“I can honestly say that I’ve never regretted doing it. I can look at myself in the mirror and say that I made the right decision. You never know, who knows, one or two years in I might’ve hurt myself and not been the player that I am today.”
These comments come on the heels of some false rumors that were being spread on Twitter that Longoria was upset and wanted to be traded. We ignored the report because the source was not credible, but some in the local media actually addressed the rumors.
Anyway, our only problem with Longoria’s comments is that the hypothetical no longer applies. We do know that Longoria did not get hurt “one or two years in.”
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
The Rays season opener against the Yankees will be carried on the MLB Network.
Pat Burrell has officially retired. Of course, some in the Bay Area would say he tossed in the towel about three years ago. [USA Today]
Would Peyton Manning sign with the Bucs? [JoeBucsFan.com]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
In the latest, “Joe Maddon will sign an extension soon, we swear” story, Marc Topkin reports that the two sides are closing in on a three-year extension.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Carlos Pena turned down an $8 million offer from the Indians (he took a $7.25M deal with the Rays). [Cleveland.com]
JB Long interviewed Matt Joyce recently for Bay News 9. Admits he was not looking forward to playing first base, so he was happy the team signed Carlos Pena. [Video]
Rocco Baldelli is happy and comfortable with the way his career ended. [HeraldNews.com]
Here are some pics from a recent fundraising event Jeremy Hellickson attended at his high school. [Des Moines Register]
BRaysBall Talk looks at how to survive FanFest. [BRaysBall Talk]
Rays Colored Glasses takes a look at the history of professional baseball in the Bay Area prior to the Rays. [Part 1, Part 2]
We have argued this before, but why are so few spring games aired? The obvious answer is that the ratings don’t justify the production cost.
But on games without the full crew, would it kill MLB.com to send one person to each game with a nice webcam and just point it at the field from the pressbox? Geez. We want the games. Give them to us!
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
The Orioles are in the mix for our old pal Edwin Jackson but are considered a long-shot. Also, it doesn’t sound like Johnny Damon will end up in Baltimore. [MLBTR]
BRaysball Talk takes a look at the Rays attendance woes and calls on fans to get to the park. [BRaysball Talk]
Jose Bautista’s random drug tests don’t appear to be very random at all. But the only way that can happen is if Major League Baseball has reasonable cause. Hmmmm. [BI Sports]
Mark Dominic discusses the process behind the Bucs hiring a new coach. [Joe Bucs Fan]
The Rays have extended Spring Training invitations (has a player ever declined a spring training “invitation”?) to shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, catchers Nevin Ashley and Craig Albernaz, and pitchers Ricky Orta, Ryan Reid, Bryan Augenstein and Marquis Fleming.
We’re glad the Rays are more patient than we are. Because if it were up to us, Beckham would be the opening day shortstop for the Rays. He can’t be worse offensively than what the Rays had in 2011. Just give him a shot to sink or swim.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Prince Fielder has been worth about as much as Carl Crawford, and both have aging concerns. And yet Fielder is the one with the $214 million contract. [BI Sports]
Some in Pinellas County are pushing for a light rail system as a way to boost attendance at Rays games. [TBO.com]
The Rays may be forced to return $33 million to the state because they haven’t been housing the homeless at Tropicana Field on nights in which the stadium is not being used. This is just a guess, but it sounds like backlash against the dubious means used by the Marlins to get the city and county to finance their new playground. Also, it is not clear that the Rays would actually owe anything as the Trop is operated by the city and county. Wouldn’t it be their responsibility? [The Miami Herald]
And all of a sudden, the Bucs are the only team with a head coaching vacancy. [Joe Bucs Fan]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
The Rays officially announced the signing of Carlos Pena [video of the press conference via Tampa Bay Times is below]. And the Rays posted billboards throughout the area welcoming El Gato back to the team.
