Saturday and Sunday are slow days around here. Because of that, we’ll more than likely be bringing you simple things like videos, pictures, and lots of links. Enjoy the first installment with the Rays mascot dancing the PB&J dance.
And you thought Jim Hendry was crazy for what he gave Alfonso Soriano. Apparently, Barry Zito has rejected offers from the Texas Rangers and is likely to sign with the Giants.
A diary on the McCovey Chronicles mentions that the deal could be for 8 years and $125 million dollars.
No source is quoted so take that for what it’s worth. Regardless, this seems to be where Free Agency is headed and it is something that Major League Baseball needs to get under control or they risk completely pricing out small teams with low payrolls from the entire market.
It was late August and Rays’ fans were sitting through another year in the basement. However, in the last series in August, Delmon Young got the call to come up.
He would start his career in Chicago against a good White Sox team. This was exactly the kind of move that the organization needed to keep the 2006 season from screeching to a complete halt.
And Young did not disappoint. In fact, he exceeded expectations. Over these three games, he went 8-11 (.727) with 2 doubles, a homerun, and four RBI. Out in right field, he displayed some good instincts and a cannon arm.
It seems that Young has escaped his tumultuous years in the minors and, as he demonstrated in Chicago last August, is on his way to being a top Major League outfielder. The Rays would lose two out of three in the series, but at that point it didn’t matter all that much. Young was reason enough to keep watching.
When I look at the prices paid for starting pitchers this off-season, it makes me consider throwing up. That’s a big thing, considering I just past the four year anniversary since the last time I worshipped at the porcelain throne. However, recently the Yankees inked what could be the steal of the off-season. According the numerous reports, the Yankees have signed Kei Igawa to a five year deal worth $20 million.
From 1999 to 2006, Igawa has pitched in 190 games with a record of 86-60 and an ERA of 3.15. Prospect Insider had a nice post that talked about Igawa in November.
Here are Igawa’s career numbers from Japan. Click the picture to bring them into focus.
“He does make me think of Jarrod Washburn,” says one NL Central scout who was assigned to Matsuzaka…
He attacks hitters, and very aggressively,” said the scout. “It’s not a secret that he’s going to come after hitters, but as soon as the batter thinks he’s got it figured out, he gets a pretty good change thrown at him out of nowhere. Igawa is a pretty adept at mixing things up effectively, while doing a decent job of staying within himself. At times he’ll try and throw one 120 miles per hour or throw the greatest breaking ball ever, but he’s been able to fend off those urges, at least the past two years.
He uses a four-seamer in the 88-91 mph range, with that 92+ capability on occasion, and an above-average change that I had in the 78-81 mph area. His breaking ball is a solid slider he’ll throw mostly to lefthanders, though he did use it to backdoor some right-handed bats.
Compare his numbers with those put up by some of the recent signings this past month and the Yankees could have themselves a bargain lefty to replace Randy Johnson.
Jeff Suppan, a career 4.60 ERA pitcher just signed for more money with the Brewers. Jason Marquis, who last year had an ERA the size of a hot air balloon, signed for 3 years and $21 million with the Cubs.
This is a great move for the Yankees and just widens the gap in the AL East a little more. Especially if the Rumors of Roger Clemens and Barry Zito coming to the Bronx are true. It could be another long hard season to be a Rays fan.
What would you do if someone stole your identity? Suddenly, all your deep, dark secrets would be known. Got a lot of debt on your credit card? They’d know about it. I can’t imagine how frustrating that would be, especially if it was due to no error on your part. That was the case for a number of baseball players according to a story I found the other day.
CLEVELAND — Former Indians player Jim Thome is one of close to 90 major leaguers whose identity could be at risk.SFX Sports represents some of the biggest names in a variety of sports, and police said 38-year-old David Dright went through a Dumpster outside the agency’s Northbrook, Ill., office and recovered personal information on 80 to 100 Major League ballplayers.
“He was actually going through trash receptacles or Dumpsters and recovered numerous paperwork, documents, things like that,” said Detective Adam Hyde, of the Lincolnshire police.
Police weren’t looking for the ballplayers personal documents when they searched Dright’s Chicago apartment but knew what they had once they found them.
