I got a FANTASTIC question in my email yesterday for the Lunch Break today. Remember, send in your questions (you know, like a mailbag) or your discussion topics to scottcaruso@gmail.com and I’ll make sure that they get posted.
Today’s question comes from Sean, who writes:
I am frustrated with the fact that the Rays officials get so much crap no matter what they do. Vince screwed this franchise hard, on the baseball side of things and in the community.
What is your opinion on what do they ultimately have to do to lose this bad reputation that they have inherited? It is unfair, they have done nothing but good things here and just get so much crap. The reason Kazmir is not signed is because he doesn’t want to sign here. I look at the Rays as being only like 2 years old. When the new guys took over they got a clean slate. I don’t care if this turns into a lunch break I just kinda want you opinion.
I TOTALLY agree with what you said Sean; it IS unfair that the current Rays management keeps getting dumped on as if it is just an extenstion of the previous Rays ownership. Now, I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems to me that people who are actually “in the know” or follow the team regularly don’t have such a problem separating the Naimoli-LaMar regime from the Sternberg-Friedman one. It’s the casual fans – the ones you REALLY need to get on board in order to make money – that don’t know the difference.
That’s because, by their nature, casual fans just don’t know that much about the team. They can’t separate one ownership group from another. As far as they are concerned, it’s just one group that has continued to run the team from the beginning, and all they know is that there haven’t been any winning seasons yet. Is it fair to Andrew Friedman? Absolutely not. I think he has done a FANTASTIC job of building the Rays’ organization into one that is sustainable for future growth and success. In the American League East, where there are other teams that can afford to play up to 5 or 6 times more for players in any given year, the only way to ensure long-term success is to ensure that there is a solid foundation in the minor leagues, in scouting, and in player development. Though that’s something that LaMar never seemed to understand, Friedman definitely gets it and should be commended for the work that he has done.
Unfortunately, the only way that the team is ever going to break that stigma that you were talking about is to start winning ballgames. Once the team becomes a winner, and the national media picks up on the “surprise story of the Tampa Bay Rays,” then that history that you’re talking about will slowly begin to fade away. Until that happens, Stu Sternberg and Andrew Friedman will continue to pay for the sins of those who came before them.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I agree and I think they have had a plan that seems to be working. The big problem for the fans are we did not want to wait because we have been waiting to long. Now that everything seems to be coming along it will only take some wins to bring back the fans. Andrew has now shown his hand and this time it had the real money in it.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Well OK it’s HIGH NOON at the OK coral. What about Kaz Did we lock him up or shoot him down.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
“They also have agreed in principle with left-hander Scott Kazmir on a one-year contract despite some pessimism that a deal would get done.”
January 18th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Looks like the deals are done for Pena (3 years) and Kaz (one year). Kaz is playing it smart. If, however, the Rays excel in 2008 and are positioned to compete for a ring in 2009, then I would expect Kaz to listen to a strong offer ($$$$) to return for 2009. If they lose in 2008 then Kaz will look for the door as soon as he can.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I am really impressed with this management team and what they have done in the last two years. Despite all of our frustration with the historic bullpen meltdowns of 2007, this team has a core of pitching, fielding and hitting that could bring a long overdue winning season to the Tampa Bay area. Madden will either be a hero or a goat at the end of 2008.
January 18th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Scott-
Chase Fontaine still on 40-man, dunno if that’s right or not…
January 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Scott, there seems to be a LOT of casual fans out there that really have no clue. ;) Stu and the gang have done a FANTASTIC job with the economics they have to work with, and have been completely above-board the whole way. Fun time to be a Ray fan!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Sean, you are exactly right and I think Scott’s response is on target as well. It is heartening to see that some fans can look beneath the surface and recognize the planning for a consistent contender. We are seeing exactly what the new group has forecast from the beginning. Once they have arrived at the point where spending can make a difference, they will begin spending, and not before. One may argue that there are better ways to build a contender, but not that the current management team is either cheap or unwilling to take the necessary risks as they laid out their approach from the start and have stuck to it. And in my mind, they have implemented it exceptionally well.
Success is never guaranteed, but it seems to me the Rays have put themselves in a position where it is more likely than not.
January 19th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Picking up Aybar seems to point the Rays in the direction of trading Guzman. I do not think he is out of options, so the Rays could still park him at AAA, but what more can he accomplish there except put up some numbers to gloss him up for a trade. Anyone think he will remain with the Rays past opening day?
January 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I think he may be in the minors or gone. If he is traded, it would have to take another coup by Friedman to get anything of value for him.
Guzman has a few things going for him. He is still young, and he looks very athletic. He did have a few good seasons in the minors, showing some power. He seems to be a pretty good defensive player at different positions.
But he really has not had much success given his apparent talent. His overall minor league line is .267/.317/.448, and for a probable corner player, that is rather poor, even at his age. One of his decent years was in the PCL which enhances hitting stats. He rarely walks and strikes out a ton, generally between once every 3 to 4 at bats. And his OPS has declined each full season he has played since a high of .899 in 2004 in high A ball. Before his promotion in 2007 it was .689 at Durham.
I really see Guzman as a gamble the Rays took and lost. When they got him he was highly regarded but already was losing some of his status. There is always a chance he develops, but little sign that he has or will.