Really Marc? Really? Why even go there?
By Scott Caruso | February 11th, 2008 | Posted in Links Galore
Marc Topkin’s Sunday piece for the St. Pete Times was pretty much the usual fare we’ve come to expect from him. All except one line in his “Rumblings” that was pretty much a throw-away but has some people all abuzz:
Could the Rays’ be opportunistic/buy low mind-set lead to an offer to still-unemployed Barry Bonds?
No Marc. No, it couldn’t. Barry Bonds is the last guy that this team needs right. Not only is the DH spot crowded enough, but he would serve as nothing more than a distraction to the Rays. Have you noticed how the media is all over Roger Clemens right now? Well, just wait, because Bonds is going to be in the cross-hairs soon enough, and that is definitely not something that this young team would need to have to deal with.
Look, I’m not saying dude can’t hit (he had a 170 OPS+ last year in what was a “down” year), but isn’t it time we quit this kind of unsubstantiated rumor-mongering? You’re a reporter for Pete’s sake, and unless you have a source that told you that the Rays were going to low-ball an offer to Bonds (which it doesn’t appear that you do, since you’d probably list it for this), why even start a rumor like that? Bonds is such a polarizing figure, all it’s going to do is get a number of people ticked off that the team would even consider something like that. And why? Because a reporter for the team said it was a possibility, so there’s obviously some truth to it!
That, and with the 25-man roster virtually set already, I think it’s REALLY safe to say that the Rays aren’t going to be spending any more significant money. Was it really worth trying to be the first one with the “scoop” if you had to make something up to do it?
- Other notes from Topkin’s Sunday piece: Troy Percival is ready to kick some ass, the Rays are going to start with an all-you-can-eat ticket plan this year, B.J. and Justin Upton are going to be on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, and Bill James has called Scott Kazmir the most-likely big leaguer to toss a no-hitter in 2008.
- Those RaysBB prospect rankings are being posted. Make sure you go and check them out to see who the Top 25 according to the Raysverse are.
- The Rays’ Spring Training preview is up at SpringTraining08.com. I don’t know who that writer is that put it together, but he sure has a sexy name.
- Joe Sheehan, in his AL East preview piece: “It’s not unreasonable to think that four of the seven best teams in the AL reside in this division.” The fourth team is talking about isn’t the Orioles, buddies. Good times.
- Baseball America isn’t convinced that the Rays are automatically going to take Pedro Alvarez with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.
First, they spent the No. 3 overall pick two years ago on Longoria. Tampa Bay could move Alvarez to left field or first base, where it has productive players in Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, but it has more pressing needs on the mound. The Rays do have a number of talented arms rising through their farm system, but attrition always strikes pitchers and teams never have enough.
Second, while Alvarez is the No. 1 prospect right now, San Diego lefthander Brian Matusz, Missouri righthander Aaron Crow and Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham are close behind him. If Alvarez has clearly separated himself from the pack in June, Tampa Bay could be tempted to take him. But if he hasn’t, taking Matusz, Crow or Beckham would make more sense.
- Bad news for all of you Columbus Catfish fans: it looks like the team is moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky, after the 2008 season.
- Jason Bartlett has a hot fiancé.
- DRG over at RI thinks that Carlos Pena is going to be just as good in 2008. He makes a pretty compelling argument.
- Marc Lancaster previews Spring Training for us.
- Jae Seo is likely to miss his Opening Day start for the Kia Tigers! Oh no!!
Alright, go enjoy your Monday everyone. Check back throughout the day for a couple of updates.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I once asked Jorge Cantu how playing in the MLB had affected his ability to attract women and he replied, “It depends how I’m hitting.”
February 12th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Great Quote Jon, we need this kind of fun stuff. I think we get to serious as the season starts to arrive and all the anticipation of finally having a good year.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Yes, there’s a downside to Bonds with his trouble grasping the work of Dale Carnegie and the media’s outsized hatred for him among a sea of circumstancially convicted PED user, but there’s so much to love in the idea…
Bonds has always been said to be a good teammate and there is no doubt that his work ethic and selective approach at the plate would benefit the younger Rays.
And slotting Bonds into the DH slot could give his knees just enough pop to be a truly dangerous hitter and give the Rays a real shot and being this season’s Colorado Rockies.
Why dismiss the chance to play late into October out of hand?