An attorney for SFX said they will work with their clients to ensure no identities were compromised, and Illinois police are doing the same.
“We’ve been in contact with Major League Baseball, also the Major League Baseball Players’ Association, and we’ve also contacted some of the players individually,” said Detective John Anderson.
Police said it appears that Dright attempted to get credit cards using the identities of at least two players. The extent of the fraud won’t be known until police can process Dright’s computer.
I wish those guys all the best. No matter how much people loathe the amount of money professional athletes get paid, we can’t help but to feel bad for them when something like this happens. Especially around the holidays.
This story comes from Japanball.com
“The Yomiuri Giants have acquired the services of outfielder
Damon Hollins, who played for the Tampa Bay Devils Rays this past
season.The Central League club said the 32-year-old Hollins has agreed
to a one-year deal carrying an annual salary of $1 million (about 119
million yen). He is scheduled to arrive in Japan at the end of
January.Hollins hit 15 home runs with 33 RBIs in 121 games with the
Devil Rays in 2006. Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara said he hopes to
use Hollins in the No. 5 spot.”
We wish him all the best. Hitting in the 5 spot ought to be interesting.
In regards to position players, the Rays look to be in pretty good shape. However, as is so often the case, there are some serious questions marks regarding the starting rotation. The Rays could ostensibly roll into spring without picking up a new starter and try a Kazmir, Seo, Shields, Fossum, Corcoran/Howell/Hammel rotation. Even so, the waters need to be tested.
Barring a trade, the organization is going to have to sift through a pretty slim free-agent market. Of those few still available, even fewer appear to be realistic potential assets for the team. The Rays have likely ruled out Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver, and Mark Redman. If the Rays do go after those left, they must find an innings-eater. The back end of the rotation needs an arm that can throw 200 innings, or close to it. They need not to have a stellar ERA. If they can stay on the mound long enough throughout the year, an ERA hovering around 4.50 would suffice.
From the starting pitcher pool, really only a handful of names stand out (and ’stand out’ is probably too high a compliment). Nevertheless, the pool should be perused.
33 year-old RHP Ryan Franklin might fit. In his first three full years as a starter (2003-2005) he averaged right around 200 innings. In 2006 he bounced around the Phillies’ and Reds’ bullpens. He wants to return to a starter’s role and will likely have to take a paycut from the $2.6 million he made in 2006. Franklin’s not going turn many heads. However, taking into account who’s available and the Rays’ slight payroll, Franklin is the type of pitcher Tampa Bay may need to consider.
Another possibility is 33 year-old RHP Ramon Ortiz. His career has likely plateaued. Still, he looks like a veteran who could be good for about fifteen quality starts (as he did last year in 33 attempts) while eating up a good chunk of innings (he’s averaged 193.3 in his five full seasons as a starter).
As previously discussed, picking up 28 year-old RHP Tony Armas Jr. or bringing back 36 year-old RHP Steve Trachsel could work.
As for Trachsel, the thought of bringing anyone back from the 2000 season may make some cringe, but again, this pool is very shallow. Throughout his 14 year career, every time he’s made more than 30 starts he has pitched 200 innings. He’s managed to meet that mark six times, the last being in 2004.
Armas has yet to establish himself as a reliable part of a rotation. He’s gone through some injuries, but in 2006 he returned to full-time duty managing 12 quality starts out of 30. He’s only approached throwing 200 innings once (196.2 in 2001). However, he never gelled within the underachieving Expos/Nationals organization and he’s still pretty young.
The notion of any of these pitchers entering the Rays’ 2007 rotation probably sounds far from exciting. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay must concoct a back-end rotation that can stay in long enough to keep those games competitive. Even if that means bringing in a mediocre free-agent for a year or two.
