008. They won the American League East and went to the World Series. It’s hard to improve on that. But I think, all in all, the Rays are a better baseball team now.
- Rays Prospects has the transcripts from a recent interview Tyler Hissey conducted with Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.
- Part 1 discusses what Goldstein thinks of Desmond Jennings.
- Part 2 takes a look at David Price and where he should start the season as well as how much the Rays could expect in return for Jason Hammel.
- Part 3 is a discussion about Tim Beckham.
- Peter Gammons uses the Rays as an example of how success in baseball “begins with youth.” [ESPN]
- David Chalk is the busiest man in Rays coverage…First up is his Rays preview for Sharapova’s Thigh. [Sharapova's Thigh]
- Then there is the Rays preview he wrote for Diamond Hoggers. [Diamond Hoggers]
- And of course, his side-by-side beat downs of the rest of Major League Baseball is nearing its logical conclusion, as he shows us why the Angels “Ain’t S#!t” compare to the Devil Rays. That’s right. We said “Devil Rays.” Got a problem with that? [Bugs and Cranks]
- Joe Maddon provides a list of the places he likes to bike when he travels to different AL cities. [Tampa Tribune]
- Finally, we have a video clip via the Montgomery Advertiser of Joe Maddon talking about the upcoming season and the importance of having the minor leaguers in the same camp as the big leaguers
Mar 31
[UPDATE: 11:00am] Ken Rosenthal says the Rays are in a “position of strenth,” noting that the Rays could choose to cut Lance Cormier and keep both Niemann and Hammel. Rosenthal is reporting that six teams, including the two listed below, have shown interest in either Niemann or Hammel or both.
The Rays would like to move right-hander Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann, both of whom are out of options. But the team could keep both pitchers and cut right-hander Lance Cormier if it does not receive an attractive trade offer…A number of clubs have shown interest in Hammel and/or Niemann, including the Rangers, Nationals and Indians; published reports indicate that the Padres, Pirates and Rockies also are in the mix, and the Brewers are yet another possibility.
[10:45am] 
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Padres have inquired with the Rays about Jeff Niemann, but so far the asking price has been too high. Read the rest of this entry »
Mar 31
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss The Fight For Pitching Jobs, Joyce’s Potential And Ensberg’s Short Rays Career
Jason Hammel, Jason Isringhausen, Jeff Niemann, Lance Cormier, Matt Joyce, Morgan Ensberg 1 Comment »
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: Matt Garza. The Garza Complex rebounded from his dead arm issues to throw 6 strong innings, giving up 3 runs, striking out 5 and walking only 1…Troy Percival. Another day, another perfect inning from Percy…Carlos Pena. Pena hit his first home run of the spring and finished 2-3.
THE BAD: Ben Zobrist. Zorilla can occasionally be feast-or-famine. Yesterday it was all famine as he went 0-4 with 3 Ks.
THE TELLING: For the first time this spring, most of the regulars worked the entire game as Joe Maddon moves to get everybody into game shape…Akinori Iwamura continues to lead off since his return from Japan. When BJ Upton returns, we expect Aki to drop to the bottom of the order, but to start the season, he will lead off.
The GBT’s for the rest of the weekend games can be found below the Webtopia, after the jump.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- This should come as no surprise, but Joe Maddon reiterated that he will not skip the fifth starter early in the season. With the number of off-days in April, some managers choose to skip their fifth starter occasionally to keep the rest of the staff on normal rest, something Maddon has never done. In year’s past he has always made it clear that does not like skipping starters and prefers to give the rotation an extra day of rest. [MLB]
- John Romano takes a look at the four pitchers (Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Jason Isringhausen, Lance Cormier) vying for the final two spots of the pitching staff. Romano feels it will be Niemann and Cormier that win the jobs, meaning Hammel has to be traded and Izzy either has to be patient in the minors or be released. [St. Pete Times]
- Jeff Niemann pitched well in a minor league game, throwing 6 shutout innings, striking out 6 and walking none. He only needed 68 pitches. [The Heater]
- Joe Maddon called the competition for the final spot “damn close.” Also, Matt Garza said his arm felt “live again” in his latest outing. [St. Pete Times]
- Jason Hammel says that the competition for the final rotation spot won’t strain the friendship between him and Jeff Niemann, noting that they “will always love each other.” [Montgomery Advertiser]
- Stuart Sternberg does not see the payroll remaining in the $60 million range next season stating that the team “borrowed from the next couple years,” to get it that high this season. He also notes that the Red Sox comeback in the ALCS, forcing games 6 and 7 at the Trop increased revenue significantly and that “there’s probably a middle reliever or two that wouldn’t be here, or we’d have a different bat.” [St. Pete Times]
- In another unsurprising move, the Rays have released Morgan Ensberg who now goes the way of Hee Seop Choi, and Roberto Alomar as big-named signees that never played a regular season game with the Rays. And let’s not forget Shinji Mori. The Rays gave that tool a lot of money. [MLB]
- In an effort to find more playing time for Willy Aybar, Joe Maddon had Pat Burrell take reps at first base and indicated he will play there during the season. Burrell played 58 games at first as a rookie in 2000, but hasn’t appeared there since. [The Heater]
- Joe Maddon spoke highly of Matt Joyce’s potential, saying he sees him as a middle-of-the-order hitter in the future, but that he would hit 6th or 7th now. Maddon said, “But, I mean, this guy has some kind of potential with the bat.” [Tampa Tribune]
- We now know that the opening day pitching matchup will be James Shields against Josh Beckett. [Providence Journal]
- Rocco Baldelli still hasn’t played back-to-back days but so far he has done everything that has been asked of him. [Boston Herald]
- Around the Majors takes a look back at the Delmon Young-Matt Garza/Jason Bartlett trade. [Around the Majors]
- #129 on the list of “The Top 177 Devil Rays Ever.”…For the first time, we don’t have a clue. [Bugs and Cranks]
- Jeff Ridgway, the left-handed pitcher the Rays traded for Willy Aybar, has been released by the Braves. [Biscuit Crumbs] Read the rest of this entry »
Mar 24
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Cormier Vs Nelson, Hammel’s Loose Grip And Kennedy’s Future
Adam Kennedy, Jason Hammel, Lance Cormier 15 Comments »
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: Lance Cormier. Cormier (right) is making a strong case to be the last man in the bullpen ahead of Joe Nelson. Joe Maddon has gone to Cormier a lot early in game to face the tougher batters and he has come through with solid spring numbers (1.80 ERA). He pitched two more scoreless innings and his ability to work more than one inning is only going to help his case.