But more importantly, as we have been speculating for weeks, Justin Ruggiano has been designated for assignment.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Ryan Theriot, whom we mentioned yesterday, would prefer to remain in the NL unless he can find a starting job in the AL. He would get occasional starts with the Rays, but he would likely have to share middle infield duties with others. [Fox Sports]
Our old friend Dick Vitale is “crushed” by what is happening with the Bucs head coaching search. [BI Sports]
So when Dickie V reads this, he is not going to be happy. [Joe Bucs Fan]
New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine commented on facing Matt Moore. [Biscuit Crumbs]
We might have linked to this before, but here is a Q&A with Tim Beckham, who is suddenly back on the prospect radar. [MiLB]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
We are back from our little mini-vacation and find that John Sickels of Minor League Ball ranks the Rays farm system as just the seventh-best in baseball...
Impact depth behind Matt Moore has slipped but this is still a robust organization.
Although, we would point out that Moore is pretty damn good. And depending on who you talk to, is probably the best prospect in baseball.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
The Tigers are interested in Johnny Damon. [MLBTR]
But according to Joel Sherman, Johnny Damon “badly” wants to sign with the Yankees. Of course, Damon had zero interest in the Yankees two weeks ago when he thought he still had a shot with the Rays. [@Joelsherman1]
The A’s are “very interested” in signing Manny Ramirez. But it is unclear if that interest has changed with the A’s signing another former Rays player, Johnny Gomes. [MLBTR]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
Apparently Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports have new studios.
And one person close to the situation, who asked not to be mentioned by name, says this could mean pre-game shows for all 150 Rays games on those networks this season. Previously, only the home games would have a pre-game show.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
As expected, Nevin Ashley cleared waivers and has been outrighted to triple-A Durham. [@TBTimes_Rays]
BRaysBall Talk is ready for the 2012 season. [BRaysBall Talk]
Carl Crawford would seem like a natural choice to have a solid rebound season. But hold on. Crawford had surgery on his wrist and may not be ready for the start of the regular season. [USA Today]
Joe Bucs Fan spoke with Gerald McCoy. [JoeBucsFan]
Some in Sarasota feel the county was duped by Cal Ripken Jr when they invested $31.2 million in upgrades for the Orioles spring training facility. [Shadow of the Stadium]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
The Rays 2011 All-Stars, David Price, James Shields, and Matt Joyce, have been named the grand marshalls for the 2012 Gasparilla parade on January 28.
Speaking of Shields…Does anybody in baseball have a more intimidating ass? If we were on first base when Shields went into his stretch, we’d be scared.
Just sayin’.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
The A’s are the latest team to show interest in Johnny Damon. [MLBTR]
Dioner Navarro has signed a minor league deal with the Reds.
USA Today says the Yankees rotation “not necessarily beast of AL East.” Maybe we are biased, but we think they didn’t need the word “necessarily.” [USA Today]
Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
Another former Rays player may be heading to a division rival. This time it is Johnny Damon. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Yankees have spoken with Damon about being their DH.
It is interesting that Damon wasn’t even good enough to get an offer from the Rays but now he could end up with the Yankees. But it is even more telling that the Yankees newfound payroll constraints are limiting is forcing them to now look at a DH that even the Rays wouldn’t take.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Rays FanFest will be held on February 18.
Andrew Friedman said the Rays are still looking for a bat, but that player doesn’t necessarily have to play first base. [TampaBay.com]
Marc Topkin says an extension for Joe Maddon may not happen until the end of January because the skipper just left for a European vacation. [TampaBay.com]
Maddon is in the final year of a contract that will pay him approximately $1.3 million in 2012. And like the Rays key players, Maddon is due for a significant raise.
We have speculated previously that Maddon’s next deal will probably be similar to Joe Girardi’s 3-year, $9 million deal, which is still well-below the 10-year, $50 million contract Mike Scioscia signed with the Angels.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Jon Heyman speculates that the Rays and Indians may be competing for Carlos Pena and/or Casey Kotchman. [@JonHeymanCBS]
Willy Aybar has finally been released from jail in the Dominican Republic after his latest arrest for domestic assault. [Dominican Today]
We’re not sure how 15 of the 30 teams can be “winter winners,” but the Rays are one of them. [CBS Sports]
Evan Longoria says he has never regretted signing his team-friendly contract (via Marc Topkin of TampaBay.com).