Quality Start % (Quality Starts/Games Started)
2006
Scott Kazmir: 46% (11/24)
Casey Fossum: 40% (10/25)
Jae Seo: 50% (8/16)
James Shields: 52% (11/21)
Tim Corcoran: 44% (7/16)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bronson Arroyo: 71% (23/35)
Chris Carpenter: 59% (19/32)
Roger Clemens: 63% (12/19)
Randy Johnson: 42% (14/33)
Francisco Liriano: 63% (10/16)
Roy Oswalt: 78% (25/32)
C.C. Sabathia: 64% (18/28)
Johan Santana: 71% (24/34)
Jered Weaver: 74% (14/19)
Brandon Webb: 70% (23/33)
Dontrelle Willis: 59% (20/34)
Non-tendered and non-needed outfielder Damon Hollins is close to signing a contract that will have him playing in Japan in 2007. He will join Kevin Witt, who the Rays released and who also inked a deal to play in Japan. Who knows what kind of trouble those two wacky pranksters will run into on their adventures abroad? I imagine their adventures will be pretty baseball intensive. Godspeed, Holl-Zilla.
Bobby Valentine, English/Japanese talent translator and manager of Japanís Chiba Lotte Marines, said that recent Rays’ acquisition Iwamura was “almost Latinized,” which I gather to be even better than Americanized as pertaining to Japanese players adjusting to U.S. baseball.
He went on to say in the SP Times:
“He seems to be something different, and in Japan that really sticks outÖ.when I say he’s different, different might be different in a good sense of the word.”
In the same article, John Bale, who served three years pitching in Japan said:
ìHe’s kind of got that cockiness to him where I think he will fit in real well. It almost seemed like he was American the way he carries himself. He’s a little different. It’s that cocky confidence, it’s more personality. He’s a very approachable guy.”
I was deeply offended at the implication by John Bale that we as Americans are cocky. I always thought we were narcissistic red necks.
Nonetheless, what John Bale and Bobby Valentine say is encouraging. While the effects of a smooth cultural transition between countries on an athleteís ability to perform certainly falls under the ìintangiblesî category, it can be assumed the less mental trepidation a player must cope with, the more they can focus on their performance on the field.
My limited exposure to this transition came from Shinji Mori. During 2006 Spring Training, I would watch the fraternity of Rays’ pitchers clumped around the bullpen mound joking and talking between workouts. Then there was Shinji Mori, fresh from Japan, walking slowly around the outfield grass while appearing deep in thought and shadowed by his translator, whose services were far from needed.
I am aware that culture shock did not tear Shinji Moriís labrum. But his apparent isolation during Spring Training made cultural and social acclimation appear to be a stressful, unpleasant burden. Couple this with having to adjust to the American style of playing the game, and one can appreciate how difficult the transition can be. Maybe there is something to that ìintangibleî stuff.
As for Shinji Mori and baseball, Joe Maddon said, presumably over a glass of 2006 ìDelusional Vineyardísî Cabernet Sauvignon:
ìMori’s velocity is not yet at a point where he can be considered a candidate for the Rays bullpen coming out of Spring Training.î
Forget Mori. Remember Al Reyes? Today the Rays signed him, along with two others, to minor league contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Reyes could be the veteran in the bullpen that this team needs.
Reyes missed 2006 after his date with Tommy John in 2005. He pitched two games in Durham and is reportedly back in the saddle. And if youíre looking for a veteran, 36-years old and 11 seasons should accomodate.
Yes, heís old even in veteran terms. But over those 11 seasons, he has a 3.60 ERA. And whatís better still is that his career best 2.15 ERA came right before his surgery in 2005, when he pitched 63 innings (the second largest workload of his career) for the Cardinals. Donít run out in the streets yelling, ìWeíre saved!î just yet, but I do have faith that this old righty could still have something to offer.
Also signed during the same click of the pen as Reyes were righty Gary ìGlitterî Glover and Jason ìWhy am I here?î Grabowski.
Glover, 30, is coming back after a year long stint in Japan. In the U.S. he is 21-18 with a 5.03 ERA over six seasons with the Blue Jays, White Sox, and Brewers. File him under: ìExpect nothing.î Heís a ìWhy not?î signing who may miraculously pitch well enough for a chance to prove himself in middle relief.
Grabowski also spent last season in Japan. Throughout his illustrious 190 game career he is .196/.275/.339. The 29-year old outfielder will likely remain a minor league ball-shagger until he is struck by lightning while simultaneously getting an X-Ray and obtains baseball superpowers.