THE BAD: The offense. Rays hitters managed only 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks. Only one of the hits went for extra bases, a double by Gabe Gross…Jason Hammel. The fifth spot in the rotation is Hammer’s but his grasp may be slipping after walking 5 in 4 innings and giving up 4 runs and 6 hits.
THE TELLING: Adam Kennedy made his spring debut at shortstop, while Reid Brignac made the start.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Marc Topkin takes a look at the questions that remain for the Rays with opening day just around the corner. [St. Pete Times]
- Jason Hammel called his performance “unacceptable.” [St. Pete Times]
- Adam Kennedy says he is willing to start the season in Durham if needed, but the Rays made it clear that if there is not an immediate spot for him with the Rays and another team needs a major league infielder, they will not stand in the way of an opportunity for Kennedy to play in the big leagues. Also of note is Marc Lancaster pointing out that one reason Kennedy signed with the Rays is because he knew he would receive a lot of playing time in the spring to showcase his skills with Aki Iwamura away at the WBC. [Tampa Tribune]
Mar 17
Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Who Is Playing Where And More Importantly, When
Chris Richard, John Jaso, Justin Ruggiano, Lance Cormier, Morgan Ensberg, Pat Burrell, Reid Brignac, Tim Beckham 6 Comments »In the spring, with so many players in the lineup everyday, it is difficult to learn anything about playing time from the boxscores and statlines. What we really need to know is how much playing time each player gets at each position, and more importantly, when are they in the game at various positions. There is a big difference between playing the first five innings against the Yankees, and playing the final 2 innings against the Reds. In the former scenario, the opposing team is more likely to feature a lineup with everyday major leaguers.
So we broke down the playing time by position. We then split the playing time up in to the first 5 innings of each game and playing time in the last 4 innings. Admittedly, this is a somewhat arbitrary grouping. But glancing at boxscores, it seems that the sixth inning is the most common time for managers to take out their starters.
After the table of position players, we also took a look at the pitchers. We asked the same question: Who is pitching in the most challenging innings of spring games? Again, pitching the ninth inning of a spring game may mean little compared to pitching the third inning, even for a reliever who is more likely to face better hitters early in the game.
This does not necessarily tell us how each player is performing under the different scenarios, but it does give us a sense of what Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey think of each player, who they think can contribute at the major league level this season and which players they want to get a good long look at.
Table for the pitchers is found after the jump and notes on each table are found after each table…
Jan 18
Marc Topkin is reporting that the Rays have signed relief pitcher Lance Cormier to a one-year, $675K contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated Dewon Day for assignment, whom was just claimed off of waivers last week.
We have updated the 40-man roster projection to reflect this signing.
This move means one of two things:
- The Rays expect Troy Percival to start the season on the DL. As of right now, all spots in the bullpen are spoken for and there are no candidates for demotion. The low-man on the proverbial Totem Pole is Jason Hammel and he is out of minor league options. Or…
- The Rays are expecting one of their bullpen arms to be traded prior to opening day. The likely candidates are Chad Bradford, whom the Rays have tried to trade, Jason Hammel, who is out of minor league options or Jeff Niemann, if the Rays start the season with David Price in the rotation. If the Rays can move Bradford (or Dan Wheeler), signing Cormier would save the Rays over $2 million on the 2009 payroll.
Cormier appeared in 45 games (1 start) for the Orioles last season, posting a 4.02 ERA while striking out 46 and walking 34 in 71.2 innings.
He also posted a career-high 56.8% ground balls in 2008 which could go a long ways towards a solid season with the Rays solid infield defense. And for the last three seasons, Cormier, a right-hander, has actually been harder on lefties. In 2008, his OPS against lefties was .667, 95 points better than his mark against righties (.772).