ESPNís Jerry Crasnick has written a rather positive article on the new Devil Ray regime.
Fans whoíve been following the Rays’ organization with their microscopes will not find much new material from Crasnick’s observations via telescope, but the article does say to quit dreaming about Mark Mulder and had this non-wish list of pitchers:
ìJon Lieber, Jon Garland and Brad Penny, trade candidates who are too expensive now and unlikely to be around by the time the Rays are competitiveÖ Friedman has resisted the temptation to overpay for a Jason Marquis, Mark Redman or Tomo Ohka.î
And then there was this gem:
ìÖCantu looked terrible last year after hurting his foot, and Chris Dial of the Baseball Think Factory calls him the “worst fielder in the majors.”
It took a ìthink factoryî to come up with this? I can say with great certainty that a majority folks who watch this team could come to this conclusion without even needing a factory, and many without even thinking. Rays are all about cutting costs, you know.
But the primary lesson learned in the last couple of weeks is that with the obscene market and failed run at Dotel, the Rays appear to be going with the ìPen from Withinî model. However, I would still like to see what someone such as Keith Foulke could bring.
As for starting pitching, if the money-men are going to make a run at a free agent pitcher, itís time to make a move before the bargain bin becomes the trash bin. Now if youíll excuse me, Iím late to my Salsa lesson with Iwamura.
Also, Dontrelle Willis gets a DUI
Break out the bubbly…Rays sign Waechter to a minor league contract
Realistically, the only way the Rays can quickly build a strong front-to-back bullpen without making some monumental sacrifices is by picking up free-agent relievers who are currently down in value. The Rays would need to scoop up some bargain relievers and see who might come out on top. While Tampa Bay may end up spending a good amount of cash on a single top reliever, they also need to seek out some pitchers who are either unproven, in need of a change of scenery, or recovering from an injury.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_408072.jpg”
Jason Bulger: The 28 year-old RHP was Arizona’s No. 1 draft pick in 2001. Since then he’s pitched only 11.2 innings over two seasons in the majors. If he gets healthy, he could still come around.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_407839.jpg”
Kevin Gryboski: The 33 year-old RHP was very good with the Braves. He’s been less effective the last couple of years due to injury. However, if he can regain his form in Tampa he’d be well worth it.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150382.jpg”
Matt Herges: The 36 year-old RHP has had a respectable career out of the bullpen. His 4.31 ERA over 71 innings for the Marlins last year was a high, but he did re-establish the fact that he can still work through a good chunk of innings.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150285.jpg”
Dan Kolb: The 31 year-old RHP used to be lights out for the Brewers. Then in 2005, he really lost his form. He’s yet to really regain it, but if he does he would be a large asset.
Juan Lara: This 25 year-old LHP is unproven, but he is…available.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_407377.jpg”
Mike Koplove: The 30 year-old RHP first few seasons were good. He became Arizona’s top setup man. Then he lost his form and had back-to-back forgettable seasons in 2004 & 2005.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_228594.jpg”
David Riske: This 30 year-old RHP has been a consistent force out of the bullpen for quite some time. He’s held lefties to a .212 average over his eight year career.*
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150261.jpg”
Scott Sauerbeck: The 35 year-old LHP has had some quality seasons since coming up with the Pirates in 1999. His ERA has been too high the last few seasons. However, with Oakland in 2006 he did show a good deal of efficacy.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_121955.jpg”
Rudy Seanez: The 38 year-old RHP has had some really great seasons in relief since coming into the league in 1989. 2006 saw his ERA jump a good bit but he could still have some good stuff left and definitely would be a fine presence in the bullpen.
<img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_425789.jpg”
Brian Sweeney: The 32 year-old RHP has had some troubles making to the majors but he’s been pretty good when he’s up there.
I don’t believe that these relievers would completely end the Rays’ relief woes, but the organization needs to take some of these small risks, or others like these. The market value for proven and current quality relief is just too high right now. It doesn’t make sense for the Rays to spend too much money or trade too high on proven relievers now when their careers are so often fickle. It’d be great to have some established high-end relief join the team today, but the Rays need pitchers who will still be reliable in a couple years, not just in 2007.
